Looking Glass

by Hiver

Rating: teen
Tags: Sunset Shimmer, Twilight Sparkle, Violence, Princess Celestia, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Human, Romance, Princess Luna, Original Character
Length: 66477

Nocturnis is growing, things are peaceful and Princess Luna is coming to visit. Things are looking good for Page!

The small village of Nocturnis is growing, things are peaceful, the magical dome to protect the town is close to completion, the train is once more working to connect to the rest of Equestria and Princess Luna is coming to visit. Things are looking good for Prince Page!

He really should have known better than that.

Cover image by DALL-E AI.

Published 2022-06-18 06:30:03 UTC
Last updated 2022-10-12 16:39:34 UTC

Chapter 2

The sky was clear above, the stars shining brightly as we waited by the train station.

I looked to Twilight as she shifted her wings, looking towards the tracks.

“You look nervous,” I told her quietly, moving close to put my side against hers.

Twilight sighed softly, “...Sorry,” she said and took a slow deep breath, letting it back out, “Tonight we’ll turn it on and I've been working on it for so long.”

I smiled at her, “It’ll work, don’t worry. The small one did work nicely,” I said and glanced up towards the very slight shimmer in the night sky. You could just barely make it out across the stars, making them glimmer.

The absolutely first place we had put beneath a test dome had been the train station. Because this was the one place we absolutely had to keep on the ground so it had been a good place to drop the first dozen obelisks at and see if it worked at close to full size.

Sparks shifted, leaning softly against me, “I know. But I also haven’t seen my brother for a year and a half.”

“I know,” I said quietly and nosed at her ear, “Too bad your parents couldn’t come too.”

They had not been in Canterlot, both of them off to conferences. We should have sent the invitations earlier.

My fault.

“And Princess Celestia,” Twilight agreed, “But somepony needs to stay and run the rest of Equestria.”

I nodded.

I missed her. Still saw her for lessons every couple of nights, but even so. Dreams were just not the same.

My ears perked up at the sound of the incoming train and I looked towards it, seeing a light far into the darkness.

“They’re here,” Sparks said and gave me a quick hug with her wing before she pulled back and shook her head, her magic running across her and adjusting her hair and tail before she glanced at me and I felt her magic across me as well.

I smiled, raising my wings and posing a bit for her.

Sparks quickly blushed slightly and poked my side with her wing.

I winked at her again and then took a step back as the train came into the station, folding my ears against my head to keep the worst of the metal against metal break sounds as it started to slow down.

Moon Glow whistled and ponies quickly moved to form an honor guard on each side of the door.

It only took a couple of moments after the train stopped before the door opened and a full squad of Night Guard exited. They smoothly moved out and slipped into the holes in formation left by the Nocturnis guard.

Then…

Luna stepped out onto the platform. As beautiful as the night sky, her long mane moving in an ethereal wind.

I slowly walked closer, “Luna,” I said softly with a small smile.

“Page,” she answered with a small smile of her own, taking another step closer, her nose touching mine softly.

I looked up into her eyes.

“Oh just kiss already, you’re not fooling anypony,” Cadence said as she walked past to give Twilight a hug.

Well, when she’s right, she’s right and I moved closer, kissing Luna deeply. Luna made a small happy sound, her large strong wing slipping around me and pulling me closer.

When I finally paid attention to the rest of the universe again, everypony else had already disembarked the train and I smiled up at Luna, “You know, at some point we should actually try to do a normal royal welcome.”

Luna smiled and moved up next to me, slipping a wing across my back, “What is the fun in that, My Page,” she said and nosed at my ear, brushing past the feathers attached to my mane there..

Twilight stepped up to hug Luna as well, “Welcome to Nocturnis.”

“Thank you, Twilight,” Luna said with a smile.

I looked at Shining Armor and Sunburst, raising my hoof, “Hey guys, how was the trip?”

Shining smiled and tapped his hoof against mine, “Long.”

“But not unpleasant,” Sunburst added and tapped his hoof against mine in turn, “I’m looking forward to seeing the dome.”

“Me too,” I agreed, “The dome for the train station worked nicely. Getting the large one up will be such a game changer.”

“Uncle Page!”

I ducked down and caught the little bundle of energy into a hug before she could tackle me off my hooves, “Hi Flurry,” I said with a grin.

Damn, what do they feed her! I swear, she’s growing like a weed!

Chapter 3

Sunset walked into the room, floating her helmet from her head and shaking her mane back. Her magic ran through her mane, releasing it from its braid.

I leaned forward to watch from my spot next to Luna, looking past her as I did. I always found the view of Sunset doing that fascinating for some reason.

Which from the way she kept doing it after getting back home told me that she realized that.

Sunset crossed the room and jumped onto the bed, sinking down next to us before leaning against Luna with a small sigh, "Hey... how was the trip?" she asked.

"It was fine, Sunset," Luna answered and slipped a wing across her back, "Page said you were with the guard."

Sunset nodded, "We have been on high alert, doing sweeps of the inside perimeter. We need to make sure nothing big is inside the dome or wanders inside before the shield goes up tonight. Wouldn't be good if we brought the dome up, ponies dared to go down onto the surface and got eaten by something that stayed hidden inside."

I rolled onto my back, looking up at them, "You know, you could very easily leave that to the regular guard. You have the very good excuse of... you know, not having wings!"

Sunset smiled tiredly, looking at me, "Would you have? Besides, I can hold my own by teleporting."

Luna lit her horn and started to help Sunset off with her armor, "Even so," Luna said quietly, "I would have told you the same thing about that as I would have said to Page. Stop being dumb."

Sunset grinned, "Too late for that," and let Luna remove the armor to float it over to hang it over a stand by the wall, “But we’re almost done.”

Groaning softly, Sunset stretched out, "Mmm... Twi with her brother's family?"

I nodded, "Making sure they get settled in okay."

"Train went okay?" Sunset asked, looking up at Luna, raising her head and giving her a small nuzzle, "The work the train ponies did to get it working again was amazing."

"Didn't notice anything," Luna said and nosed, "I understand a Pegasus flies ahead while in the jungle?"

"Nocturnis guard, a team of five that rotates," Sunset agreed and relaxed again, "Make the train ride a day longer because it has to slow down a little, but makes things a lot safer. The train running again made a massive difference."

The year it took to get it up had been a difficult one.

A very difficult one. It has been tough for all of us and we had a lot of shortages.

Some of the most urgent and low volume items had been able to be shipped in via airship, such as medicine.

But a lot of things had run out or gotten really low.

But the ponies of Nocturnis had come together. Everypony had worked together, found alternatives, and gathered what food we needed.

We had refused special treatment too. We ate the same as everypony else, our grain supplies were limited to non-thestrals as they needed it a lot more than us. Well, more than me anyway, Twilight and Sunset got the same rations as everypony.

It had been an eight month period where I had run out of tea.

At least for the first three months, then an enterprising earth pony had discovered a plant you could make something approaching tea from. I mean, it wasn't tea, tea. But it was still pretty decent.

Even now when we have real tea, I still prefer the local blend in the mornings. There wasn't any caffeine in it that I could detect and it was very mild which was nice.

But we got through it.

Even now when things were up and running, our imports were way down compared to before. Sure, tools, metals and such, but our food imports? Something like twenty percent of before.

Most of which was grain for the non-thestral ponies and spices. Some fruits that didn't grow here yet such as apples.

But when it came to what we had to have in the food department, we were fairly self-sufficient already, at least when it came to pure calories.

In a few days the dome was up and we could clear some ground for rice along the river and...

We would be self-sufficient. At least when it came to food. Maybe we could even start farming animals for meat.

We were actually doing this.

Luna nodded, "In any case, it seems to be working," she said before she smiled at me, "I should prepare to lower the moon."

"We'll be here when you return."

Smiling, she gave me a small kiss before slipping off the bed and heading to the balcony.

As she did, Sunset scooted into the spot Luna had vacated and rested her head against my chest. I pulled her softly closer as I looked towards Luna, "You're exhausted," I told her quietly.

"Mmm," Sunset mumbled, "...Need to be up at sunset again."

"Sunny," I said and nosed at her ear, "You work too hard."

That got a small snort from her and a sleepy look, "Says you."

"I learned, so can you."

She made a small sleepy sound, "Mmm... only another night. Then we're done."

I stroked her mane as she fell asleep.

Chapter 4

I slowly slipped out of the peace of sleep at the movement next to me. I grumbled and tightened the hold with my wing.

"Page... need to go..." Sunset said softly and stirred again.

"...Stay. Early..."

She sighed softly against my neck before she carefully untangled herself and slipped out of the bed. I forced an eye open to look after her. Just in time for Sparks to scoot into the place Sunny had evacuated and my entire vision was filled with mane.

I closed my eye again, relaxing. It was early. Luna was deep asleep behind me still.

Twilight sleepily rolled over with a small groan of protest, shifting until her nose was beneath my chin before she settled down again, already back asleep.

But I couldn't fall asleep again. Tonight was the night.

The night we change Nocturnis.

But the sun was still well above the horizon, light filtering in through the bubble of darkness over the bed. Enough to keep it from waking Sunset or Twilight, but I could still see it.

Hours until Luna would get up. Way too early.

Slipping my wing across Twilight’s, I held her tighter, pressed my nose against her mane and slowly started to return to the dream realm.

Sparkles shimmered through the dream realm and Luna smiled at me as I returned to it, "What happened?" she asked.

I smiled and stretched my wings, "Sunny got out of bed, woke me up," I said, "She works too hard."

Luna raised an eyebrow at me.

"I know, I know. But things are about to get better for everypony. And I may just ban Sunny from her position leading the guard to get her to slow down."

Luna smiled and shook her head, "Sunset would not appreciate that."

"...No," I admitted and sighed, "And I wouldn't do that. And admittedly it has been crazy with all the preparations for the activation of the shield. I may have been the least busy pony actually, all I did was write a speech."

That got a wider smile from her and she bumped her nose against mine, "Welcome to politics."

"Poly-Tics. Multiple bloodsucking insects," I said, "Yeah, that seems about right."

Luna laughed and moved up next to me, slipping her wing across my back in a hug, "I see you are familiar with the noble and venerable houses of Equestria."

I sighed and leaned against her, "Indeed. How are things on that front anyway? Your sister says everything is fine, but..."

"In reality, it is," Luna admitted, "Nothing they find overly upsetting has been happening lately so matters have calmed down to the usual simmer."

"That's good I suppose," I said with a small frown.

Luna nodded, "Especially after they started to calm down from the second changeling invasion."

I grinned at that, "They actually call it that? Overdramatic much?"

"Very," Luna agreed, "But it did calm down fairly quickly."

Changelings joining the Canterlot workforce.

I had spent special time squashing nightmares. Or if I had the time, turning them around to be nice ones during the first couple of weeks of the Canterlot hive 'invading' canterlot. It had definitely been an adaptation period for everypony involved. Ponies or Changelings.

But apparently it was difficult to keep being nervous around beings that make you coffee.

“I was glad to hear that,” I said and rested my head against her neck, “But I suspect we may stir things up a little soon.”

Luna shifted her head to look down at me, “What do you have planned?” she asked suspiciously.

I smiled at her innocently, “What? Me?”

Luna tickled a feather along my side and I grinned,

“Nothing planned, just natural consequences,” I admitted, “With the shield up, we will be able to stop just surviving down here. We’ll start farming for real. Exporting exotic fruits, wines. We found some spices similar to pepper that some of us think may become popular. It is going to mess with the market in the rest of Equestria. Some ponies won’t be happy.”

“That always happens,” Luna admitted, “Markets are always shifting and ponies are always unhappy about it.”

I nodded, “I know, and I’m mostly worried about the villages close to the edge of the jungle. They have traditionally been the source of these kinds of things. We’re about to be in a position to outcompete them with both quality and quantity. That will cause resentment and that will spread.”

Luna flicked one ear and then touched her nose against mine, “Work with them.”

“I plan to try.”

If nothing else, having a bunch of friendly ponies to help interface with the rest of Equestria would be very useful. Even if they only did it from greed.

Chapter 5

Everypony was gathering.

I could see them gathering outside the balcony of the throne room in the small square there. I took a slow and deep breath, trying out Sparks usual technique to calm down.

Funnily enough? Actually worked a little.

“I don’t like speeches,” I admitted quietly. Luna smiled and stretched her wings before folding them again,

“You are good at them.”

I glowered at her, “You just say that because you don’t need to do it.”

Luna smiled, “That as well,” and moved closer, sitting down and leaning against my side, “I’ll stay to the side. This is your, Twilight’s and Midnight’s moment. I don’t want to take any attention away from you three.”

I slipped a wing around her, resting my head against hers, “You wouldn’t. Right?” I asked, looking at Twilight as she entered, “You and Midnight got this entire thing done. None of us could have done this without all your hard work.”

Twilight blushed softly, “Page, that-”

“Is completely accurate,” I told her softly but firmly and pulled her close to my other side, “Seriously Twilight. Without you and Midnight… no decursing, no Nocturnis and now no magic barrier. Celestia, Luna, Cadance, myself… none of us could have done anything you two have done. Without you two, Nocturnis would not exist.”

“And neither would it without you!”

“So can be said about everypony in Nocturnis,” I said and gave her a quick hug before glancing towards the balcony, “...Getting to be time.”

Midnight entered through the door and looked at us, “We’re all ready to go.”

“Well, let’s get this done then,” I said and got up, “Let’s not let ponies wait.”

Twilight nodded firmly and got up as well. Luna smiled and nosed at my ear before pulling back and getting to her hooves, “Indeed.”

I took a deep breath, “Let’s go,” I said and walked out onto the balcony, Twilight quickly moved to walk next to me and Midnight joined up next to her, shaking her mane back quickly before we walked out into public view.

The stars and moon shone above, the crowd and square lit only with the heavenly lights and softly glowing crystals.

The conversations died out and everypony turned in our direction.

The majority were thestrals, but I could see pegasi, unicorns, earth ponies. Two griffins even towards the back up on the roof of one of the buildings, they moved in a month after the train started to run again. That had been a welcome surprise.

I glanced down at the speech I had written, floating in my magic before I looked out across the crowd again.

I had spent hours writing this. Hours more poking, editing, perfecting.

“You know,” I said and looked out across the crowd, letting my voice carry, “I had this entire speech all planned and ready,” before I tossed the stack of papers over my shoulder, “Well, that was a waste of time. I should just stop doing that.”

That got slight chuckles.

I smiled and continued, “Because when I look at all of you and remember all you have done, all you have accomplished, any words I may have put together seems feeble against all that,” I said and put a hoof on the railing, “Building this place. The dangers of the forest. The lack of supplies after the train accident. Everything we’ve all gone through and you have met every challenge you have faced with an energy and determination I found very humbling.”

Silence.

“And now we enter a new chapter in the story of Nocturnis,” I continued after a deep breath, “In a few moments, Princess’ Midnight and Twilight will activate the barrier that will cover the entire village with a barrier to keep the large predators away from our village. For the last few days our brave guards have patrolled the area to make sure none enter and now it is almost time,” I said and then smiled at Twilight, “Princess’ Twilight and Midnight… each and every one of you have them to thank from being released of the curse. And now they have given us all a chance to become more than we are. A way to safely touch the ground.”

It started as a soft rumble.

The sound of hooves against wood. Ponies were stomping their approval. It crashed down over us and I took a deep breath, turning to look out over the gathered ponies.

Midnight shifted a bit uncomfortably.

I gave them a firm nod, “Go.”

Twilight shared a look with Midnight and they nodded. They turned to face each other, their horns glowing bright, lighting up the entire square up with a blinding light in the otherwise dark light.

Their horn tips touched before they threw their heads back, horns towards the sky and beams of light shot from their horns towards the clear sky.

There was a flash of light high in the sky and a shimmering field spread across the sky out of view from the village towards the horizons.

The glowing sheath of energy shimmered, fading away to just a slight shimmer in the stars.

Twilight and Midnight breathed heavily, Twilight shooting me a smile, “It’s done,” she said then looked out over the crowd and raised her voice, “It’s done!”

Now it was more than stomps in approval.

Cheers.

The cheers got louder, the platform rumbled with the stomping of hooves. I grinned and reared up, spreading my wings, lighting up my horn to amplify my voice over the celebrations, “So tonight we celebrate the second of Nocturnis new holidays!” I yelled loudly, “The NIGHT OF THE TWINS!”

Twilight and Midnight both gaped at me as the cheering redoubled.

Chapter 6

"Is it always this quiet?" Luna asked from next to me on my throne. I lounged next to her, leaning against her.

I smiled and looked around the mostly empty throne room. The only pony in the room other than us was Flower, the small thestral working at a desk as she went through some paperwork.

"Not really," I admitted, "But I expected that tonight would be dead quiet after yesternight. Way too many ponies with hangovers."

I had been putting off every duty I could for more Luna time while she was here, but audience time was for my ponies directly, even if I didn’t expect anyone to show up after that epic party. I’m just glad said epic party distracted Twilight and Midnight for long enough for their anger with me to calm down. Not to say Sparks had not made her annoyance known last morning, not that I minded, she’s sexy when angry.

If also scary.

"And I also remember giving somepony else the night off," I then added, shooting Flower a firm look.

Flower finished writing something before spitting her pen out and sticking her tongue out at me, "If I did, who would get this done? Besides, I plan to skip out after lunch, Your Majesty."

Luna grinned and nosed at my ear, "Are we sure she's not related to Grey Velvet?" she murmured quietly.

I smiled at her and shrugged.

In all honesty, it wouldn't surprise me. I relied on Flower the same way Celestia relied on Velvet. Without her, I wouldn't even know my own schedule. Honestly, I have no idea where my schedule even is.

What night is it?

There was a knock on the door and Starlight poked her head in, "Prince Page, there is a collection of ponies here to see you."

I looked at her in surprise. I really hadn't expected anypony to show up today, "I see, well, let them in," I said.

Luna gave my ear a teasing lick before scooting off the throne to sit innocently on the floor next to it.

I startled but before I could or say anything, the door opened and a group of ponies entered.

Minx! I'll have my revenge!

They were a mixed group, three thestrals, a unicorn, a earth pony and a pegasus. At the front of the group was a thestral, her flame cutiemark standing out brightly against her grey coat.

Spicy Pepper walked up and then bowed deeply, her wings spreading, "Your Majesty," she said and then also bowed to Luna, "Princess Luna."

The rest of her group did the same but they all seemed content letting her do the talking. But there was something about their demeanor...

What are they up to?

"Pepper," I said with a smile, "What can I help you with?" I asked.

Ever since after the train crash, Pepper had really stepped up. She still ran her food stall, but now more local foods than just noodle dishes and she had become a bit of a community leader.

Pepper got up and brushed her mane back, "Actually, Prince Page," she said with a smile before lowering her hoof, "That is what we're here about."

Am I getting deposed? Can I be that lucky?

"In what way?" I asked, flicking one ear.

Pepper smiled, "...I'm not even going to pretend to be able to mimic the way you make speeches, your majesty, but everything you said about Princess Twilight and Princess Midnight last night applies to you ten times over."

I shifted slightly uncomfortable but didn't interrupt as she continued,

"It wasn't just last night we realized that, we have every since we arrived here," she said before she raised her hoof to intercept my protest, "I know you say we built this, not you, my Prince, but... without you, we never would have. We had been scattered across the lands, alone. Afraid. Even the year without the train was still better than when I grew up. None of us are rich, Nocturnis isn't a rich town, but everypony in town pooled some bits to get you something."

I didn't quite know what to say about that.

Pepper smiled and glanced back motioning for the earth pony, "Leaf?"

He nodded and stepped forward, reaching into his satchel and pulled out a polished wood box and passing it over to her. Pepper took it and then turned back to me, "We ordered this made custom by a jeweler in Canterlot," she said and turned it towards me, opening the box to reveal a silver circlet, "We wanted our Prince to have a crown."

Now I really didn't want to know what to say. I glanced at Luna only to see her smiling towards Pepper.

Then I moved down from the throne towards Pepper, "...Thank you," I told her, looking over her group, "I didn't expect to need one," I then admitted.

"You don't," one of the other thestrals said. I recognized her as well, Swift Dice, one of my guards, "You're our Prince, crown or no crown. But you deserve one."

I looked across them, meeting each of their eyes. Then I took half a step back and bowed to Pepper.

Moments later I felt the silver circlet settle onto my mane, resting just above my horn and I stood back up, "...Thank you," I said quietly before I smiled, "How do I look?"

Luna walked up next to me, smiling at the ponies before she looked at me, "Like a Prince."

Chapter 8

I took in the scent of the forest, gliding down through the quiet night, passing between the thick trees, banking around a heavy branch before my hooves landed on the ground.

Folding my wings, I took a deep breath, listening to the sounds of the animals, the brushing wind, the sound of the village above and in the distance.

I took the chance to get down to the ground to see how it felt while Luna was busy with a meeting with our small astronomers guild. Okay, so it was just one unicorn doing it so the guild might be stretching things a bit, but still.

Not to say that the ground levels were anything approaching safe, plenty of things the size of ponies that thought we would look tasty.

So solo excursions were still discouraged but I wanted to feel what it was like for a little bit.

In a couple of days survey work would start along the river. We could start expanding.

I took another deep breath, listening before I felt something and turned my head towards the left, “...Discord.”

The draconequus poked his head out from behind a thick tree, “You noticed me!”

I smiled and nodded, “Heard you I think,” I said and turned towards him.

Discord floated out from behind the tree, shrinking as he moved closer to keep looking the same size.

“Almost never had a pony notice me,” he said, “Well, there is Pinkie Pie.”

“She’s a special case,” he then continued, growing to full size, “I‘m surprised my main monkey. You don’t seem unhappy to see me?”

I shrugged my wings, “I know you've been around Nocturnis since the beginning.”

Discord looked at me in surprise, his eyes growing several sizes, “You do!?”

I smiled at him, “Of course I do. Fluttershy lives here, I know you have been staying with her since she got her own place.”

“Oh.”

“Besides, nothing to be angry about,” I said and looked at him again, “If our roles had been reversed, I’m not sure if I would have been as restrained about things. Seeing somepony we live afraid like that, needing to hide…”

Discord didn’t say anything, he just watched me before he nodded, “Chaos magic is no longer working on you.”

“I guessed that,” I said and sighed, “The decursing, right?”

Discord nodded, “Yes,” he said and floated up again before smiling, “This means I can stop hiding!”

“This is not a license to cause chaos for my ponies,” I told him firmly, “They have enough difficulties as is. Fluttershy has found a place she’s happy, don’t ruin it for her.”

He paused and then floated back down, “Oh.”

I sighed and shook my head, “Discord, I’m not saying stop being you. Just don’t riskponies’ lives. This place is dangerous enough as is.”

Discord flashed out of reality and I blinked before looking up to find him curled around my horn like a snake, “Ah, but wouldn’t that be predictable?”

“Not really, you don’t really hurt ponies,” I said and then shook my head to shake him off, “Just consider if what you do will make Fluttershy sad or not.”

He flashed back to his normal form, landing with a flip, applauds appearing from somewhere as he bowed.

“A good point, battsy!” Then he snapped his fingers and were gone, leaving me in the dark forest.

Discord.

To say that he worried me wasn’t even half of it. Yes, he was much better now, especially with Fluttershy around but…

…Fluttershy wouldn’t be around forever.

Or maybe she would. If Discord had anything to say about it Fluttershy was likely to outlive all of us, Alicorns or not.

That’d be interesting.

…Sunset…

I glanced up towards the direction of the village. If Discord could help Fluttershy, could he do so for Sunset as well?

I’d give him anything.

But it was all a theory. I had no real idea if he could do anything like that in the first place.

Pushing that thought from my mind, I took another deep breath, taking in the scent of the forest. Nothing dangerous, but…

Being on the ground like this definitely made me nervous. Quite a bit actually. I spread my wings and threw myself into the air and landed on a branch a couple of meters up.

That’s better. I immediately felt safer.

I really hope that doesn't develop into a phobia or anything. That’d suck.

There was a buzzing of wings and Amber landed before me, “Sir.”

“Amber,” I said, giving her a nod, “I think I’m about ready to head back now. I didn’t detect anything, nothing around.”

Amber shook her head, “Nothing dangerous.”

I had of course asked her to make sure the area was empty of predators before I went down. I’m not quite that dumb.

Chapter 9

I poked my head carefully into the lab. Glanced around, a shield at the ready.

Nothing exploded or looked like it would, "Is it clear?"

Midnight poked her head out from the other room where they kept the books, "is what clear?"

"The lab. Nothing will shrink me or explode me or something?"

Midnight stepped out in the main room, "No, just get in here," she said, rolling her eyes.

Pushing the door open, I slipped inside, "So, what's up?" I asked as I looked hesitant at a bottle of bubbling purple liquid sitting on the table.

"Don't worry, that's an experiment for enchanted wine," Midnight said, "It's to always keep carbonation."

"Oh," I said and relaxed, "So it worked?"

Midnight made a small sour face as she walked up next to me, "A little too well. It never loses carbonation."

"So, wasn't that the point?"

"Even after you drink it."

"...Oh."

That sounded unhealthy.

…Wonder what they tested it on?

"Anyway, that's not what I wanted to talk to you about," Midnight said and ignited her horn, causing several scrolls with charts to float out of the book room, "I wanted to fill you in on the readings from the dome."

I looked at her in slight alarm, "Anything wrong?"

She shook her head, "No. It seems stable. But as Twi has been too busy to check up on it," she said, smiling at me, "I figured I should keep an eye on it and thought you would like a report."

"...Sorry, we kind of heaped all of that on you, didn't we?" I asked with a small frown and shifted my wings, "Sorry. Didn't mean to do that."

She stuck her tongue out at me, "Relax, you all have Luna visiting. You all deserve some time off."

"So do you."

"I have been. Cut most work other than checking the readings for the last couple of nights," Midnight admitted with a shrug, "But it's really fascinating. Getting a lot of things we didn't with the first smaller one."

"Oh? Like?"

She floated one of the scrolls onto the table and flattened it out, "Well, for one thing, the-"

The door opened to interrupt her and Talon walked in, carrying a stack of books, "Here are the books you wanted!"

"Thank you," Midnight said, shooting him a smile, "Put them on the table?"

"Sure thing!"

I looked after the dragon for a second, "I swear, he’s a little bit taller everytime I look," I told her quietly.

"He's growing," Midnight answered softly, "Still a baby dragon, but... he's growing faster than I am now."

So was Spike.

Wonder how big they'd get, some dragons were absolutely massive.

Talon returned to the main room to join us, "...Page, you have a minute?" he asked as he got close.

"Sure," I said and smiled at him, "What's up, Talon?"

"I have been thinking," he said and glanced at Midnight, "I want to join the guard."

I blinked at him in surprise, "Really? Why?"

"Because I want to help my home," he said and then looked nervously at Midnight, "I know I help out around here, but I could do a lot more keeping the village safe there. I'm strong, not smart like you. All I can do here is fetch things and hold a wrench. I could do a lot of good in the guard."

I glanced at Midnight. She looked thoughtfully at him,

"...I don't know," she said after several long moments, "The guard can mostly fly, you don't have wings."

"Plenty of earth ponies and unicorns in the guard too. Neither do they."

Midnight didn't look happy, "It's dangerous."

"Everything here is dangerous!"

I felt a small tremble beneath my hooves and I glanced at Midnight. Nope, not her. No flowing mane nor glowing eyes.

Talon turned to me, "Please? You know I could do a lot of good there."

"Talon, you're not old enough to-" Midnight started to say before he interrupted her.

"I'm older than some of the ponies in the guard! I'm only six years younger than you!"

And that's my cue to duck out of this before it get wor-

The vibrations got worse before a giant blue whirling portal opened in the air above us.

I had just enough time to look up in surprise before it sucked us in.

Chapter 10

I slowly started to come too. I was laying on something hard and my head hurt.

Slowly I forced my eyes open against the glaring light.

To nopony’s surprise, this didn't help my headache and I squeezed my eyes shut tight again.

I heard... crying. And I was somewhere glittering and purple. And laying on the cool hard floor.

What the hell happened, last I remembered was visiting Midnight to talk about the shield and then...

What the buck happened. Damn it, Midnight you said nothing would explode me!

I slowly pushed myself onto my hooves to look arou-

"Vamponie!" somepony yelled and then something fast and heavy hit me from the side.

I didn't have time to resist or do anything really. Or even understand what was going on.

I hit the floor, bounced off something hard and then came to a rolling halt, my head ringing.

"Rainbow! No!"

My vision blurred, threatening to darken at the edges.

Something touched my back, "Page! Page! Are you alright!?"

"Not so loud," I managed to answer, "Think... I hit my head. Or my head hit me."

I blinked my eyes slowly but firmly. Focus, damn you!

Slowly the world came back into focus and I slowly started to push myself back up.

A hoof rested on my back, "Stay down," Midnight said firmly, "Fluttershy, get some water."

Fluttershy, why were sh-

Rainbow. Midnight has said Rainbow. Rainbow was not in Nocturnis... which meant either was I out for a long time or we had moved somewhere.

I turned my head, spotting a familiar Crystal table taking up the middle of most of the room. I could see... Luna and Celestia. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and The Pink One.

Puzzle pieces fell into place with a resounding thunk as my hamster climbed back onto its little wheel and went back to running.

"We're in your world," I told her quietly, looking up at Midnight.

Midnight nodded and then looked over at Celestia and the rest, "We are," she said seriously.

"We just managed to find you," Celestia said and moved a bit to the side, revealing Starlight Glimmer. The unicorn looked tired and wore a magic suppressor ring around her horn, "Starlight came to her senses and decided to assist us."

"Twilight, who is that?" Applejack asked and looked at me.

Midnight rubbed her forehead with her hoof, "This is Prince Blank Page of Equestria," she said with a tired sigh, "Which is who you just assaulted, Rainbow."

I slowly pushed myself up onto my hooves to sit. My head felt like it was splitting apart. My vision was blurry.

"Oh Celestia, you're bleeding," Midnight said and I felt a hoof press against the side of my head. I almost wobbled.

I groaned and tried my best not to pass out, "You know," I said, "I can't help but think I got the worst deal when it came to landings here."

"Just lay down again," Midnight said, "We'll figure this out and get you back, I promise. Just focus on not hurting yourself, okay?"

I should be feeling worried about being in a different universe or timeline or whatever, but I just couldn't gather the energy for it.

But my head felt like it was splitting in two and my mind felt like it was stuffed with cotton clouds.

Letting Midnight guide me to lay down again, my eyes felt heavier than the sun and I floated off into darkness.

I slowly started to wake up, forcing my eyes open and looking out over the richly decorated room. The walls shimmered softly in the moonlight coming in through the window.

My head hurt.

Where... am I? How did I get here?

Last thing I remembered was... I was talking with Midnight in her lab, Talon wanted to join the guard and then... I woke up here.

Slowly I pushed myself up to sit.

My head hurt, but it didn't get any worse. I reached up with a hoof to feel it. I had bandages around my head. Oh. Head injury.

Would explain the memory loss, yes.

Still had no idea where I was though. Didn't look like a cell of some sort, that window was glass and didn't have bars on it. It looked more like an expensive hotel room or guest room. Somewhere rich.

Palace?

But where? Hmm. Crystals. Crystal Empire?

Prisoner or rescued?

The lack of bars leaned towards being rescued, but could be political prisoner and they were just polite. Could be magically warded.

Carefully and quietly I climbed off the bed and moved over towards the window as silently as I could before I reared up to reach and look out.

That's... that's Canterlot at the horizon. I could literally see Canterlot through the window.

This angle would put me in... Ponyville? Or thereabout?

Ponyville doesn't have a structure like this.

I slowly sank down to sit.

But I knew of a Ponyville that does have a structure like this. Midnight had told me all about it. Her Ponyville in her universe had a crystal castle.

I was in Midnight's home universe.

Oh buck.

My mouth suddenly felt very dry and I closed my eyes tight, forcing my breathing to remain even. Don't panic. You're not stuck. She got from here to our place and now somehow they got at least me here. Likely her as well.

If they can do that, they can send me back home too.

I'm not stuck. I'll see everypony again.

I'm not stuck. Don't panic.

Panicking never helps anyway.

I put my hoof on my chest, taking a slow deep breath before extencing it as I breathed out. Sparks’ calming down technique helped a little.

I did it again.

Then I put my hoof back down and stood up. Okay. I knew where I was. Where I was didn't mean I was safe, no way to know yet who was in control here, for all I knew it could be... okay, not evil Celestia, it was way too dark for that.

But it could be Nightmare Moon, The Storm King or even Chrysalis. Okay, not Chrysalis, then I would have been glued to a wall or in a pod. So Changeling takeover was unlikely.

Closing my eyes, I listened hard before letting out a chirp of echolocation. It was inaudible to a non-thestral, but it gave me a map of the room I was in. All the walls felt equally solid, the door sounded like some kind of crystal and through it I could hear a pair of muddled spots.

Couldn't see through walls with it, but if somebody stood just outside, I could usually detect it from the dampening of the echo.

I was under guard.

Under guard, but is the place magically warded? Teleporting with an injured head was not a good idea.

Could I risk a short teleport, just outside?

Going to have to, had to know what was going on before anypony realized I was awake.

Moving as close to the window I could, I cast a quick teleport spell and disappeared from the room.

Chapter 12

Once I woke up again, it was significantly later.

Not sure how late. But late afternoon light streamed in through the open balcony doors.

I slowly blinked against the light. I felt stiff and groggy but the headache seemed to have mostly passed.

"Oh, hey! You're awake!"

Blinking, I turned my head to spot Talon sitting by the desk, "Talon," I said, "Morning?"

"Almost evening," he said and smiled, "Midn-...Twilight asked me to keep an eye on you."

I slowly unfolded myself from the chair, rolling carefully off it and onto my hooves.

Didn't feel like I was about to fall over, but I was still a little wobbly, "How long was I out?"

"All day," He said and jumped off his seat, frowning up at you, "Are you sure you should be walking about?"

"No," I admitted and forced a small smile, "Where's Midnight?"

"Downstairs. Everypony is here."

"Everypony?"

"You know, the girls."

I blinked at him.

“The elements.”

"Ah," I said and nodded before I held my hoof out for him, "Thanks for keeping an eye on me. I know you want to see them too."

Talon smiled and bumped his knuckles against my hoof, "I told you I would do good in the guard."

"You would," I couldn't help but agree before I got a sudden sinking feeling.

Oh Celestia, Amber.

She had to be beside herself with worry. She was usually close enough to see me, so she likely saw what happened. She's known to tell Sparks and Sunset about it.

They would both recognize the portal description.

They'd know what would have happened.

"Talon, you wouldn't happen to be able to send a message to Spike, would you?" I asked, "I know Sparks linked your magic."

He frowned, "I don't know, I haven't tried," and felt around the desk for a piece of paper before he scribbled a message on it before burning it with a burst of fire.

He waited several seconds before he burped and the note reappeared. Talon shrugged, "Sorry."

"No worries, I thought so. But it was worth a try."

Talon nodded, "Come on, I'll show you down. Hungry?"

"Bit, yes," I admitted, "Think we can stop at the kitchen on the way?"

"Sure thing, this way."

I moved to follow him out into the corridor. Moving felt good. I was stiff all over, I had to have been laying still the entire time. And curled up in the chair like that...

It was too bright as well. Stupid light making me feel sleepy. I was asleep for the entire night and day!

Sparks and Sunny have to be so worried.

Luna...

I took a deep breath and pushed that thought away for now. If I think about it, I'll panic and if I panic I can't function to fix it.

Talon led me to a kitchen, "Fruit and water?" he asked, "Midnight won't be happy if I give you tea without an okay."

"Fruit and water sounds nice," I admitted and my stomach growled, “Or anything you have.”

Talon quickly returned with a plate of apple slices and a big pitcher of water.

"Thank you," I said and quickly dug in.

I just barely managed to restrain myself from devouring it all like a starved wolf.

"Come on," Talon said as I finished, "I'll take you to everypony."

I followed him from the kitchen, "So... you're home again," I told him, "How does that feel?"

"..Weird," He admitted, "Very weird."

I just nodded, "I get that."

I followed Talon into a large room centered around the crystal map, six thrones surrounding it.

Each throne was marked with the cutiemark of one of the elements.

“Page!”

Midnight jumped off her throne and quickly trotted over, “You shouldn’t be up yet!”

“I feel a lot better,” I admitted and touched the side of my head, “Somepony has mostly stopped playing drums in my head. Last time I had a headache like that I overstressed my horn, I really must have landed badly.”

Midnight glanced back and Rainbow Dash shifted in her seat. Midnight then nodded and turned back to me, “Well, as long as you’re feeling better,” she said, “You remember?”

“Where we are, yes,” I agreed and swallowed, “Midnight…”

“Don’t worry,” Midnight said and put her hoof against my chest, “We’ll find a way to get you back,” she said seriously, “I took a full reading, I have your signature.”

“Find a way,” I said quietly, “...So you don’t have a way yet?”

“...Not yet,” Midnight admitted, “But should only take a couple of weeks.”

I swallowed and nodded, “I trust you.”

Midnight stepped closer and hugged me softly, “I promise we’ll get you back. I know exactly how you feel right now and I promise you, Page, I can do it.”

I nodded and hugged back.

Midnight slowly pulled back and smiled, “Come on, I’ll introduce you,” she said and then guided me along to the rest, “Girls, this is Prince Blank Page. Page, you already know their names.”

“I do,” I said and did a small bow, “Nice to meet you all.”

“A pleasure, your highness,” Rarity said and slipped off her throne to do a small courtesy.

“Welcome to Ponyville and the canon world!” Pinkie cheered and bounced off her throne, bouncing in a circle around us before continuing out through the open door.

I stared after her for a long moment before I blinked at Midnight.

Midnight just shrugged her wings, “Pinkie.”

“Okay then.”

Applejack was next approaching slowly. She looked me over cautiously and I could feel her eyes rest on my fangs, ears, eyes and wings before she nodded to herself and offered me her hoof, “Applejack,” she said.

“Blank Page,” I answered and touched my hoof to hers.

“So how come you keep calling Twilight, Midnight?” she asked curiously.

I smiled a bit, “In my world there already was a Twilight.”

“It got confusing quickly,” Midnight supplied, “Spike and I picked new names.”

Applejack nodded, “Makes sense,” she admitted, “That had to be weird.”

“Very,” Midnight agreed.

Rainbow Dash moved to join us, “So… vampony, huh?”

“No,” I said, “Batpony. Vampony is completely different, for one thing they are fictional,” I told her.

Rainbow flicked her ears back, looking nervous for some reason before she nodded, “...Sorry about you getting hurt.”

I shrugged one wing, “It’s fine I just landed wrong, but thank you. It happens.”

I glanced over her shoulder. Fluttershy were watching us. She seemed frozen in her seat, her eyes very wide.

Seeing her like this was… I had seen the progress she made in Nocturnis. Seeing her back this way was…

It made my soul hurt.

I slowly moved past Rainbow towards her and stopped a couple of meters away. I got the usual double vision I got of a disguised being, her real form overlaying with the illusion. Fluttershy was afraid.

I bowed to her, “I’m Blank Page. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Fluttershy.”

“Hey, back off!” Rainbow exclaimed, “Can you see yo-”

“Rainbow!” Midnight said firmly, “Let’s go, we’re leaving.”

“What, bu-”

“No,” Midnight told her and moved up, “Please Rainbow. Trust me.”

Rarity walked up to look at Fluttershy and then myself. She looked thoughtful for several moments before she looked at Fluttershy, “Is that alright, darling?”

Fluttershy swallowed and tore her gaze away from me to her before she nodded slightly.

Rarity nodded, “We’ll be right outside if you need us,” she said and then turned to help herd Rainbow outside.

Chapter 13

I sat down across from her and settled an illusion across myself, my thestral traits fading into those of a pegasus.

I looked at her with a small smile before letting them fade away again.

Fluttershy seemed to shrink in on herself, taking up as little space as possible in her throne but her illusion faded away as well as she hid behind her mane.

Seeing her like this…

It was honestly agonizing.

Lighting my horn, my headache increased but I ignored it as I cast a bubble of sound and sight around the entire room. “There,” I finally said, “Now nopony can hear us. Anyone looking in, will just see us talking normally”

She just nodded slightly.

I took a deep breath, “I know the you in the other world,” I told her quietly but seriously, “And so does Midn- Twilight.”

“S-she… k-knows?”

“She knows,” I confirmed, “And she doesn't care. You can talk to her, Fluttershy.”

Fluttershy closed her eyes tightly, taking deep breaths before she let them out again and nodded, “I-I understand.”

Thestrals lived like this here still. Afraid of discovery.

It made me…

Furious. More than furious.

“No pony else knows here,” I said, “Well… Spike knows, but you can trust him to keep it a secret until you want it known.”

Fluttershy’s eyes went wide.

“Not that you have to unless you want to,” I quickly said and stepped up, putting my hoof on her throne, looking up at her, “Fluttershy, you’re not alone. There are thousands of batponies in Equestria.”

That really got her attention and she met my eyes for the first time, “T-thousands?”

“Thousands,” I told her seriously, “Where I’m from, we have joined together and formed a village. Nocturnis. A place where batponies can live in peace, without needing to hide.”

Fluttershy swallowed and looked down at her hooves again, “That… sounds nice,” she said quietly.

“I can also tell you that the Fluttershy I know there, all her friends know. None of them care either,” I told her gently, “I don’t think they would here, either.”

Fluttershys illusion instantly went back up.

…Fluttershy…

I took a small step back, “Just… know you’re not alone, Fluttershy,” I told her, “remember that. And that you can trust your friends with anything.”

Then I turned to walk out.

“P-Prince Page?”

I looked back at her at the sound of her quiet voice, “Yes?”

“A-an entire village?”

I nodded, “An entire village,” I confirmed, “We created one. Gathered every thestral that wanted to come. Thousands did.”

Fluttershy swallowed and nodded, “T-thank you.”

I smiled at her and then I left the bubble, canceling it as I did before pushing the door open to see everypony but Pinkie waiting there.

I paused and then shook my head, “Relax, I just let her look at me until she calmed down and answered any questions she had,” I told them with a smile, “I know I can look scary.”

“Oh,” Rainbow said, “Why didn’t you just say so!” and then trotted past me back inside.

Applejack and Rarity followed her but Midnight paused as she watched me, “Go on girls, “she said, “I’ll catch up in a minute.”

As they returned inside, Midnight wrapped us into a bubble of silence, “Are you okay?” she asked softly, putting her hoof on my shoulder..

I shook my head, “Not sure I am. Seeing her like that again… it hurts.”

“I know,” Midnight admitted, “I had gotten used to how she is at ho-”

She broke off and shook her head, “...When did I start thinking about it as home…”

“I’d say when you and Tempest became a thing,” I told her quietly.

“Tempest,” she said quietly and sniffed slightly, “She must be so worried.”

I pulled her into a hug.

I looked out over Ponyville in the light of the moon, watching from a balcony facing the small village.

I was in a different universe. It was just starting to sink in.

This was… actually not a new experience for me, but this time there was a chance for me to go back so I didn’t panic.

I trust Midnight.

I trust Midnight. I trust Midnight to find a way back because I sure as hell couldn't do it on my own.

I trust Midnight.

I closed my eyes tight. I trust Midnight. I’ll see everypony again. I’ll get back home.

I’ll get back home.

I trust Midnight.

“Prince Page?”

Blinking my eyes open, I turned to look back to see Princess Celestia approach across the room. A pair of guards stopped outside as the door closed behind her.

It was… so strange. She was Celestia. She looked identical to Sunshine. But she wasn’t. It was the eyes.

She didn’t look at me like Sunshine did.

“Princess Celestia,” I greeted her in turn, turning go give her a small bow, “I didn’t think you were still in Ponyville.”

“I was not, I returned just before sunset,” Celestia said, “I wanted to meet you in person. When you are lucid.”

I nodded and smiled up at her, “It’s night,” I said, “I would have expected Princess Luna.”

Celestia smiled back sadly, “We decided I would meet you. Considering what Twilight said, meeting me would be easier for you than my sister. You are married to her in your world?”

“I am,” I agreed, “And… you’re right, thank you.”

That would have been difficult. This was hard enough as is.

Celestia regarded me for a long moment, “...But not as much easier as I expected,” she said quietly, “Your Celestia and you…”

“No,” I said and took a deep breath, looking away, “Sunshine and I never… it’s complicated.”

“But you love her.”

I shifted my wings before I looked up at her again, “It’s complicated. We’re so far apart, she is in Canterlot with Luna, I am in Nocturnis. She is of the day, I am of the night. Being that far away from my Luna is hard enough.”

Celestia slowly nodded as she walked up to look out over the village next to me, “Twilight told me of your Thestrals,” she said, “I… had no idea there were so many left. Do you believe there are so many here as well?”

“Nothing I’ve seen says otherwise,” I said and turned to look out next to her.

She was silent for several long moments, “Is there something we can do to help them?”

I didn’t answer for several long moments, putting my hoof on the railing before I looked up at her, “I think… that they may just want to get away from the light. They don’t want your help. All they want is a place to feel safe, a place away from being afraid.”

“You blame me.”

“No,” I told her, turning to look up at her, “I know you and Luna did everything in your power for everypony in Equestria, Thestrals or not. I don’t even blame other ponies. It’s just their nature to be fearful of those that are different. But I know many of my bats do.”

Celestia looked at me for several moments, “Prince Page,” she said a bit firmed this time, “I think you underestimat-”

“What would happen if I walked into Ponyville tomorrow?” I asked, cutting her off, meeting her eyes, “I may not know you, Princess, but I Know You. I know that the pony that forged Equestria despite the resistance, through steel, fire and willpower is not deluded enough to think there will be any other result than panic.”

Princess Celestia, alicorn of the Sun, actually took a step back, flinching before she looked to the side.

I looked up at her. She looked so much like my Sunshine. But she wasn’t.

But she had the same chinks in her armor and for my bats, I’d use every single one of them if I had to.

Celestia was quiet for several long moments, “...So what would you have us do?” she asked quietly as she turned to look at me again.

“Princess Luna,” I told her, “Have her find them, talk to them. They tolerate her, if it’s because she’s of the night or because she was my wife, I don’t know for certain, but it’s the best I can suggest. Don’t tell them what to do, ask them what they want. Find the strongest unicorns of the land, have Twilight teach them the decursing spells. Give them somewhere to live, not just somewhere to survive. They have been surviving so far. Living, not so much for most of them.”

Celesita looked down at the floor, letting a small sigh out before she nodded, “I need to discuss matters with my sister.”

“I understand,” I said and then let my breath out, “...I’m sorry,” I said, “I didn’t mean to sound like I blamed you for any of it.”

“But you should. It was my… mine and my sister’s responsibility to see to the safety of all ponies in Equestria. And we have failed the thestrals,” she said before she regarded me for several long moments, “I came here to see you, to get an idea of who you were. Twilight said you never wanted to be a prince, that you did all you could to avoid it actually. But that my counterpart made you one anyway… and I think I understand why now.”

I scowled at her, “It was necessary at the time and now I’m stuck with it.”

Celestia smiled sadly, “So are we all.”

Chapter 14

What do you call a combination of breakfast and dinner? Binner? Breakner?

Either way, that was what we were having in one of the small dining rooms. Midnight had been trying to force herself awake during the day, but we were both still on something approaching Nocturnis time.

It was just before sunset and I was having breakfast. Celestia had left earlier during the day I heard so it was only me, Midnight and Talon.

Midnight was poking at her roasted vegetables, a fork held in her magic. She looked more asleep than awake to be honest.

Suddenly Talon pushed his plate of gems and vegetables away, "This sucks."

Midnight blinked and then looked at him, "What do you mean?" she asked, “Something wrong with your food?”

"I want to go home."

"We are home."

Talon shook his head, "This was home. I want to go home to Nocturnis."

Midnight sighed, "Spike, it's not tha-"

"Why? I know we missed everypony here, but I miss everypony back at home too!"

"Spike, I kno-"

"Stop calling me that!" he exclaimed and jumped down from his chair before storming out, slamming the door behind him.

Midnight sighed, "...Sorry, it's difficult for him," she said quietly and pushed her own plate to the side, rubbing her eyes with her hooves for a second.

I nodded, "I understand. He's been through it twice, same as you."

She shrugged her wings, "But it's harder for him this time," and then she smiled faintly, "He's been spending some time with this unicorn filly the last couple of months."

I grinned, "Oh really? Who?"

"Her name is Quiver Stream, she's a new arrival. A year older than him and they seem to have really hit it off."

Quiver Stream, Quiver Stream...

Nocturnis was still small enough that I could meet all the new arrivals. Name did ring a bell...

"Unicorn, pale blue coat, pale purple mane?" I asked after a second of thought, “...Crossbow cutiemark.”

"That's the one," Midnight said with a smile before she sighed, "I don't blame him for missing her."

"He's not the only one though," I told her gently.

Midnight rubbed her eyes again before she nodded, her ears drooping, "I...I miss Tempest. A lot."

"Maybe after I'm back, she can come here?" I suggested, "Because surely there has to be a way."

She shook her head and took a deep breath, "She wouldn't. I wouldn't even ask her, she takes her duty too seriously."

Because she felt she owed me something.

"You know what, Talon's right," Midnight continued and got down from her seat, "This does suck."

The door closed behind her and I looked at my breakfast of fruit slices.

I no longer felt hungry either. Because there was no solution here. I could go home, I knew I could because Midnight was working on it with the pony that managed to get her home. Starlight Glimmer.

But Midnight and Talon...

They left ponies behind in Nocturnis. Not only marefriend and maybe marefriend, but friends.

A home.

They have a home here too. Family. Friends. But that dosn't meant they didn't also leave one behind.

For Midnight and Talon...

...There was no happy ending to this story. But at least tomorrow Midnight's parents will arrive, they were away from Canterlot when we arrived apparently. And in a few days, Shining Armor and Cadence will be here.

Hopefully that'll make them feel a little better.

Or maybe not.

Talon really was right, this does suck.

Pushing my own plate away, I moved towards the door. I'm going for a flight.

The moon shone high above as I swept across the silent streets of Ponyville. I banked across above the sugarcube corner and above the remains of what used to be the library.

A beat of my wings and I shifted course, coming in for landing on the railing of the clock tower of the school house at the edge of town.

It felt good stretching my wings and it was a warm summer night.

I looked around, glancing down before I jumped up, beat my wings once before wrapping my tail around a roof rafter. Then I folded my wings and relaxed, swaying slightly in the breeze as I looked out over the town.

I suppose I could go out beneath an illusion during the day if I wanted to, but... I didn't want to. I didn't want to hide.

Didn't want to go out during the day either.

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath before pushing all thoughts about my bats from my mind.

I did my best to ignore the fact that on this world, Flower Rain was freezing in a tiny Manehattan flat, barely making a living minding a small book store.

Other ponies I knew had it even worse.

"Hey!"

I'm not too proud to admit that I squeaked like a filly and if it wasn't for my tail's automatic grip, I would have fallen. As is, I swayed wildly before I forced myself to stop and look to the side, finding Pinkie Pie hanging from her tail just next to me.

"...H-hey," I answered, trying my best to get my thundering heart under control, "Didn't see you."

Pinkie grinned sheepishly, "Sorry," and then she reached behind her back and pulled out a small cake, holding it out upside down for me, "Welcome to Ponyville."

I blinked at her, "...Thank you..." I said as I took it. It was cherry and decorated with slices of mango.

"Figured you wouldn't like a big party," Pinkie continued with a small shrug, "Some ponies don't. But if you like, we can head to the sugarcube corner and meet some ponies."

I looked between her and the cake for several moments. How did she even figure out my favorite fruits...

"I'm not sure that's a good idea," I admitted after a moment, "Most ponies are afraid of bat ponies. I'm very much not in the mood for that tonight, sorry."

"That's fine," Pinkie said and smiled, "But I promise nopony will be afraid."

I never did give you enough credit, did I Pinkie?

I glanced at the cake again. It was way too much for any one pony... that wasn't named Celestia.

"Okay," I admitted, "If you're sure."

Pinkie smiled brightly, "Come on then!" and then let go, dropping down inside the tower, "Weeeee!"

...I'm just going to assume she's alright.

Swinging slightly, I spread my wings before letting go, swooping down towards the ground as I carefully balanced the cake.

Ever try landing while carrying a cake?

Not easy. Luckily I stopped being stupid and remembered I had a horn. So I took it in my magic instead and could land on all four hooves, just in time for Pinkie to bounce out of a nearby bush, moving to trot along next to me.

"So... who's there?" I asked her.

Pinkie smiled, "Not many, just some ponies I know. Don't worry, leave it aaaaallll to Pinkie!"

Fair enough.

Pinke led the way and then pushed the door open and let me inside, "Hello everypony! Let me introduce Blank Page! Say Hi to everypony!"

I blinked against the light.

There were more ponies than I expected. Fluttershy were there, so was Rainbow Dash, Applejack, a red pony I think was her brother, her younger sister I could never remember the name of. Those were the ones I knew the names off, but there was another half dozen ponies there as well.

I raised one hoof, "Hello..."

“Welcome to Ponyville,” an earth pony said and smiled as she approached. She was very pale yellow with a blue and pink mane, “I’m Bon Bon,” she said and then motioned to the pony walking up next to her, a minty green unicorn, “This is Lyra.”

“Blank Page and thank you,” I said and smiled at them, trying to keep the amount of fang down. I think I actually saw Lyra around before somewhere. Couldn’t quite place where though.

Pinkie was smiling to the side.

Chapter 15

The dream realm stretched out in every direction but I ignored it and the dreams in it. I just laid on my stomach with my head on my forelegs, my eyes closed.

I felt so…

…Alone. I would have to do something nice to the Pinkie on my side, I really had underestimated her. She really had found ponies that would accept a bat pony. Some a bit hesitantly like Big Mac, but…

Accepting.

What more that she might not know about was that Fluttershy was there and saw it all.

I can’t say how thankful I am to her for that.

But the way they greeted me almost made it worse. I will leave soon. I trusted Midnight to get me home.

I trusted her to get me home.

But meeting all of those ponies just made me feel even more lonely.

I felt her presence almost instantly. It was amazing how much she felt like my Luna.

Identical even.

She didn't say anything, she just stood there.

Finally I opened my eyes and raised my head to look at her, "Princess Luna. My apologies if I'm intruding, but I don't dream normally anymore."

She looked exactly like Luna.

Because she was Luna... but she wasn't My Sky. It was the eyes. Same as with Celestia.

Luna nodded, "Twilight Sparkle said you were a dream walker, Prince Page," she said as she regarded me, "But I did not expect you to be this powerful."

I smiled faintly at her and climbed to my hooves, "Alicorn of Stories. Dreams are a more solid part of my realm than of yours. Drawback is that in the outer world, I am a lot less powerful."

Princess Luna nodded as she regarded me, one ear flicking once before she spoke again, "This must be strange to you," she finally said, "Twilight said you are married to the Luna on that world."

"We are," I said before I looked up at her, "And it is."

Luna smiled at me, "I would imagine so. If you wish, I can leave you alone."

"No, it's fine," I said and sighed, stretching my wings, "I just miss them. You look very much like her," I said before I looked up at her again, "...Other than the eyes."

"The eyes?"

I shook my head and folded my wings again, "No... maybe not the eyes. Just the way she looks at me."

Luna smiled a bit wider, "I would think so," she said and then motioned, "Walk with me?"

I moved up to walk next to her, "You have talked to your sister about my bats."

It wasn't a question.

"You read me that easily?" Luna said and glanced at me.

I smiled a bit, "You and My Sky aren't so different in that regard," I admitted and looked at a dream portal we walked past. Shiny blue shimmering silver.

Unicorn still asleep. Young, but not very young. Not sick.

Skipping school.

Good for her.

"I suppose not," Luna said before she nodded, "And yes, my sister and I have discussed the thestrals. You say there are many still left?"

"Several thousands," I said and sighed, "I wouldn't call that many."

"You would teach me how to find them?" Luna asked, "I can not differentiate between a pegasus and a thestral."

"I will," I and and frowned. If I did... she'd find out about Fluttershy. I had no right to expose her like that, "Before I leave."

Luna looked at me, "Twilight is working on a way back. But it took all of us to find her and open the portal. To do so in reverse..."

"I trust her and her galaxy sized brain," I said and smiled up at her, "I have no doubt she'll find me a way back home. Especially with Starlight on the case too. That mare is crazy good at magical theory. Besides, I'm fairly sure Sparks and the other Starlight is on the case back home."

Luna raised an eyebrow, "Sparks?"

"...Nickname for my Twilight."

"Twilight did say you were also involved with the other Twilight and Sunset Shimmer," Luna said with a small smile, "...I am curious, how close are your Twilight and Luna?"

I grinned, "Very," before I sighed, "When we're all together anyway. My Sky is in Canterlot, the rest of us are in Nocturnis. We meet in person... couple of weeks a year."

"I don't think she likes that."

"I don't think any of us likes that," I agreed and then eyed her, "Any reason you ask about my Luna and Twilight? Got your eyes on this one?"

Luna shifted her wings, "...Perhaps."

"I wish you luck but warn you to be careful. She left somepony on my side," I told her seriously, "Somepony she loved."

"Tempest Shadow."

I nodded, "What happened to her in this world? She used to work for the Storm King."

"Died. During the invasion attempt."

"Oh."

"I killed her."

...Oh…

Chapter 16

I slowly blinked awake, yawning before rolling onto my stomach, looking blearingy at the evil, evil light shining in through the colored crystal window.

It was early.

Sun wasn’t even down yet. But I couldn’t sleep anymore, no matter how bright it was outside.

Yawning, I slipped out of bed and headed towards the door, pausing to rub my eyes. I thought about seeking out Midnight to ask how the research was going but…

Her family would have arrived today. She had not seen them for years.

I wanted to go home, but I wouldn’t bother her now. If she had figured it out, she’d tell me. I doubt anything happened on that front anyway, she would have wanted to spend time with her parents.

That I understood.

Pushing the door open, I went off in search of the kitchen. Tea. Need. Tea.

The place was empty when I arrived and the lights were off, but didn’t bother me, a little bit of light filtered in through the small high window was plenty for me to see by.

Hmm.

Tea. Tea…

…if I was tea, where would I be? I let out a small squeak of sonar and listened hard. Nope, didn’t help.

All I got was a bunch of reflective hard surfaces.

D’uh, Kitchen.

Sniffing the air, I started to stalk through the kitchen. The scent of the holy leaves led me to a cupboard to the side and I pulled it open, peering inside.

Sniff.

Sniff. I could smell the leaves, but where is…

I poked my head in before pulling back out, holding a jar in my magic. I gave it a shake and sniffed at the seal.

Score! Black tea.

Hmm. Keemun or similar at least from the scent. Good thing these cupboards are magic sealed to keep things fresh or it’d be stale by now.

Now to find a kettle.

…Damn, I haven’t done my own tea in ages. Well, it’s not hard. Heat water, add leaves. Kettle… ah, there!

I lit my horn and filled the kettle with water before putting it on the burner, activating it with a small zap of magic before putting the jar of tea down and looking around.

Should hunt down some food as well. I really felt like fish or something, but I doubt Midnight had any.

But should be apples or something around here somewhere at least, we’re in ponyville after all. And it’s a kitchen, has to be food around here somewhere.

Sniffing the air, I got back onto the hunt. Didn’t take long until I found an entire basket of rich thick and red apples!

Apple family apples! Score!

Snatching one with my fangs, I started to pull back out of the cupboard.

There was a sound and I poked my head up above the counter, “Huh?”

There was a loud shriek and a pony scrambled backwards, her back hitting the door as it slammed closed behind her.

I flattened my ears against my head at the sound and dropped the apple before lighting my horn to light the kitchen up for Starlight as she hyperventilated.

“You okay?” I asked her with a frown.

She stared at me with wide eyes, breathing hard, “P-P-Prince Page?”

I smiled at her, making sure not to show too much fang, “That’s right. I know the you from my world but we weren’t properly introduced. Prince Blank Page, call me Page. Starlight Glimmer, right?”

Starlight seemed to get her heart back under control, slowly dropping back onto all four, “Y-yes,” she said and took a deep breath, “...What are you doing in the dark?”

“Isn’t dark for me,” I said and then gave each of the crystals a small zap to make them light up the kitchen, “And I’m making breakfast. Could I get you a cup of tea?”

“Oh. Yes, please, thank you,” she said and moved to sit down by the counter, still looking a bit shook.

I got busy getting some cups ready before floating one over to her along with a horn sliced apple before moving to sit across from her, glancing up at the anti-magic ring around her horn, “They think you’re a flight risk?” I asked.

Starlight sighed and her ears drooped, “Part of my work release,” she mumbled, “Not allowed to use magic outside controlled circumstances, got me out of the dungeon at least. I can’t believe my counterpart in your world just walks around freely.”

“Well… she didn’t almost end the world,” I pointed out and blew softly on my tea before nibbling on some apple.

Starlight sighed again, “...I suppose that’s fair,” she admitted and then sipped her tea, “But having to use my mouth or hooves all the time gets old quickly. I don’t know how pegasi or earth ponies does it.”

“That it would,” I agreed and peered at the ring, “Wonder if it can be adjusted to allow telekinesis at least. Midnight might be able to adjust to it. I’ll ask her if you like,” I said before I frowned, “Oh and with Midnight I mean Twilight. It is what she went by in the other world to keep confusion down.”

“I know, she told me,” Starlight said and then smiled softly, “...And thank you, that would be nice.”

Chapter 17

Everypony was asleep, the castle was quiet and the village below dark beneath the light of the half moon.

I moved on quiet hooves, exploring the halls.

Most guards had left with Celestia, but some remained, apparently assigned to Midnight and they were doing patrols, but none of them had any chance of spotting me.

Just keep out of the light, don't let my eyes reflect and when necessary, go to the rafters.

None of them had a clue I was even there.

Not that I had seen any of them for over an hour. Seriously, this place has to be bigger on the inside or something, I could have sworn I went through more corridors than could possibly fit inside by now.

From time to time I let out a small chirp of echolocation. It really was a very useful sense and so far, it had paid off.

I had found two hidden doors by the fact that that part of the wall sounded hollow. Both leading to fairly boring empty rooms, but the fact that this place had them kept me looking.

Because come on, who doesn't like hidden passageways?

A sound made my right ear perk up. Something scraping against crystal.

I heard it again. Not a hoofstep. Something sharp. Claws? A claw? Didn't sound like metal.

I let out another chirp, listening hard at the echoes around the corner.

Small shape, moving.

Small, moving, claws against stone. Two legs, not quadruped which limited things quite a lot unless we had been invaded by ostriches.

Talon.

I walked around the corner, "Shouldn't you be asleep?" I asked the small dragon as he got closer.

He blinked in surprise, his eyes slightly luminous in the dark. He didn't have as good night vision as a bat, but he could see better than a day pony.

"Page... yeah, I couldn't sleep," he admitted and crossed his arms and sighed, “It’s… not bright enough. And it’s too quiet and too loud at the same time. And my bed feels too strange.”

"I get that," I agreed and fell in beside him as he walked on, "Not an easy thing to do to turn things back around."

"Yeah, I guess."

I looked at him, "You're not glad to be back. I know it's tough, but-"

"Neither is Midnight," he said and stopped to look up at me, "...She cries, you know. When she think nopony sees."

I sighed and looked towards the side, "It's tough for both of you."

Talon was quiet for a long moment before he spoke up again, "When you leave, I'm going back with you."

I looked at him, "Talon, I'm not sure that's a good idea. I know you are getting to know a filly back home, but you may come to regret going in the future. And there might not be a way back here then, I have no idea how many times you can do that trip."

"Page, Nocturnis is my home," he said firmly, "Yes, I missed everypony here. I'm happy to see everypony again, especially Midnight's parents. But this is no longer where I belong."

The worst thing?

He wasn't wrong. Yes, it wasn't his original world, but he had helped build Nocturnis as much as any pony. He had any right to live there, just like anypony else.

Sighing, I nodded, "Even so, I think you should discuss it with Midnight. And her parents."

"I will. But this is my choice, Page," he said seriously.

"It is," I agreed before smiling at him, "When did you start to grow up?"

"I am over the age of majority for a pony," Talon pointed out.

"Fair,” I sighed, “But for a dragon that's not that old."

Talon shrugged, "I grew up among ponies," he said, "And spent the last years in Nocturnis."

I nodded. I didn't like it, but foals in Nocturnis learned very quickly that there were times to mess around and times where you didn't. And even when arriving, Talon had not been a foal. Young for a dragon yes, but not a hatchling.

"So what are your plans now?" I asked him, "I mean, tonight."

Talon shrugged, "Don't know. Might go for a walk, I need to think."

"Sounds good," I agreed, "I think I might take a flight too."

Chapter 18

I rested on my wings before going down to land in the tree, beating my wings before folding them as my hooves touched down on the thickest branch I could find.

Settling down on the thick branch, I looked up towards the moon high in the sky.

I had never been this far away from Sparks, Luna and Sunny before. Even when on opposite ends of Equestria we could meet in dreams.

I had never been out of contact like this before and I missed them. Missed talking, missed cuddling, missed kissing. I missed the way Luna sounded when I…

All of it.

So much.

And Celestia. Funny that for somepony that was nocturnal to have somepony to light my day up like the way she smil-

I raised my head and listened hard, my ears slowly shifting.

I was on the Apple farm, close to the edge of the Everfree forest. It was the middle of the night, no way there would be a pony around here. It would give me some time to think alone, and hopefully far away from everypony else.

Including Pinkie. She meant well but I wanted to be alone.

I slowly slipped off the branch, wrapping my tail around it as I hung down, listening for the sound I heard.

Half closing my eyes to lower the chance to reflect light, I wrapped my wings around myself and listened hard.

There.

Sound of scuffling towards the edge of the Everfree. Wood against wood, branches shifting. Snuffling sounds.

Those were the sounds of timber-wolves. I could hear… three of them. Sounds getting fainter as they moved off further into the forest.

Away from ponies which was good. They relarely liked to leave the forest, most of the time they avoided ponies unless they were really hungry.

I missed Fern too. Hope somepony play with him while I’m away. He likes Sunset, hope she take care of him. He didn’t need feeding or anything, but he did like to play, hope she’d have the time.

…I rarely had the time to take care of him as I should. Maybe I should look into hiring a caretaker? It wasn’t fair to him to not get as much attention as he need just because I’m busy.

I sniffed the air, carefully opening an eye to look to the side. Red. Full. Round. Apple.

Shouldn’t.

But Apple family apples were really the best apples. Not as good as mango, but… still very nice and juicy.

But would be stealing.

Just an apple, but still… I didn’t have any bits. And apples were literally how they made all their bits. And there was food back at the castle.

I didn’t strictly need to take it.

I grumbled and then spread my wings, dropping before taking to the air again, climbing back into the night sky, flying up above the Everfree. Away from that round, sweet and tasty fruit of temptation.

Shifting my path slightly, I flew past above Fluttershy’s cottage.

It was dark below, nopony awake. Banking around, I swept down lower, just above the grass as I headed for Ponyville before pulling up as I reached the outer most house I pulled up and landed on the chimney.

Nopony having a fire going this time of year.

This was actually pretty nice. I have to take the time to do more flights when I get back home. Just stretching my wings and doing pony things and not just being so busy.

You know, that’s a good idea.

If nothing goes catastrophically wrong, I’m going to live for a very long time. To have all of it be duty and work would make it a very dull experience.

I love my ponies, I have duties to them. They looked up to me.

But it wouldn’t matter if I turned to Darth Page in two hundred years from stress. I keep deciding to take more time to myself, but there is always something critical to do. Besides, I liked having legs and getting set on fire wasn’t fun, so Darth Page wasn’t something I would like to happen.

Though, admittedly… I think Luna and maybe Sunset may be into the entire Sith cosplay thing…

It’s funny. I keep putting things on delegation but two more things seem to appear. Take one task down and two shall take its place. Like some kind of paper hydra.

Worst thing? I already had Starlight and Flower on the job. They dealt with the worst of it. Seriously, how did we have so much paperwork? We weren’t that many ponies! It didn’t even slack off when we went a year between paper deliveries.

Where did they even get the paper from!?

Maybe I’ll try banning it again. Not just banning, but outlawing. By threat of… carrots or something.

Or coffee. Something horrible.

Oh! Maybe decree it has to be on stone tablets! That would have to limit the amount of it! If nothing else, it should slow down the rate of production!

On that silly thought, I settled down on the roof, looking down at a pair of unicorn guards as they slowly moved along the main street, horns lit and shining lights around.

Which was sensible. Ponyville actually had a small garrison. Not large, only like ten ponies, but enough to keep the critters from the Everfree forest away. Mostly.

I watched them for a moment before glancing towards the castle in the distance. It was getting a bit late and the idea of that apple got me hungry.

Dinner time.

Silently getting up, I took to the skies.

Chapter 19

“So this is what we have right now?” I asked Starlight.

It was early evening, the sun was close to the horizon outside and I had gone looking to see how they were doing. Midnight had been nowhere in sight which was understandable as her parents were still here. Didn’t blame her for wanting to spend time with them.

But Starlight had still been working.

Starlight nodded, “in short, it’s basically an effort to reverse the effect we used to bring Twilight back to here.”

I looked at the blackboard filled with math looking scribbles. For all I knew, that could be the recipe for chocolate cookies and I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.

Celestia had taught me a lot about magical theory, but this was way above my level.

“And how’s that going?” I asked.

Starlight brushed her mane back and looked up at the equations, “...Actually, fairly well. It’s harder than we thought at first, but it’s doable.”

“Do we have any sort of time frame here?” I asked with a small frown.

Starlight shrugged a bit and then looked at me apologetically, “...Another couple of weeks at least. Sorry. We want to be sure it works… don’t want to get it wrong and have you end up somewhere else.”

I swallowed.

I had not even considered that possibility. Now I was and I really, really didn’t want to.

“Please don’t. Take any time you need.”

Starlight smiled, “Don’t worry, we’ll figure it out. And I may have a letter for my counterpart for you to bring along.”

“No plans for world domination.”

Starlight mock pouted, “Never get to have any fun,” she played along before she smiled, “And on that note, I’m heading to bed. It’s been a long day. Good night, Prince Page.”

“Good night, Starlight.”

As she left, I took another look at the blackboard before I turned to head out as well. I really, really wished they didn’t forget to carry the one somewhere.

I trust Midnight. I trust Midnight.

“Prince Page?”

I blinked and looked to the guard approaching, “Yes Private?”

The unicorn saluted, “Princess Twilight sent me to find you. She wanted you to know that a royal carriage has been spotted at the train station with the markings of the Crystal Empire.”

“That’s fast, they must have really hauled tail to get here in this quickly,” I said with a small frown.

“Yes, sir. We didn’t expect them for another two days.”

I nodded, “Well, take me there.”

Seriously, this place was like a maze. All echoing crystal surfaces, didn’t like it that much to be honest.

He saluted again, “If you’d come with me, sir,” he said and led the way.

I followed him to the map room to find a group of ponies gathered already. Midnight, her parents, Talon.

“Page!” Midnight said and turned to me, “Where have you been?”

“Asleep,” I said as I crossed over to them before giving her parents a small bow, “Apologies for not greeting you earlier,” I told them, “But I thought it was better to let you focus on your daughter without distractions.”

Midnight turned to them, “Mom, dad, this is Prince Blank Page of Nocturnis. Page, my mother, Twilight Velvet and my father, Night Light.”

I gave them another bow but Twilight Velvet stepped forward and pulled me into a hug and I almost startled. Sure, they never showed any hesitation back home, but that’s when knowing I was dating their daughter and seen me at a distance multiple times.

Here I was a stranger.

“Thank you for keeping our daughter safe,” she murmured quietly against my shoulder..

I hugged back, “It wasn’t just me,” I told her quietly, “But did what I could.”

Twilight Velvet smiled and let go, taking a step back before the door opened and Shining Armor walked in, quickly followed by Cadance.

“Twily!”

They both ran forward and gathered Midnight into a tight three way hug. Twilight sniffed and hugged back tightly.

I took a step back as Night Light and Twilight Velvet joined into the hug. I looked down at Talon, “Home isn’t a place,” I told him quietly, “It’s people.”

He nodded and walked to join the hug.

Chapter 20

"Prince Page?"

I looked away from the moon, turning around on the balcony to look at the approaching Shining Armor, a pair of glasses held in his magic, "Just Page is fine, Shining Armor."

"Shining then," he said and offered me a glass.

I took it and had a taste. Apple cider, "Thank you."

He nodded and sipped his own, "Twilight said your village is in the southern jungles," he said after a moment, looking out over the village below.

"It is," I agreed, "Perfect climate for bat ponies. Warm, just the right amount of humidity and as long as you stay beneath the canopy, not even too bright during the day."

"Twilight said it was a bit dangerous, but I feel like she's hiding the real dangers," Shining said and then looked at me, "How dangerous is it really?"

I took a deep breath before letting it out again, "Somewhat," I admitted, "But it was mitigated by moving the village into the trees."

"You knew it wasn't safe and you dragged her out there anyway?"

I raised an eyebrow at him, "I doubt anypony can 'drag' Midnight anywhere she doesn't want to go. Besides, she knew the dangers as well as anypony else could, she had been there before."

Shining glared at me, "Her name is Twilight!"

"And when she ask me to call her that instead of the name she asked me to call her, I will do so," I told him, refusing to escalate, "I'm not sure why you are out here picking a fight with me when your newly returned sister is in there, but if you want to have a go, we shouldn't do it where they can hear. Because Midnight would be mad at us and she gets scary when she's mad."

Shining Armor stared at me for a second before he snorted and nodded, looking away, "...You're right. I'm sorry, I just..."

"You’ve been worried about her for years," I told him seriously, "And you have nopony else to be mad at."

He closed his eyes tight for a second before he nodded again, "How do you know that?"

"Because I know you," I told him with a small smile, "Or rather, the Shining Armor on my world. I'm dating his sister, we're friends."

Shining snorted and then took another sip of cider, "This has to be strange for you," he admitted after several long moments.

"Very," I agreed, "And to be honest, if I didn't trust Midnight and her abilities completely in finding a way to get me home, I would be running around in little circles panicking right now."

He looked at me for several long moments before he nodded and looked away, "I'm not sure what I would do," he admitted before rubbing his eyes with a pastern, "...Oh Celestia, it's exactly what Twily went through. Alone in a new world."

I knew some about what that was like.

"Not all alone," I told him quietly, "She had Talon. She had our Twilight. Our Spike. Celestia and Luna. Our Cadence and Shining Armor. She met ponies, made friends. Fell in love with a scary unicorn."

Shining sighed and leaned against the railing, "And now she left everypony she knew there behind."

I moved to stand next to him, putting my hoof on the railing as I looked out over ponyville, "She's going through it all over again. She's hiding it, but I can read her almost as easily as I can my Twilight. Go in and be there for her, she needs you."

He looked at me, "So why are you out here?"

"I'm not family. That's what she needs right now. I would be intruding."

"Not to her," Shining sighed, "She talks about your Twilight as a sister. And even if that didn't count, to her you are family. She needs ponies that love her right now and even if I don't like it, that includes you."

I hesitated before I nodded, "Okay," I finally agreed before I frowned, "...so why did you come out here picking a fight with me?"

"Because I can't yell at her right now for moving to your crazy cult town," he said with a snort and turned around, walking back inside.

I glared after him.

Nocturnis is not a cult. Just because we live a bit isolated in the middle of the jungle and ponies followed me personally there and reject part of the rest of Equestrian cultu-

I paused and frowned. That... did kind of sound a bit cultish, if taken in a vacuum.

But no, that's not what Nocturnis was. It was a sanctuary for bat ponies and anypony... anycreature actually... that wanted to settle down there and start a new life.

...Nope, still sounded a bit like a cult compound.

I better check with Starlight when I get back home, she was the expert in these things. I better not have accidentally started a cult.

Taking my cider, I followed Shining inside.

Chapter 21

Everypony was asleep and the castle was quiet, only a couple of guards patrolling.

It was too quiet, giving me much too much time to think and worry as I walked through those silent halls.

I considered switching to being awake during the day despite the fact that sunlight made me sleepy. But that would mean being around more ponies.

My ear perked up at a soft sound and I rounded the corner to see a door cracked open slightly, a slight light shining through the opening. Likely a candle or two.

Well, slight for a day pony, for me it might as well be a spotlight this close.

That was Midnight’s bedroom. Bit strange that she was still up, it was the middle of the night. Should leave her alone.

Another soft sound drifted from the room and I froze.

Crying.

I moved closer and peeked inside. Midnight was on her couch, a book laid before her in the light of the candles, but it was ignored as she sobbed quietly.

I felt like I should just leave her alone, but…

She looked so much like Sparks and she was a friend and… and seeing her like that tore into me. I knocked on the door and she gasped softly in surprise,

“Y-yes?”

“It’s Page,” I said quietly, “Are you okay?”

“I-I’m fine.”

I pushed the door open and poked my head in, “Can I come in?”

Midnight dried her eyes the best she could with a pastern before she nodded, “O-okay.”

I frowned slightly and slipped inside, pushing the door closed behind me as I crossed the room, looking around slightly.

A comfortable looking room despite the crystal walls, a large soft bed and an overstuffed couch, everything else was covered with books.

“How do you do that?” Midnight asked with a small curious frown, her curiosity breaking through her sadness.

“Do what?” I asked and jumped onto the couch next to her.

“Walk so quietly on the stone floor.”

“Oh,” I said and then smiled, “Thestral magic. I only figured it out a couple of months ago. I actually think it’s related to pegasus cloud magic, but when I focus magic to my hooves, my hoofsteps make no sound. I use it here so I don’t wake anypony. And this place echoes a lot, my ears hate it.”

Midnight blinked at me, “Has any other thestral tried it?”

I frowned, “No, haven’t told anypony. I mean, it would be useful for the guard, but I haven’t had the time yet. Why?”

“Because it might not be a thestral thing, it may be a ‘you’ thing,” she said, “Illusions are part of your domain.”

I had not considered that.

“Maybe,” I admitted, “I’ll have to test it. What about you, you notice anything?”

Midnight smiled, “Mostly that magic has been getting easier. It might just be practice, but some difficult spells I had to work for before, I can do easier now. Even teleporting is getting easier.”

“Really?”

Midnight nodded, “At least when it’s just me. Might still be practice, I’m teleporting a lot more in Nocturnis than when I lived anywhere else, but Tempest thinks tha-” she paused as her voice broke slightly and she sniffed, “...Sorry…”

I sighed softly and slipped my wing around her, “You miss her.”

Midnight squeezed her eyes closed tight, nodding before she leaned against me, pressing her face against my neck.

I just held her softly as she shook in silent sobs.

“It’ll be alright,” I whispered softly, “We’ll find a way for it to be alright.”

Midnight shook her head, “It won’t. I-I’ll never see her again. A-and I talked to Luna.”

Oh.

“You will,” I told her firmly, “You send me home and I’ll talk to her. She’ll want to come join you here.”

Midnight shook her head again, looking at me, “S-she won’t come. Page, she thinks her duty is in Nocturnis because you healed her horn. She takes that seriously.”

I shook my head, “We’ll find a way. Maybe if I order her to go?”

Midnight sighed softly, “...She’d come then, but she would be unhappy,” she said quietly, “...and it’s not just Tempest. It’s everypony else we left too. Starry Night, Glide Slip, Steel Circlet, Twilight and Sunset and…”

Her voice broke again and I pulled her close as she started to cry again.

I didn’t really know those first three, but I knew they were friends of hers in Nocturnis. I had met them of course, but I didn’t know them.

I stroked her side gently with my wing as I just let her cry. She was right. There was no good solution here.

It took a long time, but she slowly started to fall asleep as she cried herself out.

“...I’m sorry,” she mumbled softly, “...I got snot in your coat…”

“That’s alright,” I said quietly and stroked her back softly, “Just get some sleep. You’ll feel better tomorrow. I’ll stay until you fall asleep.”

But it was already too late, she was already deep asleep.

Very carefully, I moved my wing from her and slipped off the couch. I looked at her for a second before looking around and moving to get her blanket.

Had to do it by hoof and mouth, didn’t want to risk waking her by using magic knowing how sensitive she was to feeling it.

Settling the blanket over her, I then silently retreated and left the room.

Next time I see Discord, I’m going to punch him in the face.

Chapter 22

The castle was quiet when I woke up.

Which was nice. Slowly stretching, I then yawned and then folded my wings around myself again, swaying slowly from the crystal rafter I had my tail wrapped around.

It really was more relaxing than a bed.

Blinking my eyes open, I looked around my room before sighing and closing them again as the things happening last night came back to me.

Poor Midnight.

I know how I would feel if I could never get to see Luna, Sparks or Sunny again. It… it would rip my heart out.

Everything about this situation sucks. It was good she got to go home, but everything else about it just sucked.

Talon was right.

I peeked an eye open, glancing towards the window. Early, the sun was still clearly visible above the horizon.

Well, I’m not getting any more sleep anyway so might as well get up.

Yawning once more, I then let go of the rafter and spread my wings, gliding down to the floor before stretching again.

Tea.

Food.

Heading towards the door, I pushed it open before my right ear perked up and I frowned. Something sounded… off.

It was quiet, so it wasn’t a sound that bothered me. I just couldn’t put my hoof on what it could be.

Frowning, I looked around before shrugging my wings and heading towards the kitchen before I paused, one hoof half lifted.

It was quiet. Ponies should still be up and about. Couldn’t hear any guard hoof steps, no murmur of voices.

This place echoed like crazy at times if you were in the right place, I should be catching something.

Silencing my hooves, I wrapped myself in an illusion spell and then took to the rafters to jump along them instead.

Paranoid, maybe. But something felt wrong.

I kept moving slowly before I froze as I heard a soft sound ahead and below around the corner. Another one.

A quiet hissing sound followed by very quiet hoofsteps.

I kept very still as a changeling drone slowly moved around the corner, scanning the corridor before she continued on, moving quietly.

I breathed quietly, keeping fully still and thinking empty thoughts. Do not think, do not get surprised or alarmed or anything like that or she might taste me.

I’m not here. I’m just an empty hole in space.

The drone continued down the hallway, walking past straight beneath me without even pausing to look up.

She poked her head into my bedroom and looked around before continuing on around the next corner.

Changelings. Here?

I looked after her for several long moments. This was not the hive I was used to dealing with. Well it was, she had the right colors, this was an actively hostile Chrysalis.

Needed to know more.

I quietly continued on, keeping to the rafters as much as I could. Ponies don’t as a rule, look up. That even applied to changelings because their prey rarely went above eye level, even when it came to pegasi.

If Chrysalis was here, where wo-

Throne Room. Her ego wouldn’t allow her to be anywhere else.

I carefully made my way there before pausing. Only way inside was a bit over pony sized doors. Would make it tricky to go unnoticed, they’d all be guarded if the Queen was in there. I’d need an alternate entrance. I then shifted course and headed out an open window. Flying up along the outside, I shot a look towards Ponyville.

Ponies were still out and about. So they were just in the castle so far. Not surprising, Chrysalis hive is big, but it’s not really that big.

The invasion had been a desperate move. Buck, so was this likely. This was way more open than changelings liked.

Hooking my hooved over the open window, I pulled myself up to peer down into the throneroom. They were there, all of them.

Midnight and Cadance were contained in a pair of green cocoons hanging from the ceiling, everypony else was stuck to the walls with changeling resin. Some looked to be sleeping, but some others like Shining Armor were struggling against his binds whenever nopony looked in his direction, his horn covered with resin.

And there she was, Chrysalis lounged across Midnights throne, talking to one of the drones I didn’t recognize.

What do I do?

Celestia… Luna?

Luna. She should still be asleep, I can alert her and she could alert Celestia and the rest of the guard.

But why would Chrysalis do this, what did she think she was accomplishing? Sure, she’d be able to drain their love and maybe replace them if she was lucky, but… buck, this was even more risky than when she did the entire wedding invasion and that had been a move of desperation.

Slowly letting go, I pushed off the wall and took wing, heading up to wrap my tail around the spire so I could go to sleep.

I need a plan, but in case it fails, ponies needed to know what was going on.

Might still be a way to fix this.

Hmm.

Fix this…

Chapter 23

I opened my eyes.

I had half a day. We had that long before the solar guard descended on this place like the literal wrath of a goddess.

Sunrise.

Maybe a little longer.

Kicking off from the roof, I let go with my tail and turned it into a flip as I spread my wings and caught the wind.

I could not take Chrysalis on my own, she was just stronger than me. But this entire thing hinges on Chrysalis being Chrysalis.

I swept around, dropping my invisibility spell as I folded my wings and dove through the open window before spreading my wings again, flaring a bit to lose speed not to run into the far wall, turning it into a circle.

There was a yell of alert but I ignored it as I banked around before coming in to land on the crystal map before Chrysalis.

She looked unbothered as drones surrounded the map, “There you are. I was told there was another alicorn somewhere,” she said before she smirked, “Come to defeat me, little pony?”

“No,” I said and settled down on the table, laying down as I met her eyes and folded my wings, crossing my forelegs on the table, “Just want to ask why you’re acting like a desperate idiot.”

That got a reaction from her, her eyes widening slightly and she barred her fangs, “What did you say?” she asked as the drones hissed.

“Come on, this?” I asked and looked around, “This is dumb, this draws attention and you know you can’t defeat the ponies with force. You tried that with complete surprise when your last deception failed. Didn’t work out for you then, won’t this time and you’re too smart to think it will now.”

Chrysalis stared at me for a long moment before she spoke up, this time she shifted to sit up as she looked down at me, this time seeming more cautious, “Who are you?”

“My apologies,” I said and stood up, giving her an elegant bow as I spread my wings, “I am Prince Blank Page of Nocturnis, slayer of Tirek, leader of the Thestrals, speaker of the hive. And a bunch of titles I can never keep straight.”

“Hive?” Chrysalis asked with a small hiss, her eyes narrowing in suspicion “Which hive?”

I sat down and folded my wings again, “Check if you like.”

Chrysalis hissed, “Hold him!”

A pair of drones jumped onto the table and grabbed my shoulders. I rolled my eyes but didn’t move as Chrysalis approached me slowly and carefully before she sniffed the air by my mane before she jerked back, staring at me with wide eyes and taking half a step back, “You carry the mark of my hive! How!?”

I smiled at her, “If you know about me, you know I’m not from this world. Back in my world, I he-”

“Traitor! I know you couldn’t be tr-”

“Excuse me,” I told Chrysalis and ignited my horn, grabbing a chunk of changeling gunk from a drone that was using it to secure Talon firmer to the wall and threw it at Shinings mouth, making the rest turn into muffled sounds.

“Now,” I continued and shrugged her drones off, “As I was saying, in my world your hive is allied with the ponies after the failed invasion. It was that or be destroyed. And because you did, your hive flourished.”

Chrysalis hissed at me, baring her fangs as she took a full step back, her wings buzzing, “Impossible!”

Oh come on.

“Search your feelings, you know it to be true,” I told her, holding my hoof out towards her, “With ponies willingly giving you love, even allowing you to harvest from the Crystal Heart, your hive is growing. Your Princess is growing nicely.”

Chrysalis froze. Completely frozen, stopped moving completely, she didn’t even seem to draw breath before she spoke up quietly, “Princess?”

“The reason you do all this,” I said and stood up, walking to the edge of the table to meet her eyes, “You think you are getting old, that you need to gather enough love to get a Princess before you no longer have time to train her. Desperate for it, same reason you tried something as risky as what you did in Canterlot. Back home, Princess Skitter is a friend of mine. I have represented your hive several times to the other ponies.”

Chrysalis still didn’t move, her eyes still flicked around, “...You’re lying. I would never pick Skitter as my Princess,” she said quietly with a small hiss.

“Normally no,” I said and met her eyes again levely, “But when the good health of your hive relies on good relations with your food source and not just try to steal it? I know you can taste my emotions from all the way over there. Am I lying? Have I said one untrue word since I landed?”

“...No…”

I smiled at her and changed to changeling, “Zazzikz zrzzikzz zirrkzz.”
Hive over all. Or somewhat like it, similar meaning at least.

Her eyes went wide again, her jaw working slightly before she managed to speak, “You speak changeling?”

“Some,” I admitted and cleared my throat, “As well as any pony can I think, but it hurts my throat and there are a lot of words I don’t know or can’t pronounce. I’m told my accent is awful.”

“It is,” Chrysalis said almost absentmindedly, looking towards the side before she turned to look at me again, “If what you say is true, you have a changeling name. What is it?”

I scowled, “I don’t know, they refuse to tell me. But you mostly call me, ‘my little predator’. Or if she’s annoyed, Zezk-” I tried to say before I stopped and cleared my throat again, “...Yeah, still can’t manage that word.”

“Zeezzkekeezzkzk?” Chrysalis hiss clicked, her wings buzzing against her back.

“That’s the one. Whatever it means.”

Chrysalis looked at me closely for several long moments before she took a slow deep breath and looked to the drone next to me which was staring at me with wide eyes, “Release him. Then wake the Princess of Magic. We have plans to make.”

“E-excuse me? Queen Chrysalis?”

Everypony turned to look at Talon where he hung on the wall contained in changeling resin.

“Yes, scaled one?” Chrysalis asked, looking up at him.

“Could you let me down as well? I can get everypony some food.”

Chrysalis turned and looked at me for a moment and I nodded with a small smile,

“Should have some hot chocolate ready. Because Midnight will be pissed when she wakes up. This will go much better with a ready bribe. I trust him and so can you.”

“You will be under guard. Behave as such,” Chrysalis told Talon before looking at another drone, “release the little wyrmling first.”

Chapter 24

What followed was painful.

I had my ears folded flat against my head, unable to stop myself cringing slightly as Midnight dressed Chrysalis down. Midnight were standing on the crystal table with the changeling queen backed straight up against the throne behind her, watching the alicorn with wide eyes.

There were times thestral hearing was a bad thing.

The yelling alone likely had an effect on its own, but the wavy mane and glowing eyes likely helped as well.

So far the subjects had involved but weren't limited to 'we use our words', 'what do you think you are doing', 'how dare you' and 'this is not how you act around ponies'.

Nopony or noling had dared to interrupt her since she started and I'm not too much of a coward to admit I had taken cover behind one of the thrones.

Poke.

I glanced back to spot two of the changelings behind me. He looked at me and then poked my back again before pointing around the throne towards Midnight. I quickly shook my head.

Poke poke!

Nope!

I shook my head again before he and the other changeling hiding with me both put their hooves against my back to push me out into the open.

Traitors!

I shot them a glare and then took a deep breath and got to my hooves. They were right though, this couldn't continue, we needed to get things done before the solar guard leveled the place. Or worse, Celestia arrived in warmode.

Ignoring my sudden urge to run, I crossed over and stood between Midnight and Chrysalis, "Midnight," I said, meeting her eyes.

She broke off mid word to glare at me, "And you! What were you thinking com-"

"Yell at me later," I told her, "Right now we have a situation to get under hoof. The solar guard will reach us by sunrise and by then we." I said and half turned to meet Chrysalis eyes, "Need to have at least a preliminary agreement in place and all ponies released."

The Changeling Queen looked at me in surprise, "The solar guard!?"

"Of course, did you think I came in here without a backup plan?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at her.

She regarded me for a moment, climbing back onto her hooves, "...I am starting to understand my counterparts choice in names," she said with a small hiss before she looked to Midnight who's mane had started to settle down, "What say you, pony?"

Midnight took a deep breath and closed her eyes before she nodded firmly, "Let everypony go first and we'll talk. Nopony or ling is getting hurt today."

Chrysalis shook her head, "The Princess of Food and her consort will disrupt any possible discussions."

Midnight didn't look happy and stomped her hoof, "No. They will be released with everypony else," she said and then looked over at Shining Armor, "They will behave like everypony else. Right!?"

Shining Armor visibly swallowed and then nodded.

"May I suggest everypony but Shining Armor and Midnight leave the chamber before Cadance is released?" I suggested, "Just to avoid trouble."

"No!" Chrysalis quickly said, "Together the Princess of Food and the male can eject every Changeling in the castle from the Ponyville!"

Oh for...

"Fine," I said and rubbed my forehead with a hoof, "Everypony but Midnight and Talon leaves the throne room for-"

"I'm not leaving Cadance with any of you! You're all mind controlled!"

Two guesses who that was. Guess they removed the gunk from his muzzle by now.

I looked to Midnight, "Is it too late to put him in a pod?"

"Sadly yes," she grumbled and jumped off the table to trot off to talk to him.

I looked at Chrysalis, "Just so you know, part of this is going to involve apologies and offers of reparations to the Princess of Food and her consort," I told her.

Chrysalis bared her fangs at me, "Absolutely not, we do not apologize to food."

"You do if you want the food to cooperate," I told her firmly, "And if you want the food not to exterminate you. I don't give a buck if you mean it or not, what's important is that they believe it. Are you a changeling or not?"

She hissed at me, wings vibrating on her back, "I could turn you into a mushy spot on the wall. I defeated the Princess of Fire once!"

"Oh yeah?" I asked and stepped forward, almost nose to nose as I looked up at her, "Try me. See how things end up if you win."

Chrysalis hissed before she looked to the side.

"You find me infuriating," I told her quietly, "But I am the only pony here that's somewhat on your side of things and you can taste it. I will never lie to you and you know that as well. You need me for this to work."

She was quiet for a long moment, "...I will apologize to the food. We have nothing for reparations," she finally answered.

"We can work with that."

Chapter 25

I had a strong sense of deja vu.

Chrysalis glared across the table at Cadance, Shining Armor and Midnight.

Cadance, Shining Armor and Midnight glared at Chrysalis.

Very few words that weren't veiled or not so veiled insults had been said so far and we had been here for almost two hours, the sun was long down outside.

I felt a headache coming on.

I slowly felt my head sink down until my forehead rested against the crystal table, my horn doing a small click, click, click sound as I slowly thumped against it.

Oh just kiss already and be done with it.

"Excuse me!?"

That was Cadance. Wait, did I say that out loud?

I raised my head and looked at her tiredly, "We have three or so hours to hammer this down in principle at least," I said, "So if you don't mind, I want to get this over with. Chrysalis, apologize."

The Changeling Queen glared at me.

I looked at her levely until she looked away over at Cadance and Shining Armor,

"...I apologize for what I did," she said after another long moment, "It was for my hive."

"I don't give a buck abo-"

I stood up and my hoof on the table, "Princess Cadance," I said as I cut her off, "You may not ever forgive Queen Chrysalis, but would you condemn every changeling in the hive for it? For not wanting to starve, for following their Queen. Their mother?"

She stared at me, "I..." she started and looked at the drone next to Chrysalis. Skitter had the good timing to look back at her and I would have sworn used some changeling transformation to make her eyes bigger, "...No," she admitted and rubbed her forehead.

"Because if you refuse to negotiate here, it's what you do," I told her before turning my gaze back to Chrysalis, "And you could at least pretend to want to cooperate. Everypony out of here, take a ten minute breather and think, really think about what you can accept when it comes to this. Then we continue."

"I-" Chrysalis started to say and I cut her off, slamming my hoof against the table,

"Out!"

She closed her mouth with a small click of teeth. She glared at me for several moments before she got up and turned, walking out through one of the doors, the two changelings in the room following along closely.

"Page, I-" Cadance started to say.

"Out!"

She flinched back but then turned and walked out the other direction, Shining Armor following behind her.

I let my head drop down against the table.

"Going to yell at me too?" Midnight asked and walked around it to sit next to me.

"Would you vaporize me if I did?" I grumbled before I sighed and raised my head again, rubbing the side of it, "...I thought I was done with this. Seriously, I did this once before. It sucked then and it sucks now."

Midnight nodded and smiled a bit wryly at me, "You are pretty good at it. But I'm not sure treating them like naughty foals is the best idea."

"Well, if they act like it," I sighed and then shrugged my wings and rubbed my head again, "...Headache," I admitted, "not helping."

"I have no idea how you do it," Midnight admitted, "I'm the princess of friendship and... I have no idea how you deal with changelings like that."

"Can't treat them like ponies," I said and cracked my neck, ignoring Midnight's shudder of disgust, "They're not ponies. In some way they are a lot more straightforward, just in a way that's a lot different from the usual pony mindset. But I have practice."

"I suppose you do," Midnight said and then stood up, "I'll go talk to Talon, see if we can get some refreshment in here."

"Oh, good idea. Let's get them drunk. Either they end up in bed or kill each other and either way, problem solved."

Midnight rolled her eyes, "There are times I question Twilight's taste," she said and headed towards the third door.

I looked after her in amusement for a second before I looked at the table again.

Three hours.

Three hours to make Cadance and Chrysalis not want to outright kill each other at first chance they got.

I want to go home.

Chapter 26

You could hear a pin drop. Even a day pony could hear a pin drop.

Chrysalis glared at Cadance and Shining Armor. Cadance and Shining Armor glared at Chrysalis.

Midnight looked frustrated.

"Break time," I said with a sigh and took off my silver circlet to rub my aching head with a hoof, "Everypony to your corners."

This time nopony argued. Chrysalis just got up and stalked out.

Was not trading insults and just silently glaring an improvement? At least then they had been talking.

Cadance slowly got up and spared me a portion of her glares, "This will never work with that monster," she said before she swept out the other side of the room, Shining Armor following behind.

I put my circlet on the table, my hoof drifting to the two feathers in my mane before I let my head drop to the table.

We were running out of time.

Okay, new plan.

"Midnight, can you put a dome over the castle to keep everypony out? Because this will take more time than we have."

Midnight moved across the table from me, "I could, but not as well as Shining. But I'm not sure this will work."

"...Okay, new tactic," I said and looked at her, "You talk to them. I'll talk to Chrysalis."

Midnight frowned slightly before letting her breath out in a small sigh and nodded, "I'll try, Page... but I'm not as comfortable around changelings as you are. I know they can behave, but... they still feed on ponies."

"Right now all we need is behaving," I said and stood up, putting my circlet back onto my head and turned to head out the door Chrysalis had left from.

I let the door close behind me and Chrysalis turned to look at me when I got closer,

"What d-"

"You should leave," I said, interrupting her.

That got her full attention, "What?" she asked, turning fully towards me, "What do you mean, pony?"

"Because we have like an hour until the Solar Guard arrives," I said, "And then it's too late. We're not getting anywhere here and she's too stubborn and you're too dumb to bend so you should just take the hive and leave."

She hissed at me, her wings doing a buzzing sound, "You think yu-"

I stepped up, put my hoof against her chest and thought of Luna. Sparks. Sunny.

Sunshine.

Chrysalis stopped talking, her eyes drifting half closed and I could feel my hoof growing slightly cold as the energy left me. I pulled my hoof back and looked up at her, "I assumed you would be as brilliant as your counterpart in my world. Maybe I was wrong."

Chrysalis' eyes opened again and for a split second before her usual look of superiority returned she looked tired. Exhausted even, "What do you want from me?" she asked quietly.

"Do what your kind always does," I told her quietly, "Adapt. Blend in. Do whatever it takes to make sure the hive survives. And right now the best bet is to cooperate with the ponies to whatever degree can be accepted."

She hissed and took a step back, pacing a couple of steps back and forth before she turned to me again, "If you had not called in the Solar Guard, it wouldn't be a problem!"

"Like you, I have to look after my hive."

She bared her fangs for a second with a small hiss before she looked aside. Then she turned back to me, "This is your plan!" she said, baring her fangs, stepping forward, "To trap us here until the guards catch us! I will no-"

I stepped forward, looking into her eyes until my nose almost touched hers, "You can taste what I'm feeling. Is there any deception?"

Chrysalis growled and stepped back, "...No."

"Then be the brilliant Queen I know you can be," I told her, "Do what your hive requires. Work with the ponies."

"You," Chrysalis said slowly, "Are infuriating."

"Oh, I know," I agreed with a small smile, "But I'm also the closest you and your hive has to somepony on your side here. So what will it be? Time ticks away."

Chrysalis closed her eyes, her wings stilling for a second, "...I could still win. Defeat everypony here, capture you all and use you as leverage against the Princess of Fire."

"And then what?" I asked as I looked up at her.

She was quiet for a long moment before she walked past me towards the door. I moved to follow and returned to my seat at the table as Chrysalis settled down as well.

Didn't take long, maybe thirty seconds before Midnight, Cadance and Shining Armor returned as well.

Midnight looked annoyed while Cadance looked sullen. Shining Armor looked pissed but didn't say anything or look at anypony.

They got seated.

Silence dragged out before Chrysalis spoke up at last, "If my death would secure the safety of my hive, it is yours, Princess of Food."

Cadance looked horrified.

I facehooved.

Stupid dramatic bug.

Chapter 27

I looked out the window at the shimmering pink bubble covering the castle, the sunlight outside filtering in, giving everything a pink hue to it. Outside of which seemed to be a couple of thousand guardsponies, the rest of the Elements gathered to the side.

And Princess Celestia herself.

Midnight were facing her through the shield bubble, explaining what was going on.

I turned to look away from the window to where Cadance and Chrysalis were still facing off across the table. But they were talking now.

Quietly with flashes of anger and snarls from each side, but talking.

Shining Armor was to the side, looking out the window as his magic shimmered slightly around his horn.

He was standing almost at attention, his face schooled in a carefully neutral expression I recognized from the royal guards.

He was not happy.

But I didn’t need him to be happy, I needed him to keep the shield up. Not sure if it was Midnight or Cadance that talked him into it, but as long as he was doing it, it’s fine.

I crossed over to him, “Shining Armor. How are you holding up?”

“I’m fine,” he said tersely, looking out the window at the forces gathered below, “It’s not the largest shield I cast.”

“Not when I mean,” I said, keeping my voice down, “Your counterpart from my world is a friend. I know how difficult it would be for him.”

He didn’t answer for a long moment before he spoke with a low voice, “...Now we’re trapped in here. With these monsters.”

“You’re thinking about it all wrong,” I told him with a small smile, “You’re not trapped with them. They’re trapped in here with you. Besides, if everything goes wrong, all changelings are in one place and fully surrounded by the royal guard.”

Shining Armor looked at me before he frowned, glancing out the window for a second before he looked back at me, his eyes slightly wide, “...Did you plan that? From the start?” he asked in a whisper.

I smiled at him before I crossed over to Talon where he was sitting by the other end of the room, keeping an eye on things, “Ready?” I asked him.

He nodded, “Ready. Hope it still works,” he said and jumped to his feet.

“Don’t see why it shouldn’t,” I said and shrugged my wings, “It worked back home.”

Talon nodded and reached to pick up his pen and parchment, “Ready.”

I smiled at him and motioned for him to follow before I motioned for him to follow and we stepped outside, the door closing behind him.

I blinked as we were suddenly in the middle of a hive of a hundred changelings piled up just outside the room, “Excuse me,” I told them, “We’re just going to send a message and don’t want to interrupt anyling inside.”

“What message?” Amber asked suspiciously.

“You can hear it if you like,” I told her with a smile, “Talon, take a message.”

“Ready!”

“Dear Princess Celestia,

Negotiations are going forward and I hope you take this message as a sign we have not all been mind controlled or replaced with a cuddlebug. Nopony but Spike or Talon would have the magic to send you a message in this way.

Of course, it doesn’t prevent trickery, but I have yet to meet anypony or ling that could mind control a dragon.

Please, just sit tight and listen to Midnight.

Prince Blank Page of Equestria.”

“Got it,” Talon said as he finished before he looked up at me, “Want me to add the usual titles?”

I grumbled, “...Yes, we likely should, as pretentious as they feel.”

Talon grinned quickly and then kept writing, “Alicorn of Stories, Prince of Equestria, Ruler of Nocturnis, Speaker of the Hive, Defender of Equestria, Warmage, Centaurs Bane”

“Okay, send it.”

Talon rolled it up, tied a bow around it to keep it closed and then sent it away with a stream of green fire, “Sent.”

“Thanks,” I told him and sighed, “Hopefully that’ll help Midnight convince everypony to chill for a bit.”

Talon nodded, “I’ll go get everypony some breakfast, this will take a while. Want anything?”

“Just some tea, please,” I said and then slipped back into the room again.

Nopony had killed anypony while I was out. That’s good.

Then again, the way Cadance and Chrysalis were glaring at each other I wasn’t even sure either of them had even noticed I left.

I walked over to the window next to Shining Armor, looking down towards the Alicorns below. Celestia was floating a parchment in her magic.

Midnight stomped her hoof, her wings high as she was saying something.

Shining Armor frowned slightly and then glanced at me, “...Is it me or has my sister gotten more assertive while away?”

“Oh yeah,” I agreed before I sighed, “...She’s been through a lot. She may tell you, or she might not. But be patient, a lot if it is difficult for her to talk about.”

He frowned, looking down before he nodded again.

Chapter 28

Everypony had broken for some rest.

Every guard of the castle had gathered in or around the room and everypony else had been bundled inside so they could be easier to protect.

Across the hall was a second room with the changelings in it. The sun was high in the sky, filtering in through the shield bubble as I looked out the window.

I just wanted to sleep. But if I went to sleep, I knew that Princess Luna was there right now and…

…Okay, I was putting it off. I knew I should fill her in on what was going on, but it was so hard to talk to her.

I looked to the side to the couch where Shining Armor was out like a light and deep asleep. Not surprising, he had been awake even longer than I had.

So had Cadance and Midnight, but they were across the room on another couch side to side, talking quietly. Twilight Velvet and Night Light were asleep on one of the couches.

Starlight had skipped that and just curled up on a large pillow, bundled beneath what looked to be twenty blankets.

In fact, most ponies who weren’t guards, were asleep by now. Not that Midnight's castle had a lot of staff. Couple of maids, a chef.

It had been a long night.

Talon was deep asleep curled up by the fireplace.

I felt my eyes start to drift closed and I forced them open again. It was dumb, I needed to sleep or I’d be useless when things start again. I knew it was dumb, but…

Buck. I might as well. Going to need to sooner or later.

Sighing, I looked around for a good spot to sleep. Could do the rafters, but that might be too alien for most ponies here and right now pointing out that I’m different would just increase tensions.

So overstuffed armchair it is. At least it would be large enough for me t-

“Page?”

I blinked and then crossed over to Midnight, “Yes?”

Cadence finished with a scroll and rolled it up, tying a band around it before she looked at me, “Could you bring this over to the changelings?” she said.

“Of course,” I said and took it in my magic before putting it beneath my wing, “Do we expect an answer?”

Cadence hesitated and then shook her head, “I don’t know. Maybe.”

I nodded and headed towards the door, lighting my horn and using a trickle of magic to force my tiredness away.

Not healthy, but when walking into a predator's nest, it does not pay to show weakness.

Pushing the door open, I exited into the corridor to see a pair quad of guards ponies facing off across their equal number of changelings across the corridor.

I looked around, giving the guards a nod before I crossed over to the changeling closer to the door, “Specter,” I told him, “I need to talk to the Queen.”

He blinked at me, “You know my name?”

“I do,” I told him, “Will she speak with me?”

The changeling hesitated and then ducked in, closing the door behind him. I just stood and waited until the door opened again and the same changeling returned. He didn’t say anything, just opened the door for me.

“Thank you,” I said and walked past, brushing my wing across his side as I thought about Luna.

Never too late to start positive reinforcements to being helpful. Works on dogs, works on humans, works on timber wolves, works on ponies, works on ‘lings.

The room had not been adapted with resin, too little time, but every ling in the hive was there, hundreds of them gathered in a room not a lot larger than the one across the hall. Meaning that there were lings covering every surface, including the walls and ceilings.

And in the middle of it all was Chrysalis.

Every step I had to carefully put my hooves down, often having to shift my course as I approached her to avoid stepping on a changeling on the floor.

Most were asleep, many were watching me.

Even not feeding, with this many changelings all around in this close proximity I could feel… it almost felt cold in a way. Drawing energy away from me. Not actively, just so many changelings tasting my emotions at once.

I stepped over the last sleeping changeling before I looked up at Chrysalis.

She studied me carefully from the armchair she was lying across, “...You really do not fear us, little bat?”

“Fear is born from ignorance,” I told her, “And I know your kind, Chrysalis,” before I pulled the scroll from beneath the wing to float over to her, “message from Princess Cadance.”

She took the scroll with a hoof but put it down on the chair, ignoring it in favor of studying me.

I looked back up at her for a long moment before I reached down and slid a changeling to the side to have room to sit down.

I then raised an eyebrow at her in slight annoyance after another couple of seconds of staring.

Chrysalis looked down at me for another long moment before she picked the scroll open in her magic and slid the band off to unroll it.

I looked at her as she read it. She studied the scroll for several long moments, expression unreadable and her wings relaxed against her back.

Finally she dropped the scroll on the floor and looked at me again, “Yes.”

Chapter 29

Chrysalis stood inside the shield, facing off against the Princess of Fire without flinching. They watched each other from less than three hooves distance, separated only by Shining Armor's shield.

The sun was still high in the sky, but it was getting closer to the horizon.

Cadence and Midnight stood next to Chrysalis, Shining Armor next to Midnight, Cadence next to Chrysalis.

I stood by Chrysalis’ other side. Everypony looked determined.

Well, most everypony. I was mostly annoyed.

“Now, if everypony is done posing, can we get this over with?” I asked, “I haven’t slept for almost twenty four hours and I am about done with everything.”

That got a reaction, Celestia's lips twitched slightly before she looked at me. Midnight facehooved.

Cadence shot me a slightly annoyed look. Chrysalis looked completely unbothered.

Finally Cadance sighed and looked to Celestia again, “We have… come to an agreement,” she said and looked up at the larger alicorn, “Chrysalis has agreed to join Equestria as an ally. Changelings will be required to use their real forms, no hiding as anypony else. And in return for her changelings to be allowed to feed consensually from the love of ponies. They will also be allowed to graze from the love of the crystal heart at the outskirts of the crystal empire to make up any shortfall.”

Which was basically exactly the same agreement we had in my world and which I suggested to begin with.

So exactly what we spent the last night and day doing was beyond me.

Everypony but me is an idiot.

Or I may just be grumpy because I needed a nap. Likely both to be honest.

Celestia frowned slightly at Cadance before she glanced to Chrysalis before looking back at Cadance and Midnight again, “Are you certain of this?”

Midnight nodded, “This is something very similar to what developed in the other world. It worked very well there. I’m not saying it will be easy for anypony or anyling, it will need real effort from all sides”

Cadence shifted her wings before she nodded as well, “It was the best we could come up with,” she admitted and glanced at Chrysalis, “And… it won’t harm the heart.”

Chrysalis slowly smiled at Celestia, “A balance has been struck. You feed us and we help you. A most… harmonious agreement, don’t you say?”

Celestia’s wings rose in annoyance and I facehooved before I turned to her, stomping my hoof,

“Fucking damn it, Chrysalis. Can you stop being yourself for two minutes so we can get this shit done?” I asked and glared up at her, “I want to go sleep!”

The big bug actually cringed slightly before she looked at Celestia again, “The agreement we have come to is… acceptable,” she said and scraped her hoof against the stone beneath her, “We will no longer capture ponies and we will release any already captured. We will build a new hive closer to Canterlot and the f-ponies.”

Cadance nodded, “And will allow regular inspections to show that no ponies are harmed.”

“Or other creatures,” Midnight added.

Chrysalis bared her fangs for a moment before she nodded, “As agreed.”

“And in return Equestria will assist in defending the hive against any that would harm it,” Cadence continued and glanced at Chrysalis, “They will also assist in the defense of Equestria if we are attacked.”

Celestia looked between Midnight and Cadance before looking to Chrysalis again, “I… want to believe you,” she said, “But I know you.”

“As I know you, Princess of Fire,” Chrysalis said as she faced her squarely, “Because you will follow this agreement, my hive will be safe and flourish. None will dare touch us with the might of Equestria behind us.”

“If you move against anypony else, any agreement would be void.”

Chrysalis simply looked at her smuggly, “Why would we need to? We would have all the food we need right here. Why risk a confrontation?”

“If you can ever trust Chrysalis about something,” I said, “Is that she will do what is the best for her hive. And this is too good of a deal for anypony to leave on the table. Safety and a steady access to food? Doesn't get much better.”

Celestia slowly folded her long beautiful wings to regard Chrysalis for a long moment before she spoke up again, “Shining Armor. You may lower the shield.”

Shining Armor lowered his head and the shield went down, fading away into nothing. You felt it in the air, the air suddenly flowing freely once more.

Celestia slowly held one hoof out.

Chrysalis looked at it before extending her own and taking it.

Chapter 30

The dream realm stretched out in every direction but I just relaxed, tightening my wings slightly around myself as I hung from my tail from a piece of stardust.

I could just as easily have bundled up a bit to make it soft and squishy to lay on, but this really was relaxing.

"I spoke with my sister," a voice said, drifting in from in front of me.

Opening my eyes, I looked at Princess Luna, "Princess Luna," I said in greeting, "Good evening."

"Good evening, Prince Page," she greeted me in turn with a nod, "I spoke with my sister," she repeated.

"So you know that peace has been restored," I said, "Harmony once more in Equestria."

As long as you don't look too deeply beneath the surface anyway.

"You trust Chrysalis so hold to her word?" Luna asked, one eyebrow raising, "We thought you were saner than this."

I smiled faintly, "No, I trust Chrysalis to do whatever is best for Chrysalis. Free defense against opponents, free food security, free travel... a deal that's hard to give up. I have no doubt she'd break it in a second if there was a better deal to be found, but who could give that?"

Luna looked thoughtful, "Perhaps the Griffons..."

"No," I said and shook my head, "Not in their character. A griffin will stab you in the back, sure, but if they do, it's while you're facing them and armed."

Luna looked puzzled for a second before she smiled, looking almost like My Sky for a split second, "That is a very good description."

"Thank you," I said and sighed, "The point is that as long as the deal is better than whatever the cuddlebugs can find elsewhere, they will stick to it."

Luna frowned slightly.

"Don't get me wrong," I said and sighed, "She's still Chrysalis. She will plan and plot and push you. She may threaten and manipulate. She'll keep you on your hooves," I said with a small smile, "But she'll stick to the deal."

Luna regarded me for several seconds, "...You admire her."

I grinned briefly, "I'm not sure I'd go that far. But she is one of the brightest people I know. Underhooved and manipulative yes, but in raw bright intelligence? I'm not sure if she or your sister is the smartest in Equestria."

That earned me a raised eyebrow, "My self or Princess Twilight is not in the running?"

I smiled slightly at her, "Not the same thing. Intelligence is one thing, brightness is another. Nopony I know beats Midnight or Sparks in intelligence, given time they'll outthink anypony. But being realistic, they don't have that... snap."

"Snap?"

"The ability to change their plans in a split second," I said and held my wings a bit tighter around myself, "Look at Chrysalis. Her plan was to capture everypony important as hostages and take what she needed. Things changed and instead of trying to keep things on plan like somepony like Midnight would have, she twisted and let it change her plans to something completely different."

Luna scraped a hoof against the floor with a thoughtful look on her face, "That does sound like my sister," she admitted.

I nodded and sighed, "One of the reasons I suspect your and my wife's rebellion didn't succeed that long ago. You're a smart pony, as smart as your sister."

Luna frowned slightly, "But I can't do that..." she said quietly.

I smiled, "Wrong. You definitely can, I saw it in my wife. But you're also too damn stubborn to take advantage of it a lot of the time."

That drew a smile from her and she sighed, "A fair point."

"Not a lot of ponies have that," I said and held my wings around myself.

"Do you?"

I grinned, "Me? No."

As demonstrated by me always ending up doing what Celestia wants me to. Somehow. It has to be trickery of some sort. Not that she's really pretty, has really nice wings and were difficult to say no to.

Luna watched me for a second before glancing up at my tail, "That can not be comfortable."

"Oh, it most definitely is," I argued, "Nightvision, hearing, silent flight... the real pro of being a batpony is the ability to sleep like this."

Luna looked slightly dubious, one eyebrow raised before she shook her head, "You really think this treaty will succeed?"

I sighed and looked at her, "...I don't know..." I admitted, "I know it can work. It has at home. But I also know it has been a lot of hard work on all sides to make sure it does. It's going to be difficult. There will be moments you want to throw them all out. But it's worth it."

Luna looked down, thoughtful before she nodded, "Very well. we shall try."

"Do or do not. There is no try."

Luna frowned in thought as she looked at me again, "That makes very little sense."

"Try is something you do when you expect to fail."

Chapter 31

I felt a lot better after getting almost a full day of sleep.

The sun was just about setting at the horizon and the changelings were all gathered in one part of the castle. Everypony else in the rest of it, most of the royal guard had fucked off where they came from and the rest had set up camp next to the castle, fires lighting up their campsite.

Absolutely none of the above was my problem right now.

Instead, I was on the hunt. I didn't often get drunk, but tonight seemed like an excellent night to make a point to do so. Because last night had been a bitch and a half.

However, that posed a problem.

I couldn't just pop into Ponyville to buy some. For one thing, it was closed. For the other, I would need to disguise myself or ponies would be running around in fear.

Also, I had no bits.

Midnight being Midnight, I didn't exactly expect a big stash in the castle, but there had to be some around here somewhere.

If nothing else, she was friends with Applejack.

There had to be cider or something like it somewhere around here.

So I moved through the castle on silent hooves and wings. The kitchen had been a bust(well, they had mango, so not completely), and I had moved on from there.

...Of course I could just ask somepony, but where was the fun in that.

I spotted a glimmer of light through a slightly open door and peered inside only to see Shining Armor standing and looking out the window towards the guard camp, the room lit mostly by the firelight outside.

I hesitated for a second before I deliberately pulled the magic from my hooves to cause hoofsteps as I pushed the root open, "Sorry, I saw light," I said as Shining Armor startled, "Am I disturbing you?"

Shining shook his head, "No, it's fine," he said and turned back to the window.

Crossing the room, I stood next to him, looking out at the camp, "Miss it?" I asked after a moment.

"The guard?" he asked and at my nod he shrugged, "Sometimes," he admitted, "I'm still technically in the guard and I am in charge of the crystal guard."

"But it's not the same."

"It's not the same," he agreed before he sighed, "...Sorry about what I said before, I know now what you were trying to do."

"Don't worry about it. Was actually pretty helpful," I said with a small shrug, "And I know you don't like changelings."

He snorted and flicked his ears, "You can say that. I'm still not happy about any of this but... at least nopony got hurt."

"Sometimes that's the best we can hope for."

He made a small sound of agreement.

"So what are you doing here?" I asked, "I would have thought you'd be spending time with your parents and Midnight?"

Shining smiled slightly, "Our parents are asleep and Cadance banished me while she talked to my sister."

I raised an eyebrow, "Banished?"

"Apparently it was not for my ears," he said and shrugged, "So what are you up to?"

"Looking for something to get drunk with," I admitted, "Yesterday was that sort of.. oh, buck, it was still earlier today."

That got a grin, "I'm with you there," before he shook his head, "Not sure it's a good idea though, we still have a bunch of changelings."

"Oh, it's definitely not. Wanna join?"

Shining laughed and nodded, "If I thought Twily had anything home, I'd be way ahead of you already. Check the kitchen?"

"Yeah, most I found was a small bottle of cooking wine," I admitted, "Any plans now?"

"Going to tour the guard camp I think," he said and smirked, "I may not be an active guard, but I still have my rank and can't have them get too comfortable. Wanna come?"

I considered it for a second before I shook my head, "I think I'll take a flight, stretch my wings a bit. Some fresh air would be nice right about now."

I rested on my wings before slowly banking around, looking down towards Fluttershy's cottage. The windows still shone through with light, somepony down there was still awake.

Banking around again, I considered things for a moment before mentaly shrugging. As good of a time as possible.

Silently coming in for landing, my hooves touched ground at the edge of Fluttershy's garden before I walked over to the door.

I listened hard. No voices so no company over. Fairly certain it was safe, I raised my hoof and knocked on the door.

There were no sound for a second inside before I heard quiet hoofsteps approaching the door before it opened a small crack to reveal a yellow coat and a bit of pink mane, "P-Prince Page?"

"Lady Fluttershy," I said, giving her a small bow, "My apologies for disrupting you this late, but there is something I need to talk to you about. Would you have a moment?"

She was silent for a moment before she nodded, "...O-okay..." she said and backed away, opening the door, "Come on. C-could I offer a cup of tea?"

"That would be very nice, thank you," I admitted with a smile as I entered.

A white bunny jumped up to sit before me, looking up at me before looking back at Fluttershy, making a clicking sound.

Fluttershy went beet red from the tips of her ears, "Angel Bunny!" she gasped and scooped him up before rushing to the kitchen.

I blinked after them in slight confusion and then gave the door a small kick with my hoof, causing it to swing closed behind me.

Then I looked around. Fluttershy's cottage was fairly small, all seemingly centered around the living room with a couch, a fireplace where a small fire crackled away and a few bookshelves. the room lit up by the fire and candles. And a crapload of animals.

A skunk peered at me from a box at the other side of the room and I lifted my hoof to avoid stepping on a family of mice crossing the room.

I knew she liked animals, but I knew she didn't keep as many in Nocturnis. Was it for company or something else. The Fluttershy I knew wasn't exactly a social butterfly, but I did know she was friendly with a lot of ponies in Nocturnis.

Moving over to the couch, I carefully checked that I wouldn't sit on anything before I jumped onto it and settled down to wait.

It didn't take long before Fluttershy returned, balancing a tray in one wing. Like that first time I saw it, I saw her true self through her illusion almost like double vision. I saw her fluffy ears, cute fangs and bat wings. But I also saw the pegasus everypony thought she was.

She set the tray on the table, glancing at me nervously as she poured me a cup before offering it.

"Thank you," I said and took it by hoof. It was impolite to take food by magic if offered by hoof. Part of the things Sunshines lessons have taught me, "Again, sorry for bothering you this late," I said.

"I-it's alright."

Seeing her this anxious, this... shy... once more...

It tore my heart out. I knew she could be much more, feel much better about herself and the ponies around her. She deserved so much more than to constantly be worried and afraid.

I took in the scent of the green tea to give her a second to collect herself before I spoke, "I'm sure Midnight, that is to say, your Twilight, has told you about Nocturnis?" I asked and looked at her.

Fluttershy nodded and hid slightly behind her mane, "It sounds...nice."

I nodded, "I can't make anything like it here," I said with a small sigh, "But Princess Luna has expressed an interest in doing what she can for any bat ponies in Equestria. I found all bats with the help of dream magic, but if I teach her how to find thestrals..."

Fluttershy went very, very still. If I couldn't hear her heart thumping hard, I would have sworn she had turned into a statue.

I didn't say anything, I just sipped my tea and looked towards the fireplace. It took several long moments before her ears slowly drooped slightly and she looked down at her cup of tea.

"...It would help a lot of ponies..." she said and I could barely make it out, she was so quiet.

"It would," I confirmed gently, "But I wanted to ask you what you wanted me to do. You deserve better than to just have your secret yanked out into the open. If you tell me not to teach her, I won't. But if I do... she will find you."

Fluttershy took a slow breath before she looked at me and for a split second, I saw who she was. Who she could be. The beautiful and strong thestral that stood in my throne room, facing down half a dozen ponies about the best way to expand the village because doing it in that tree would disrupt a family of monkeys.

The pony that I had not heard a stutter from in over a year. The pony that no longer hid behind her mane.

"I-I want you to do it," she said quietly but in the firmest voice I heard from her here, "I... there are colts and fillies that..."

She broke off and looked down at her tea again, "...Don't want them to..."

"Didn't know about any other bats than your mother until I arrived, did you?" I asked gently.

She shook her head and swallowed, "Twilight told me. So many. I... I have my friends. I have my home. Many... many don't even have that," she said, her voice growing more steady as she spoke before she met my eyes for the first time and her illusion flashed away, leaving her fully in her real form, "And I won't be the pony that say they can't have better!"

Fluttershy was a good pony.

A good strong pony with strong ethics and morals and I had taken advantage of all of that several times to get Nocturnis built. And here I was doing it again. Except this time I would leave and drop even more onto her shoulders.

Fluttershy was a good pony.

I was not.

I nodded and put my half finished cup down on the table, "I will teach her before I leave," I said and then looked at her, "Maybe tell your friends before that. Midnight will be with you the entire way, know that."

Fluttershy visibly swallowed, her eyes shining in sudden fear but she still nodded firmly.

I gave her a small bow, "Good Night, Lady Fluttershy," I said before I turned to leave, feeling like a monster.

Chapter 33

The dream realm stretched out in all directions and I peered at the portal before me. It was dark and stormy, rippling with silver.

“Prince Page.”

“Princess Luna,” I said and looked back to her as she joined me.

She stepped up next to me, “There is a Nightmare in there,” she said and then looked to me, “You’re not helping her?”

I sighed, “...This is not my world. I would like to, but not without asking you for permission. On this world, this is your realm.”

Luna frowned slightly and then nodded, “You would leave a pony in danger?”

“Hardly danger,” I said and looked up at her, “Nightmares are scary, yes, but ponies managed without anypony to guard their dreams for a millenium. They are scary, yes, but not really dangerous.”

Luna sighed softly, “They can be,” she said quietly, “They can still kill a weak pony, an elderly or sick pony may die of fright.”

“And this is a healthy baker in his twenties,” I told her as I got up, “Not in danger. Would you like me to join you in the hunt?”

Nodding, Luna stepped forward, “If you would like,” she said, moving into the portal.

I got up and touched my horn to the portal, following her into the dream. The dream formed around us, leaving us in a larger than life kitchen. The counters stretching up like mountains above our heads.

A earth pony with blonde mane and grey coat and with a bread cutiemark were running for his life on the floor, being chased by a massive rat the size of a dozen ponies.

I raised my eyebrow and walked up next to Luna as I watched the scene as he scrambled, just barely able to avoid the rat chasing him, “Remind me not to buy anything from his bakery,” I commented.

Luna glanced at me, “Indeed,” she commented and turned back, “Would you like to battle the Nightmare?”

“I would,” I agreed and spread my wings, taking to the sky before I twisted through the air. It liked playing cat and mouse, huh?

I can play that too.

Wrapping the fabric of the dream around myself, forging it into a different shape before I pounced in the form of a tabby cat.

I slammed down on the Nightmare, smashing the rat to the floor, claws extended as I went for the back of the neck with my fangs.

The Nightmare let out a very rat like squeak before dissolving into sparkles and I drank them in, feeling the usual rush of energy from it.

I met the baker's eyes as he looked back at me before I tapped my paw, changing the dream around us. Everything shuddered and shifted in a ripple from my paw.

Suddenly the baker was at the right size compared to his kitchen, a different pony faced him across the counter, the unicorn holding a paper in her magic as she talked to him about health violations.

I returned to my actual form but kept the small size as I took wing and flew over to Luna, landing before her.

“An interesting change of dream,” Luna said and looked up towards the two ponies, “And I can’t help but notice that you made sure he will remember this part.”

“Maybe it will do him good,” I said and sighed, “Not the calming dream I usually leave behind, but if he really has a rat problem bad enough for a Nightmare to latch onto as a subject, this may save some ponies from getting sick in the future.”

Luna turned to regard me again, “Your mastery of dream magic is quite remarkable.”

I smiled at her, “I had a very good teacher,” I told her and then shrugged, “Your realm is the night, the moon, the stars. Mine is… imagination. Stories. Much tighter bound to dreams than even yours are. It makes it easy for me.”

“Even so,” Luna said, “It’s not an easy subject even for a pony skilled in it. I have known two other ponies able to use the most rudimentary dream magic from their special talents. I have never known a pony able to do it like you. Not even myself.”

I shook my head, “I’m not as good as you are,” I said and then smiled at her, “Not yet.”

“Not yet,” she agreed before she smiled, “But I do have an advantage in practice. Before I was as good as you are now it took me… hundreds of years. How long have you been practicing it?”

“Not anywhere near as long,” I admitted, “My wife started to teach me before I got my wings, but even so…”

Luna nodded, “As I thought,” she said before she smiled slightly, “...I wonder where the you of this world is.”

I shook my head, “I’m not. I’m from a different world entirely,” I told her, “I’m not sure if Midnight told you of that…”

“She did,” Luna said and frowned, “And you have no idea how you ended up there?”

“No,” I admitted and then shrugged my wings, “But it seems to be the split of the timeline from this one as far as we’d been able to determine.”

Luna nodded, “So when we met, it really was a version of me you met.”

I smiled and sighed, “This must be almost as strange to you as it is to me.”

“Not so strange as for you,” Luna admitted, “Just… thinking. Would you be willing to bring a message to your wife from me?”

“Of course, but at this rate you may have to loan me a postal satchel.”

Chapter 34

I looked at the two blackboards covered in complicated spell calculations and diagrams before I turned to Midnight, raising one eyebrow, "I am better at this stuff than I used to be," I told her, "But I'm still at the two plus two stage. Can you explain this to me in small words?"

Midnight stuck her tongue out at me, "Basically, we almost have it," she said, "I had an idea during the negotiations that seemed to have worked."

"You did math during the negotiations?" I asked and glanced at the blackboard.

She frowned, "What did you think I was doing while nopony was talking?"

"...Okay, dumb question," I admitted. I had spent the time being bored and annoyed.

I mentally ratcheted Midnight and Twilight's estimated intelligence up another couple of notches above myself, "So what do we have?"

"If this pans out," Starlight said from across the table, a pen floating in her magic, "We might have a castable spell ready in a few days to a week."

"That's great news!" I said with a smile, "I thought it would take a lot longer!"

"If this pans out," Midnight cautioned me, "But it's looking good so far, we'll be able to go back soon."

I blinked at that, looking at her, "...You mean I will be able to go back soon."

Midnight shook her head and let out a small sigh, "Page... we're all going home. Me, You, Talon. Because he was right. This was home and it's been amazing seeing everypony again. But this isn't home anymore."

"Starlight, leave the room," I said quietly.

The unicorn almost ran for the door, closing it behind her.

Midnight looked at me as I turned fully to her, "You can't," I told her firmly.

"Can't?" she asked, one eyebrow raising, "I can't?"

"You can't come," I said and sighed, "Ponies here need you."

Midnight stepped forward, her nose almost touching mine, "Ponies? Or Bat Ponies?"

I flinched slightly and took half a step back, "...Both," I said quietly, "What if something happens, they will need the element of magic."

"But that's not what you were thinking of," she said, taking another step forward.

This time I didn't back off, "Don't make it invalid," I told her seriously, "And I might not be able to follow that entire thing," I said and nodded towards the blackboards, "But even I can follow a degrading magical stability ratio. There are only so many times you can do this trip without safely.”

Midnight sighed softly and nodded, taking half a step, moving between me and the blackboard before she sat down, "We might never be able to come back here again safely."

I shook my head, "It's a bad idea," I told her seriously, "Forget the thestrals here, what if they do need your element?"

"Then another will step forward," Midnight said and looked at me, "Page, I'm the element of magic because I was in the right place at the right time with the right ponies. Not because I'm unique."

I sighed, "Fine, what about the bat ponies here, without decursing-"

"A spell any pair of alicorns can do," Midnight told me, "It's not that difficult-"

"Yes it is."

"...Okay, fine. It's relatively not that difficult," she admitted, "It just needs a lot of power behind it to burn through the blood magic. I can teach it to Cadance and Luna. And Celestia."

"Your friends," I said and shook my head, "Your family."

Midnight's ears drooped and nodded, "I will miss them," she said, "I will miss everypony here. But I'd miss everypony at home more."

I shook my head and lowered my voice, "Midnight... Tempest won't last forever," I told her quietly, "And when she's gone..."

"When she's gone," Midnight said firmly, "I will have treasured every second I had with her. And that also applies to everypony here but Cadance, Flurry, Luna and Celestia."

I rubbed my forehead with my hoof. Arguing with any of the Sparkle twins was just an effort in futility. They always had ready answers and often with supporting footnotes. And charts. Not even the lazy ones like pie charts.

But while I found it sexy in Sparks, with Midnight it was just infuriating for some reason.

Shaking my head, I frowned, "What is this coming from, you were... you came down on Talon pretty hard for wanting to go back."

Midnight sighed and then smiled sadly, "I talked to Cadance."

Princess of Love.

I see, yeah that would do it. Fucking damn it, Pink. You just had to, couldn’t help yourself, could you?

"Are you sure?" I asked her quietly, "Because once we go... there might not be a safe way back again."

Midnight nodded, "I know."

"You will have to tell everypony and with me well away from any blast radius. Because I just know I will get blamed for this. Somehow."

"I know," Midnight repeated.

"For the record, I think this is a bad idea," I said before I sighed and looked away, "...But it's not my choice to make. I'll support you whatever choice you do."

Midnight got up and pulled me into a hug.

I hugged back, "...You know, if you two do go back, Talon is likely going to join the guard," I said quietly.

"...Yeah," Midnight admitted and then broke the hug to smile sadly with a small sigh, "Everypony eventually grows up. Even baby dragons."

Author's Note

Apologies, postings will be unreliable for the next week or so as I'm moving countries.

I will attempt to post regularly, but it may not be possible.

Sorry about that.

Chapter 35

Rainbow Dash better never find out about this. I had made a monumental discovery and the blue pegasus better not find out about it or she'll never forgive me.

My existence had butterflied away a Daring Do book.

Daring Do and the Prancing Mummy.

What’s even worse, it was pretty damn good. Might be one of her best ones actually. Yeah, she’d be pissed if she ever found out.

On the other hoof… maybe I should bring a copy for her. That’d earn me some major points, that could be useful.

If nothing else, hearth's warming present.

…Does bringing a book from a different universe and publishing it in one where the original author still exist but has not written that book specifically count as plagiarism, fanfiction or copyright?

I bet Daring Do would like one though. Bring two. One for Rainbow and one for Daring. Surely it’s not piracy if Daring publishes her own book.

I turned the page and kept reading in the light of the light of my horn, the moon high in the sky outside the window.

The door suddenly opened sharply. It didn’t quite slam open but it was definitely not a polite opening of doors.

Princess Celestia didn’t quite storm inside, but her shoes clicked against the floor in a decidedly annoyed way, “Prince Blank Page,” she said as the doors closed behind her, not quite hiding the two guards taking position outside, “We have matters to discuss.”

“Oh thank Celestia,” I said and closed the book and looked up at her, “Can you please talk some sense into her!”

Celestia paused and blinked at me in surprise, “What?”

I put the book down and jumped off the couch, “Midnight! She wants to come back to my world, tell her she can’t!”

“You… don’t want her to come?”

“No!” I said and sighed, “Damn it, I knew I would be blamed for this! No, I don’t want her to come. It’s too important that she stays here!”

Celestia frowned slightly, “You think so?”

I sighed and nodded, “I think so,” I said and shook my head, “...It’s too important. The elements need her, the… the thestrals need decursing. Her friends, her family…”

Celestia regarded me for a long moment, “She said you supported her.”

Maneuver.

“I do,” I sighed and stomped by hoof, “I have to, she’s my friend. I want her to be happy. Her staying here… she won’t be. Not at first. And a lot of ponies back home will miss her. Tempest… buck, Tempest… what the buck will I tell her...”

“Her marefriend.”

Ready strike.

I nodded and shifted my wings, looking out the window, “Yes,” I said, “...Damn. Tempest… that mare got knocked down when she was a little filly and life had done nothing but kick her while she was down until she met Midnight.”

Celestia didn’t answer for several long moments, turning to look out towards the moon before she looked at me again, “And you still wish for me to talk her into staying.”

Taking a deep breath, I then let it out and walked up to stand next to her, looking up at the moon, “Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because the happiness of a few ponies is nothing against the safety of a world,” I told her as I looked up at the light of the moon, “Even if it’s ponies I know.”

“That’s a cold way of viewing things.”

I looked up at her with a slight smile, “It’s what you taught me.”

Chink in unbreakable armor, angle blade, slip through guard.

Celestia didn’t quite flinch. Instead she turned her head and looked up towards the moon again.

She didn’t say anything for several long moments, “Tell me about Tempest Shadow?” she finally asked.

Heart pierced.

So I did. I told her of how she joined us after the invasion. How she and Midnight got closer. How they moved in together when we moved to Nocturnis. Of her honor and sense of duty.

How life had absolutely bucked her in the face at every turn. That she had still gotten back onto her hooves and refused to back down.

Celestia mostly just listened, just asking the occasional question. Finally she nodded, “Thank you, Page,” she said, “but it is getting late.”

I nodded, “Good night, Princess. Sweet dreams,” I said, giving her a small bow.

“Good night, Page,” Celestia said quietly and left, the door closing behind her.

I took a deep breath before letting it out. It was a dangerous game to play with Celestia this way. Any Celestia. They were too damn good. But for My Ponies, I’d use any advantage I had and those included Midnight and Tempest. And the Yetis didn’t call me the Prince of Lies for nothing.

Because Midnight was right. They didn’t strictly need her here.

What they needed, what my bats here needed, was a point to gather around, to help gather them and in a way I didn’t think even Luna could.

After this long, they wouldn’t trust anypony but another bat.

So it’s time I ready another weapon and ruin the life of another pony to do it.

Chapter 36

"What are you up to?"

I blinked, trying to force the sleep from my eyes as I slowly swung from my tail, rotating towards the voice, "Huh?" I asked smartly.

Midnight stood a couple of hooves width from my muzzle, "What are you up to?"

I was going to answer, but instead I yawned and rubbed my eyes with a pastern,"...What time is it?" I grumbled, squeezing my eyes closed against the bright lights.

"It's noon. And answer the question, bat. Why do I have a pegasus here to see you and why did Princess Celestia come back this morning to tell me that I had her blessing if I wanted to leave?"

"Noon?" I didn't quite whine and squeezed my eyes closed, wrapping myself tighter in my wings.

"Gah!" was the next sound from me as a violet and somewhat violent aura surrounded me and pulled me down from the perch, shaking me in place, "Iiiii caaaaaannnnnt aaaaannnnswwweeerr wwwwhhiiiilllleeee yyyyooouuu sssssshhhhhaaaaakeeeee mmeeeee!"

Midnight turned me around and plopped me down on my hooves, "Well?"

Yep, that's her 'I'm not kidding' face. Sparks had one too, and when she did that you best be good.

I took a breath and tried to get my head to stop spinning, "I simply talked with Celestia. And the pegas-"

"I'm not blind, I recognize Spicy Pepper even in her disguise," Midnight said firmly, "Why and how is she here?"

Robbing my eyes again, I suppressed a yawn, "She's here to talk to me," I told her.

"You're up to something."

"What?"

"You're being evasive," Midnight said and poked my chest with her hoof, "And I don't believe for a moment Twilight would put up with it and you’re sleeping with her so, so why do you think I will? Spill."

I glowered sleepily at her, "Any reason we couldn't do this at a reasonable hour?"

Midnight glowered at me, "Be glad I didn't teleport us outside. Now stop evading, I'm not playing."

"...I went to her dream and told her she should seek out your castle," I said with only a slight grumbling, "I needed to talk to her because when we leave and when the great bat decursing start, the thestrals will need a strong central figure they trust that can help lead them."

Midnight paused slightly with a small frown, "...And you think that pony is Spicy Pepper?"

"You met her," I said and shrugged my wings, "She has a strong will and a strong personality with charisma. She cares about ponies and is a natural leader. If she can be convinced to assist Princess Luna in this, it will greatly increase the chance that things go smoothly."

"Why didn't you just say that?"

"Because somepony woke me in the middle of the day to yell at me."

Midnight rubbed her forehead next to her horn, "No, I mean why not send a letter like a normal pony?"

I blinked at her.

She stared at me, "...Letters didn't occur to you?"

"I have a lot on my mind, alright," I protested and shifted my ears in annoyance.

Midnight shook her head before she looked to me again, "And Celestia?"

I shrugged, "Nothing," I said before I smiled slightly, "I just told her of Tempest."

“Oh.”

“See, nothing nefarious.”

Midnight shook her head again and then frowned, “So why are you being so sneaky about it?”

“Because if I wasn’t,” I said and suppressed another yawn, “Celestia could have suspected that I was trying to convince her to let you leave instead of it being her idea. So I just told her what she wanted to know, when she wanted to know it.”

Midnight raised an eyebrow, “And you think she didn’t catch on?”

I smiled, “Oh, I’m sure she did, she’s too smart and experienced not to be at least suspicious. But she’s the one that asked the question and I told her nothing but the truth so she can’t be certain enough about it to not take me at my word. Besides, guess who taught me how to do that?”

“Celestia,” Midnight said and groaned softly as she looked at me, “I guess you took to those lessons more than I did,” she admitted and rubbed her forehead again before she crossed over and hugged me, “...Thank you…”

I hugged back, “I still think it’s a mistake,” I said quietly, “But I said I would support you and I will.”

Chapter 37

I walked into the throneroom and Spicy Pepper turned around at the sound of my hooves.

She was in her guise of a pegasus and I had the usual double vision as I looked at her. For a moment, her eyes flicked to my wings, then to my eyes, then to my ears and finally landing on my horn.

Her jaw dropped for a second, then so did the rest of her as she bowed down so deeply she was basically laying down.

Oh damn it.

"My name is Blank Page," I told her, "You don't need to do that."

Spicy Pepper looked up at me and I saw hope in her eyes as her illusion faded away.

"I'm not here to save you."

The hope died.

Spicy Pepper slowly got up to sit, but somehow she just looked more collapsed than when she was on the floor, ears drooping and wings hanging down her back.

"I.." she said quietly, "I dreamed that a voice told me to come to..."

"That was me," I confirmed with a smile as I moved to sit before her, "But I'm not here to save you. You are."

Spicy Pepper looked at me, "W-what do you mean?"

"I mean that I can't do it for you," I said and held my hoof out for her, "But I can show you how."

Spicy Pepper slowly reached out and took my hoof, "Who are you?"

I smiled at her, "I am Prince Blank Page of Equestria. Just not this Equestria. If you are willing to listen, I have a story to tell you."

She nodded.

So I told her. I told her about the history of the thestrals, about the blood magic and the curse bound to it. About gathering every thestral that wanted to come, about founding Nocturnis. About the decursing.

Spicy Pepper didn't say a word, just just listened.

"Y-you're not from this world?" she asked as she stood up.

"I'm not. And I have to go back, but I can't leave without trying to do something to help," I said and stood up as well, stretching my wings for a moment, "And for that I need somepony here than can do the job instead."

Pepper gaped at me again for a second before she asked the very understandable question, "Why me?"

I smiled, "Because I know the you from my world. You're smart and a natural leader."

"I run my family's noodle stand! I’m not a hero or a princess or anything important!"

"And very good noodles they are," I agreed with a grin before I turned more serious, "But because that's who you are doesn't mean that who you always have to be. You wouldn't be alone, I know Princess Luna will assist you all the way, you wouldn't even need to do most of the heavy lifting. But thestrals need somepony of their own to show it's safe, to show it's true. To have somepony to look up to. Somepony to help lead them. And you are just plain wrong, everypony is important."

"But why me!?" she exclaimed, taking half a step back.

"Because I know you can do it," I said before I sighed, "But I would never force you into that position. If you say no, I will find somepony else."

"I... I..." she said and shook her head, "It's just so much."

I nodded, "I know," I answered softly, "And I do wish we had a lot of time. But I return to where I came from in a few weeks if all goes as planned."

Pepper flicked her ears, swallowing as she looked around.

"You don't have to decide now," I told her, "In fact, I encourage you to think about it. But in the meantime, I have somepony I want to introduce you to if you are willing to go for a walk with me."

Pepper shivered, her illusion flowing to cover her again before she looked at me, "Who?"

"A bat that lives in Ponyville. I talked to her earlier and she's willing to talk to you. I'd warn you though, she is a bit shy," I said before I ignited my horn, wrapping the illusion of how I looked as a unicorn around myself, "You don't know a lot of bats?"

Shaking her head, Pepper looked at me, "Three, including my mother."

"Before she met me, the only thestral she knew was her mother," I said sadly, "That's part of what I want to change. Would you like to meet her?"

Pepper nodded.

Chapter 38

I left the small cottage as the sun set at the horizon, leaving Pepper and Fluttershy talking on the couch.

Yawning, I rubbed my eyes for a second before I lit my horn and wrapped myself in an invisibility spell and took to the sky.

I took to the skies and then I banked around, heading out over the Everfree forest. I needed somewhere to think away from everypony else.

Climbing higher, I flew as the sun set at the horizon and the moon rose, throwing a silver light across the forest.

The wind picked up slightly and I rested on my wings, sweeping silently across the forest as I let my spell fade away. Nopony here to see me.

There.

My destination became visible at the horizon and I changed course slightly, heading towards the Castle of the Two sisters.

I would be able to be alone to think there.

A slight rumble at the horizon made me look and I almost smiled. Wild thunderheads, no ponies managing the weather here.

Reminded me of home.

But unless I wanted to fly in the rain, I would need to find somewhere with a roof. We might be able to handle getting wet better than any other sort of pony, except maybe sea ponies if they existed, but didn’t mean I would enjoy getting rained on. Especially here where it was a lot cooler than back home.

Banking around, I circled the remains of the high towards before I beat my wings and then spiraled, pulling up before flying in through an open hole in the wall.

My hooves touched down on the stone floor and I looked around.

I had judged it right. It was Lunas room. Not… not my Lunas room. Or rather it was, just in a different timeline.

Luna here and my Luna was the same Luna, just split further back in the timeline. If I never appeared, this Luna would be my Luna. Or rather this would have been the only Luna.

To be frank, it gave me a headache.

I slowly looked around, careful not to touch anything. But I scowled when I spotted the evil book. I could feel its draw now when I had more experience.

A kind of oily dark aura whispering promises of power and shadows.

I sneered at it, grasped it in my magic before I threw it outside, sending a pair of my strongest blasting spells after it.

Not entirely sure if it completely destroyed it like Lunas spell had, but it went into pieces, falling towards the ring lake below..

Sighing softly, I looked around before I closed my eyes.

Luna.

Sunset.

Twilight.

Home. Needed to go home. I had to get back to them, but… was what I was doing here the right thing?

This would cause upheaval. The revelation of bat ponies being… not common. But among ponies…

Not only that, but kicking things off and then fucking off back to my world, just leaving everything behind for somepony else to clean up.

I was tricking ponies to do it. Putting responsibility on the shoulders of ponies that deserved so much better.

Fluttershy alone… she would be exposed and this time with no Nocturnis to hide in away from everypony else.

Pepper… every bat pony would be relying on her.

Was it right? Did I have the right? If I didn’t, was it too late to prevent it? Had I even a right to stop it?

It would improve the life of thousands of ponies. Prevent the extinction of an entire tribe of ponies and prevent so much suffering and pain before then.

The rain started to pour down outside with a crack of thunder. I looked towards it, walking over to put my hoof on a thick fallen stone, looking out towards the forest below.

A timberwolf howled somewhere in the distance.

It was too late to stop anyhow. Even if I had said nothing, reached out to nopony, just me arriving here would have put things into motion.

Luna. Celestia.

Just hearing my story put the bats on their radar again. Revealed their pain… and neither Luna nor Celestia would be able to leave that alone.

So no. There was no stopping or preventing it. Only helping and for that…

We needed ponies like Fluttershy and Pepper because I was right in my first thought in that everypony else would need some bats in on this to show them that they could trust Luna and Celestia.

…Though after a thousand years of having to live in the light of her sun, I’m not sure any of them will ever trust Celestia.

Even my ponies in Nocturnis didn’t like Celestia. Some liked Luna, but most just tolerated her.

Sunshine.

I felt bad about manipulating Celestia like that, using her hidden romantic side against her in such a way, especially when putting Equestria before family. I knew Celestia, either Celestia.

Their armor, their control was unbreakable.

But I knew them, I knew where that unbreakable armor had flaws. Open gaps if you knew where to look. And I felt horrible for taking advantage of it.

It hurt her.

I closed my eyes and took a slow and deep breath, taking in the scent of the rain and the night.

Luna…

Sighing, I pulled away from the opening as the wind picked up and drops of water hit me from the outside.

No going back until the rain is done, might as well get some rest. It had been a long day.

Looking around, I then spread my wings and took to the rafters to hang from my tail, wrapping my wings around myself as I squeezed my eyes closed tight.

I hate being a prince. I never wanted this sort of responsibility.

…I just wanted to write books and curl up by Lunas fireplace…

Chapter 39

The next couple of days were interesting. Celestia stayed at the castle this time and so did Pepper.

I knew Midnight was taking tonight to have a sleepover with her friends, her parents were coming back to Ponyville tomorrow.

Cadence, Shining Armor were also on their way back, bringing Flurry this time.

Everypony was coming here and I couldn’t help but think that they were somehow going to end up yelling at me about it.

So I had planned to make myself a bit scarce for the next couple of days.

But that was for a little bit later, right now I was exactly where I needed to be.

“It’s going to be okay,” I said quietly, “They’re your friends and they love you.”

Fluttershy swallowed, her eyes squeezed tightly closed but she nodded, “I-I know…”

“He’s right, you know,” Midnight told her gently from the other side, “I know, I don't care. They may have some questions, but they’re our friends.”

She looked between us, taking another deep breath before she nodded, “I-I know, it’s just…” she said quietly before her voice trailed off.

“I know,” Midnight said and gave Fluttershy a quick hug, “We’re both here for you.”

Fluttershy hugged back and then swallowed, “R-ready.”

“Ready?” Midnight asked.

Fluttershy shook her head, “N-no. But I… I have to.”

Then she stepped forward, walking towards the door before us to the room where the rest of the girls were.

I looked after her, “Fluttershy is the bravest pony I know,” I said quietly so only Midnight could hear me, “She’s terrified. But doing it anyway.”

Midnight nodded and then moved to follow. I followed her in turn, stretching my wings for a moment.

“What’s up, Fluttershy?” Rainbow asked from her place on the couch, a bottle of cider sitting next to her.

“Yeah, what’s the big surprise?” Applejack asked from next to her.

Fluttershy swallowed, “I-I… I wanted to…” she said quietly, looking between them and then to Rarity, “I…”

Fluttershy was terrified.

She dropped her illusion anyway before she raised her head to look at them, “I-I’m a thestral.”

Applejack and Rarity looked at her in shock but Rainbow smiled, “Like I didn’t know that,” and took a drink from her cider.

Fluttershy looked at her in surprise, “You did?”

“Flutters, we shared a room at flightschool for years,” Rainbow said with a smile and jumped off the couch, “You’re like awesome at hiding, but nopony is that good.”

Wait what!? She thought I was a vamponie and… she thought Fluttershy was a vamponie and didn’t tell anypony!?

Element of loyalty indeed.

Fluttershy stuttered something but seemed unable to speak and Rainbow took a step closer, pulling the thestral into a hug.

“Hold on a minute!” Applejack exclaimed and jumped off the couch, walking over to them, “yer a bat!?”

Fluttershy swallowed and broke the hug with Rainbow before she nodded, “Y-yes.”

“That wasn’t just some spell of Twilights?”

“Actually,” Midnight interjected, “I did some research into that when I worked on the bloodcurse. My spell had some some of weird sympathetic reaction with th-

“Curse!? What curse?” Rarity exclaimed as she joined them, “Fluttershy, darling, what is she talking about?”

Fluttershy looked between them, “Y-you… you really…”

Rarity smiled at her, “It’s a surprise, but why would we think any worse of you?”

Fluttershy looked like she was about to cry and Midnight pulled her into a hug, the rest of the girls quickly joining in.

I ducked out at that time. I knew Fluttershy would be alright, the elements were all good mares. I had not actually realized Rainbow had already known, but it wasn’t surprising in retrospect.

But with everything alright, it was time for me to butt out.

This was their private time and I didn’t belong, besides it was time for me to find somewhere to hole up for a couple of days until things calmed down again.

Because quite frankly, I didn’t want to be yelled at right now. That and from what I seen, I had actually butterflied quite a bit when it came to book releases since I appeared.

I had located over a dozen books that I never even heard of before, fiction books released during the last couple of years.

I wanted to read them and hiding from everypony that was going to arrive for the next couple of days as the perfect excuse to do so.

Chapter 40

I turned a page in the book, a grape floating up in my magic and I chewed it slowly, reading in the light of the candle sitting next to me.

My escape had been to the fourth library at one of the furthest corridors from the door in this larger on the inside crystal tree.

Midnight's castle had multiple libraries. Yes, I was surprised too, this is my surprised face. I don’t think anypony has ever been so surprised before in the history of time. I had to sit down when I found out. I may never recover.

I had hidden in the smallest one furthest away from everypony else.

But apparently not well enough as the door opened and Shining Armor poked his head inside, looking around as he spotted me.

"Page," he said and pushed the door open, walking inside, "Am I disturbing?"

I looked at him warily, "...Depends, are you going to yell at me?"

He actually smiled as he answered, "Should I?"

"I really rather you didn't," I admitted, "I really did try to talk her out of it."

Shining nodded and crossed over to jump onto the chair across from my couch, "I know," he said as he sat down, "She told me. Didn't work, did it?"

"Not really," I admitted and shrugged my wings, "Your sister can be stubborn."

He grinned, "You don't say," he agreed before he sighed, "...She will be leaving a lot behind."

"She would do that either way," I pointed out with a small sigh.

He nodded, "Her marefriend, Tempest. I know, Cadance told me before we even got her message."

Cadance, huh. Was this really Cadance's idea originally? Intentionally? Well, she was the Princess of Love, so that tracked.

"So, not here to yell at me," I said, "What's up?"

Shining hesitated before he shrugged, "...I don't know," he admitted, "I guess I'm just curious and... if she does decide to go..."

"Look after her," I said, nodding, "I would anyway. Midnight is a friend and the sister of my marefriend, if something gets to her it's because I'm bleeding on the floor already with pieces missing."

He grinned briefly at that, "I guess we have that in common. Take it your marefriends are as happy about that as my Cady is?"

"Yeeeep," I agreed and shook my head, "Curious about Tempest?" I asked.

Shining nodded again, "And of this Nocturnis. Her friends there. Tell me about your Twilight?"

I considered that for a moment, "...You know, I might be able to do one better if you trust me," I said and closed my book.

"Like what?"

"You know I’m good with dream magic," I said, "I could make you a dream where you get to meet a dream copy of Tempest and she could show you around Nocturnis. It wouldn't be perfect, just a dream image based on the Tempest I know, but a lot closer than me just telling you about them."

He hesitated before he nodded, "What would I need to do?" he asked.

I jumped off the couch, "Here, lay down."

Slipping off his chair, Shining Armor jumped onto the couch and laid down, "Now what?"

"Get comfortable and relax, then don't speak, need to focus," I said and closed my eyes, channeling magic as I focused on forming the dream and dream image.

This was difficult. Making a dream without being in the dream was hard. Making it while also out in the real world made it twenty times harder.

But finally I opened my eyes and bent down, tapping my horn against Shining Armor's forehead.

He collapsed into sleep, snoring softly.

Taking a deep breath, I took half a step back before I nodded.

There. That worked.

He's going to be out for a couple of hours at least. I moved to gather up my snacks and book before I headed towards the door, pushing it closed behind me before I always ran into Cadance.

"Page," she said, "Have you seen Shining?"

"Actually," I said, "I have. He's on the couch inside, talking to Tempest."

Cadance looked at me in surprise, "Tempest? As in Twilights marefriend?"

I nodded before I shrugged, "Uhm, well almost anyway," I said, "He wanted me to tell him about her and I offered to show her to him in a dream. The dream image is showing him around Nocturnis right now."

Cadance looked thoughtful before she nodded, "...Could you show me too?"

"Sure, there's more room on the couch."

Chapter 41

I found Pepper at one of the upper balconies. Her illusion up like always as she looked up at the stars.

"You talked to Princess Luna," I said as I walked up next to her.

Pepper startled slightly and then nodded, "I-I did," she agreed, "...Fluttershy accompanied me."

"That's good," I said and floated an apple from my satchel before splitting it in half with my magic, offering her one half.

She took it in one hoof as she looked at me, "...Why me?" she asked after a long moment, "I know you said but... it still doesn't make sense. I'm a nopony. I spend the evenings selling noodles. I’m not a hero, I’m not a princess."

I chewed slowly on a piece of apple before I sat down, "Very good noodles they are too. But that's who you are now," I said, "But that doesn't mean it's who you will always be. Things change, ponies change."

"But what you're asking of me-"

"Is a lot," I agreed when she trailed off, "More than I have any right to. Especially when I know that one pony can't change the world. No single pony, be they thestral, unicorn or alicorn can change the world."

Spicy Pepper looked at me in surprise, "But... isn't that what you want me to do?"

I smiled sadly and shook my head, "No, Pepper. Changing the world is impossible. The most any pony can do is change themselves and that's all I really ask. But that's harder than anything else."

She frowned in thought for several long minutes, looking out over the dark countryside before she shook her head, "Not sure I get it."

I smiled, "Don't try to change the world, Pepper. That's too much pressure, too much for anypony. All you can do is be the change you want."

"You want me to go unillusioned."

"Yes. And go through the decursing process."

Pepper took a deep breath, "If I... If I do... I talked to Princess Twilight. If I do, I won't be able to hide again."

I nodded, "That's right. To be an example to the other bats to do the same. You can't change the world, Pepper. But you can show others how to."

She took a deep breath, rubbing her eyes with a pastern, "I... I don't know if I can."

"You wouldn't be alone. Fluttershy is with you. You will have the official and full support of all the Princesses."

Pepper took another deep breath, "...I'm a nopony."

I sighed softly and took a step closer, "Pepper, I'll let you in on a secret. Nopony is a nopony. Everypony is somepony, with dreams, thoughts, fears and hopes. Everypony is important. Do you know what I did before I became an Alicorn?"

She shook her head.

I smiled and sat down, "I worked in a bookstore for a bit, but then I started to write books. Just a regular unicorn."

Pepper looked at me in surprise, "You weren't a thestral?"

I shook my head, "Not originally," and I raised my wings, looking back at them, "...Do you have any idea how hard it is to learn to sleep comfortably when you're not used to wings?"

That drew a small giggle from her, shaking her head, "Not really," she admitted with a small smile.

"Well, let me tell you, it took a bit," I said and stretched my wings to the side before folding them again, "But look at me now."

She shook her head, "That's different."

"Why?"

"...You may have been a unicorn before, but you're an alicorn now. I'm not, I never will be."

I sighed softly, "Pepper, alicorn or not does not matter. I have a horn, big deal. My wings may have helped me discover what was wrong easier, but I would still be doing what I could to help."

She frowned at me, "But..."

"Me being a bat helps more than me being an alicorn," I told her quietly but seriously, "Would you have listened to a random unicorn?"

Pepper was silent for several long moments before she shook her head.

"The only thing that matters, Pepper," I said and put my hoof on her shoulder, "is you. Yes, you being a bat will help get others to listen, but it's not why I chose to ask you. I chose to ask you because I think this is something you can handle. You are a very capable pony, Pepper."

She looked up at me and shook her head, "I don't know if anypony can do what you want of me."

"Maybe," I admitted, "Maybe you’re right. Maybe nopony can ever make things right, here or in my world. But... don't you want to try? If we don't, in a few hundred years there may be no more bats left. An entire tribe of ponies gone forever. Isn't it worth trying?"

Pepper was silent for several long moments before she set her jaw and looked up, meeting my eyes and nodding once.

I found a bath!

As it turned out, the crystal castle had a similar bath as the castle in Canterlot, a large chamber beneath the castle itself, seemingly cut out of the crystal itself filled with warm water.

Dunking myself beneath the hot water, I then stood back up, shaking my mane and wings. This was something we didn’t have in Nocturnis.

But it is something we should build as soon as possible. I think a public bathhouse would be good for ponies.

It worked for the Romans after all.

Right now keeping clean was mostly rain based. Which was fine, but this was nicer.

“Oh!”

I looked over to spot Starlight paused at the entrance, “Evening, Starlight,” I said with a smile.

“Evening, Prince Page. Sorry to interrupt, I can-”

“Not at all,” I told her, “This bath is for everypony in the castle, don’t let me bother you.”

Starlight hesitated for a second before she nodded and put her towel down before moving to the stairs into the water, hooves making a clip clop against the crystal of the bath.

“It’s strange,” I said as I looked at her, “You’d think wet crystal would be slippery for hooves.”

She paused and looked down, rubbing a hoof at the crystal with a small frown, “...It should,” she admitted and poked it for a second before she shrugged and continued into the hot water before she groaned softly and sank down to her nose.

I grinned, “Long week?”

“Mhmm,” Starlight agreed.

I wanted to ask but I moved onto one of the other underwater benches before laying down instead, sinking down to my neck with a small sigh.

Yes. Public hot baths.

Definitely.

Especially as hard as the ponies of Nocturnis works, they deserve one.

…Admittedly, they would be the ones building the baths too…

How would we afford it anyway? Maybe it could be built from local rock, then it would be mostly labor. We had enough unicorns to manage heating crystals.

I ducked beneath the water again before shaking my mane again, relaxing against the wall of the bath.

Yep, worth it. Wouldn’t be difficult to convince ponies about it either.

“We’re almost done.”

I blinked my eyes open and looked over towards Starlight, “Huh?”

“We’re almost done,” she said and stood back up, her horn lit as she worked her mane with her magic field, twisting water out of it, “The spell calculations, I mean.”

“Almost ready?” I asked.

“...Almost,” she agreed, “The calculations are almost finished, then we need to turn it into a spell. But that’s the easy part.”

I smiled, “We’re going home soon.”

Starlight nodded, “A week at most if all goes well,” she said with a smile before she looked at me seriously, “But we might still end up having trouble with it. So it’s not a strict time table.”

I nodded, “I get it,” I told her, “What you’re doing isn’t easy.”

“Took me three years to get the original spell working,” Starlight confirmed and then shrugged a bit, “And that one went to a spot in our own timestream.”

“Difficult to say the least,” I agreed.

Starlight sank back down to her neck, looking at me, “...I have a question about the other Starlight.”

“Yes?”

“Does she know a unicorn named Trixie? Trixie Lulamoon? Blue unicorn?”

“Trixie…” I said with a small frown, racking my memory, “...I don’t know,” I finally admitted, “Not that I know. Don’t recognize the name, sorry.”

“Oh.”

I shrugged my wings, “Sorry. But Starlight has lived in Nocturnis since the start. If it’s somepony you met during the last couple of years and she’s not in Nocturnis, it’s unlikely you met.”

Starlight nodded, looking thoughtful.

“Somepony special to you?” I asked her.

“...I think so,” she admitted quietly, “My best… my only friend actually. Only pony willing to talk to me with this thing on my horn,” she said and motioned to the ring firmly around the base of her horn.

“I see,” I said, “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not so bad anymore,” Starlight admitted, “Princess Twilight changed it so that I can lift things now. Thank you.”

“Not up to me,” I told her, “I just suggested it, you’re the one that earned it by showing you could be trusted with it.”

Chapter 42

My spell screamed through the air, a construct of pure force lashed out and the bottle exploded in a thousand pieces.

"Not bad," Shining Armor said as he looked at our improvised spell range. It was early, the sun setting towards the horizon but if we wanted to do this it was much easier when he could actually see.

"I was a bit to the left," I said with a small frown before I shrugged my wings, "...I'm a bit out of practice," I admitted.

It's been years since I had daily practice on this sort of thing. Paperwork and sitting on a throne thankfully didn't have much use for slinging combat spells around.

If that was a fortunate thing or not was up to the beholder however.

Shining nodded and magic shone from his horn as he sent his own spell across the range, a second bottle exploding, "You need to practice to keep your skills," he warned me, "I do mostly office style work now, but I still make sure to get a couple of hours a week."

Which was the reason for this entire thing. He was going to practice and to my surprise asked if I wanted to join.

"Time time time," I said and then smiled wryly, "If we ever get an alicorn of time, I will be so jealous. They might actually be able to squeeze enough of them into a night."

Shining grinned, "I know. I have hopes for Flurry, maybe I can mooch some of it if she does, but she's more likely to take after her mother."

"Not necessarily, maybe she'll be the alicorn of protection or something," I pointed out, "Shields and all that you know. Cutiemark themes tend to run in families. More or less."

Shining nodded, "That's true," he agreed, "But not necessarily. I mean, neither of my parents has anything to do with shields."

"Good point," I agreed and then shrugged my wings again, "Also, alicorn. Who knows how that works out with domains and such."

Shining made a sound of agreement and then sent a spear of fire at the last bottle, causing it to explode into fragments.

"Oh, nice one," I said, "I always had trouble with fire magic. Even now I can barely do a burst of it. Just keep getting away from me and... well... Twilight banned me from using it without supervision."

Shining grinned, "Didn't like when you smelled like burned mane, huh? Cady may have said something similar at some point."

"Yep. I'm better with ice magic for some reason."

He frowned, "But that's harder."

"I know, right!" I exclaimed and sighed, "And neither has anything to do with my domain either, so how that works, don't ask me."

"You have some training," he said, "Did you get as far as playing whip snap?"

That was a common training technique for guard unicorns.

I nodded, "Sure, my wife taught me when we worked on shields. Been a while though."

Shining nodded and walked some five meters away from me across the grass before turning to face me, "Ready?"

Facing him in turn, I gave him a nod.

Magic shone around his horn and a snap of magical energy flew towards my chest. I responded with a shield, the bolt hitting it with about the force of a hoof tap.

I dropped my shield and responded in kind and he brought up one of his own. Instead of my half sphere, his was the size of a diner plate, just intercepting the spell and nothing else.

That was the goal of this exercise, alternating shielding and casting spells as quickly and accurately as possible, the spell used just enough to let you know if you bucked up.

We slowly sped up as we got into it, and I had to say... Shining was good.

Really, bucking, good.

Small accurate shields took less energy to cast, but they took a lot more focus and concentration to manage.

Which meant that in a real fight, alicorn or not, he might be able to outlast me if it came to a spell to spell duel with no other tricks.

Of course, this wasn't. And it wouldn’t have been.

"Try a smaller shield," Shining said, holding his spell.

"Never did manage that before," I warned him, "Not against spells anyway."

"It’s why we practice."

Which was fair enough so I nodded.

He sent a spell flying at me and I focused, managing to bring a meter wide shield disk up before it just in time.

"Good," Shining said and blocked my return cast, "Don't try any smaller, focus on good form," he said before firing a spell back.

I brought a shield up again to block, "You miss being active guard?"

"Sometimes," Shining admitted and blocked my return spell, "But on the bright side, no more slogging through mud in the rain."

"There is tha-ow!"

A spell slipped through and marked me in the shoulder. Damn, I forgot how much those sting. Felt like somebody had smacked me with a puppy sized bee.

"Focus."

I sent a spell back at him. He blocked it with a shield the size of a hoof, looking smugly at me.

Bastard.

Chapter 43

I brought my shield up, the spell fizzling against the meter wide disk held before me.

Shining nodded, "Better," he said and raised his horn, "You're getting faster."

I nodded and rubbed my head right next to my horn, "Thanks. That takes so much more focus than shielding normally."

"And not something recommended in normal circumstances," Shining Armor agreed, "But it's very good shield practice," before glancing at the moon well above the horizon, "We should break for the night though."

"Some rest would be nice," I said and cracked my neck. It wasn't physically tiring using magic like this, but it was draining. Especially mentally when working on new stuff.

"Come on, let's find something to drink," Shining said and led the way towards the castle.

I could just nod in agreement as I joined in next to him, "Do you still train ponies? You're good at it."

"Not a lot, usually don’t have time but I do try when I get the opportunity," he sighed softly before he smiled, "It's fun though."

"Maybe you should," I pointed out, "Prince or not, you have to take time for yourself or you'll burn out."

"Do you?" he asked with a raised eyebrow, "I have talked to Midnight, you know."

"I try," I protested, "And I try to make sure Sunny and Sparks do as well. Things should calm down a little now when the barrier is up over Nocturnis. Also, that's not the same thing, we're a newly formed colony in a hostile land. The Crystal Empire isn't."

Shining smiled, "We're in just as hostile land and with more than ten times your population. Trust me, plenty of things to do to go around for everypony. But I get your drift, Cady and I try to keep the evenings just for us if possible."

"Fair."

We walked in silence until we reached a sitting room where Shining dug around in a drawer for a second before holding up a bottle of amber liquid, "There."

"You found some?"

"Bought it earlier," he said with a grin as he floated up a pair of glasses as well before filling them and offering one to me.

I took it and had a taste. It burned like liquid ice.

Faint taste of apples.

"So what's up with today?" I asked and jumped onto one of the armchairs to settle down, taking another sip.

Shining settled down in the other chair and shrugged, "I don't know," he admitted.

"Trying to figure me out?"

"...A bit, you are dating my sister."

"No I'm not."

He waved one hoof, "Okay, fine. A different version of my sister. Still close enough that I want to check you out. And Twilight will be living in your town again when you leave."

I smiled and sipped my drink.

Couldn't blame him there, if our positions had been reversed I may have been tempted to check if things were safe too.

"And?" I finally asked.

He shrugged again, "Seems like a decent pony, she could do a lot worse," he admitted after taking a sip, "Fangs or not."

I flashed them at him and he rolled his eyes,

"It was interesting how well you handled the changelings though," he then added, "I didn't see a way for that to work out without ponies getting hurt."

"Changelings are easy to handle," I said and sipped my drink, "You just need to understand their priorities. Hive, Queen, Other Changelings, Themselves, anypony else."

"And that lets you work with them?"

I smiled, "No, but it helps. Really, they're not bad beings and may be the most loyal people in the world as long as you work within their frame of reference. Don't threaten the hive, help them find food and be friendly and they'll literally throw themselves in front of a spell for you."

Shining Armor frowned at his glass but didn't comment, just finishing it before refilling our glasses.

"So, any plans for tomorrow?" I asked.

He nodded, "Twilight is taking me and Cadance out for dinner with mom and dad," he said, "Pinkie Pie volunteered to foalsit."

"Nice."

“Are you certain of this, Spicy Pepper?” Celestia asked, looking at the thestral.

Spicy Pepper was terrified, I could see it. She stood before the four Princesses without her illusion, but she didn’t look away.

Instead she set her jaw and nodded once.

Spicy Pepper didn’t like Princess Celestia. Not in this world nor in this one. In fact, I was fairly sure she hated her on some level.

Be it from having to have been out in the bright light all her life or because she was the leader of Equestria or because of the Solar Guard or… because Celestia was a symbol of Equestria as a whole.

Could be a million reasons.

Some valid. Maybe… all of them. I love Celestia. But I understood why some thestrals disliked her. It would be difficult not to when she was a symbol of all that had been wrong in your life.

Midnight nodded and looked between Luna, Celestia and Cadance, “Everypony ready? I’ll overview and assist in the casting, but you three are the primary casters. Everypony as we have practiced.”

One by one they lit their horns and I backed away further next to where Futtershy was watching. She was wearing her illusion, but when I glanced at her…

Her eyes were slightly wide and she was stuff as a board. I reached out to touch my wing to her side but she didn’t react at all, but I could feel her trembling slightly.

“Easy,” I murmured quietly to her, “Deep, slow breaths, Fluttershy.”

She squeezed her eyes closed and sucked in a slow and slightly hitching breath.

There was a flash of light and I shielded my eyes with a wing as Spicy Pepper disappeared in a sphere of brilliant light, beams of energy flowing into it from each of the alicorns surrounding her.

This was a refinement from the spells Twilight and Midnight started with. For one, it broke both the curse and blood magic at the same time, skipping the hours as a blood drinker in the middle.

Drawback is that it made it harder in the energy department to cast, not so much in the difficulty itself.

Not that it mattered, it took multiple alicorns worth of power to cast the first ones. Two alicorns could cast the first one, three the second if they weren’t Twilight and Midnight. Or I suppose a ton of unicorns.

Couldn’t reduce the power either. It took that much to cut through the spells.

“Breath. Slow breaths,” I told Fluttershy quietly, focusing on her rather than the spell, her own eyes squeezed closed, “Easy. Calm.”

The light stopped and I looked over, spotting Pepper laying on the floor, sprawled out. She looked… like I remembered her.

Midnight caught my eye and I nodded, slowly moving away from Fluttershy and approaching the thestral on the floor, scooting down next to her, “Pepper? Pepper, you awake?” I asked her gently.

Spicy Pepper slowly stirred, her eyes blinking open before squeezing closed against the light. I dropped a bubble of darkness across us and waited.

She very slowly pushed herself into a laying position, blinking her eyes as she struggled to raise her head, “P-prin-”

“Relax,” I told her quietly but firmly, “It takes a lot out of a pony. Just close your eyes and take a nap. You’ll feel better after, I promise.”

Pepper slowly relaxed down, her eyes closing and she fell asleep almost instantly, resting her cheek against the crystal floor.

I moved out of the darkness bubble and smiled at Midnight, “Worked perfectly,” I told her.

Midnight smiled and nodded to the rest, “You cast it perfectly. The thestral getting decursed is going to be exhausted and their magic system is going to be extremely stressed. For the next couple of days they will be unable to fly or cloudwalk.”

“It’s from the new curse breaking spell,” I said, “the old ones were a bit gentler.”

Midnight nodded in agreement, “Yes. But this one is safer for everypony involved. Some didn’t handle the blood magic very well, despite the extra strain it’s better to do it this way.”

“S-she’s really alright?” Fluttershy asked quietly.

I glanced back to see that she had dropped her illusion, walking up next to me.

I nodded, “Just tired,” I confirmed, “She’ll be asleep for the next day or so.”

Fluttershy looked at her through the darkness bubble for several long moments, biting her lower lip before her ears slowly pressed against her head, she looked terrified.

Then she turned to Midnight and swallowed, “D-do me now.”

Midnight looked at her in surprise, “Fluttershy, I… are you sure?” she asked gently and walked up to her, “You know that… if we do, you won’t be able to hide your wings. Or eyes or ears or anything.”

Fluttershy nodded, “I-I know. E-everypony will… know…” she said, her voice breaking before she took a deep breath, squeezing her eyes closed for a second before opening them to look at Midnight again, “But I can’t let her do it alone… a-and… and I want foals at some point. Foals like me,” she said gently but determinedly.

Midnight regarded her for several long seconds before she nodded and hugged her, “Give us a couple of hours to recover and we’ll be ready.”

Fluttershy.

You really are the bravest pony I know.

Chapter 44

The door closed, leaving Fluttershy and Pepper both asleep on a couch each in the small library and I turned away from the door, “Well done,” I said, giving Midnight a smile.

She smiled back sadly and then glanced towards the closed door, “...They’ll be okay,” she said quietly, “Everypony will look after them.”

I just nodded, “Get some rest you as well, I know it takes a lot out of you to cast those spells.”

Letting a small sigh out, Midnight nodded, “I will. Goodnight, Page.”

“Goodnight Midnight.”

She left in the direction of her bedroom and I glanced back at the door again. No more hiding for them. This… this isn’t the end for them, this is where the real difficulties start.

Turning away, I headed towards the closest tower.

I needed to clear my head, a flight would help a lot with that. Tomorrow will be a long day for everypony involved.

The least I could do was to be there for them.

Climbing the stairs, I pushed the door open to reveal the stars across the sky and the moonlight, but then I got a surprise.

Celestia stood on the tower, looking out across the village below, the light of the moon causing her white coat to almost glow with an inner light, her mane and tale glowing like the northern lights.

I hesitated for a second before I walked out onto the crystal roof, letting the door click closed behind me as I exited and walked up next to her, making sure to have my hoofsteps make sound.

Didn’t feel like being hit by a sun today.

Walking up next to her, I looked out over Ponyville below. The village was mostly empty barring the rare guard doing a patrol. The occasional window was still lit up, but most everypony down there was asleep.

“Do they all hate me?” Celestia asked quietly after several long moments.

“No,” I answered truthfully.

“But she does,” she continued. It wasn’t a question.

I sighed softly, “Hate is too strong of a word. And… I’m not sure it’s you specifically. Maybe you as a symbol. But she’s not the biggest fan of Equestria. Or you.”

“We really failed them.”

I didn’t answer, instead looking out over the village below, flicking one ear, “Yes,” I said before I looked at her, “But nopony can do everything perfectly all the time. You and Princess Luna have done things for thousands of years. You didn’t do this to them, it was ancient unicorns and the last thestral alicorn. You two bucked up in that you weren’t able to help them, but that’s just what it was. You bucked up. Everypony bucks up eventually.”

Celestia turned her head to look at me, “But when we do it, ponies get hurt. A lot of ponies.”

“I’ll tell you what my Celestia told me,” I said and turned to face her, “All anypony can possibly do is their best. Anypony can fail, failure is a part of life. Even for an alicorn. What matters is that we learn from our mistakes.”

She regarded me for several long moments before she snorted softly and looked away, “Do you often tell her things like this?”

“When she bucks up? Damn right I call her on it,” I said and looked out over the village, “As does she when I’m being an idiot.”

Celestia shook her head slowly, “Keep doing so,” she said before she looked at me again for several long moments, “Why did you ask Spicy Pepper when you knew her opinions? Why choose her?”

“Because she is what thestrals need, a point to gather around,” I said firmly, “She is strong, a leader and somepony I think can handle it,” I told her before I lowered my voice, “And because of that, I ruined her life.”

Celestia didn’t say anything, she looked out over Ponyville.

“She had a life,” I said, “One where she was hiding, running her parents’ noodle stand. She has a few friends, but… she had a life. I ripped her out of it, pushed her into the light and now in a way she will never be able to escape. And I know what that is like because that’s what happened to me.”

“That’s what ruling is,” Celestia told me, “Making decisions that other ponies end up paying for.”

We looked out over the village for several long moments, the moon shining above.

Finally I sighed, “Our jobs really suck. For a pony to do this willingly, they must be so dumb.”

That brought a small grin from the larger alicorn, “Very much so,” she agreed, “So you do this willingly?” she asked.

I smiled and shook my head, “Buck no. I’m not entirely sure how I ended up here, I was just trying to help ponies and somehow…”

“I know what you mean,” she agreed, “I-”

“You liked a colt and things go a bit out of hoof.”

Celestia looked at me in surprise, “She told you that?”

I nodded before I looked at her, “Yes, why?” I asked, raising my eyebrows.

“...Nothing. It’s just…” Celestia said before she shook her head, “I… only told a couple of ponies that in the past. Surprised me a little to hear that she told you.”

“Hmm,” I said and then stretched my wings, “I’m going to go on a flight. You should get some sleep.”

“I will. Goodnight Page.”

“Goodnight Celestia.”

Chapter 45

“I feel so strange,” Pepper said and trotted in a small circle, stretching her wings as she frowned before doing a small jump, her wings spread, trying to catch some air despite the lack of magic to keep her flying.

Fluttershy nodded, “M-me too,” she admitted where she was sitting on the floor, one wing spread as she studied it, slowly flexing it.

“It’s the lack of curse,” I said, “It countered the blood magic pretty well, but it had a bunch of side effects. Feel lighter?”

“Yes!” Pepper said and turned to me, “That’s right! I feel lighter!”

I smiled at her, “You aren’t actually lighter, I’m told it’s from it’s the lack of metaphysical pressure from the competing spells on you. Should feel easier to move too. Both of you should find it easier to fly in the future once your magic gets back into shape and you get used to your new wings.”

They both nodded and I got up, “Now, try this,” I said before I jumped onto a chair, followed by table then wardrobe before I hooked my hooves over a low rafter.

Swinging up, I wrapped my tail around it and let go with my hooves, going swinging slightly back and forth as I wrapped my wings around myself.

“Uhm…” Fluttershy said quietly, “I-I’m not sure I can do that. I-I can hang from my tail, but I can’t move like that.”

“...And I never could hang from my tail,” Pepper admitted, “Mom can, but I never could. I can move it, but it’s not strong enough.”

I smiled at them, “Go on, try it.”

They shared a look before Pepper glanced back at her tail before she nodded, “Okay…” she said and jumped onto the table and then the wardrobe.

She looked at me and the rafter before she jumped. She caught it and swung up, wrapping her tail around the rafter before letting go and going swinging, “I did it!”

I smiled at her, “The curse suppresses some natural thestral abilities for some ponies as well, not just blood magic related. This is one of them,” I said before I looked at Fluttershy, “I’m not entirely sure if it’s the lack of curse and blood magic interference or if bats are more agile than pegasi, but we manage this kind of thing fairly easily in general, such as jumping between branches in trees. Thestrals may be the smallest kind of pony, even smaller than pegasi in general, but we seem the best at jumping and climbing. Go on, Fluttershy.”

Fluttershy looked up at us on the way up before she swallowed and nodded firmly. She clambered onto the table from the chair before jumping onto the wardrobe and hesitating.

“Don’t worry,” I said, “If you miss, I’ll catch you with my magic.”

Fluttershy nodded and hesitated for another second before she jumped. Her hooves hit the rafter and she squeaked as she started to slip.

I lit my horn and grabbed her, giving her a small push upwards until she got a good hold. She breathed heavily and then got swinging, grabbing with her tail and letting go, hanging down by my other side.

“Well done.”

“T-thank you,” Fluttershy said quietly, wrapping herself in her wings.

“This is actually pretty comfortable,” Pepper admitted from my other side, pulling her legs to herself, wrapping herself up in her wings.

I smiled, “It is,” I agreed, “And pretty practical. While some do choose to sleep like this full time, even if you don’t have any non-thestral family I can’t recommend getting rid of the bed even if it does clear out quite a lot of space. Sometimes it’s nice to stretch out. Besides, beds are much more practical for… other activities.”

Fluttershy nodded, “Makes sense,” she agreed quietly while Pepper turned red to the tips of her ears before she nodded as well.

“Now,” I continued, “For something else. Let’s try this,” I said and let out a sharp chirp.

Both mares went still, ears perked.

“I-I heard the room!” Fluttershy exclaimed after a second, “I never could do that before!”

“I didn’t even know that was a thing!” Pepper said, looking at her surprised, “We can do that?!”

Fluttershy looked at her, “I never could, but my mom can,” she said, “I-at least I thought I couldn’t?”

I grinned at her, “Give it a try,” I said, “It’s not a throaty sound, it’s up by your nose almost. Like this,” I said and let out another high chirp.

She took a breath and gave it a try before she frowned, “No, wait, that’s not right.”

“Higher,” I confirmed, “It’s a very high sound, non-thestrals can’t even hear it at all. High as you can and you’re not far wrong.”

Fluttershy nodded and took a deep breath before letting out a loud chirp. It bounced nicely, letting me hear the shape of the room. Not quite clearly, she was a bit off.

“Better, but it takes practice, try not to force it,” I said, “Don’t worry, you’ll get it quickly,” before I turned to look at Pepper.

Pepper bit her lower lip and took a breath before letting out a sharp chirp.

“Almost,” I said, “Too forced. Relax your throat, if you make it too sharp, it causes interference in the soundwave. Try again.”

She nodded and chirped again. This time the room resolved clearly.

“Well done.”

The door opened and Midnight walked inside. She blinked and looked around before looking up. Spotting us, she rolled her eyes, “...Bats,” she said before she smiled, “I should have figured. How’s it going?”

“Well,” I said, “We’re done with the tail and we’re practicing echolocation. Flying will have to wait for a couple of days until their magic is back to normal.”

Midnight nodded, “You can continue that later, it’s time for dinner,” before she smiled, “Talon came through in his Canterlot expedition.”

I grinned at her, “Really!? That’s awesome,” I said and dropped down, letting go from the rafters and flying down before lighting my horn and helping Pepper and Fluttershy down.

“W-what is it?” Fluttershy asked as I put her onto her hooves.

“Lunch! Thestral style.”

Chapter 46

The meal had been interesting.

Pepper and Fluttershy had been introduced to salmon. Pepper looked a bit green even after tasting it, but Fluttershy seemed just fine with it funnily enough.

Or maybe not. She likely prepared fish and such for some of her animals all the time.

But the food was long gone and both Pepper and Fluttershy were out on the balcony, talking quietly with Princess Luna. Shining Armor and Cadance had joined them a moment ago.

I fully admit that I did my best to avoid her. Seeing her was... difficult.

Midnight walked up and sat down next to me, a cup of that heretical brew floating in her magic, "It's done," she said quietly.

I blinked at her over the rim of my teacup, "What's done?"

"The spell. I can cast it anytime we're ready."

"But... I thought it would take another week at least," I said, "Especially with you having to take time to teach the others the decursing spell."

Midnight shrugged her wings, "Got an idea after the decursing spell and spent the night working on it. It worked out. It's done."

"That's amazing," I said before I frowned at her expression, "Isn't it?"

She nodded and sighed, "I... yes."

"You're debating staying," I said and glanced towards the rest of the girls where they were talking with Princess Celestia.

Midnight hesitated for a second before she shook her head, "No... not really," she said and sighed softly, "I’m just… going to miss everypony."

Sipping my tea, I watched her. Come or stay... Midnight will be an unhappy filly for quite a bit. Didn't blame her one bit for it, it would just suck.

"When do you want to do it?" I asked after several moments, letting her gather her thoughts.

Midnight hesitated, "...In a few days. I have..." she trailed off.

I nodded, "We have been here for most of a month, Midnight. Don't worry about it, take what time you need and don't forget, at any point up to when you cast that spell you can change your mind."

She looked at me, "Still want me to stay?"

I sighed, "...I think you staying would be the best for the most number of ponies," I told her quietly but seriously, "But I'm also your friend and want you to be happy. I know it's going to hurt ponies no matter what you pick, and you more than anypony else. What I want is for you to choose for yourself and not let anypony or anyponies’ expectations to pressure you in either direction. Including me."

Midnight smiled weakly and pulled me into a hug, "Thank you," she murmured against my mane.

I hugged back, "Just make whichever choice you want to make," I said equally quietly, "I'll back you either way."

Nodding, Midnight broke the hug, "I will."

Glancing around I then frowned, "...Where are your parents by the way? I would have expected them to spend as much time with you as possible."

Midnight smiled, "I'll join them after this," she said, "They volunteered to watch Flurry for the evening and give Cadance and Shining a break."

"Ah."

Then I poked her with my wing and motioned towards her friends and Princess Celestia with my ear, "Go to them."

She nodded, "I will," she said, looking over at them with a small smile, "...I'll miss them."

"I know."

She slipped off her chair and onto her hooves before she looked at me for a second, seeming to want to say something before she shook her head and walked to join them.

I watched for a second before I took a deep breath and sipped my tea.

Home.

We're going home. I was happy about that of course. Luna. Twilight. Sunset. Everypony at home, I missed them.

Celestia.

But at the moment all I could worry about was the mess I was leaving behind.

Finishing my tea, I took another deep breath, blinked a couple of times before slipping off my chair and onto my hooves, moving towards the group of ponies with Princess Luna.

Least I could do was to be there while I could.

Even if it hurt to spend time around this Princess Luna.

Luna slowly looked around the dream portals floating all around us, "Truly... this many?"

"More," I said from next to her, looking over towards Fluttershy's dream portal. Smooth silvery pink.

Good for her.

"Only those that are asleep right now," I continued and sighed, "This is only a couple of thousand, there are over five thousand bats in total."

Luna turned to look at me, "And all moved to Nocturnis?"

I smiled and shook my head, "No, far from it. But they have the option, just knowing that if you want, there is somewhere safe to go... even if it's far away from home... hope is a powerful thing, Princess."

"So it is," she agreed quietly and looked around, "But I never thought it was so many."

"Hiding for thousands of years makes you very good at it," I pointed out while moving towards a dark and shimmering dream portal.

Flower Rain.

She was having a bad dream. Just a regular nightmare.

"You know this pony?" Luna asked as she walked up next to me, looking at the dark portal.

"Back home she is my assistant," I said and then smiled wryly, "Or perhaps I should say my keeper. I would never be able to do my job without her," I said and shook my head, "Without Flower Nocturnis would have failed the first month."

"She's a friend."

I nodded, "I like to think so," I said before I sighed softly, "Even if I think she is a bit too... she looks at me like I can solve everything."

"To her you did," Luna said softly and then touched the dream with her horn, causing it to calm down into a smooth silvery blue.

"Wish I did," I said and turned away, "But plenty of problems to go around."

"Perhaps," Luna said and walked next to me, "And there always will be."

I snorted in annoyance and nodded.

How did I end up doing this? I never wanted any of this, I never asked for any of this.

"Do you think they will listen?" Luna then asked before she trailed off, "Let us..."

I looked at Fluttershy's dream portal for a second before I answered, "Maybe. At first, maybe not a lot. Maybe only some, a few. With time, with proving you make things better, then maybe," I said before looking at her, "But know that with thestrals, being a princess will give you no leeway. You will have to prove to them that they can trust you, prove that you can do what you say you do."

Luna turned to me, her wings spreading, “You don’t think we can do it?”

“I don’t think any Princess can do it,” I said firmly.

“Then why all this!?”

I took a step forward, “Because I believe you can do it.”

Luna frowned, looking uncertain, taking half a step back, “We… We do not understand…”

I shook my head, “Princess, this is not something you can do. This is something they are going to do and you are going to assist them. If they ever feel like you are trying to take over, they are going to lose all trust. You can’t do it, but I believe you all can, together. Don’t be their Princess. Be a pony. They don’t need a Princess, they need somepony that can help.”

She regarded me for several long moments, eyes wide as her wings slowly folded, “I…” she started to say, trailing off before she shook her head, “...I’m not sure how.”

“I know,” I said, giving her a small smile, “Which is the reason I asked Pepper. Assist, advice, but allow her to take the lead on this with Fluttershy. She’s strong enough to handle it and with yours, Celestias and Fluttershy's support… with the rest of the elements and Cadance backing them…”

Luna frowned slightly, “You truly planned that?”

“That’s giving me a bit too much credit,” I admitted and smiled at her, “But I know everypony involved and…” I trailed off as it struck me it wasn’t my Luna I was talking to.

Maybe outright telling her that I know what threads to pull on with everypony involved might not be the best idea.

She looked at me for several long moments before she just nodded with a small sigh, looking away, “My sister trained you well. She always could get ponies to do what she wished.”

“Midnight told you.”

Luna nodded, “Celestia is a good teacher,” she admitted and then looked at me, “Better than me.”

“At some subjects,” I agreed, “But you taught me how to fight, how to defend myself. That’s something you are definitely better at.”

That drew a smile from her, “You think so?”

“Oh, definitely. During the rebellion she had to resort to the elements to win despite being the technically stronger alicorn,” I told Luna and looked up at her with a small smile back, “Celestia is a menace when it comes to tactics and strategy, but you're a better fighter.”

Luna's hoof scraped against the not-ground beneath us and looked away, “...I wish I had been the Luna to meet you,” she said quietly.

“You were,” I told her gently, “The Luna that met me was you. I’m not sure where the timeline split, but Twilight and Midnight thinks it was when I arrived in this world. You arrived back on this world after that, we met for the first time at the castle and…that’s where you deviated from this timeline. You are the same Luna I married. If I had not met you, this is who you would be.”

She turned to look back at me again, taking a small step forward and kissed my forehead next to my horn, “Care for her, Page.”

I smiled up at her, raising a hoof and put it against her chest as I looked into her eyes, “Find somepony, Luna. You may not feel like it, but you deserve somepony to love you,” I said seriously before I smiled a bit wider, “If you don’t believe me, ask Cadance. I’m sure she’d be happy to help.”

That drew a laugh from her and she nodded, “I may do so.”

Chapter 47

“Prince Page?”

I opened an eye and looked down on Cadance before I opened my second one and yawned, “Princess Cadance,” I said, “No, do come into my bedroom in the middle of the day. I don’t mind at all being woken up at bucking noon.”

I hate ponies.

The pink alicorn had the good manners to look a bit chagrined, “...My apologies,” she said, “I didn’t think of that. I wanted to talk to you.”

The pink menace wasn’t going away.

Suppressing a sigh, I let go with my tail as I spread my wings and flew down to land before her, “if we’re going to be talking this early, I need tea.”

Cadance nodded and followed along as I moved down to the kitchen, keeping quiet until I spoke up as I put some water on a burner,

“Well, what did you want to talk about?” I finally asked her as I dug out the box of tea.

Cadance sat down across the counter from me, “Twilight.”

I nodded, “And you are worried that she’s just going for Tempest.”

Cadance frowned and then shook her head, “No, not that Twilight. The Twilight from your world.”

“Oh,” I said, “I see. What about?”

She shrugged a bit, “Mostly curious,” she admitted, “And her relationship with you.”

“Ah,” I said, nodding and checking the water, “What would you like to know?”

Cadance put a hoof on the counter, “About your relationship,” she said as she looked at me intensely, “because Twilight is like eighty percent into mares.”

“...My Twilight or your Twilight?” I asked with a small frown.

She sighed and rolled her eyes, “...Midnight.”

I smiled at her, “See, much easier.”

She nodded, “Admittedly yes,” she agreed, “So how did you get together with your Twilight?”

“Well, it was kind of a slow progress,” I admitted and took the water of the heater, running my magic across it before putting it back on and measuring the tea up into a strainer. I filled the teapot with hot water and whirled it around, “And kind of a package deal to start with. I got together with Sunset Shimmer whom she’s dating. It actually took years before Sparks and I got further than cuddles and even then it was always with Sunset. Us being a thing between us took a while.”

Cadance nodded as I refilled the teapot, adding a strainer of tea to it, “How did that happen?”

I grinned and shook my mane back, raising my wings, “Because I’m a pretty batty pony.”

“Pretty batty sounds about right,” Cadance agreed with a teasing smile, “So, going to marry her?”

“Yes,” I said firmly as I poured us a cup each, sliding one over to her, “But I know she wants to marry Sunset first and Sunset says she isn’t ready yet.”

She slowly nodded again and picked up her cup, “I see,” she said quietly.

“What are you thinking about?” I asked and sipped my tea.

“You,” she said quietly and then sipped her tea before blinking and looking down at it in surprise.

I smirked at her, “What?”

“...This is good.”

“Yes, it’s good. It’s tea,” I told her, “Prepared properly and without being scorched by boiling water.”

Cadance smiled a bit, “I only had tea like this with aunty Celestia. Though admittedly, I am much more for coffee.”

I glowered at her with a small scowl, “So that’s where Sparks learned that. Heretics, both of you.”

Cadance laughed, “I suppose,” she said and sipped her tea again before looking at me across the cup, “What about foals?”

Sipping my tea for a second to think, I then flicked my ears, “I know my Luna wants some,” I said softly, “But we have been moving from crisis to crisis and then this entire thing with Nocturnis. It hasn't been good timing so we have been careful. Maybe… when things calms down a little.”

“A small tip, it never calms down.”

“Isn’t that the truth,” I sighed and looked at her, “But to be completely honest, none of us is even sure it’s even possible. I mean, pure statistics means that Celestia should have dozens by now if it was possible.”

Cadance smirked a bit, “You would think so,” she said before she looked at me, “But you’re an alicorn. They weren’t.”

“Odds seem poor.”

“I did.”

I rolled my eyes, “Well, you’re a fertility goddess, fairly sure that’s cheating.”

“I am not!” Cadance exclaimed.

“Tell that to the Griffins,” I teased, “They have statues and everything.”

She gaped at me in horror, “They don’t!”

“Oh yes, they do,” I said with a grin, “Almost as big as Lunas.”

Cadance sighed and rubbed her eyes, “...be as it may, my domain is love, not…”

“Well, it’s definitely a lot closer than anypony else.”

She shook her head, “My point is,” she said, “Is that if you and your mares are looking for a foal, ask the me in your world. I can help.”

I raised an eyebrow at her, “I’m not sure Sparks would be comfortable with your assistance like that. Then there is Shining and-”

“With spells!” Cadance exclaimed and facehooved as she blushed to the tips of her ears, “Spells, buck it. No wonder you’re married with aunty Luna, you have the same sense of humor!”

“Ah,” I said and nodded with a smile, “So that’s it.”

Cadance looked a bit guilty, “So you figured it out.”

“Trying to figure out what I’m really like so you can help Luna,” I said and nodded, “Makes sense. Want the most important tip?”

“Yes?”

“Somepony that’s not intimidated by her.”

Cadance nodded, “Goes for most ponies.”

“Yes, but it’s even more important for us,” I said seriously, “Especially for Luna and Celestia. Ponies are so used to revering alicorns and ponies looking up to them. They need somepony that doesn't give a buck about that. I’m sure Shining Armor wasn’t afraid of you.”

Cadance laughed, “You’re kidding, right? He was terrified of me!” she said with a grin and sipped her tea, “But admittedly it was because I was a pretty mare, not because I was an alicorn. He grew out of it.”

I smirked, “Sounds about right.”

She smiled, “What of-” she started to say before she frowned slightly, “Wait, you said Shining and… and what? What were you going to say?”

“Well, your second stallion of course,” I said and sipped my tea.

Her jaw dropped slightly, “What, who?” she asked in surprise.

“Oh? Does the Princess of Love need help with love?” I asked with a grin, “ironic.”

She glowered at me, “Spill.”

“Sunburst.”

Cadance blinked in surprise, “...Sunburst,” she then said thoughtfully, looking down onto her tea, “I guess I can see that.”

Chapter 48

I moved out of the way as Talon walked across his room, lighting my horn to catch a fallen comic, "Are you sure you need all this?" I asked, "I'm not sure if Midnight has a weight limit or not, but at least the comics I know Spike has to have a copy of."

Talon paused and smiled a bit sheepishly and put the tall stack down, "I guess you're right," he admitted before he looked around his room.

Flipping through the comic, I then closed it and put it at the top of the stack.

"I'll miss this place," Talon said and sighed as he looked around.

"The place or the ponies?" I asked with a small smile.

"...Both," he said and turned to me, "How much do you think we can pack?"

I shrugged my wings, "No clue, have to check with Midnight. But if it's a portal sucking us into the air like last time, it did lift two alicorns and a dragon right off the ground without problem, so... I can only assume one large bag each would be fine?"

He nodded and reached beneath his bed, digging around before pulling out a large bag, "Makes sense."

"You can pack a bag for me to carry too if you run out of space," I offered, "I don't have anything here to bring but some letters for some ponies."

"Thanks Page," he said and put his bag on the bed before he looked around, "...But I guess I don't have that much stuff either. Just..."

He walked over to his bedside table and opened it before picking out a gem, looking at it, "As long as I get to bring this."

He wrapped it up in a thick cloth and put it in his pack before he turned to me, "It was a gift."

I just nodded, "Those are important," I said and reached up to feathers by my ear.

Talon smiled and jumped up to sit on his bed, "...Page, have you thought any about me joining the guard?"

I shifted my wings and considered it while glancing up to make sure no new portals arrived, "I'm not sure, Talon," I said before raising my hoof to intercept his protest, "I know that by age, you are old enough to start training," I told him seriously, "But that's for ponies. Dragons age differently and for a dragon, you are still very young."

"I can do it."

"I know you can," I told him, "What concerns me isn't if you can do it but if it's fair to make you do it."

Talon frowned, "What do you mean?"

Sighing, I shook my head, "Talon, I have no worries about your capabilities. You're strong and tough and can handle at least as much as any earth pony. But what the guard does, especially in Nocturnis, is dangerous."

"I can handle it."

I smiled at him, "I know. And if it was just that, I would have no problem. But it's not what they do, but what they experience," before I sighed again, "Ponies, creatures getting hurt. Dying. Sometimes messily. Talon, I'm not worried about you getting hurt, as a dragon you’re tougher than any earth pony, yet alone a thestral. I'm worried about you seeing others get hurt.”

Talon seemed to get a bit thrown by that, "...Oh..." he said quietly.

"I saw how it hit Sunny finding those train engineers, and so did you," I told him quietly, "I don't want that to happen to you too. Even more, what if you happen to somehow get hurt? You are physically tougher than almost any pony but things happen. But what do you think that would do to Midnight?"

Talon looked down at his claws, nodding slightly, "I guess you're right," he said, "Didn't think of that."

Young dragon indeed.

"That said," I continued, "I am willing to allow it on some conditions."

Talon looked at me again, "What conditions?"

"That it's limited to part time training until you are old enough," I said and sat down on the floor, "No patrols outside the barrier until you are older. And that Midnight sign off that she is okay with this because if something happens to you, she'll kill me."

He considered that for several long moments before he nodded, "I guess that's fair," he finally said.

I smirked, "Don't be too happy about it. Because you know that Sunset is the pony in charge of the guard training. I’ve seen her run earth ponies into the ground, I'm fairly sure she'll take a dragon as a challenge."

"I can do it!" Talon said with a grin and jumped off the bed, "Thanks Page!"

"Don't forget that Midnight needs to sign off first," I said and then stood up, giving him a salute, "Trainee."

Talon got to something approaching attention and saluted me, "Your Majesty!"

I held it for a second before I smiled and dropped it, "Get to finish packing, the goodbye party is going to start soon. Don't want to miss it."

Tomorrow. Leaving tomorrow.

Talon quickly nodded.

Chapter 49

The party was in full swing.

Okay, party might be a bit understating it, it was closer to a full on carnival or full on town market. I’m not sure who(Pinkie) had set it up, but the entire town of ponyville and half of Canterlot seemed to have showed up.

There were food stalls. Games.

Merchants!

Somepony(Pinkie) had set up and organized this in… what, a week? This power is beyond that of an alicorn.

When I get back home, I’m going to see if I can hire her as a general organizer. Because anypony that good at herding cats(ponies), is wasted on just parties.

I had not planned to get involved, it was their goodbye party and a thestral alicorn in the middle of it would attract too much attention from Midnight and Talon. I didn’t want that.

I didn’t hide, but I kept to the outskirts, relaxing on the grass next to one of the trees. Besides, I wasn’t a big fan of crowds in the best of times.

But Pepper… Pepper and Fluttershy was in the middle of it all, keeping close to the Princesses. Letting Ponies see them, see that they were accepted.

I knew how Fluttershy felt about it, she was terrified. But she did it anyway.

Bravest pony I knew, indeed.

The sound of hooves on grass approached and I looked over in the light of the setting sun and to my surprise I saw Applejack approaching.

She carried a pair of bottles in one hoof, stopping a couple of steps away, giving me a small bow, “Your Highness.”

“Applejack,” I said and gave her a nod back, “But you don’t need to bow to me. What can I help you with?”

She approached and laid down on the grass next to me, pulling the corks out of them with her teeth before passing one over.

I took it and took a sip, “Apple family cider,” I said, “It’s good, I can’t afford this very often.”

Applejack looked at me, raising an eyebrow, “Can’t afford it? Yer a Prince.”

I smiled faintly and took a sip, “Nocturnis isn’t a rich village, Applejack. I have donated most of my own bits to it as well. The bits it would cost to import a cask or bottles all the way to Nocturnis would buy a family of unicorns, earth ponies or pegasi hay, rice or grain for a week or two. Importing luxuries are low on my list of priorities.”

“I see.”

“Thestrals may be good on fruit and other local food,” I said, “But almost twenty percent of Nocturnis isn’t thestrals and need imported food to be healthy.”

Applejack nodded, “Can’t live on nothing but apples,” she admitted, “Need hay or grain to stay healthy.”

I nodded and took another sip before glancing down at it, “but this is definitely on the import list as soon as we can afford it,” I said before I looked at her, ”You want to talk about Midnight.”

Applejack shook her head, “Nah, she knows what she wants to do. Ah get it, she has a mare back in Nocturnis. Friends. Family. Ah wanted to ask ye about Fluttershy.”

“What about?” I asked and flicked one ear.

“Anything special she needs now?” Applejack asked, “Ah’m not sure anypony else has asked.”

Nodding, I looked down towards the rest of the party, “Well,” I said, “They will need more fruit in the mix than grains, but mostly they can eat like any other tribe. With one difference.”

“The… fish,” Applejack said, shifting a bit uncomfortable, “Ah remember the dinner. Pepper did not look like a fan.”

“Takes some getting used to for some ponies,” I agreed, “But we really do need it to be at our best. Not a lot, but we need some. That or some special kinds of beans works as well.”

I sipped the cider again with a small smile. It really was nice… it wasn’t quite as difficult to get in Nocturnis as I had implied. Nopony would raise an eyebrow if I imported a cask of it from time to time, in fact I was strangely certain my ponies would insist if I mentioned I liked it, but it still felt wrong.

Maybe now with the barrier up, when things had stabilized a bit. Or maybe we could make our own, we did have plenty of fruit.

But most of the local stuff tended to be more towards either wine or hard liquor, not cider. Wonder if Applejack has a cousin or not that wouldn’t mind moving?

“Many earth ponies in Nocturnis?” Applejack asked after a moment.

I raised an eyebrow at her, “Uhm,” I said and then frowned, thinking for a moment, “...Sev-no, six families. Two of them merged a month ago. Well, two months now. Twenty three in total, counting foals. Most ponies in Nocturnis have wings, but we do have a small but growing population of earth ponies and unicorns. With the barrier up, it will get easier for them when we can move some construction to the ground level.”

“Ah’m not sure I could live in trees,” Applejack agreed and poked at the grass with her hoof, “I prefer to keep my hooves on the ground.”

“As do most ponies without wings,” I said before I smiled, “Admittedly for very understandable reasons.”

Applejack laughed softly and nodded, “As ye say,” she said and slowly got onto her hooves, “Come, Twilight would like ye down there with them.”

“I think that would be a bit too distracting for everypony else.”

Applejack frowned at me before she raised an eyebrow.

I sighed and climbed to my hooves, “...That and I’m worried about something going wrong on the way back. I don’t need hundreds of ponis staring at me, I don’t like the attention.”

She nodded, “Ah understand. But it would mean a lot for them.”

“I’ll come,” I said with a small sigh, joining her and walking down the small hill towards the party.

Applejack smiled as she led the way, “There’s more cider down there,” she teased.

I couldn’t help but grin, “There is that.”

Chapter 50

"You'll do fine," I told Pepper and Fluttershy quietly, "You have all the alicorns with you. Princess Luna will help you."

Spicy Pepper swallowed visible before she nodded, "I-I know," she said, "We'll be fine," she said and glanced at Fluttershy.

Fluttershy nodded firmly before surprising me by taking a step forward to hug me.

I hugged back, "Remember, you're not alone," I told her quietly, "trust your friends."

Fluttershy nodded and stepped back, "B-be careful," she said and then rushed over to Midnight and the rest of the group around her.

Everypony was gathered in the throne room around the map table.

It was time.

"You too," I then told Spicy Pepper quietly, "There will be ponies that will react with fear. Use Celestia."

Pepper glanced away.

"Trust me on this," I said and moved to catch her eyes, "She's a genius on this. I know you don't like her, and I'm not asking you to, but I need you to rise over that or you won't get anywhere."

Spicy Pepper met my eyes before she nodded, "...I'll try."

I smiled, "Keep your ears about you, Pepper. It will be tough, but worth it."

Then I looked over to where Midnight was hugging her parents before turning back to her, "I need to go now. Be well, Spicy Pepper."

"Safe travels, your majesty," she said and bowed to me.

I bowed back before turning away and walking over to stand next to the bags. Talon hugged Night Light firmly and then let go and walking up to me,

"Ready?" he asked, his voice slightly unsteady.

I touched his shoulder with my hoof, "Ready," I said, "You sure of this?"

Talon closed his eyes and then nodded firmly.

He didn't look certain, but there really wasn't a good choice here. Whichever they chose, it sucked.

Midnight shared a hug with Princess Clestia before she stepped back and turned to walk over to Talon and me, "Let's get ready," she said quietly before she looked out over the group, "We're going to get ready. Everypony not going need to leave the room."

One by one the ponies left. Her parents were the last ones out, Twilight Velvet walking close to her husband and while the angle hid it from Midnight, I saw her start to cry as they left the room.

They were almost the last ones out, Starlight Glimmer remained for a second, looking at Midnight.

Midnight approached her and they talked quietly, too quietly for my ears even before they shared a hug.

Starlight stepped back and looked at Midnight, "You're sure?"

"I'm sure," Midnight said, "And I talked with Celestia."

"...What did she say?" Starlight asked nervously.

"A job and the ring off in a year if you prove you can be trusted," Midnight told her with a small smile, "I recommend doing it."

Starlight nodded, "I will," and gave her another hug, "Thank you."

Midnight hugged back, "Now you best leave or you'll end up coming along."

Nodding, Starlight let go and left, closing the door behind her.

"Just a few minutes, everypony onto the table," Midnight said and floated the bags onto it.

I jumped onto the table, careful not to step on the town as I turned to look at Talon and Midnight, "It's not too lat-"

"Shut up, Page," Midnight said firmly and jumped onto the table next to me before her expression softened, "I know what you mean and that you mean well. But we already made our choice, we're going home."

Talon nodded and climbed up next to her, "That's right."

I sighed softly and took half a step back, "I just want you to be sure," I said quietly.

Midnight stepped over a small town and gave me a hug, "I know. Thank you," she said before stepping back and floated a scroll out, "Everypony take hold of each other and hang on."

Taking a deep breath, I slipped one of Talon's bags onto my back and moved up next to Midnight, putting Talon between us as I wrapped a wing across her back, hers going across mine in turn, "Uhm... mind trying for a bit softer landing than last time?" I asked a bit warily, "Is it too late to ask for a helmet?"

"It absolutely is," Midnight said, her eyes starting to glow, magic flowing along her horn and across the scroll as power echoed through her voice.

The world seemed to shake and a blue glow appeared above us, exploding into a wide portal and wind started to flow.

Oh buck, here we go again!

My hooved left the ground and everything turned into colors, spinning and whirling before something green appeared and I smack-

Darkness.

Chapter 51

I groaned, slowly blinking my eyes open before quickly squeezing them closed again at the burning bright light.

There was another groan next to me, "...Page, you okay?" Midnight asked.

"...Damn it, what did I say about the landing," I groaned and slowly pushed myself up, carefully opening my eyes against the bright sunlight. We were... I could see Canterlot in the distance, smoke from the chimneys of a town in the distance.

Ponyville.

"We should be in the same spot we were in when I cast the spell," Midnight said and looked around, helping Talon onto his feet, "Talon?"

"I'm good," he said and then looked at her, "did it work?"

Midnight got onto her hooves, lightning her horn and shining it around, "The magical signature matches," she said and looked at me.

"No castle," I said and shrugged, looking at Talon, "Give it a try?"

He nodded and dug into the bag, pulling out a pre-prepared scroll. He held it out and sent it off with a burst of green fire.

He paused for a second before he grinned, "It didn't bounce back!"

Midnight nodded, "Which means there is a Spike at least," she said.

Only minutes later, Talon burped out a large spout of flame before catching a scroll from it, unrolling it. He read for a second as Midnight and I watched before he grinned widely, "We're home! It's Spike and Twilight, they're in Nocturnis. Twilight writes that Luna is still in Nocturnis and will be waiting in the dream realm for you Page."

Home.

I pulled both of them into a tight hug, "Thank you," I mumbled softly against Midnights mane.

She gave me a small squeeze before she smiled, "Sorry it took so long," she said and then let go, "Talon, the second scroll?"

He nodded and sent a new one, this time to Celestia. Midnight looked around, "We should head to the train. Make our way to Canterlot."

"I should meet Luna..." I said hesitantly.

Midnight nodded, "You should," she said and then smiled understandably, "But you can do that at the train or by the train station if we have a wait."

Luna.

I finally nodded, "Okay," I admitted, "that's fair."

"Come on," Midnight said and poked my side with her wing, "I'm going to need to wait for weeks to see Tempest, you can handle twenty minutes more."

"...Okay..." I said again and walked along next to her, Talon walking by her other side.

Talon burped again and caught the incoming scroll before opening it, "It's from Princess Celestia. She's glad we're back and invites us to Canterlot. She says she has sent the guard with a sky carriage to get us."

"Well," I said, "that saves us some time."

Midnight smiled and nodded before she looked at me, "Come on," she said, "let's find a place where you can take a nap."

I gave her a small sheepish grin, "That obvious?"

"A bit, yes," Talon said with a grin.

Midnight led the way over to beneath the shade of a tree, "Go to sleep," she said, "We'll keep an eye out for the carriage. It will take a bit for it to get here anyway."

I gave them a thankful smile before sinking down into the soft grass in the shade, closing my eyes and lighting my horn for a quick sleeping spell.

The dream realm formed around me and I turned to find Luna already there.

Stars shimmered in her mane and she was just...

I met her eyes and didn't say anything, I just walked up to hug her tight. Luna sat down, forelegs and wings slipping around me, her cheek against my mane as I rested my head against her neck.

We just stayed like that for several long moments before I finally looked up at her, "I missed you."

"I missed you as well," she said quietly, "Amber told us what happened, Twilight figured out what it was. We have been working on a way to get you back since."

"I think Midnight had a bit of a leg up on that," I said and stroked her coat softly with my wing, "She had assistance from the mare that made the original spell. But I'll let her explain how they did it as I have no idea," I said and then kissed her softly.

Luna kissed back and then bumped her nose against mine, "Twilight has barely slept without magical help while you were gone. She kept working until Sunset and I pulled her away."

"And you didn't worry?" I asked and looked up into her eyes.

Luna smiled softly and nosed at my ear, "I did. But I know you would come back to us in some way, be it by us finding a way or you finding a way from your side. You are resourceful and you had Midnight with you. They came back with you, was it the wrong world?"

I flicked my ear and then looked up at her, "It was the right world," I said and shifted my wings, "But... they said this was their home now. They wanted to come back."

She pulled me closer, wings softly around me as she held me against her, "Come, let's go to their dreams. Twilight and Sunset will want to welcome you back."

I nodded and held her tighter, "I missed you, My Sky."

"I missed you as well, My Page," Luna murmured softly against my ear.

Chapter 52

I stepped into Sunset’s dream, Luna following me along.

Her wing never left my back as we walked into Canterlot. The sun shone above, but nopony was on the empty streets and it was quiet.

Sunset sat alone on a bench beneath a tree, looking up towards the empty castle above.

I tapped my hoof, solidifying the dream. Sunset blinked and then lit up when she saw us, “Page!” she exclaimed and ran over.

I moved to pull her into a hug, but she didn’t stop. Sunset basically tackled me onto my back and her lips found mine.

Kissing back, I held her close, stroking her mane before she broke the kiss and pressed her forehead against mine, horns crossed as she looked into my eyes.

She was crying.

“It’s alright,” I told her quietly, stroking her mane, “I’m back. We’re safe.”

Sunset sniffed and sat up, running her hoof across her eyes, “I… I know, it’s just…” she said before she relaxed against me again, head against my chest as Luna settled down next to us, her wing resting across Sunsets back,

“It will be fine, Sunset,” Luna said softly, “He’s back and safe. I said he would be.”

Sunset looked at her and swallowed, nodding, “I know,” she said and then looked at me, “It’s just… we worked so hard on finding a way to get you back and we just couldn’t find a way.”

“Only reason I didn’t panic was because I knew there was a way back,” I told her, brushing her mane as I touched my horn to hers, looking into her eyes, “But I knew I would get back, do you know why?” I asked before I smiled, “Because I knew the smartest ponies in the world were on the job.”

Sunset smiled weakly and sniffed, “Which turned out to be Midnight.”

“Well, she did have the advantage of having help from the pony making the original spell,” I said and held her tighter, “But I have no doubt you, Luna and Sparks would have figured it out eventually.”

Sunset quickly sat up, “Oh Celestia, Twi,” she said and looked at me, “Have you spoken to her yet?”

“Not yet, we found your dream first.”

Sunset scooted off me, “Go talk to her, she needs you more right now. She’s been a mess since you left.”

“Sunny,” I said and rolled onto my hooves, “I love you.”

She smiled and pressed close, giving me another kiss, “I love you too, silly bat. Now go take care of our Twilight.”

I looked to Luna and she hesitated before she glanced at Sunset and then shook her head,

“I should remain here,” she said, “I don’t think leaving Sunset alone would be good.”

Sunset looked at her, “Luna, you don’t hav-”

Luna gave her a small hug, “We take care of each other,” she said and then smiled at me, “Go, I will meet you again by next sunrise.”

I stepped forward, rubbing my cheek against hers before I backed away and left the dream, quickly searching out Twilights.

It was silvery and whirling with darkness.

Twilight was having a nightmare. I quickly touched my horn to it and walked through into the dream, finding myself in…

…A classroom?

A classroom filled with little filles and colts laughing, the unicorn teacher at the front of the room looking angry at a small purple unicorn, staring in panic at a 2 + 2 = 5 written on the black board.

As I watched, Twilight quickly erased the five to write a four only for the two other numbers to change to make it wrong again.

Everypony laughed.

I quickly walked up to her and stomped my hoof, solidifying the dream and making everypony go away and turning Twilight into her real form as I gathered her into a hug with forelegs and wings.

Twilight hugged back, “W-we got the message,” she said quietly.

“I know,” I said and stroked her mane, “I missed you, Sparks,” I said and looked down into her eyes.

“We…” Sparks said and then shook her head, “Amber explained what happened and we-”

“I know,” I said and touched my nose to hers, “Luna explained.”

Sparks looked up into my eyes, “How did you do it?” she asked quietly, “I… I couldn’t find a safe way to do it.”

“I have no idea,” I admitted, “I mean, Midnight and Starlight showed me some of the equations but I didn’t get it. I’m afraid you will have to wait for the explanation until we’re all back to Nocturnis.”

Sparks smiled faintly, touching my nose with hers, “You’re not dumb, you’re smarter than most ponies I know. You just don’t have the right education.”

I smiled back and gave her a small kiss, “I’ll be sure to get one when I get some free time. I’m sure my schedule will open up sometime during the next century.”

She hugged me tight, “When will you be home?”

“We’re waiting for a sky carriage to take us to Canterlot,” I said and ran my hoof along her mane, “It will likely take a couple of days to get transport back home ready. Then a week on train or maybe a bit less if airship.”

Sparks nodded, “A lot of ponies will be glad to have you back,” she said before she frowned, “But… Midnight. Why did she and Talon come back? They were back home, was it the wrong world?”

I shook my head and sighed softly, “They said that this was their home now. I’m… I’m not sure it was the right choice, but it was their choice to make. Did you tell Tempest?”

She nodded again, “She has been miserable,” she said quietly, “She thought she would never see her again. When she found out Midnight had returned…”

Twilight sniffed softly and then hugged me tight, pressing her nose against my neck, “Welcome home.”

“It’s good to be home,” I said and hugged back before I sighed, “...Midnight is poking me, I think our ride is here. I have to go.”

She nodded, “See you in the morning?”

“Of course,” I said and stole one last kiss before sending her dream into a pleasant one filled with an infinite library before I left the dream realm.

Chapter 53

It wasn’t just a sky carriage that arrived, it was a troop of twenty pegasus guards as well in full formation. Full armor and armament too.

Midnight sighed softly as we drew up on Canterlot, passing above the outskirts, her hooves on the railing of the carriage.

“Missed it?” I asked from next to her, my eyes squinted against the light of the sun above. The reflections and glares from the gold and windows of Canterlot didn’t exactly help either.

“A little,” Midnight said and glanced at me before she frowned and turned, digging through her bag and pulling out a pair of protective glasses. She cast a spell on them, causing the lenses to darken before floating them over to me, “Put these on. I put the reverse of one of those night seeing enchantments on it.”

“...Thanks,” I admitted and took it in my magic, slipping the band around my head and down over my eyes, the world instantly going darker and the glare disappeared.

Midnight looked at me thoughtfully before reaching out with her magic to adjust the lenses a bit, “I should make more of these,” she said, “With the barrier up, a lot of work will be easier done in the day, even by thestrals. Also, for thestrals that have jobs that keep them awake during the day.”

“Good idea,” I said and adjusted the band around my head before I frowned as we approached the tower, “Look at that,” I said looking at the tower containing Celestia’s bedroom and chambers.

It was… scorched. It looked like there had been a large fire. The entire top third looked darkened, the windows were broken and parts of the metal roof had melted. There were large holes in the roof where it had collapsed inwards.

Midnight looked at it, “Fire?” she asked, glancing at me.

“Looks like,” I said and shifted my wings, “Good thing Sunshine is fireproof.”

But the quarters of the alicorn of the sun bursting into flame… she was the undisputed mistress of fire magic.

If she had been there, she could have stopped it.

How did it happen?

The carriage circled down to one of the courtyards where Grey Velvet were waiting for us.

“Princess Midnight, Prince Page,” she said with a smile and then bowed in greeting, “Welcome back.”

“Thank you, Velvet,” I said and gave her a bow back, “How are things?”

She smiled, “Very well, your highness,” she said and straightened up.

“Hello Velvet,” Midnight said with a smile back before she looked at me, “I think we should split up,” she said and looked to Talon, “I don’t know if anypony has told Night Light and Twilight Velvet yet.”

Velvet smiled, “Actually, we have, your highness,” she said and turned, “Please come with me.”

I shared a look with Midnight and Talon before we all followed the unicorn inside.

She led us to one of the private rooms. The door had just opened and we walked inside before we found ourselves pulled into a group hug.

I blinked in surprise before I hugged Twilight Velvet and Night Light back.

“Welcome back”, Twilight Velvet said with a smile as they hugged all three of us.

“Good to be back,” Midnight said quietly and squeezed them tighter. I looked past them, seeing Celestia waiting, smiling softly.

Her public expression she used all the time. But her regalia looked slightly different. Her crown was similar but not identical, it had the same purple gem but the lines were slightly different. And her necklace while in the same shape, some of the engraved lines didn’t match what I remembered. It had roses now, not waves.

I slowly let go of the hug and slipped down on all four before I moved around to Celestia, “Hey Sunshine,” I said, looking up at her.

“Page,” she said with a small smile, “Welcome back.”

I regarded her for a long moment, meeting her eyes before I looked around, “...Would you mind if we talk in a darker room? I would like to take these goggles off.”

“Of course,” she said and smiled at the Sparkle family, “I believe they will be busy for a bit in any case. This way,” she said and turned to guide me to the next room.

The door closed behind us and I walked up to pull my goggles off before I looked up into her eyes, “I missed you.”

Celestia's large warm wings wrapped around me and she pulled me close with her forelegs as she sat down.

I leaned into her warmth but we didn’t say anything else for a long time.

“I’m so glad you’re safe,” Celestia said softly, my vision mostly filled by the shifting colors of her mane, her nose brushing against my ear, “I was so worried.”

“I know,” I said quietly, “I’m sorry.”

I shifted to look up at her, meeting her eyes, my nose almost touching hers, “I… saw there was a fire,” I then added.

Celestia met my gaze, “There was an accident,” she said softly, “...About a month ago. Some of the things could be saved, but it requires rebuilding.”

About a month ago. When we left. Her regalia looked different.

New.

Didn’t need to be Twilight level smart to figure that one out.

“Celestia,” I said, putting my hoof against her chest, “I…” I started to say before I trailed off. I couldn’t find the words.

“I know,” she answered, her nose touching mine for just a second, “Me too,” she said before she pulled back slightly.

I nodded and shifted back as well, standing up and smiling up at her, “Well, I’m not that surprised about the fire. It was going to happen eventually.”

Celestia blinked at me, “What?”

“Things bursting into fire around you,” I said with a smile, “I mean, somepony can only be that hot for so long before spontaneous fires start to erupt.”

Laughing, Celestia wrapped a wing around me, pulling me close once more against her sunwarm coat, her nose against my mane..

I closed my eyes, leaning against her. She smelled like a warm summer day.

Chapter 54

I slowly stirred awake, pressing my nose against the pillow.

It had the scent of my Luna.

I had just left her in the dream realm and I could still smell her. Missed her again already. We had spent the entire day talking, half with Sunny and half with Sparks. Nocturnis were going well, the barrier was up and some area had started to be cleared along the river for farming.

Groaning, I slowly blinked my eyes open, finding myself staring into a pair of brilliant green eyes.

“...Good evening, Skitter,” I said and then suppressed a yawn, “Sorry for not coming to see you earlier, but it had been a long day.”

“I understand, sir,” Skitter said and stretched out on her side, watching me, “Mother wishes to see you.”

“Of course she does,” I said and yawned, rolling onto my stomach and stretching, raising my wings before relaxing, blinking sleepily, “How has things been?”

“I was worried for you, sir,” Skitter said, “It’s good that you’re back.”

I smiled at her, “It’s good to be back,” I said before I stretched again, “Let me just get some breakfast and th-” I broke off when I spotted the tray on the nightside table.

Mango cubes, sliced apples and a cup of steaming hot tea.

“Thank you,” I said and floated over the cup and plate to dig in. It didn’t take too long to finish and then I stretched once more and jumped off the bed, “Let’s go?” I asked.

Skitter nodded and climbed off the bed, “The Queen is in the hive, sir.”

I nodded and walked along next to her, giving her a small hug before we walked outside. Skitter led the way to the entrance of the hive.

A pair of drones were guarding it, quickly moving to the side to allow us inside and she guided me down into the dark depths.

Not that I needed it, I knew the way very well.

The way to the throneroom.

Chrysalis lounged across her throne as I entered with Skitter, looking up at us lazily as we walked in.

She didn’t say anything, just just laid there as Skitter gave her a small bow and then moved to the side.

I bowed, smoothly spreading my wings, “Queen Chrysalis,” I said before standing up again.

Chrysalis slipped off her throne, walking down to me before stopping a couple of hooves widths away, regarding me for a moment before her eyes widened slightly and she took half a step back and taking a sniff of the air, “You met another me in the other world?”

“I did,” I said and looked up at her, “Would you like to know how she was doing?”

“No,” Chrysalis said and slowly walked around me, brushing her wing against my sides as she did, “She is an inferior copy.”

“So sure of that, are you?” I asked, turning my head to look at her, “What if she was in fact in a better position than you are? Ruling vast tracks to land and ponies serving her?”

Chrysalis smirked, “She was not. If she were, you would not carry her scent or you would be in a pod. No, you defeated her and gave her the same deal you gave us.”

I snorted, “I think she may be smarter than you, I didn’t need to defeat anyling. I just talked to her.”

“That’s what you do, my little predator,” Chrysalis said, “You talk and your enemies fall.”

I turned towards her, looking up at the taller Changeling with a small smile, “Do you feel fallen, Chryssie?”

She bared her fangs at me for a second. I raised an eyebrow at her.

Chrysalis let out a small annoyed sound and put her hoof on top of my head, pushing me away on her way back towards the throne, “The hive is thriving,” she said, “The ponies willingly give us what we need. All we have to do is play along. Like you.”

I brushed my mane back as I watched her, “Like you play along with me? Or like they give me what I need if I do?”

“Yes.”

Chrysalis jumped back onto her throne, laying back down to look at me.

Regarding her for a moment, I flicked one ear, “That’s what civilization is, Chrysalis. Ponies and lings and griffins playing along to common rules. For the good of everypony.”

“Everypony.”

I smiled and sighed, “Very true,” I said and climbed up the steps towards the throne, “Perhaps it’s better said as zazzikz zrkzikzz zirrkzz.”

Chrysalis looked away with a small buzzing of her wings, “Your accent is still horrendous.”

“So I have been told. Not sure it’s really made for pony throats.”

Chrysalis looked to me again, “What did you do to the other hive?”

I raised an eyebrow at her, “I thought you didn’t care?”

She glowered at me so I smiled and told her. Of the deal, of the trap, of the negotiations.

When I finished, she watched me for a second before she bared her fangs at me, “Why put them outside Canterlot?”

“Easier to keep an eye on them as I’m not there. They never would have agreed to have the hive inside the walls,” I said and hissed back, “Best they could hope for.”

Chrysalis made a buzzing sound of annoyance.

“If it wasn’t acceptable for her, she should have said so,” I told her, putting a hoof on her throne, “Her hive, not yours. Or do you think any version of you would be less capable than you?”

Chrysalis snorted and looked at me, “Go back to your hive, my little predator. Bring my daughter, it is time we make use of your invitation so she can inspect it.”

I looked at Skitter, noticing her watching us, “What do you say, Skitter? Want to visit Nocturnis?”

“Yes sir!” she agreed with a smile.

Chapter 55

I relaxed on the bench, a sandwich sitting in a small bag next to me along with a bottle of cider. The sun was bright above so I kept those goggles Midnight made for me, but it was nice and warm against my wings.

I was wrapped in an illusion, but only to hide my horn and cutiemark and change my features slightly.

Might make me tall for a unicorn, yet alone a thestral, but size was a lot less easy to hide than a horn without outright transformation magic.

Luna and Celestia may be able to pull them off, me, not so much. Not yet anyway, but it’s something I should work towards with time.

The experience so far had been interesting.

Not bad exactly, nopony had called the guard on me this time around and nopony had been hesitant to sell me anything.

The earth pony I bought the meal of had smiled at me and everything, she seemed glad to have a customer at her stand.

I was still getting stares, but nopony said anything I could hear and several guard patrols had passed by without saying anything or even giving me overly long glances either.

Which was not perfect but was better at least. I suppose having gotten used to changelings across Canterlot, thestrals weren't so strange anymore.

Unpacking the sandwich, I unwrapped it and sniffed. Tomatoes, daffodils and apple slices. Yum.

“Excuse me?”

I paused mid bite and glanced up to see a unicorn mare watching me, a pair of saddle bags across her back. She had a blonde mane, blue eyes and a white coat, her cutiemark was of a… notebook?

“Yes?” I said and put the sandwich down, “How can I help you?”

“Sorry to bother you, “ she said, “I’m Quiet Scoop, a reporter for the Canterlot Chronicle. May I ask if you are from Nocturnis?”

I nodded, “Yes actually. I’m Dark Star.”

She nodded, “Would you mind if I asked you for an interview?”

Regarding her for a second I then nodded, “Sure, why not. Have a seat.”

She jumped onto the bench and pulled out a pen and a notebook from her saddlebags, “Dark Star, so you are from Nocturnis?”

“Yes, but not originally. Moved there when the town formed.”

Scoop nodded and scribbled something down, “Is it true Nocturnis is built in the trees?”

“It is,” I said, “Too dangerous to build on the ground until now. A month or so ago a magical barrier was brought up to make it secure. They plan to set up farms along the river now.”

She nodded, “I see. And what do you do in Nocturnis?”

“I work in the castle. Mostly paperwork. Not the most exciting, but important I think.”

Scoop scribbled on her notebook, “Why move to Nocturnis? It’s in the middle of the jungle and you said it was dangerous.”

“Hope,” I said and smiled faintly at her, “Same reason as for most ponies that’s moved there. You’re not wrong in that it's a dangerous area, but that was only on the ground. We moved into the trees and built the village there. Up there, it’s a lot safer. I wouldn’t say it’s more dangerous than… say any village set up next to the Everfree forest like, for example, Ponyville.”

She wrote it down and then looked at me, “And what about Prince Page?”

I sighed softly, “He’s a very busy pony. I work in the castle so if he does a good job or not, you have to ask somepony else, I’m a bit biased I think. But the village is growing, there are at least some immigrants every month and things seems to be going well.”

“I understand,” Scoop said and nodded, “That’s a fair opinion. What about non-thestrals? Any live in Nocturnis?”

“Oh yes,” I said and smiled, “I don’t have the exact numbers in my head, but I think there is about a twenty percent non-thestral population. About half of which don’t have wings, so while we may be set up in the trees, there are a lot of bridges. Only one lift though close to the river,” I said before I grinned, “Nopony really want to go down to the ground. Or wanted to until the barrier was brought up anyway.”

She nodded, “So what are you doing in Canterlot if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Vacation. It’s been a long couple of years so I’m taking a moment to just clear my head for a bit. But if you really want to know about Nocturnis, why not visit? It’s only a week away.”

Scoop hesitated, “I’m not sure my editor would agree,” she said and then smiled a bit nervously, “I’m new, just got to the job a week ago. Doesn't exactly have a lot of leeway yet.”

“Ah, fair,” I said and nodded, “Well, if you were to, now would be a good time. Prince Page is visiting Canterlot right now and is leaving for Nocturnis on an airship tomorrow. I’m sure they would be willing to bring you along if you asked.”

“I see,” she said thoughtfully before she nodded before she smiled at me, “Last question and one we ask on every interview. Who’s best princess?”

I grinned, “Now that's a dangerous question. I think each princess has good and bad points.”

“But if you had to pick?”

“...Princess Luna.”

Scoop nodded, “Makes sense. Princess of the Night and all that,” she said and scribbled it down.

Yes. Absolutely that. Not at all because I was married to her and her flanks looked amazing when she… well, did anything. Or the way she squeaked when I-

“Well,” I said and picked up my bottle of cider for a sip, “If there was ever a time to visit Nocturnis, it would be now. You could interview a lot more ponies.”

Scoop nodded and closed her notebook, “if I can get permission, that would be nice,” she admitted, “And I suppose it never hurts to ask. Thanks for the chat, I better get going.”

“Good luck.”

Chapter 56

I waited outside the door as the guard checked before holding it open for me, allowing me inside.

It was dark outside, the room lit by a fireplace and a multitude of candles while the doors opened to the small park outside kept it from getting too hot.

Not that the occupant would have cared about the heat.

Celestia was laying on one of her large pillows, a book resting before her as she read in the light of the fire.

She looked relaxed, her usual regalia missing. Likely getting polished.

She looked up from her book and smiled when she spotted me, “Page,” she said, “Would you like something to drink?”

“That would be nice, thank you,” I admitted and slowly walked over to her.

Celestia ignited her horn and pulled a bottle down from a shelf, followed by a pair of glasses floating along behind it, “I think you may enjoy this.”

“What is it?” I asked a bit hesitantly.

She smiled at me and shifted to the side on the pillow so I moved to lay down next to her. Celestia poured some of the liquor in one of the glasses before floating it to me.

I took it in my magic and gave it a careful sniff. It didn’t smell like anything, not even water. It was almost completely clear, but with a slight hint of amber through it, “What is it?” I asked and took a careful sip.

The drink didn’t hit me. It was a lot more subtle than that. More like it flirted with you, pressed up close, smelling of summer warm apples and flowers and then shanked you in the liver with an icepick.

It was incredibly smooth, but it still burned in a way I had not experienced before. It didn’t go through my throat like liquid fire, it was more like it went from the tips of my ears down.

I coughed slightly, “Bucking hell.”

Celestia smiled playfully, “Like it?”

I looked into my glass, “...What the buck is it?” I asked and then took another careful sip.

“Technically it counts as a potion, but it’s really alicorn strength alcohol,” Celestia explained, “I got into brewing when it started to really be wide spread and then got bored a while back and invented it.”

“...How strong?”

“About as for us as normal alcohol is for normal ponies.”

Oof.

I glanced at the small amount in my glass. This much alone might put anypony but maybe a large earth pony down for the count. Might actually kill them. Or possibly melt them.

“It’s good,” I said and took another careful sip, looking down at the glass.

“What did you want to talk to me about?” Celestia prodded after a second.

“Hmmh?” I asked, looking at her.

“You came to talk to me about something,” she said and her wing touched mine, “I can tell.”

I nodded, “We’re leaving tomorrow,” I said, “As soon as the airship is ready. I… did needed to talk to you before we left. About what happened while I was in the other world.”

“Is there anything you haven’t told me already?” she asked and sipped her own drink.

I shifted and then sighed, “Not as much… the events, as how I did what I did. And I feel like I have to tell you, especially as it involves… you. Well, the other you.”

Taking a drink, I waited until she refilled my glass before I started to talk. From the beginning this time, and this time I didn’t skim over anything.

I told her about the way I manipulated her and Luna. How I trapped the changelings instead of going the safe path of just calling in the cavalry.

How I most likely ruined Spice Peppers and Fluttershy's lives, knowing that it would kick over a hornets nest on their heads. Knowing I wouldn’t stay behind to deal with it.

Celestia's warm wing settled across my back, “Page, you did what you had to.”

“No,” I said and sighed, “I did what I thought would be most useful,” I told her, “There is a strong difference. I lied, I twisted, I manipulated and…” and I then sighed, “I’m not a good pony. I’m sorry if I disap-”

“You did exactly what you should have,” Celestia said gently, her nose touching my mane, “Exactly what I taught you to do. You thought like a ruler, like a Prince. You did what you thought would help the most ponies, or changelings in the long run.”

I glanced at her before I sighed and shifted to lean against her warm side, resting my head against her neck, “I feel bad about it.”

“And that’s what makes you a good pony,” Celestia said and rested her head on top of mine, “I know you hate your role, Page,” she said softly before she continued quieter, “But sometimes there are those we need to play, despite our personal feelings. For the good of the ponies around us, for Equestria.”

“And I’m too dumb not to just stand by and do nothing.”

Celestia shifted and smiled softly at me, “Noble, the word you were looking for was noble.”

“Synonyms in my book.”

Celestia laughed and stuck her tongue out at me, “That one was clever.”

“Thank you, Sunshine” I said with a small smile and sipped my drink, “And… Thank you. It’s still not right the way I did it, but it had to be done and I do think it was for the best.”

She refilled our glasses, “Page, she knew what you were doing,” she said with a small teasing smile, “You’re good, but you’re not good enough to fool me. Either version of me.”

I shifted and rolled onto my back, looking up at her with a small smile, stretching out a bit, the drink giving me a slight comfortable buzz, “Is that so, Sunshine?”

Celestia nodded, “I can’t be certain,” she then admitted after a second and looked down at me next to her, “You can be rather sneaky when you wish to. But I do have a bit of experience.”

Smirking, I ran my hoof along her soft feathers, “You do have a lot of experience.”

Celestia smiled playfully and leaned in, I could feel her breath as her eyes met mine, her nose almost touching mine, “More than you know.”

“I can imagine.”

“Do you?” she asked and shifted a bit, resting a forehoof on my chest, her soft and strong wing settling across me.

“Mmm. Often,” I said as I looked up into her beautiful eyes. Her nose almost touched mine and I could feel her hot breath against mine.

Then Celestia sucked in a breath and shifted to the side, looking away, “...Perhaps that’s enough drinks for today,” she said softly, putting the cork back in the bottle.

“Agreed,” I said quietly and rolled over, resting my side against hers, “...Is it safe to drink that stuff this close to an open flame anyway?”

That drew a small smile from her and she glanced at me, “Depends, how fireproof are you?”

“Probably a lot less now,” I admitted and rested my head against her shoulder, “...Sleepy.”

“Still not caught up?” Celestia asked, her wing settling across me again with a small curious frown.

“Midnight said I'll start to synchronize in a couple more nights,” I mumbled against her coat, suppressing a yawn, feeling myself starting to slip off.

Stupid interdimentional jetlag. Though admittedly the drinks had not exactly helped.

“Sleep, Page,” she said quietly and ran her wing along mine, “you don’t need to go anywhere. Stay with me.”

I let my eyes slip closed, “Wish I could,” I mumbled as I drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 57

The weather wasn't the nicest outside.

It was horribly sunny and the sky was a clear blue, which didn't help my headache, day goggles on or not.

Celestia stood next to me and I could tell she was similarly affected despite the fact that she looked almost normal. Mostly by the fact that she made sure we stood in the shadow of the exit to the airship tower.

Ponies were bustling around, carrying boxes of cargo and doing whatever unknown tasks necessary to ready an airship for departure.

We weren't the only ones to leave on the airship however, I had purchased a cargo hold of goods to be brought along to be distributed when we arrived. Mostly low weight, low volume items such as spices, tea and... coffee. Things that were generally expensive to import but ponies still needed. Cost me a nice pile of bits, but might as well while I was already here.

Also, there was a reporter to come along. Seems like she did manage to convince her editor, especially as the transit back and forth would be free. She was currently at the other end of the platform, talking to one of the airship ponies. Something about her bags.

Midnight and Talon were still missing which was a bit strange as we were to leave in like ten minutes. Even Skitter and her small gaggle of drones had already boarded, likely to prepare their cabin.

I glanced up at Celestia, "Did you have to raise the sun today?" I asked her quietly, "Was that strictly necessary?"

She smiled a bit, "Regretfully, yes," she said and looked down at me, "Ponies would have complained and I'm not sure I could handle that today."

"Fair," I admitted and then glanced at her, "...Do you happen to have any more of that stuff?"

She flashed me a grin that reminded me of the sun cresting the horizon, "There are a couple of bottles onboard."

"Thanks. I hate it."

Celestia giggled and then covered her muzzle with her hoof, "...Must still be affecting me," she admitted, "I don't... do that."

"Giggle?" I asked with a smile, "It's cute."

"It's not what a princess does," she admitted, the inside of her ears turning a bit red, "It doesn't fit the image."

I shrugged my wings, "We're long lived, images can change."

"True," Celestia admitted and then touched my side with her wing, her voice turning serious for a second, "Don't let Sunset taste it. Even a mouthful is bound to be dangerous for a normal pony."

"I won't, I promise," I said and then grinned, "Though I may offer Sparks and Midnight some."

Celestia smiled, "That sounds almost as dangerous."

"Maybe, but it would be fun," I said and then looked over as Midnight and Talon arrived, Midnight floating a wooden box in her magic in addition to the bags across her back and Talon's heavy backpack.

She put the box down for a pair of earth ponies to collect before she trotted up to us, "Hope we're not too late," she said.

I shook my head, "Just in time. But not like we would have left without you."

"I still don't like being late," Midnight said and eyed me suspiciously, "You look awful."

"Thanks, you're pretty too," I said and yawned, "I slept all night, but I'm still tired. Stupid jetlag."

"I have the opposite," Midnight admitted, "My brain keep telling me it's early morning, or evening," she said before she looked at Celestia, "I plan to try to be here winter holiday," she said and smiled, "I promised Night Light and Twilight Velvet I'd bring Tempest."

"Looking forward to it," Celestia said with a smile and pulled her into a soft hug, "It may be selfish," she said quietly enough that even my ears barely picked it up, "But I am glad you decided to return to us."

Midnight nodded and hugged back before stepping back with a small smile, "We best get to boarding. Everypony is waiting," she said before she bowed, "Goodbye, Celestia."

Celestia bowed back, long wings spreading, "Safe travels, Midnight."

Midnight and Talon moved to board and I looked at Celestia,

"She's right," I said and sighed softly, "I need to get going as well."

Celestia nodded, looking away before she turned back to me, "Page, I... I don't want you to go," she said quietly.

Reaching up with my hoof, I pushed my goggles up to look up into her eyes, "I don't want to either," I said, just as quietly, "But I have to. The same way you have to stay here, or how Luna will have to eventually return here."

Celestia's large wing slipped around me and I leaned against her in a hug, "Ponies think alicorns have so much power," she said softly into my ear, "that we can do anything."

"They don't see the collars around our necks nor the chains of expectations weighing us down," I murmured back with a small sigh before I looked up at her, "Sweet dreams, Sunshine."

"Sweet dreams, Page," she said and pulled her wing away as I took a step back.

I looked up at her eyes before I bowed.

Celestia bowed back before I turned away and pushed my goggles back down against the glare as I moved to board the airship. Rising High was standing by the plank, but she didn't say a word. She just bowed slightly and then raised it behind me.

I glanced back over the railing as the airship started to move. Celestia sat there until I could no longer make out her white coat against the marble of the tower.

Hoof steps against the wood made my glance to the side to see Midnight stand next to me. She looked out over Canterlot in the distance before she looked at me, "We'll be back."

"I know."

Chapter 58

I started to wake up. There was a humming sound in the air and I pulled my wings tighter around myself, pressing my ears against.

The soft droning engine sound didn't go away.

Slowly my brain started to catch up with the rest of me and I slowly blinked my eyes open. Oh yeah airsh- Looked down at a changeling sitting beneath where I was hanging, looking up at me.

I blinked sleepily at him.

He blinked back.

"Good morning, Thorax," I said and suppressed another yawn, "...Actually, I have no idea what time it is anymore," I said and glanced at the window where sunlight was streaming in.

"Early afternoon, sir," he said, "Good afternoon."

"Good afternoon," I answered and yawned again, "Skitter wants to see me, I take it?"

He nodded, "No hurry, sir. She said when you had a moment."

I slowly stretched my wings before releasing with my tail and flapping down onto the floor, "Might as well now, on the way to food. Lead the way."

Thorax nodded and got up, "This way, sir," he said and headed for the door. Not that we needed to go very far, the changeling quarters were literally straight across the narrow hall.

He pushed it open and allowed me to enter, causing me to blink at the sight.

Well, they had been careful not to make a mess at least. But everything in the room that wasn't bolted down had been piled up in one corner and tied down. Someling had covered the porthole with a blanket and they had set up those small glowing balls of resin they favored for light. As close to one of their hives as you could get on an airship and without covering the entire place with resin.

Skitter was in the middle of the bed, surrounded by every drone that accompanied her, bar for Thorax. Six in total.

She looked up from talking to one of them when I walked in and smiled, "Good morning, sir."

"Good morning, Skitter," I said and suppressed another yawn, "...How are you guys doing? I know you don't like airships."

"We're good, sir," Skitter said and looked at me for a moment, "You taste better."

"I feel better too," I admitted, "had too much to drink last... night before last."

"Mhmm," she said with a small frown, "If you say so, sir."

"So what's on your mind, Skitter?" I asked and sat down, "Curious about Nocturnis?"

"...Yes, but not what I was thinking about," she admitted, "Wanted to know how you felt today."

I smiled at her, "Thank you," I said and sighed, "...And yeah, yesterday was not the best. But you don't need to worry," I said before I smiled at her, "And don't eat a large meal before we arrive or you'll turn into a princess twice from me meeting Luna, Sparks and Sunny again."

Skitter smiled at me, her wings making a small buzzing sound.

"Now, I think I'm going to go find something to ea-" I said and then paused, spotting Thorax getting to his hooves as well.

I sighed softly and looked at Skitter, "I don't need a guard here. And we're soon back to Nocturnis and Amber."

"Yes sir."

"...You're not going to stop are you."

"No sir."

I rolled my eyes and turned towards the door before I paused, "Skitter, what does Zeez...Zeezzke...That thing Chrysalis sometimes call me..."

"Zeezzkekeezzkzk?" Skitter asked, shifting slightly as she regarded me. Every changeling was looking at me.

"Yes, that," I said and turned back to her, "What does that mean? I never did find out."

Skitter looked down at her hooves, her wings doing another small buzz, "W-well... it's difficult to say really. Old changeling words take a lot from context and position and who the speaker and listener is so I'm not su-"

"Skitter, you're being evasive," I said with a small smile, "Is it something rude? I don't mind, I'm just curious."

She shook her head, "The most likely translation... there isn't a word for it in this language. In context it means something similar to... maybe... 'friendly queen of different hive'."

"Queen?" I asked and frowned, "Wait, old changeling don't have gendered words and I'm a royal so that tracks," I agreed before I raised my eyebrow, "Wait, wouldn't I be princess then? I guess you could argue Queen for Celestia or Luna, but I'm not sure it applies to me."

Skitter blinked at me in slight confusion.

Oh, hey, my headache is coming back.

I took a deep breath before slowly letting it back out, "What are the other possible translations to that word, Skitter?"

She considered it for a second, "Life giver, sister, lover, hunter of predators or honored daughter. It can also mean future enemy and largest threat in a political sense. Ancient changeling isn't the most precise language, it's a lot of emotion and context."

"Thanks Skitter," I said and headed for the door, "I'm going to get some breakfast now."

And forget this conversation ever happened. I have to stop asking questions of changelings.

Chapter 60

The airship lowered towards the docking tower below.

“Relax,” Midnight murmured quietly to me.

“I am relaxed,” I murmured back quietly, “I’m just…”

“Your ear keeps twitching, it only does that when you’re tense.”

I glanced at her, “How do you know that?”

Midnight smiled a bit, “Twilight. And I have eyes.”

Sighing softly I nodded and forced my ear to stop. I wanted to teleport from the ship and just get down there, but… it wouldn’t look right.

So I waited with Midnight, Talon and Skitter as the airships crew did their job and got us down to dock like a good pony.

The ramp lowered and the guards moved past us to take position along the bottom of the ramp before Moon Light gave us a nod.

Adjusting my silver circlet and mane, I then walked forward towards the ramp and…

They were there.

Luna. Sunset. Twilight. All three smiling up towards me.

It took every drop of willpower I had left not to galop down the ramp to them and instead walk to meet them.

Luna smiled and stepped forward, “Welcome home,” she said.

I just stepped forward and pulled her into a tight hug and that seemed to break something and I found myself in a three way hug.

Nopony said something for several long moments before Twilight sobbed silently against my neck, her tears soaking into my coat.

I shifted to press my nose against her mane, “It’s alright, Sparks. We’re home now, Twilight.”

She shook her head and then looked up at me, her eyes filled with tears, “I… I tried so… I couldn’t figure it out, I tr-”

“Hush,” I said gently and rested my forehead against hers, crossing our horns and I could see how just exhausted she was even after what had to be a week of rest since we returned, “Everything turned out alright. We’re here.”

She pressed her face against my shoulder and I stroked her mane gently, looking up at Luna and Sunset.

Sunset moved around to hug Twilight, giving me a small smile, “...It’s been a long month for everypony,” she said and touched her horn to mine, “She took the throne while you were gone as well.”

I blinked at her and then glanced at Luna.

Luna shook her head and sighed, stroking Twilight's mane softly, “Your thestrals would not have accepted me,” she said softly, “But they did our Twilight. So she tried to do both.”

My job and advanced magical research.

Oh Sparks.

I held her closer, resting my head against her mane as Luna's wings encircled us and I glanced up at Luna, “Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked her quietly.

Luna smiled sadly, “You would just have worried, there was nothing you could do.”

Ouch.

How many times had I used something like that line on her? I sighed softly and gave her a small nod, acknowledging the point.

“Page,” Sunset said and nuzzled at my cheek, “It’s time to go down, your ponies wait for you to address them.”

“They can buck off,” I said quietly against Twilight's mane, “You three are more important.”

Twilight shook her head against me and then put a hoof against my chest, pulling back slightly and drying her eyes on her left pastern, “N-no. I’m a-alright, I promise,” she said and smiled weakly, “It’s important.”

I frowned and touched her cheek with my hoof, “You’re important.”

Twilight smiled and dried her eyes again before she frowned at me, “Stand still,” and her horn lit up and her magic ran across me, “There.”

I met Sunset's eyes before I sighed softly, “Okay,” I said quietly, “I suppose you’re right.”

Sunset smiled and moved a bit closer, kissing me softly before she smirked, “Of course I am,” she said.

I smiled back and then took a step back, “...Many ponies down there waiting?” I asked Luna.

“Only half the village,” she said with a small smile, running her magic through my mane and adjusting my silver circlet and the feathers behind my ear, “They just want to know their Prince is safe.”

I nodded and spotted Flower Rain exiting onto the docking tower to approach and smiled at me,

“Welcome home, your majesty.”

“Thank you, Flower,” I said and smiled back, “Good to see you again.”

She bowed and then frowned and shook her head as she moved over to Twilight, “Your highness, your mane…”

“Sorry Flower,” Twilight said and reached up with her hoof, “Could you…”

“Of course, Princess!” Flower said and dug into her small satchel for a comb, “Stay still please.”

Lunas wing settled across my back and she nosed at my ear, “Flower has been helping Twilight a lot,” she murmured softly.

“She’s getting another raise,” I answered just as quietly.

She may be the highest paid pony in the village actually. Not that it said that much, we didn’t have much bits to give out.

Or much to spend them on for that matter.

“There,” Flower said and stepped back before looking at us, “Everypony ready?”

I glanced at the airship and for a split second I considered the idea of everypony getting onto it and just leaving.

Then I nodded instead, “We’re ready, thank you, Flower.”

Chapter 61

It had taken a while, but we had finally managed to escape. The sun was filtering in from the outside, visible even through the bubble of darkness over the bed.

Sparks and Sunny were asleep, she and Sunset were curled up together on one side of the bed. Sparks really needed it and I’d make sure she got plenty of rest.

I didn’t want to sleep yet. Luna was next to me, my head against the side of her neck and her head resting against my mane, her strong wing across my back.

“What are you thinking of, My Page?” Luna murmured quietly into my ear.

I sighed softly, “...Tonight.”

“Ponies missed you,” she said quietly, “We missed you.”

“I know,” I whispered and then sighed again, “But… am I selfish?”

Luna shifted to frown at me, “How do you mean?”

“During that speech, during the journey here,” I said and then looked up into her eyes, “All I could think of was you three. I just wanted everypony else to buck off and they were just glad to see me.”

Luna sighed softly and bumped her nose softly against mine, “Page, you’re an idiot.”

“You and your sister are in agreement on that,” I said and shifted a bit closer, “Nothing new there.”

“Of course you were looking forward to seeing us,” Luna said and pressed her nose against my ear, “Silly Page. Nothing wrong with that.”

“It’s not just that,” I said quietly, “I wanted to leave again. While I was away I didn’t have any responsibility, I just… it was like when you and I were becoming friends. I was worried about getting back home, but…”

“Nopony was expecting anything of you,” Luna said and brushed her wing across my back.

I nodded against her neck, “Yes. I just… and now…”

Luna sighed softly and gave my ear a small kiss, “I know,” she said and hugged me with her wing, “You deserve better.”

I shook my head and looked up at her, “No, that’s not… “ I said and rolled onto my back, looking up at her, “It’s so many things. I just feel stuck sometimes,” I told her, keeping my voice down not to wake Sunny and Sparks, “This is what I will be doing tomorrow. This is what I will be doing in a thousand years. I never wanted to be a prince, I never wanted to rule. Now ponies rely on me, rely on me making decisions and if I get it wrong ponies may lose their livelihoods, get hurt or even die.”

Luna shifted down to rest her head against my chest, not saying anything as I put my forelegs around her,

“What’s even worse,” I told her quietly, “If I for some reason managed to avoid that responsibility, all it would do would be to heap all of it onto somepony else, likely somepony I love. I even feel bad complaining about it considering how long you and Sunshine have done it.”

Shifting up, Luna nuzzled in beneath my chin the same way as Sparks usually likes to do, “We have not been very nice to you, My Page,” she said quietly after a long moment.

I shook my head, stroking her mane, “It’s not your fault, My Sky. Not yours, not Sunshine’s,” I said before I chuckled softly, “The worst thing? Every single thing about it is my own bucking fault. I fell for you, I fought that fucking centaur, I made the deal with Discord, I chose to involve myself with my bats, I… did this to myself and I have nopony but myself to blame.”

“Falling for me started it?” Luna said softly, “What would you have done if not?”

“...Likely still working in a bookstore, trying to get a book printed,” I admitted before I smiled and sighed, “No, you know what, I blame Sunshine for all of it. She introduced us after all.”

Luna chuckled softly and shifted up to look down into my eyes, “Well, if we’re doing that, shouldn’t it be my fault? After all, she introduced me because I just came back after my failed rebellion and exile.”

I stuck my tongue out at her, “That’s silly.”

“You’re silly,” Luna said and brushed her lips against mine, “I can stay in Nocturnis,” she said softly.

I kissed back and then shook my head and brushed her star filled mane, “No,” I said with a small sigh, “You can’t. That would leave Sunshine alone in Canterlot… and I know you, my beautiful moon. You would never do that to her.”

“Again,” Luna sighed, “Never do that to her again,” she answered quietly before she put her head back down against my chest.

“You’re as trapped as I am,” I whispered and ran my hoof along her soft feathered wing, “Funny that. Ponies assume alicorns have so much power.”

Luna shook her head, “We don’t. Not really,” she said quietly before she sighed and cuddled closer, “Try to get some sleep, My Page. It’s been a long night for everypony.”

Nodding, I closed my eyes with a small sigh.

I should just stop complaining. I have three mares that love me and that I love. I led a growing village full of ponies whose lives are becoming better by the week. They deserved for me to be the pony they needed me to be.

Drifting off to the dream realm, I found my Luna waiting for me.

“Thank you, My Sky,” I said and moved up to her, “I-”

Luna stepped up and pulled me close, “We’ll figure something out,” she said, interrupting me, “I promise you we will.”

“Luna, I-” I started to say before she touched her nose to mine,

“You deserve to be happy,” she said, looking into my eyes, “Same as everypony else. You may have responsibilities, same as everypony else. But nopony expects you to do them in a way that makes you unhappy.”

I shook my head, “Luna, let’s not exaggerate, I didn’t mean it like that, it’s not as bad as it sounded.”

Luna sighed softly and smiled gently at me as she shifted to brush her wing across my back, “Let’s get some sleep.”

“Okay,” I agreed and leaned against her soft side.

That did sound nice.

Chapter 62

I slowly drifted out of sleep.

I kept my eyes closed though and just buried my nose into the mane pressed against it, I knew that scent and I took a deep breath.

Sparks.

She clung a bit tighter and slowly stirred, shifting to nuzzle in beneath my chin.

Then we didn’t move again, just stayed still.

The bed shifted beneath us as I felt Luna climb back onto it, scooting close to press her side against my back.

“Moon’s up?” Sunset whispered from across from Twilight.

Luna must have nodded as I didn’t hear her answer. Twilight was awake, I knew that much. She knew I was awake too, pretty sure.

Neither of us seemed to feel the need to point it out to either of the others.

Luna shifted in to nose at my ear, “Sneak,” she whispered softly and I smiled against Sparks' mane, pulling her a bit closer.

Sparks make a small groan of protest at the movement and I stroked her coat softly,

“Sleep, you earned it,” I murmured to her.

“Missed this,” Twilight mumbled against my neck.

Sunset shifted to stroke my mane, “Cuddlebug,” she teased and nosed at Twilight's closest ear. Twilight just nodded and relaxed between us as Luna’s soft wing moved to rest across all three of us.

I may eventually have drifted off again as next thing I knew, Sparks and I were alone on the bed.

I slowly blinked my eyes open and yawned softly. Sparks slowly shifted and looked at me sleepily, “Mmm… hey…”

“Hey,” I said quietly and suppressed a yawn of my own, “...Where is everypony.”

She smiled sleepily, “Sunset thought that somepony should make sure nopony panicked about us taking the night off. Luna went along.”

“Long ago?”

Twilight shook her head and scooted close, nuzzling in beneath my chin again, “Twenty minutes or so. Woke up when Sunset pulled away, they told me to go back to sleep.”

“Still sleepy?” I asked and stroked her back, hoof brushing her wing as I nosed at her mane.

She shook her head slightly, but didn’t move.

“Me neither,” I said and then smiled as I heard a soft rumble, “...But hungry I think, unless there is thunder on the way.”

Sparks suppressed a small giggle before she nodded, “...Yes…” she admitted.

“Me too,” I said and then slowly started to shift to let go, rolling onto my stomach and stretching with a groan. It felt like every joint I had made a clicking sound and I felt stiff all over.

Did I really not move all day or something? Sure felt like it.

Twilight yawned and pushed herself up to sit, yawning again before she rubbed her eyes, blinking sleepily in the darkness before she lit her horn.

I let out a small but manly sound of protest and quickly covered my eyes with a foreleg as the blinding light burned a hole straight through my head.

“Sorry, but I couldn’t see a thing,” Sparks said with a smile, brushing my mane, “Not everypony can see in the dark, Page.”

I smiled at her and pushed myself up as well as I risked opening my eyes slightly, adjusting against the slight glare.

“Well, guess that’s what I get for loving such a bright girl.”

Sparks smiled a bit shyly and then jumped off the bed, stretching with her wings held high before she glanced at me, finding me admiring the view. She blushed and shifted her wings again, folding them, “...So, breakfast?”

“Breakfast,” I agreed and followed her towards the door, glancing out the open balcony door as we walked past.

Moon was almost at zenit. Buck, we went to bed at sunrise, we must have slept like… at least twelve hours if not more.

Out in the livingroom, there was a tray sitting on the table loaded with sandwiches and fruit with a large pitcher of ice tea.

Twilight lit some candles with her horn before letting go of her light spell and picking up a sandwich, happily taking a bite, “Oh! Cucumbers and bell peppers!” she exclaimed happily before she smiled, “I thought we didn’t have either!”

“We bought a bunch of fresh vegetables,” I said and shrugged my wings, “...Mostly spices, but some fresh stuff too.”

She smiled and took another bite, “Thank you.”

Sparks was a princess, an alicorn princess. My marefriend. I couldn’t even get her cucumbers whenever she wanted them.

Well, that’s going to change. If I so had to grow them myself.

“You look better,” I said with a smile, “I think we all were pretty tired last night.”

Twilight smiled back, “I really needed that,” she admitted and jumped onto the couch next to me, shifting to lean against my side, “Let’s eat and then find Sunset and Luna, they shouldn’t need to handle everything on their own.”

“Agreed.”

But for now, I slipped my wing across her back and pulled her closer, nosing softly at her ear.

Sparks shifted, cuddling closer, leaning against me.

We may have ended up a bit late.

Chapter 63

The throne room was lit by the moon outside and softly glowing crystals, enough to let a daypony read but diffuse enough to not bother a thestral coming in from outside.

The sides were opened tonight and there was a slight breeze, not a rain cloud in sight. The sky stretching out towards the horizon, filled by glimmering stars.

Sunset was talking quietly to Moon Glow to one side, something about the guard schedule. Meanwhile Midnight and Twilight were discussing something out on the left balcony.

My Luna was laying on the throne right next to me.

I shifted slightly on my throne, resting my head on my forelegs as Flower looked at me expectantly, having just finished giving me a summarized report for the last month or so I had been away.

One rexasaurus sighting by a hunting team outside the barrier.

One train arrived with supplies and four more immigrants. A family.

The ground along the river was being surveyed for farming land and tree clearing were planned to start sometime next week assuming they got the go ahead.

Six foals had been born. Five of which were thestrals.

We really are going to need to start expanding the school. What we had now were plenty for the foals currently in Nocturnis, but since things had stabilized a bit there after the train had been repaired there might be turning into something of a population boom.

I raised my head after a second's thought and nodded, "Sounds good to me," I said with a nod, "We best be sure we don't over cut the trees, but we do need farmland. Do they know which crop they want to test first?"

Flower like I expected, didn't even check her clipboard, "They are discussing starting with rice, your majesty."

"Well, if they think that's our best bet," I said, nodding, "You can do a lot with rice."

Sushi for example.

Rice alone could prop up civilizations. Very useful crop.

Flower nodded and then glanced at the clipboard, "There has also been a suggestion from Gregar and Slipwing. Now when the ground is safe to inhabit, they want to start to raise animals for meat?" Flower said with a small frown, "Instead of just hunting for it."

She then looked at me, "Would that work?"

"Most likely," I said and nodded, "And might be a good idea, especially as our population grows. Did they say which beasts they had in mind?"

"They were impressed by those large turtles. About trying those?"

Which made a lot of sense. A lot of meat on one of those and there was a fuckton of other materials too.

Hell, I bet you could turn one of those shells into a house with a bit of work!

I nodded, "Don't see why we wouldn't let them try. Not sure how fast those things grow compared to how much they would have to eat, but worth a try I guess."

Turtle burgers for everypony? If not, masssssive eggs.

With some hope it will work out. I mean, not like we could use cows. Cows around here were people. Kinda anyway. Smart enough to talk which made it a big no.

Luna shifted a bit next to me and I smiled, glancing at her as she stuck her tongue out,

"Don't want a big piece of fire cooked meat?" I asked with a smile.

"Don't want any more kisses ever?" she countered with a smile of her own.

Flower hid her own smile behind her clipboard and waited a second before she spoke up again, "Also, a couple of the citizens have asked about Princess Skitter and if we are going to get more changelings."

"Hesitantly or curious?" I asked, raising one eyebrow.

Flower flicked one ear, "Mostly curious I think. Most ponies in nocturnis have nothing against changelings, they are really helpful when it comes to scouting in the forest."

I nodded and looked over to Skitter, "What do you think so far, Skitter?" I asked her.

Skitter turned away from where she had been looking out over the jungle, "About the village, sir?"

"Yeah," I said and smiled at her, "I know it's a bit too humid for most ‘lings to be very comfortable most of the year. I know Amber especially dislikes the rain period."

"A bit," Skitter admitted and turned fully towards us, "But the temperature is pleasant and the ponies are nice."

Nice equals tasty I think. She clearly remembered her lessons with Celestia.

"Not that many ponies though," I said.

"...No," she admitted, "Could maybe support thirty to sixty or so drones without ponies feeling any sort of drain. We don't want to hurt anypony."

I smiled at her, "Don't worry, the village will grow."

Skitter smiled back, "Nocturnis is a good hive."

"WHAT THE BUCK DO YOU MEAN YOU DIDN'T SOLVE IT!?"

I looked along with everypony else in surprise at Twilight where she was staring aghast at Midnight who looked defiant.

Chapter 64

"What do you mean?" Luna asked, scooting up to sit.

Twilight looked torn between anger and shock as she took several steps back, "She says she didn't solve the recurrence principle."

"The what?" I asked, "Keep in mind that most ponies here don't have several doctorates in magical theory."

Twilight shook her head, "The recurrence principle. Basically, the world doesn't like things coming out and into it and the more each thing does it, the more dangerous it gets as they weaken the fabric."

"Dangerous how?" I asked, glancing at Midnight who were looking away.

Luna frowned, "It's not a linear progression. Your appearance in Equestria for example had almost no risk as it was your first trip. But the danger increases exponentially, especially when done in short order," she said seriously, "Such as only a month having passed, especially when it's so many of you."

"Dangerous how?" I asked, pushing myself up, looking at Twilight.

"It may cause a world breach. Remember that thing that appeared at the table when we tried to make a portal to send Midnight and Talon back?" Twilight said, "That wasn't a full breach, just a partial one to the space between worlds. A full one may... I don't know. I never got the math to work, it might throw a pony into the void and seal itself or... or it may cause a permanent portal a hundred meters across to any world or even no world!."

The size of small village.

We appeared just next to Ponyville. In the middle of Equestria.

I stared at Midnight, "You knew of this?" I asked her quietly, feeling ice slide down my spine.

She raised her wings defiantly and looked at me in turn, "I did the math with Starlight and the odds of it happening were low, barely two percent."

Two percent.

She gambled a lot of ponies getting hurt on 98 percent.

Luna let out a small gasp and I couldn't blame her. Out of all the fucking irresponsible... I never would have thought that of her.

Slowly getting up, I moved off the throne and towards her, "Two percent," I said, "Each?"

Midnight swallowed, taking a couple of steps back, shaking her head, "T-there were safeguards, Starlight w-"

She broke off as I reached her.

"So it was more than two percent. Everypony in ponyville. Roll of the die. Two percent."

"No! I-"

"Talon. Pinkie Pie. Rarity," I said, "I suppose Applejack might have made it if she was home. Maybe Rainbow Dash if she could fly fast enough. The ponies running the bakery? The storekeeps, the ponies in the market, the ponies living in the village? Not so much. There is a school in Ponyville, isn't there? How many foals go there? Is it within town limits?"

Midnight started to cry, "I... the math..." as she slowly backed away.

"Fuck the math!" I snarled, baring my fangs at her as I followed, "There are things you don't fucking risk on math! Not for such low gains!"

"We just-"

"We should have stayed," I told her, "We should have stayed and found a better way. A safer way. But no, you dec-"

Somepony touched my shoulder and when I looked, it was Luna. In fact, she was the only one other than Midnight that was on this side of the room, everypony else had retreated and... Sparks had a shield up around them.

Luna looked at me, "Page, I need you to calm down," she said softly but seriously, "Close your eyes, deep breaths."

I looked up at her before I did as she told me to. As I did, I realized my mane had been moving. My tail too.

Damn.

I had never done that before.

Suddenly I felt tired. Exhausted even. I almost fell and would have if Luna had not pressed her side against mine in support.

"Go home," Luna said softly but firmly, looking at Midnight, "I will talk to you later."

There was the sound of hooves and then wings as Midnight left.

I opened my eyes again, "Sorry," I said and then looked at Sparks as the shield went down, "...What's with the shield?"

Sparks uhmed and glanced at Sunset.

Sunset looked back at her before slowly approaching, "Page, you were... shimmering."

I looked at her and then up at Luna, "I wasn't sparkling, was I?" I asked in slight horror.

She frowned and then shook her head, "No. It was more like a heat haze around you. I could feel the dream realm around you so I told everypony else to take cover just in case."

"Oh."

That's new.

Chapter 65

I looked out over the village below. Lights shining softly in the night.

A couple of thestrals and an earth pony herded a group of what had to be twenty foals along one of the bridges connecting the trees.

School excursion.

To the guard training grounds from the direction they were heading. Survival lesson.

“I can’t believe she…” Twilight said before she trailed off for the sixth time since we exited onto the balcony of the bedroom.

Sunset stroked her mane, “Twi, everything worked out alri-”

“That’s not the point!” Twilight said and looked at her, “I can’t believe ‘I’ would have done that in her place!”

“You can’t know what,” Sunset told her.

“I do know that!” Twilight said and pulled away from her, “She is me! If I had been in her place, I would have been her!”

I shook my head, “I’m not su-”

Twilight turned to me and apparently that had been the wrong thing to say from the glare she shot at me, “You know it is!”

I didn’t back down though, instead I stepped forward, “Sparks, take a deep breath. You need to calm down.”

“I do not ne-” Twilights started to answer angrily before she broke off and sighed, looking away, “...Sorry…”

Sunset put her side against Twilights, “Twi, I get why you’re upset, but you’re not the same pony.”

“Actually,” I said with a small sigh, “I think both may be right. You were the same pony, but ponies change all the time. I’m not the same pony I was two years ago. You may have started as the same pony, but you are both pretty different now.”

Sunset frowned, “Sure, but the core of you are doesn't really ch-”

I shot her a small look and she broke off,

“I mean,” Sunset quickly said, “Ponies do change all the time. Of course you and Midnight are different.”

Twilight sighed softly and gave Sunset a kiss on the cheek, “Thanks, and I know how you mean,” she said before she shook her head, “I know what you both mean. The thing is that… I’m not sure that I wouldn’t do the same thing. To get back to you two if I had been the one that had been…”

I moved around to her other side, slipping my wing across her back, “Admittedly, it was a really a worst case scenario the big rift thing, right? Much more likely if something went wrong, we’d just have ended up on the wrong world, right?”

Twilight nodded, “...Yeah…”

She still looked depressed though as she leaned her head against the side of my neck. Sunset leaned against her in turn before glancing at the door, “Think Luna will be back soon?”

Twilight sighed, “Whenever she’s done talking with Midnight. But she’s been away for hours now.”

“Should be anytime now,” I said, stroking her back softly, “Don’t worry, everything will be fine. After all, nothing did happen. We’re fine, everypony else is fine.”

Movement caught my eye and I smiled, “And there she is now,” I said as Luna flew across the village over towards us.

“How did it go?” Twilight asked nervously as Luna landed next to us.

Luna folded her wings with a small sigh, “We talked,” she said and then shook her head, “Midnight is upset and Tempest is angry with her, angrier than you were, Page. I’m going to talk with my sister about what to do, but… I’m not sure we will do anything. Not like it will ever happen again.”

Twilight nodded and then stepped up to hug her. Luna sat down and pulled her tight into a hug, slipping her wings around her in turn., giving her forehead a small kiss next to her horn.

Sunset watched with a small smile, shifting to touch her side to mine before glancing at me, “...I’m curious about what happened to you,” she said, “I know Twi’s mane get all wavey when she’s angry enough, but never seen it happen to you.”

“The ‘wavey’ as you put it,” Luna said as she stroked Twilight's back, “is a result of the high levels of ambient magic we put out. My sister and I intentionally do so with our manes and tails to focus that or it would be difficult to live among ponies even during normal levels of magic as keeping our domains contained would require constant concentration. My sister would be hot enough to melt gold and… pretty much any room I walked into would turn pitch black.”

Twilight nodded and let go of the hug, “It’s going to happen to each of us eventually,” she said quietly and looked at me and Sunset, “Cadance, Me, Midnight, Page, even Flurry. As we get older, we get stronger and more in sync with our domains.”

I looked at Luna, “You felt the dream realm around me?”

She nodded, “I did,” she agreed, “I think that eventually you may be able to overlay the dream realm and the real world. At least in a very local effect.”

“Huh.”

Wow.

“But there will be a while until then,” Sunset said and looked between us, “I mean, Cadance haven’t even started to do the mane thing yet.”

“No,” I said and sighed, “But it does mean I have to be careful not to get too angry.”

Luna smiled and stepped forward, giving me a small kiss, “Luckily, I never known you to be somepony with an anger problem.”

I kissed back and then sighed softly, “Well, not like I didn’t know it would happen eventually. I have seen Midnight angry.”

If I looked half as scary when I did it, I didn’t blame them for putting a shield up.

Luna nodded and smiled before she looked out over the village, “I need to lower the moon soon, I should meet my sister before she wakes up.”

Sunset smiled, “I’m a bit hungry actually, how about we all have a late dinner after the sun is up?”

My stomach strongly agreed. We never did eat anything because everything that happened.

Chapter 66

The sunlight filtered in through the darkness bubble from outside, shining in through the open balcony.

It was really warm today, even for a bat. The humidity was somewhere at the same level as the bottom of a lake.

I felt really sleepy, but I couldn’t sleep. I kept thinking about what-ifs. What if everything gone wrong, what if one of us had been sucked into the void. What if the entire town had. What if, what if, what if.

I should have asked more questions. I should have…

…But how could I have? I didn’t understand what they did or how it worked. I looked straight at the math and while I did recognize a deteriorating series, I didn’t put it together.

“Sparks?” I asked softly, “You awake?”

“Mmmm?” she mumbled quietly against my chest.

Luna was deep asleep already to my right, Sunset curled up a bit to the side beneath an enchanted cooling blanket to help stop her from turning into a liquid.

Normally it was fine, but extra warm days like this she found it hard to sleep, especially cuddled by somepony with wings.

The only pieces poking out from the cooling blanket was horn and tail.

“Midnight went back and forth in her fight with Starlight,” I said quietly not to disturb Luna or Sunny, “Why didn’t this… recurrence principle happen then?”

Sparks yawned softly and cuddled closer sleepily, “Not the same thing. That was timetravel, not world travel.”

“...There is a difference?”

“Is complicated,” she mumbled and shifted to nuzzled in beneath my chin, “go sleep.”

I held her closer with a small sigh, shifting back a bit and Luna shifted in her sleep, her wing draping across us.

Closing my eyes, I cast a quick sleep spell over both of us. If not, I knew we’d both be awake for a good while longer and we still needed to get up early tonight.

Opening my eyes again, I saw the dream realm stretch out in all directions.

Luna was nowhere in sight, but easy to locate.

I stared at Midnight's dream portal. It was a blank silvery with small dark ripples going through it. She was talking with Luna.

I considered joining for a second before I turned away. It was better to let Luna handle it, I may lose my temper again and that would just be counter productive at this point.

So what to do?

A twitch of my hoof floated Sunsets and Twilight dreams up to me. Both were smooth, calm blue and silver.

Good.

Tempest?

Tempest’s was a bit stormy so I calmed it down with a touch of my horn before sending it off to its normal spot.

Looking around, I considered things for a long moment before I reached out for the dream sphere.

I looked at it, it was the way I left it, a shimmering ball the size of a dream portal. Moving around it, I then touched my horn to it, stepping through.

The night was dark all around, soft wind blew through the tall trees around the clearing, the three large moons in the sky leaving the silvery grass covering the clearing in a shimmering silver light.

A clear stream glittered across the middle of the clearing, cool and clean.

The night was comfortably warm and the stars shimmered above.

No animals. No insects. I had not added anything like them yet. Not sure I would ever add insects and if I did, it would be none of the annoying ones.

Maybe bumblebees. Bumblebees were cute. And butterflies. Maybe crickets, I like the chirping. Oh, fireflies.

They were pretty.

Bees! Honey was awesome.

But right now it was nothing but the sound of the wind and shifting trees in the night. I let out a soft sigh, slowly letting my breath out as I sank down onto the soft and slightly cool grass, the slight dew of the grass comfortably chilling without being cold.

This… bubble. This world…

I just needed to add some animals and it would be a nice place away from everything, somewhere to relax once dream patrols were done.

Somewhere I could get away from everything. At least when asleep.

Just the right climate, no need for shelter, no need for civilization. Somewhere without… responsibility. Somewhere I could just get away from pressures.

Just fly or hunt for fruit or… even just lay in the soft grass, looking at the stars.

The only things I was missing were the ponies I loved. I could show it to Luna, but Sunset, Twilight or… or Celestia…

Or…

Or maybe there was a way? Maybe it was possible. It was only dangerous for them if it wasn’t their dream. Was it possible to link their dreams into this one?

Something to think about for later. When it’s finished.

But It wasn’t done to show yet anyway, I needed to do more world building first.

Chapter 67

The moon shone outside the open sides of the throne room as the door pushed open and I looked away from my conversation with Luna, “Yes Flower?”

“Princess Midnight would like to speak with you, your majesty,” Flower said a bit nervously.

Luna looked at me, “I’ll be back later,” she said and brushed her wing against mine, “I should patrol tonight's dreams.”

I nodded, “Okay. See you for lunch?”

“Of course, My Page,” Luna said with a small smile, “And…”

“I know,” I said, giving her a small reassuring smile back.

Luna gave me a small kiss before she turned and walked to take wing out into the night. We had only a couple nights more before she left for Canterlot so as much as I hated to spend unnecessary time away from her, this was necessary.

I needed to speak to Midnight.

“Send her in, please Flower. And if we could get some ice tea, that would be nice. Lemon if possible?”

Flower smiled and nodded, “I’ll arrange some,” she said and gave a small bow before ducking out, closing the door behind her.

Sighing softly, I walked out onto the balcony to look out over the village below. Market day today and the square usually used for announcements and speeches below were full with stalls set up.

Unusually lit up too, both torches and light crystals.

Things looked busy today, but then again several local fruits just came into season and I took in the scent of grilled meat. Somepony down there were cooking something.

And it smelled amazing. Some ponies really threw themselves into the existence of brand new ingredients. Admittedly, a lot of the cooking and spices right now were leaning heavily on griffin cooking, especially when it came to meats.

The door opened behind me before closing again. I turned one ear to track the approaching hoofsteps but I didn’t bother looking back.

“Page?”

“Midnight,” I said and looked at her when she walked up to stand next to me.

She looked away before she turned to me, “Page, I-I’m sorry.”

I met her eyes for a second before I nodded, “I know,” I said and sighed, “I just wish you would have told me.”

“I…” Midnight started to say before she sighed and nodded.

Shaking my head, I then turned to her, “Midnight, I’m not going to pretend that I wouldn’t have been tempted to go. If you say the odds were low, I trust that they were low. But with the possible consequences, I would not been able to do it. I like to think so at least.”

Midnight didn’t say anything, she just met my eyes for several moments before looking down.

“I won’t apologize for being angry with you,” I told her gently but firmly, “But I do apologize for screaming at you.”

“Don’t,” Midnight said gently before she looked at me again, “You were right to. You had all right to.”

I looked at her for a moment before I sighed and put my hoof on her shoulder, “...How are you doing, Midnight?”

She shook her head, “...Tempest refuses to talk to me. Talon is even angrier than you were, he almost set my mane on fire. Luna wants me to come with her back to Canterlot when she leaves.”

“Do you want to go?”

Midnight looked at me in surprise, “What do you mean?”

“Do you want to go to Canterlot?” I asked seriously, “Because if you want to stay, I will talk to Luna.”

Midnight sniffed, staring at me for several moments before she answered, “I…” she started to say before she shook her head with a small sigh, “...There are moments where I understand Twilight…” she said before she trailed off and shook her head firmer and met my eyes, “No,” she then said, “No, I will go to Canterlot. I need to talk to Princess Celestia. And… and it may be for the best if I stay away for a little bit.”

“I understand,” I said and let my hoof drop, “Well… whenever you decide you want to come back, there will always be a spot for you in Nocturnis.”

She brushed her hoof past her eyes and shook her head before she pulled me into a hug. I hugged her back tightly, “It’ll be alright, Midnight. Just take what time you need,” I said before I pulled back to look at her, “...And give Tempest and Talon some time. They love you, they’ll come around.”

Midnight sighed softly and slowly let go, “Take care of them, Page. I may be gone for a while, I’m going to really need to think through some things.”

“Of course,” I said as I nodded, giving her a small smile, “Just make sure you come back to us at some point, Midnight. We need you.”

She smiled back a bit weakly, “That’s… one of the things I need to think about, Page. I might not belong here.”

I nodded and touched her chest with my hoof, “Take all the time you need,” I told her gently.

Midnight sniffed and rubbed across her eyes again before she looked at me, “...You said I might regret it if I came back here.”

“Wasn’t really what I had in mind,” I admitted with a small sad smile, “Regretting it?”

She was silent for several long moments, looking out over the village and its shimmering lights before she shook her head, turning back to me, “Yes… and no. Coming back… no. The way we did it? Yes. Even though it may have been the only way.”

“The only way?” I asked, “Or the only way without years having passed?”

Midnight wouldn’t meet my eyes.

Chapter 68

There was a ripping, cracking and the massive hundred meter trunk came crashing down with a roar. It hit the ground hard enough that I felt the impact through my hooves.

The sun shone bright above and I was wearing my goggles against it and I wasn’t the only pony, every thestral with me had something similar.

But as most of our skilled woodcutters were earth ponies, it made sense this sort of work was done during the day.

The trees along the river were as massive as the ones we had built in and they took some work to bring down, this was just the third one. I didn’t even want to think about getting the roots out of the ground and was so glad I wasn’t in charge of that.

“What’s our timeframe looking like, Flower?” I asked, glancing at my assistant.

She didn’t bother looking it up in her notepad, just answering from memory, “They think they will be able to have the fields cleared before the rains come. We will be able to start sowing just after the rain period ends.”

I nodded and looked as ponies below started to move back in to take the tree apart and get the trunk ready to roll into the river for transport to the train station.

Clear cutting part of the forest like this felt wrong. But…

We weren’t humans and this wasn't earth. One problem we didn’t have was climate change or running out of forests.

And we really needed the farmland if we were ever going to not be pouring bits into a massive hole importing so much food and ever have any chance of becoming cash positive.

Well, these fields wouldn’t solve that problem. But they would be a proof of concept and combined with fishing in the river, it would help a lot.

Safe access to the forest floor alone would help us so much.

…Safeish anyway. The barrier only kept beings larger than ponies out. Plenty of predators of that size around in the forest, but that’s what guards and the walls around any ground settlements would be for.

I settled down on the branch with a small sign, resting my head against it as I watched the work in the distance.

“...What are you thinking of, your majesty?” Flower asked from the next branch over.

“My wife,” I said and pushed myself up again, giving her a small smile.

“She’s leaving in the morning,” Flower said with a small understanding smile in return.

I nodded and stretched my wings, “Which sucks.”

“Look on the bright side,” Flower said, “We’re only six months from Hearths Warming.”

“There is that,” I agreed and stretched my wings, “And on that note, I should find Skitter before heading to bed. She’s going back with Luna and Midnight.”

We rarely managed to meet up at actual Hearts Warming, but we usually spent a week or so in Canterlot around that time.

I took to the skies on silent wings, heading back towards the village, rising higher into the air, the sun uncomfortably warm against my wings.

Not like Celestia, more like…

Too hot. Good thing we are mostly out at night or I may have to start using sunscreen on my wings.

But there was a different solution.

Shifting course, I sank lower and then smirked and glanced back at my guards.

Flower caught my eye, giving her head a small shake, “Prince Page…”

“Why don’t you take the rest of the day off,” I said, “in fact, it’s really late. Take tonight off too if you like.”

I didn’t hear her answer as I folded my wings and dropped like a rock.

“Oh buck.”

I did, however, hear Moon Glow curse and I couldn’t suppress a grin as I dove straight through the upper canopy into the shade below, branches and trunks flying past me at great speed.

Carefully I eased my wings open, adjusting my course and I slowly, slowly started to spread them.

I couldn’t just spread my wings, alicorn or not that might snap my wings like twigs at this speed. I wasn’t Rainbow Dash.

Pull up.

Pull up!

Holding my legs tight to my body to avoid hitting the ground, I pulled up and banked through the forest. Left. Right. Left. Left. Right. Up. BRANCH! Down!

That last one brushed past my mane even as I pressed my ears tight to my head.

I pulled up, trading speed for altitude as I circled around the thick trunk of a tree holding up the village school.

Smiling, I continued along beneath the bridges and buildings. I banked around, ducking beneath the shade of the main market square before pulling up and looping around, ending it with a roll to put my hooves onto the railing of the balcony of the throneroom. Not a sound.

I’m awesome. My wings ached though, I need to get flying more often.

Skitter looked up from where she had been reading a small stack of papers before she smiled, “Good morning, sir.”

I jumped down, “Good morning, Skitter,” I said and stretched my slightly aching wings. Been a long while since I did anything like that. Folding my wings, I stretched my legs before trotting over to her, “Just wanted to check on you before tonight. Train leaves tomorrow morning.”

“We’re good, sir,” Skitter said and got up before lightning her horn and picking a leaf from my mane, “But shouldn’t you be sleeping?”

“I really should,” I agreed, “And I am going to attach to a rafter as soon as I leave. But I wanted to check that you’re okay, we haven’t had much time to talk.”

Skitter shook her head, “We’re fine,” she said, “and you have been busy, sir. I have decided to leave half the changelings with me at the village if that is okay? The population can easily handle them and they will be useful for you.”

“They sure are,” I agreed, “The ones already here are among our best scouts. Your hive is always welcome in Nocturnis.”

There was a buzzing sound as Amber landed on the balcony, breathing hard and glaring in my direction.

I smiled and trotted over to give her a hug with my wing, “Sorry, but I have to keep my guards on their hooves,” I told her quietly.

Her wings buzzed beneath mine before she grumbled something in ancient changelings beneath her breath and nodded.

“Take some time to relax,” I told her with a smile, “I’m going to go sleep now.”

“See you tomorrow, Skitter,” I then added as I pulled my wing back and looked at her.

“Sweet dreams, sir.”

“Sweet dreams,” I said and gave her a small bow before heading towards the door.

I’m going to get a respectful earful about that little stunt from Moon Glow tonight, but it was worth it. Flying is still awesome, but it’s rare I get to do something like that.

Silently pushing the door to the bedroom open, I glanced inside. The bed was covered with a bubble of darkness like expected and I approached on silent hooves to carefully climb onto the bed.

Luna was to the left, Twilight was curled up next to her with Luna's wing across her. Sunset in turn was cuddled against Twilight, Twilight's legs around her, their horns crossed almost at the base.

There were times I wished I had a camera.

I moved around carefully not to wake any of them before I scooted up to put my side against Lunas free side. Luna shifted slightly in her sleep, her wing shifting to drape across me and pulling me closer as she turned her head slightly in my direction but she didn’t wake up.

Relaxing, I watched her sleepily.

So beautiful. My beautiful night sky, shining like the moon itself.

Finally I let my eyes drift close.

I just wished I could stay with her.

I hate my job.

Author's Note

And with that, we leave Page with his duties. We will continue in the future however, so stay tuned!

Thank you all for reading and I hope you enjoyed!:twilightsmile:

Chapter 1

The insects chirped in the night, the jungle lit by nothing but the moon and the stars far above.

I spread my wings and jumped towards the next thick branch on the next tree with a single silent beat of my wings.

Landing on silent hooves, I stretched before peering down into the darkness. A couple of trees had been cleared away and a crystal spire had been placed.

“You don’t have to check each yourself,” Flower Rain said as she landed next to me.

“No,” I answered, “”But I want to see at least a few of them before we pull the lever.”

Flower sat down and started to adjust her braided mane, “Last one?”

I smiled and looked at her, “Date morning?” I asked.

Flower shifted slightly and put her hoof back down, “...Yes.”

“Well,” I said, “We better get back then. Sorry for dragging you along with me in the first place. This isn’t really your job.”

That got a smile from the small thestral, “No, but I wanted to see them too, your majesty.”

“Let’s head back,” I said and spread my wings, jumping into the air and climbing upwards past the crowns of the forest and the stars above.

And the dozen of thestral guards circling above the trees, two of them pulling a sky carriage.

Pulling up higher, I banked around before going down to land on the sky carriage. Moments later, Flower landed next to me.

“All ready, sir?” Moon Glow asked from where she was sitting in the carriage. The pegasus was wearing a pair of night seeing goggles.

“All ready,” I told her, “Thank you for indulging me, Moon Glow. I know you don’t like when I do excursions into the forest.”

“All part of the job, sir,” she said with a smile, “Alright everypony!” she added, raising her voice, “Back to Nocturnis!”

The ponies pulling the carriage shifted course and everypony else fell into formation around us.

I took a deep breath, taking in the clear night air, looking up towards the moon shining far above.

My Luna. My Moon. My Sky.

She’ll be here in a few nights. In time for the ceremony to turn the shield bubble on. It was as good of an excuse for her to be able to visit as any.

Cadence, Shining Armor, Sunburst and Flurry Heart were on the way as well.

It was only right to invite them. They did pay for most of this in any case, every single of the obelisks making up the shield domes were imported from the Crystal Empire.

If they had not given them to us, we would not have been able to do this for decades more.

Nocturnis was starting to come into view. Shining sparkles of light in the darkness of the forest, like stars moved down from the skies to the treetops.

It was beautiful.

Some thought the most beautiful city in Equestria was Canterlot. They were wrong, so very wrong. Dead wrong.

But I couldn’t blame them, most had never been to Nocturnis.

But this project, this shield…

…It would change everything. We’d be able to clear some land along the river for farming. Keep the large predators away from the city.

Make day ponies feel safe to visit. We could have tourists! Make things safe enough to attract investors!

A way for us to grow, to become independent from the support of the rest of Equestria. I hate that we have to keep having to loan money.

I know Sunshine didn’t mind at all and they could afford it, but…

I wanted to show we could do this.

But tourists and becoming more independent from the support required greater safety, such like the dome shield.

Of course, all of this assumed they could stand being around the dangerous thestrals. I glanced to the side to see Flower nibble on a slice of apple from her bag, the tiny bat pony looking up towards the stars.

Yes.

Dangerous scary bat ponies.

The village approached into the distance and we swept in across the outskirts, passing above the school. One of the buildings that were always kept brightly lit on the inside. While most students were thestrals, a significant percentage were day ponies and even the unicorns weren’t really old enough to keep a light spell going for that long.

I glanced down the side as we passed the market square. Stands were set up and ponies were milling around. Food stands set up, the scents of grilled meat rising up against us.

Well, if anything good came of this in the end, it was ready access to barbecue. Even if most recipes were Griffin so far from natural reasons. Still, we were getting better at it. Some of the spices we found so far were really great.

Damn, now I’m hungry. Well, it is getting to be lunchtime, maybe I’ll head down to the market after we land.

We started to head down towards the palace’s landing platform. We circled the throne room once on the way down before landing.

I jumped off the carriage, “Thanks everypony,” I said, looking around, “I just wanted to see some for myself. This is a big step forward for our entire town. Thanks for escorting me.”

“All in a night's work, sir!” Moon Glow said, saluting.

I smiled at them and nodded before I headed inside, Flower moving to follow and I paused to look at her, giving her a side motion with my head, “What are you still doing here, go have fun.”

Flower smiled before she bowed, “Thank you, your majesty. See you tonight?”

“Tonight,” I agreed, “Now go have fun!”

She smiled and took to the air, jumping off the platform. She worked hard, she deserved to enjoy life whenever possible.

Wish she had told me she had plans, I would have insisted she didn’t come.

Entering, I headed up the ramp towards the throneroom where I was promptly ambushed. For a split second I suspected treachery, but it was even worse.

Starlight Glimmer and a stack of paperwork.

I seriously have to talk with Cadance about her when she’s visits. Maybe if Starlight found somepony, she’d relax a bit and I might as well get an expert on the job.

Besides, that’ll distract her from me, Sparks and Sunny.

Chapter 7

Sunset smiled at me, “I think it looks good. And Luna is right, you deserve it.”

“Did you know about this?” I asked her before looking at Twilight. Twilight shook her head but Sunset smiled,

“Where do you think the measurement came from?” she said and then shrugged, “They felt more comfortable approaching me than an alicorn.”

I sighed softly and lifted the circlet off my head, turning it in my magic, “...At least it fits then…”

“You don’t seem happy,” Luna said quietly as she jumped onto the couch next to me. I sighed and shrugged my wings, shifting to lean against her,

“It’s not that,” I said and glanced up at her, “I do appreciate the gesture, but this was expensive. I don’t like ponies spending their bits on jewelry for me when they need it for… I don’t know, food!”

Luna's magic took the circlet from mine and settled it back onto my head, “You’re not just a pony, My Page. You’re a symbol for these ponies and they need you to be. Let them.”

I sighed softly.

Twilight nodded, leaning to look at me from across Luna, “She’s right you know, Princess Cel-”

I sighed again as I rubbed my eyes with a fetlock, “I know, I had that speech too,” I admitted.

Twilight smiled and jumped off the couch, stretching a bit, “So listen. Besides, don't you have a lesson around now?”

“I do,” I admitted, “Thinking of canceling.”

“Go,” Luna said and nosed at my ear, “I need to patrol the dream realm as well.”

“And I need to meet up with Midnight,” Twilight said and looked towards Sunset, “Wanna come?”

Sunset sighed, “I would, but I have a meeting with Moon Glow. I can stop by later though if it finishes in time,” she said and slipped off her chair, shooting Luna and me a smirk, “Behave now.”

Luna, being the older and more mature pony, responded by slipping a wing around me and rolling me onto my back as she moved in for a kiss with a grin.

Eventually I found myself in the dream realm, looking at Celestia’s dream portal. Instead of its usual silvery blue, the blue was now the cloudy black and whirling silver of a nightmare.

Not a Nightmare, just a regular bad dream.

Taking a deep breath, I then touched my horn to the agitated surface and stepped through into an almost pitch black forest. The wind was howling and it was raining hard enough that it was only moments until my coat and mane was completely soaked through.

The wind tore at the trees and the thickly falling rain, branches hitting branches and trees smashing together.

It was a really bad storm.

Where i-

I caught a flash of pink and white towards one side, curled up tight against the roots of an upturned tree, hiding the best she could in the limited protection it gave against the elements.

Moving closer, I saw a young Celestia. Alicorn, but very young. Middle teens if at that.

Well, enough of this.

I tapped my hoof against the forest floor, solidifying the dream and at the same time, I send a pulse of magic out into a shield bubble around where we were to keep the water and the wind away.

I couldn’t actually cast that one in the real world, but here it was no problem at all.

Celestia flinched before she blinked and raised her head, looking around and brushing her soaked mane away, “Page?” she asked, her voice still a bit unsteady but quickly getting better.

“It’s me,” I confirmed and tapped my hoof, applying a bit of will to create a ready campfire before lighting it with a spark of my horn, “You doing okay there?”

Sunshine slowly unfolded herself and slowly stretched as water started to outright steam off her. I was meters away and I felt her heat stronger than I felt the fire.

She slowly relaxed again before frowning down at the previous grass beneath her, now ash. Frowning to herself she got up and scooted onto some fresh grass, “I’m fine,” she said and sighed, giving me a small smile, “...Been ages since I had this dream. Almost forgot about this.”

“What happened?” I asked and settled down next to her.

Celestia sighed, “I was being stupid and got caught out in a storm. It was before I really grew into my abilities.”

“You could get cold? Even then?”

She shook her head, “No. But it wasn’t fun being wet and afraid,” she said and glanced out through the shield bubble at the storm, “I did manage to get back home the next day.”

I nodded, “It wouldn’t have been. Especially for a little filly.”

Celestia smirked, “I’d have you know that at this time I am considered fully adult.”

I shook my head and poked her side with my wing, “So… what’s on the menu tonight, Sunshine?”

Celestia flicked one ear, “I was thinking about economics, but how about magic tonight? You have been wanting to practice your spell casting.”

“Works for me,” I agreed, “What scene would you like?”

“This one works, we’ll work on your fire magic,” she said before she smiled playfully, “I figure having things be covered with water is a good idea.”

“Well, at least you’re fireproof.”

Chapter 11

I spread my wings as I appeared in the empty night air. It smelled faintly of recent rain and the grass below glittered in the moonlight, but the sky was clear.

It was a summer night and I rose on silent wings towards the top of the castle as I put an invisibility spell around myself. Every cast of magic caused my head to throb ominous and that last one made my vision kind of wobble.

So no more magic for me.

I circled up to land on the highest spire, setting down soundlessly before I looked around. I could see Ponyville a couple of hundred meters from the castle. Dark and asleep. Good little ponies slept during the night. Which if this was Nightmare Moon wouldn't happen. It would all be night.

Scratch one off the list.

No banners. No occupying soldiers on the streets.

Not the Storm King.

...Nor any invading army actually. Most would have done that sort of thing to keep control. Evil Cadance could maybe do it anyway. All will love me and despair and all that.

Best not let my guard down too quickly.

There was one spot of light I could see, a balcony about half way up on one of the outer towers. Somepony was still awake.

Spreading my wings, I quietly took to the skies once more, circling down to land on the railing of the balcony, keeping close to the wall. Invisibility or not, best keep out of sight if possible.

“-en the Storm King sent an envoy to Canterlot to negotiate our surrender if you can believe it-"

Midnight.

..Or I suppose here she would just be Twilight. No, too confusing, she'll stay Midnight in my head. Until she says otherwise.

"Did he truly expect that to work?"

Luna!

...No. Not Luna.

At least not my Luna. My Sky. She was far away. So far away.

I felt my ears droop, but I took a slow and deep breath, forcing them back up again. I can do that later, I need to focus now.

...And lay down, my head really hurt.

Buck it, if Midnight was comfortable enough to be telling the other Luna about what happened while she was away, things couldn't be too bad. I quickly moved quietly across the crystal towards the open door and looked inside. Luna, Celestia and Midnight were all on a large and overstuffed couch by the fireplace.

I quietly entered the room and jumped up onto the armchair to the side, settling to lay down and letting my invisibility spell fade away.

Nopony noticed.

"Agnelia almost ran back to her ship after Page talked to her," Midnight explained, "He refused to say what he told her, but apparently it was effective."

"It was nothing special," I said, "Mostly I just explained what would happen if they kept threatening Equestria."

Oh, hey.

I didn't get smacked with a sun this time. Didn't even consider that possibility until afterwards. Glad that didn’t happen.

What I got instead was three funnily identical startled squeaks and everypony in the room spun to look in my direction.

"Page!" Midnight exclaimed and jumped off the couch, quickly moving over to me, "You should be resting!"

"I'm fine," I said, "just a headache."

"You were bleeding from the head and have a severe concussion!" Midnight said firmly before she hesitated, "...Page, what do-"

"We're in your home universe," I told her, "Already figured that much out. I just had to lay down before it happened involuntarily."

Midnight nodded and frowned, "You haven't eaten anything since we arrived, you should eat."

"Tea?"

"No caffeine," she said firmly before she frowned, "We don't have any meat or fish, but we do have fruit. I'll have somepony get us some. Better for you than anything else we have right now."

I nodded, looking towards Luna and Celestia, forcing a small smile, "Blank Page. Nice to meet you."

Celestia nodded, "The honor is ours. Twilight has been telling us of your world, it sounds amazing."

"Thanks," I said and shifted a bit against the chair, "...Would you mind if I sleep a bit? So tired."

"Sleep," Midnight said, brushing a feathered wing across my bandaged head, "I'll have some food for when you wake up."

"Mango. Or salmon."

Midnight giggled softly, "Maybe, I'll try. Now try to get some sleep."

Dreamless sleep followed.

Chapter 32

The sun was up and it was late morning, but I was still awake, blinking against the glare

The changelings were gathered outside the castle, the solar guards in a group towards the side. Celestia was back, facing Chrysalis between the two groups.

I was to the side with the rest, standing next to Midnight, Cadence and Shining Armor standing by her other side. Her parents were somewhere in the castle.

“You could just get some sunglasses, you know,” Midnight murmured to me.

“Yeah, yeah,” I grumbled.

Sure, the light didn’t help, but I was tired too.

“So we’re agreed?” Celestia asked Chrysalis.

Chrysalis nodded, “We are agreed. We will move and dig a hive at the other side of the mountain, like discussed. At the agreed site our scouts located.”

Celestia shifted her wings and nodded in return.

With that, Chrysalis spread her wings and took to the sky, every changeling there taking to the air and following and so did a squad of pegasi, taking an escort formation to the side of the group.

The entire group circled once and then headed towards Canterlot.

Celesita looked after them for a long moment before she turned and crossed over towards us, golden shoes clicking softly against the stone path, “Well done, everypony,” she said quietly with a small smile.

“All thanks to Page,” Midnight said and smiled at me.

I shook my head, “No. All I did was get everypony talking. It was Cadance and you,” I told her and then smiled at them, “You were the ones to convince her in the end.”

Midnight eyed me for a second and then turned back to Celestia, “Chrysalis is sneaky, she’ll have to be watched closely.”

“And we will do so,” Celestia agreed, “But turning an enemy into a friend is the best way to defeat them. This is a good start and one I never thought possible with Chrysalis.”

Cadance snorted, “Friend might be pushing it.”

“Perhaps,” Celestia agreed, “But it is a start. I should return to Canterlot, there is much I need to discuss with my sister and the nobility.”

I snorted at that last part.

Midnight suppressed a smirk as she glanced at me before she looked up at Celestia again, “A good idea,” she agreed.

“Yes, best go deal with the matter of the useless parasites,” I said, nodding and looking up at Celestia, “And then likely prepare something for Chrysalis’ visit as well.”

Celestia's usual polite mask broke. Not a lot, but her lips twitched and humor shone in her eyes, “Indeed,” she agreed, “Be well, all of you.”

With that, she moved to get onto the royal carriage and it took off towards Canterlot, a honor guard of pegasi pulling a dozen more carriages with guards joining her.

As the carriages pulled back, the leader, a unicorn general I didn’t recognize, raised his voice, “Alright colts! Get your tails moving! We don’t get paid to laze about!”

That got everypony moving and the guard got moving. You could actually see the chain of command as yells replicated down the chain and ponies got ponies going to start to pull their camp down.

“Well, if the circus has left the town, I’m going to go sleep,” I said and suppressed a yawn.

Midnight nodded, “Go get some rest,” she agreed, “Come see me tonight, we’ll go through what we have so far when it comes to getting back.”

“Sounds like a plan,” I agreed and rubbed my eyes with a pastern, “Good morning,” I said and headed back towards the castle, going by hoof.

Wasn’t in a hurry and flying was more tiring than walking when you couldn't glide. Flat ground sucks, trees is definitely where it’s at.

“Page, one moment?” Cadance said and trotted up next to me, “I can walk with you as we talk.”

I blinked and paused, nodding to her, “Of course, Princess,” I said before I continued on towards the castle, “What did you wish to speak to me about?” I asked and ignited my horn, pulling the gate open and allowing her inside before following.

Cadance paused and let the door close, “Shining and I are heading to Canterlot by train tomorrow,” she said, “I’m not sure we will be able to speak again before you leave back to your world.”

I nodded, “I hope you don’t mind if I say that I hope so. Because the alternative is that Midnight and Starlight have been unable to figure it out. And I want to go home.”

Cadance smiled and nodded, “I was wondering if you would mind if I asked you to carry a letter for the Cadance of your world?”

“Of course not,” I agreed before I smiled, “And I doubt you will be the only one.”

“I’ll write it before we leave,” she assured me before she regarded me for several moments.

“What?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

She smiled, “Nothing, just looking at your feathers,” she said and nodded towards the two feathers in my mane, “Curious who’s idea that was, Luna and Twilight. Your Twilight I mean, I never knew either to be overly sentimental about such things.”

“You’d be surprised,” I told her with a smile and shifted my wings, reaching up to touch Lunas with my hoof, “And it was Twilight actually.”

Cadance nodded with a smile, “I like it. Hope you don’t mind, but I may introduce the custom to Shining.”

I grinned, “I don’t. He might.”

She smirked playfully, “I may be able to convince him,” she said and then looked closer, “It’s not fully traditional though,” she then added, “Not sure I ever seen anypony carry a lock of mane like that.”

“Well,” I admitted and touched the small braid holding the feathers that had some red braided through it, “Sunset doesn't have feathers, being a unicorn. We considered a horn ring, but Sunset wanted to marry Twilight first and Twilight doesn't feel ready for marriage yet. And with Sparks and My Sky marking me with their feathers, she wanted something to add to it too.”

“Sunset Shimmer,” Cadance said, nodding a bit before she smiled, “And speaking of unicorns… what could you tell me of Tempest Shadow?”

“Not as much as Midnight,” I admitted, “We’re friends, but not quite close. But I suspect it’s painful for her to talk about her. Come, let’s find something to drink and I’ll tell you what I know. Maybe… maybe it’ll help Midnight,” I then added, feeling my ears droop slightly.

I have no idea how she did it, if I had been cut away from Luna… Sparks or Sunny… like she was from Twilight…

If I didn’t trust Midnight completely in finding me a way back…

I’d be a wreck.

Cadance nodded, “I’ll do what I can.”

Chapter 59

The sound of the propellers hummed behind as I looked out over the planes below. At the horizon, in the light of my beloveds moon the ground was getting darker.

The plains were going over into thick shrubland and only a few kilometers after that... jungle.

Soon.

Hoofsteps against the upper deck behind me and I glanced back, "Up to get some air?" I asked Midnight as she walked up next to me, a pair of nightseeing goggles on her head.

"Gets hot beneath deck," she admitted, "Even with cooling spells it gets a bit stuffy. You can tell we're almost home."

"Mmm," I agreed and sighed softly, giving her a small smile, "Vacation over, back to work."

That drew a small grin from her, "Vacation, right. Speaking of vacation, I may ask Tempest to join me for one soon."

"That sounds like an excellent idea," I agreed, "I'm thinking somewhere snowy, a wooden cabin and a hot fireplace, a snowstorm howling outside, hot mugs of cocoa or wine sitting by the fire..."

I might detest cold, but Sparks liked snow and so did Sunset. I can handle a chill for their sake. And cuddling by the fireplace sounds nice. Maybe we could even get Luna in on it too.

…Celestia…

Midnight smiled, her wings shifting, "That sounds amazing," she said and then blushed, "But I was more thinking of an expensive manehattan hotel with room service."

"Ah yes, the kind where you go to your room and don't come out for two weeks, huh?" I teased with a grin.

She cleared her throat slightly and glanced away with a small blush.

Seems like I hit the nail on the head there. The idea was very tempting too, just close the doors of the so-called palace back home, tell everypony to buzz off and spend a couple of weeks with Luna, Sparks and Sunny and see how many neighbors we could make move away due to noise disturbances.

Too bad that'd never happen.

"What's that?" I asked with a small frown into the darkness as movement in the sky drew my attention.

"What's what?"

"Something is flying," I said with a frown, "A pair of dots."

Midnight glanced at me and then squinted behind her goggles, "I can't see anything. Pegasi?"

"I can't tell, it's too far away. But I don't think so," I said wearily, "But they look too big to be a pegasus."

"I'll alert the guard."

I stopped her with my wing, "No, wait," I said, "Hold on for a bit, not like we can't blast whatever it is from the sky if it starts to get belligerent."

Slowly the shapes started to grow and I caught small flashes of metal in the moonlight as they approached, slowly turning into a pair of sky chariots.

They were heading straight for us and I could see that instead of two pegasi pulling each, there were four and they were all wearing Nocturnis armor.

Circling around to line up beside us, they expertly avoided the turbulence of the propellers to set down on the upper deck behind us.

The pegasi were heaving for breath, not even looking at us as they sank down, first onto their knees and the to lay down, clearly completely exhausted.

"Good work, everypony," Moon Glow said and jumped off the first chariot, the pegasi, followed by a dozen guard ponies, five with her and six in the other chariot.

She trotted up to me, pushing a pair of nightseeing goggles down from her eyes to hang around her neck before she saluted, "Welcome back, your majesty," she said.

"Thank you, Glow," I said and then looked behind her as the guards that weren't laying on the deck formed up smartly at attention. A good portion of which were thestrals, but two of them were unicorns, "May I ask what's all this is about?"

"We departed as soon as we got word you were returning," she said seriously, "To ensure your safety during transit over the jungle. We don't want a repeat of the last time."

We were half way, which meant they would have needed to fly hard to reach us this quickly.

Which explained the exhausted pegasi.

"Thank you," I said quietly, "Let's hope things go a bit smoother than that however. I appreciate it, but you may stand down now and get some rest, you have had a hard journey to get here."

She saluted again and then glanced back, "Star Stripe, Star Strike, get the carriages strapped down! I need to go talk with the captain. Everypony else, get some rest."

The two unicorn twins saluted and moved to start strapping the carriages down and releasing the pegasi from the pulling harnesses.

I sighed softly, "Amber," I said and turned away to spot the changeling where she was standing behind me.

She blinked, "...How did you know I were here, sir?" she asked.

I smiled, "Because I know you," I said and gave her a quick hug, "Missed you, bug."

"Missed you too, sir," she said and hugged back.

"Go down say hi to Skitter, she and some more lings are along for the ride."

"No, sir. My task is to guard you."

I shook my head and gave her another quick hug with my wing before letting go and looking out over the approaching jungle before us.

Didn't even get back before pushed back into my role.

My bucking life, I swear.

Looking to the side, I spotted Midnight watching me. I raised one eyebrow at her.

She smiled softly and touched my shoulder with her hoof for a second before she turned around and walked back inside.

Turning around, I followed her inside.

Might as well get some writing done, needed to clear my head.