Eternity well spent

I frowned at the slightly translucent wall before me. Reaching forward and knocking on it produced a warble. I pressed against with with both hands and heaved with all my might, to no avail.

"Cel wasn't kidding," I huffed causing a faint stream of fog from my breath, and turned to the dog guards in the forest with me. "Nothing's getting through this thing." Gorgal, the Doberman General Officer of the Woollachian defense force adjusted the minotaur rifle on his back and his flat cap.

"Prince, are you able to peer through the barrier?" He asked. Frowning, I focused on Twilight, who I knew would still be inside. I shook my head at Gorgal when I saw only darkness. He hummed and rubbed his chin. "Princess Twilight must have been very desperate to weave something like this." I took a breath, studied the barrier for a moment, and sighed.

"Cel implied as much. Speaking of, we should probably get back to her."

"Yes, sir."

We marched in general silence through the moonlight woods around Woollachia until we breached into the valley the country sat in. From here, the vast barrier that now allegedly covered all of Equestria was visible. The patrol I'd requested investigate the barrier with me saluted before returning to their posts throughout the country, while those returning to Ramstead gathered close to me. With a thought, we were back in the courtyard where Celestia and a few of the maids were waiting despite the cold of autumn.

"Welcome back, Prince Peter!" Rug greeted after blowing the shaggy wool from her head out of her eyes. I gave her a smile and a nod before turning to Celestia. Her attention was firmly locked on the shimmering dome far to the east, and her face was tired. Her mane no longer flowed on a magical breeze, instead only shifting slightly with her heavy and exhausted breathing.

The castle dogs and Gorgal shuffled inside, followed by the maids, leaving us alone and in silence. I stepped next to her and tilted my head to try and meet her eyes. "Hey." Her ear swiveled, which was the only reaction she gave.

I sighed and gently rested a hand on her back. "It's pretty late, and you said you flew the whole way here. Why don't we find you something to eat?" She didn't respond, but rose to her hooves after a moment and slowly trotted with me inside.

"So, she's that bitch I saw in Tartarus way back when?" I muttered.

"Yes, that was her," Celestia explained, her eyes lost in the cup of tea Rug had poured for her. She occasionally weakly picked at the plate of potatoes beside the cup with her fork. "I believe I wrote to you about the social issues Equestria was facing a few months ago. It's now apparent that she was behind them all." I furrowed my brow as I listened with my head resting on my hand.

"She was using magic to grow strong by feeding on the unrest throughout Equestria like a raging fire being stoked with kindling," she explained before pausing for a minute or two. Finally, she quietly sighed and continued. "That barrier was our last resort to sever her connection to the land, which would extinguish the greater scope of her power."

"I was pursuing a rumor of Opaline's presence in the badlands when the spell was cast," she added, looking up to meet my eyes. "I now suspect the rumor was a distraction, allowing her to invade while I was away."

"So you got locked out?" I asked, causing her to close her eyes and slowly nod.

"It must have been urgent. Perhaps she was right at the threshold of Canterlot?" she muttered and shrugged. "In any case, the spell would have cast her out, however, while it remains in place, it must also repel all those outside. At least until her magic is weak enough for us to overcome."

She clenched her eyes. "And there is no telling how long that will take." Her head hung. I stared at her as she sat there miserably, digesting everything she'd said.

"I must apologize, Peter," she finally said, drawing me out of my thoughts. Her head was still hanging. "I haven't even responded to your letters in weeks, and now I show up on your doorstep requesting shelter."

I scoffed and reached over the table to rub her shoulder. "Ain't that big a deal. You've been busy."

"That's no excuse."

I warped next to her and wrapped my arm around her. "That's every excuse, at least in this context," I replied. She stared ahead for a moment before turning to meet my eyes. I smiled. "But hey, you do have a point. You probably don't know half of the stuff that's been happening around here!"

I jostled her slightly, drawing a hum from her. "So, how about you get some rest and tomorrow I'll conjure some clouds and give you a tour of the whole place?" She considered me for a moment. "Help you get your mind off things, y'know?"

She took a shallow breath and then nodded. "Alright."

"But, isn't this Quilt's room?" Celestia asked as she followed me through the door. I waved a hand at her as I set the burning candelabra providing light to the room on the table.

"Yeah, but it's also the biggest bed in the place and I want you to be comfortable," I cast a smile her way. "Besides, Quilt's over in the Katskills for a few more weeks, and I don't think she'd mind." She gave me an unconvinced look before relenting with a small nod. She scanned the rest of the room as she approached the bed.

"Your new maids certainly seem adept at keeping up with her," she said, her attention drawn specifically to the table which had an almost polished sheen to it. I considered her words for a moment before looking around as well and nodding.

"Oh! You mean how clean it is," I offered, earning a nod from her. I laughed and pulled the blanket aside for her before moving out of her way. "Nah, believe it or not, they haven't had to come in here much in the last few years. Quilt started taking real good care of her room after Cozy and Frill passed."

She paused and stared off for a moment. "Ah, that's right. I," she closed her eyes. "I forgot. I apologize."

I shook my head with a shrug. "Apologize for what? It," I considered my words for a moment and the ring on my finger which I rubbed with my thumb. "It happens."

She continued to stare off to the side. "For bringing it up. For burdening you by-" I flinched and cut her off by warping next to her and hefting her up. She let out a yelp as I hauled her to bed.

"Nuh-uh, none of that," I declared and gently dropped her on the bed. She blinked and gave me a sad look.

"Peter-"

"Nah," I waved my hand pulled the blanket over her, and patted her shoulder. "Get some sleep, Lady. I'll be lurking, so call me if you need anything, alright?" I smiled at her while she considered me.

"Alright," she finally replied and settled into the bed. I nodded and patted her again before standing and making for the door, waving my hand to extinguish the candles on the table. As I crossed the threshold- "Peter." I looked back to see Celestia sitting up and giving me a teary-eyed frown.

"Don't go."

At Celestia's request, I'd moved Quilt's couch close to the window and drawn the curtains, giving her a view of the moon as it slowly rolled through the night sky. And so, there we sat, in a scene that I felt echoed our first meeting somewhat, only reversed. She was hugged up to me and leaning against me for support. I wasn't sure how long we'd sat there, but the moon was clearly veering toward its resting place by the time she said anything.

"I just," she murmured, taking a shuddering breath. "Until Opaline is defeated, they must keep that spell in place, and there's no telling how long that could be."

"Right."

"And I have no way of knowing what's going on inside," she added, pushing up off me and looking me in the eyes with her ears back. "I- It might be ages before I see Twilight, Cadance, or my sister again." I considered her for a few moments as I mulled over my response. She shook her head and looked towards the moon.

"Part of me hopes that Luna will realize what has transpired and pass through the barrier to find me," she quietly said, narrowing her eyes with a small frown. "But she has no way of knowing for certain if I'm outside or not."

"If it helps at all, when the day comes I'll be right beside you. Hell, I'll carry you home myself," I finally declared. She blinked and turned to look at me evenly. After a moment she managed a smile despite how obviously exhausted she was.

"It does. Thank you, Peter," she said. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the moon nearing its destination, which inspired an idea. I smiled at her and grabbed her hoof.

"Hey, let me show you something."

Dawn was creeping up on us, something Celestia completely failed to notice due to her lack of sleep and state of mind. But even if the sun wasn't rising on time, I had a pretty keen sense of when my mortal enemy was supposed to be around after fifty-six years of unlife. Despite her shock and attempt to hastily attend her duties, I urged her to hold off for just a few more minutes.

"What is this room?" She asked, scanning the dark-curtained chamber I'd led her to. It was bare save for the very plush sofa just before one of the heavily curtained windows. I led her to the couch and urged her to sit down.

"It's something Quilt made for Frill and me," I replied, sitting down and patting the spot next to me. She considered me for a moment before sitting down. Nodding, I worked my magic and pulled the rope of the curtain in front of us which then swept open, revealing the valley northeast of Ramstead which was still shrouded in darkness, save for a few points of light in the village of Ruffleton.

I patted her hoof. "Go ahead." She blinked and looked out the window before back to me.

"Peter, you'll die," she quietly retorted.

I smiled and wagged a finger at the window. "Quilt fashioned that chunk of glass with her alchemy. It let Frill and me watch the sunrise or sunset without it killing me." Her ears twitched and she considered the window with a quiet hum. I picked up and held her hoof. "Go ahead. Trust me." She kept her attention forward before closing her eyes and slowly lighting her horn. I leaned back, still with her hoof in my hand, and watched as the horizon was pierced by the sun's first light.

Celestia subtly winced but kept the spell going, and after a few more seconds the light of day properly spilled out onto the valley. I nudged her gently. "Take a look." She hesitated before opening her eyes, and let out a sigh of relief at what she saw.

While the window was clear glass, it refused any light to pass through, keeping the room dark and me from bursting into flames. At the same time, it gave us a perfect view of the valley, Ruffleton, the woods, and the mountain. The mountains were tipped with more frost than usual this time of year, painting the range with a sparkling white brush that glittered in the dawn's light.

Down in Ruffleton, little communal fires were lit to offer extra warmth to the sheep and dogs as they began their days, something I'd commissioned years ago despite their wool and fur. It was a mild boon to them, but to Frill, myself, and now Celestia it turned the village into something more picturesque than usual. The spaces between each cluster of homes and buildings flickered faintly before being overtaken by daybreak, revealing the whole town.

Celestia studied the scene in silence, her posture visibly relaxing at the sight after a few moments. "Quilt made this happen for you two, hm?"

"Yep," I sighed, still with her hoof on my hand. I looked over the valley with a sad smile and saw Celestia turn to me out of the corner of my eye. After a moment I looked back at her. "I haven't been in here since Frill died." I chuckled and rubbed her hoof with my thumb.

"No offense, but the sun's movements never really mattered to me much on my own," I explained. "Only if I've got someone to share it with."

"Quilt's been traveling a lot lately, and it feels kind of.. off hanging with dogs and sheep I watched grow up," I added with a quiet sigh. "It's nice to have someone around I already click with, y'know?" She considered me for a moment before nodding.

"Yes, I certainly do," she replied before returning her attention to the sunrise. I did likewise, and we found ourselves sitting in silence for a time. Eventually, she spoke again.

"You know, if this really has all just been one long con, as Vice Captain Sunbeam used to insist, now would be the perfect opportunity to spring your trap," she said, causing me to look at her in surprise. "I don't even have it in me to maintain my wards right now." She stared ahead at the sunrise with that same weary expression she'd had since she arrived, but once she sensed I was staring, she adopted a weak smirk and met my eyes, which had only a faint trace of the light they always had when she'd poke fun at me. I studied her for a minute before smirking myself.

"Finally," I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her close, drawing a yelp from her. Once I had her hugged close, I gently bit her shoulder for just a moment. She froze for a moment before groaning.

"You- Unbelievable," she sighed.

"Hey, you offered," I chided, still with my arms locked around her. She pouted for a moment before huffing and curling her hind legs up and relaxing in my grip.

"Yes, I suppose I quite literally asked for that," she sighed. She sat in my arms, just breathing and adjusting her wings. After a few minutes, I glanced down to see she was fast asleep. I hummed and relaxed in my seat, watching the sun for a few minutes.

I gently thumbed the ring on my finger. "Yeah. Nice having someone around I click with."