Things progressed faster than I thought it would. Less than a week after I agreed to go, I found myself at the train station just as the sun started to rise above the trees.
Birds chirped in the trees, audible above the sound of the railway ponies and the locomotive. Ponies yelled, cargo getting loaded. Passengers boarding the train.
I stood outside the private royal carriage as I looked between Sparks and Sunny, “Are you sure about this?” I asked them seriously, “I know how much work this is.”
Sparks nodded and stepped forward, hugging me tight before she kissed my cheek, “Page, just focus on your studies. We’ll be fine.”
“We can handle this,” Sunset said with a smile as she joined us, “And don’t forget, we were both Celestia's students in the past. We know exactly how difficult you are going to have it.”
I raised an eyebrow at her, “Really?”
“She’s a good teacher,” Sparks said with a smile as she let go of the hug, “But she is also demanding.”
“Yeah, I noticed,” I agreed with a smile, “...but you’re right, this will be fun.”
“Your Majesty,” Moon Glow said as she walked up to us before saluting, “Everything is ready.”
I nodded, “Thank you, Glow. I’ll be onboard in a minute,” I said before I turned to pull Sparks and Sunny into another tight hug, “...I’ll miss you.”
“We’ll miss you too,” Sunset said and leaned against me, “But we’ll see you in our dreams,” she said before she pulled back with a small grin and a wink, “Say hi to Luna from us.”
I cleared my throat and nodded, “I will.”
While the way out would take me directly to my destination, we had decided that on the way back I’d stop by Canterlot for at least a couple of days and then continue back
Twilight blushed slightly and then poked me with her hoof, “Get going, ponies are waiting!”
I smiled and stole a kiss from her before retreating towards the rail carriage. I glanced back at them one more time before I climbed up and walked inside.
I gave Shade and Leaf a nod as I walked past the cabin they had set up in before entering my private cabin that took up something like the last half of the rail carriage.
Amber looked up from where she was sitting on one of the chairs, “We’re going now, sir?”
“We are,” I said and stretched my wings a little before jumping onto the couch as I lit my horn and slipped my circled off my head, floating it over to put on its stand next to the bed.
Looking out the window, I gave Sunset and Twilight a wave as the train jerked and started to move, slowly pulling out of the station.
They waved back as they slid out of view.
Letting out a small sigh, I shifted and leaned against the couch, trying to get comfortable. About a week to our destination.
There was something to be said about this way to travel. Plenty of time to think, to read. It felt a bit strange though knowing that I left Flower Rain behind to assist Sparks and Sunny.
Even this quickly, it made me realize exactly how much I relied on the petite batpony for… basically everything.
It was getting late though, I should think about getting to bed soon…
…or it would be normally. Now I had to turn things around to be awake during the day. Technically, Celestia could have done the same and been awake during the night, but… Alicorn of the Sun. It just seemed more practical for me to be the one to do it.
If I forced myself to stay up three or so hours longer every day until we arrived, it would be fine. It’s just that the process to do so sucked.
Blinking a bit against the increasing light, I looked around only to find Amber digging around in an open drawer before jumping off the chair and crossing over to me, offering me a pair of day goggles, “Here you go, sir.”
“Thank you,” I said with a smile and slipped them on, adjusting the strap around the back of my head. Day goggles weren’t actually sunglasses in any way.
They actually made it look like night rather than just filter through less light.
Too much light made me sleepy, so these actually helped a lot. Extending my wing, I gave the ling a quick hug with another small yawn.
The door opened and Moon Glow poked her head inside, “Alright there, sir?”
“Alright, Glow,” I agreed and folded my wing again, “Just not looking forward to being awake during the day, thing.”
She smiled and walked in, adjusting her wings, “I’m actually looking forward to it a bit,” she admitted, “One thing I do miss doing as often is sunbathing.”
“You know, you could take more time off,” I suggested, “I have literally offered it several times. And I know for a fact that you are falling behind on taking the days off you normally get as well.”
“Eh, I'd get bored.”
“Well, enjoy while you can, I guess, because I think Starlight may start to enforce that sort of thing soon,” I said with a smile, “How’s everypony else settling in?”
A total of twenty guards were coming along. And three other ponies. A maid, a doctor and a chef. The regular traveling accompaniments.
“Everyone is doing fine,” she said with a nod, “Oh, that reminds me. Sweet Slice wanted me to ask you if you would like a morning meal?”
“That would be nice I think, thank you,” I agreed, “But keep it light. And remind her that we’re shifting everything three hours a day until we’re at a day pony schedule..”
“I’ll let her know,” Glow said with a smile and a nod and turned to leave. I suppressed another yawn and looked around. Spotting the fully stocked bookshelf, I jumped off the couch and trotted over to it.
Well, I have a week to kill.
#########
Thunk-thunk. Thunk-thunk.
The sound of the train tracks was faint beneath the carriage as we sped across the plains. Grass stretching out towards the horizon, the jungle left far behind.
I leaned against the back of the couch, resting my head ontop of the cushion as I looked out across the landscape.
The sun shone above so I had my goggles on. But quite frankly, I was so bored.
Four days into the trip. Three and a bit days left and I was about to chew my left wing off, I was so bored.
I would have suggested to go out and fly alongside for a bit, and while even Amber wouldn’t have a problem with that, it would slow us down and just make it take even longer.
“Your move.”
I blinked and then looked at Moon Glow, the pegasus laying across from me on the couch, a chess set sitting on it between us.
“Sorry,” I said and studied the board for several long moments before moving an earth-pony.
Moon Glow studied the board, frowning in thought for several long moments, her wings slowly shifting on her back before she reached out with her hoof and moved a wizard, taking a carriage.
Moon Glow was fairly good at chess.
Okay, scratch that. She was really good at it. I’m not. Sure, I knew how to play and I did even win some games, possibly even without her letting me, but most of the time she was the victor.
I studied the board.
And so it seems to be this time as well. She had me in two movies. Yes, I’d be able to protect my Princess by sacrificing a guard, but that would put her into another bad position.
One I may be able to get out of, or I might not.
Reaching out, I tipped my Princess over, “Your game.”
“You’re distracted.”
“I guess I am,” I admitted and then shook my head before glancing at the sun as it was actually approaching the horizon, “And it’s getting late.”
Moon Glow nodded, “So it is,” she agreed and started to pack up the chessboard, “Thank you for the games, your majesty.”
I shook my head with a smile, “I enjoyed it. I’m not that good at it, but it was fun.”
“If you focused on the game, it would help.”
“Likely, yes,” I admitted and flicked one ear, “Sorry. Just thinking about what’s going on at home.”
“Princess Twilight can handle things just fine,” Glow said very reasonably.
I snorted and nodded, “I know, I know. And likely better than me! Sparks’ amazing, it’s not that. It’s… I worry about my ponies,” I admitted before I shook my head, “...Sorry, Glow. You don’t need to worry about that.”
Moon Glow regarded me for several long moments after closing the lid on the chess-set, “I’m not a batpony,” she said after several more moments, “Do you know why I moved to Nocturnis? I’m not sure I ever told you.”
I shook my head, “You joined my guard when it was still in Canterlot.”
Moon Glow nodded, “I did. I always wanted to be in the guard but until you formed the Dream Legion, mares couldn’t be soldiers and I’m not good enough a flier for the Wonderbolts. But not all of the guard followed along to Nocturnis when it was created and the Dream Legion converted to the Nocturnis Guard. Many left when offered. Being a member while in Canterlot was easy, safe. We lost a large part when we moved.”
I nodded, “Half or so when all was done.”
Glow’s ears flicking in annoyance, “Which was likely a good thing to get rid of the posers.”
“So why did you come?” I asked, shifting my wings, “I know you have family in Canterlot.”
She nodded once more, “I do, and I look forward to seeing them when we visit later. But the reason I followed was not only because I enjoyed my job. It’s because I saw what you wanted to do. And not only what you wanted to do, a lot of ponies want to do good things. You actually did it. You saw a great wrong and put everything into fixing it.”
“I…” I started to answer before I shook my head, “I just did what needed to be done.”
Glow smiled, “Yes. I’m not a batpony,” she said and slipped off the couch, slipping the chess set beneath her wing, “You’re an alicorn and a Prince,” she said as she turned to me again, “And so is Princess Twilight. But being an alicorn and a prince and me not being a batpony has very little to do with why you are Our Prince,” she said and bowed, “Good night, your majesty.”
“Good night, Moon Glow.”
The door closed behind her and I looked out the window again. I’m not sure I liked when my ponies spoke about me like that.
Sometimes they just put me on even more of a pedestal that I could never live up to. Especially when away from my real duties like this.
I felt like I needed to do more. Be better. But that was one of the reasons I was doing this. I really needed the magical training.
The rest of the lessons were good for me too. Made me more capable. I may never get close to what my ponies expected from me, but I had to try.
They deserved that and more.
Nodding to myself in determination, I slipped off the couch and fetched my bag before I moved to the small desk. I could put in an hour or two of studying before sleeping.