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.”
"Quit, don't quit? Noodles, don't noodles? You are too concerned about what was and what will be." - a tortoise who then proceeded to throw himself off a cliff.
Nice
great chapter
Thanks for chapter!
Have a good day!
"You get some rest as well," Is what I believe you meant.
Seems Celestia here didn't have many confidants in the modern time that she talked about close memories and thoughts. It shows how close Page and Sunny were. Even if he was already married to Luna. While they have acknowledged that there is love in their hearts, duty & distance is what keeps them from exploring those thoughts and feelings. Though that is also with their game of messing with Cadence.
I would swear if wasn't for life getting in the way she try to join the heard.
I bet she only shares that story with her paramours.
And potential paramours.
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"Celly2 do you think I should be more open with Celly?"
"Oh sure but there's physical defficiencies I'm not sure you can overcome."
"Hey I'm strong, I'm married to your sister after all."
"Oh and Im sure I love you for that, but I've sworn off lovers after it was discovered asbestos is carcinogenic, the risk of spontanious combustion is just too great. my partners must have a deep affinity in the aspect of fire to have a chance."
"Uh...."
"and then there's the pelvic injuries before that."
"Ok maybe I should just stay friends?"
"The best of friends"
Portal Empire would be awesome. But I fear they would have problems on Space Tech development...
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he's an alicorn, his pelvis is made of alicornium it was made to handle snu-snu
FLASHBACK A FEW MONTHS AGO IN NOCTURNIS WHEN TALKING TO A PAIR OF BATPONIES...
Page: For the last time! We are NOT celebrating the town's anniversary by blowing up the sun.
Thestral 1: But we got signatures this time!
Page: This is just twenty names and most are the foals from the kindergarten class...of course THEY would say yes!
Thestral 2: ...how about blowing up a TINY piece of the sun?
Page: NO! NOW GET OUT OF HERE!
Discord is a genius. He saved two Timelines Batponys and truly did something priceless for Flutterbat. Give her back her life and sub race!
Mhmm
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Celestia: What does it say Page?
Page: Um...it says "There is no cake."
Celestia: false advertising...IT...MUST...BURN!!
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Glados-Celestia is a troll
Wonderful chapter I like this dynamic between Canon Celestia and Page
I am really curious if the spell works properly.
Or something breaks and Page ends up as the ancient thestral alicorn.
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his pelvis maybe, but she can become a raging inferno at any time
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Last Page reply should be: "Blowing tiny piece of sun is how solar flare forms, you know, right? Maybe I could arrange that, but do you REALLY want it?"
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I was in a rush leaving for work so I just went with my first draft!
Good chapter
Yeah. I liked this chapter. I like how you have Page and Celestias interact.
Got to love Celestia-Page banter.
No grammar jackboots to stomp that haven't already been commented on.
Page channeling his inner Trollestia. Nice.