“Page!”
I looked up from where I was relaxing on the park bench, a copy of Daring Do floating before me. The latest book had just been released… or rather, would be released sometime next week.
Despite what I talked to Twilight about a couple of days ago, having a lot of money and connections with printers did have a couple of advantages.
“Thunder Cloud,” I said with a grin as I jumped off the bench, “Been ages!”
The Pegasus dropped down from the air and folded his wings, his coat white and his light blue mane wind swept. He was out of armour of course or he would be fully white like most of the other pegasi in the guard.
He grinned, “Things have been crazy busy,” he said and shrugged his wings, “Between training, patrols, messenger duty and everything else… besides, you were out of town!”
“True,” I agreed and shouldered him with a grin, “how have you been?”
Thunder grinned, “Good enough. Like I said, hard work. The Princess is putting together a new unit and they needed a scout. Besides, came with a promotion!”
That was news to me. I think I’ll ask about it next time we have tea.
“Sergeant?” I asked with raised eyebrows, “Congratulations!”
“Thanks,” he said and smirked, “Not all of us can be lazy civilians and lounge around all day.”
I just snorted at that, “Dude, I practice as much as you do!”
“You would have to with all that fancy food,” he answered with a grin, “Have to keep in shape for the Princess," before he frowned, “Speaking of… how is it going with the… you know?” he asked and shrugged his wings.
Thunder was one of the few ponies that knew what I was now. One of my closest friends, how could I not tell him?
I glanced back at my sides beneath the illusion, “Okay? I can mostly go in the right direction and I have mostly stopped breaking things when I arrive?”
He grinned and tapped his hoof on my shoulder, “You need more practice.”
“How? Not like I could just take off,” I answered and rolled my eyes, “Would make it a bit difficult to hide then.”
“True. But you do have the entire magic thing, pretend to be a Pegasus.”
“…Thought about it,” I admitted, “Flying again would be nice. Even if it makes my wings ache after a while.”
Thunder rolled his eyes, “Dude, you have to practice! Don’t use your muscles and they get weak, like any others. Including wings!”
I knew he was right. Even earth pony sturdiness only went so far, if you didn’t train it didn’t help much.
“I’ll try.”
“Do or do not.”
I rolled my eyes at him, “Screw you. Fine, I’ll make sure to fly a couple of hours a week.”
Should be possible to pull off, especially at night. Sneak out, put an illusion over myself to make me look like a Pegasus and then get some flying in.
Yeah, I could do that.
“Well, come on then!”
I looked at him, “What, now!?”
“Now! Or you are going to continue putting it off!”
I just groaned, “Cloud, you are such a pain in the flank!” before I grinned, “Fine, sure. Let’s just stop by the castle first so I can drop off my book. We get something to eat and then we go flying. Sounds good?”
He nodded, “Yeah. Where is Swift anyway? Wasn’t his new job following you around?”
“His day off,” I answered and picked my book up in my magic, closing it around the bookmark, “I’m Amber's problem today.”
Cloud glanced around, “Not seeing her.”
“You won’t unless she wants you too,” I said and smirked, “Amber?”
“Yes, sir?”
Cloud twitched and looked to the other side to see the smiling changeling, “How do you do that!?”
She tilted her head, “Do what?”
“She is worse than Skitter!”
“Thank you!”
Thunder Cloud just sighed and rubbed his forehead, “…I’m getting a headache. Let’s go, Page.”
I winked at Amber and got a bright smile in response before I followed him, next time I looked behind us she was gone again.
“Page, I’ll be honest,” Cloud said with a sigh, “Changelings give me the creeps.”
I frowned at him, “Why?”
He stared at me, “Page, they eat Love. They have fangs! No offense.”
“None taken,” Amber said cheerfully.
“Eh, you get used to them.”
Cloud sighed, “Not sure I ever will, allies or not. Come on, let’s go.”