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.