“So this is what we have right now?” I asked Starlight.
It was early evening, the sun was close to the horizon outside and I had gone looking to see how they were doing. Midnight had been nowhere in sight which was understandable as her parents were still here. Didn’t blame her for wanting to spend time with them.
But Starlight had still been working.
Starlight nodded, “in short, it’s basically an effort to reverse the effect we used to bring Twilight back to here.”
I looked at the blackboard filled with math looking scribbles. For all I knew, that could be the recipe for chocolate cookies and I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.
Celestia had taught me a lot about magical theory, but this was way above my level.
“And how’s that going?” I asked.
Starlight brushed her mane back and looked up at the equations, “...Actually, fairly well. It’s harder than we thought at first, but it’s doable.”
“Do we have any sort of time frame here?” I asked with a small frown.
Starlight shrugged a bit and then looked at me apologetically, “...Another couple of weeks at least. Sorry. We want to be sure it works… don’t want to get it wrong and have you end up somewhere else.”
I swallowed.
I had not even considered that possibility. Now I was and I really, really didn’t want to.
“Please don’t. Take any time you need.”
Starlight smiled, “Don’t worry, we’ll figure it out. And I may have a letter for my counterpart for you to bring along.”
“No plans for world domination.”
Starlight mock pouted, “Never get to have any fun,” she played along before she smiled, “And on that note, I’m heading to bed. It’s been a long day. Good night, Prince Page.”
“Good night, Starlight.”
As she left, I took another look at the blackboard before I turned to head out as well. I really, really wished they didn’t forget to carry the one somewhere.
I trust Midnight. I trust Midnight.
“Prince Page?”
I blinked and looked to the guard approaching, “Yes Private?”
The unicorn saluted, “Princess Twilight sent me to find you. She wanted you to know that a royal carriage has been spotted at the train station with the markings of the Crystal Empire.”
“That’s fast, they must have really hauled tail to get here in this quickly,” I said with a small frown.
“Yes, sir. We didn’t expect them for another two days.”
I nodded, “Well, take me there.”
Seriously, this place was like a maze. All echoing crystal surfaces, didn’t like it that much to be honest.
He saluted again, “If you’d come with me, sir,” he said and led the way.
I followed him to the map room to find a group of ponies gathered already. Midnight, her parents, Talon.
“Page!” Midnight said and turned to me, “Where have you been?”
“Asleep,” I said as I crossed over to them before giving her parents a small bow, “Apologies for not greeting you earlier,” I told them, “But I thought it was better to let you focus on your daughter without distractions.”
Midnight turned to them, “Mom, dad, this is Prince Blank Page of Nocturnis. Page, my mother, Twilight Velvet and my father, Night Light.”
I gave them another bow but Twilight Velvet stepped forward and pulled me into a hug and I almost startled. Sure, they never showed any hesitation back home, but that’s when knowing I was dating their daughter and seen me at a distance multiple times.
Here I was a stranger.
“Thank you for keeping our daughter safe,” she murmured quietly against my shoulder..
I hugged back, “It wasn’t just me,” I told her quietly, “But did what I could.”
Twilight Velvet smiled and let go, taking a step back before the door opened and Shining Armor walked in, quickly followed by Cadance.
“Twily!”
They both ran forward and gathered Midnight into a tight three way hug. Twilight sniffed and hugged back tightly.
I took a step back as Night Light and Twilight Velvet joined into the hug. I looked down at Talon, “Home isn’t a place,” I told him quietly, “It’s people.”
He nodded and walked to join the hug.