//------------------------------// // Chapter 21 // Story: Looking Glass // by Hiver //------------------------------// Everypony was asleep and the castle was quiet, only a couple of guards patrolling. It was too quiet, giving me much too much time to think and worry as I walked through those silent halls. I considered switching to being awake during the day despite the fact that sunlight made me sleepy. But that would mean being around more ponies. My ear perked up at a soft sound and I rounded the corner to see a door cracked open slightly, a slight light shining through the opening. Likely a candle or two. Well, slight for a day pony, for me it might as well be a spotlight this close. That was Midnight’s bedroom. Bit strange that she was still up, it was the middle of the night. Should leave her alone. Another soft sound drifted from the room and I froze. Crying. I moved closer and peeked inside. Midnight was on her couch, a book laid before her in the light of the candles, but it was ignored as she sobbed quietly. I felt like I should just leave her alone, but… She looked so much like Sparks and she was a friend and… and seeing her like that tore into me. I knocked on the door and she gasped softly in surprise, “Y-yes?” “It’s Page,” I said quietly, “Are you okay?” “I-I’m fine.” I pushed the door open and poked my head in, “Can I come in?” Midnight dried her eyes the best she could with a pastern before she nodded, “O-okay.” I frowned slightly and slipped inside, pushing the door closed behind me as I crossed the room, looking around slightly. A comfortable looking room despite the crystal walls, a large soft bed and an overstuffed couch, everything else was covered with books. “How do you do that?” Midnight asked with a small curious frown, her curiosity breaking through her sadness. “Do what?” I asked and jumped onto the couch next to her. “Walk so quietly on the stone floor.” “Oh,” I said and then smiled, “Thestral magic. I only figured it out a couple of months ago. I actually think it’s related to pegasus cloud magic, but when I focus magic to my hooves, my hoofsteps make no sound. I use it here so I don’t wake anypony. And this place echoes a lot, my ears hate it.” Midnight blinked at me, “Has any other thestral tried it?” I frowned, “No, haven’t told anypony. I mean, it would be useful for the guard, but I haven’t had the time yet. Why?” “Because it might not be a thestral thing, it may be a ‘you’ thing,” she said, “Illusions are part of your domain.” I had not considered that. “Maybe,” I admitted, “I’ll have to test it. What about you, you notice anything?” Midnight smiled, “Mostly that magic has been getting easier. It might just be practice, but some difficult spells I had to work for before, I can do easier now. Even teleporting is getting easier.” “Really?” Midnight nodded, “At least when it’s just me. Might still be practice, I’m teleporting a lot more in Nocturnis than when I lived anywhere else, but Tempest thinks tha-” she paused as her voice broke slightly and she sniffed, “...Sorry…” I sighed softly and slipped my wing around her, “You miss her.” Midnight squeezed her eyes closed tight, nodding before she leaned against me, pressing her face against my neck. I just held her softly as she shook in silent sobs. “It’ll be alright,” I whispered softly, “We’ll find a way for it to be alright.” Midnight shook her head, “It won’t. I-I’ll never see her again. A-and I talked to Luna.” Oh. “You will,” I told her firmly, “You send me home and I’ll talk to her. She’ll want to come join you here.” Midnight shook her head again, looking at me, “S-she won’t come. Page, she thinks her duty is in Nocturnis because you healed her horn. She takes that seriously.” I shook my head, “We’ll find a way. Maybe if I order her to go?” Midnight sighed softly, “...She’d come then, but she would be unhappy,” she said quietly, “...and it’s not just Tempest. It’s everypony else we left too. Starry Night, Glide Slip, Steel Circlet, Twilight and Sunset and…” Her voice broke again and I pulled her close as she started to cry again. I didn’t really know those first three, but I knew they were friends of hers in Nocturnis. I had met them of course, but I didn’t know them. I stroked her side gently with my wing as I just let her cry. She was right. There was no good solution here. It took a long time, but she slowly started to fall asleep as she cried herself out. “...I’m sorry,” she mumbled softly, “...I got snot in your coat…” “That’s alright,” I said quietly and stroked her back softly, “Just get some sleep. You’ll feel better tomorrow. I’ll stay until you fall asleep.” But it was already too late, she was already deep asleep. Very carefully, I moved my wing from her and slipped off the couch. I looked at her for a second before looking around and moving to get her blanket. Had to do it by hoof and mouth, didn’t want to risk waking her by using magic knowing how sensitive she was to feeling it. Settling the blanket over her, I then silently retreated and left the room. Next time I see Discord, I’m going to punch him in the face.