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.”