//------------------------------//
// Chapter 57 
// Story: Looking Glass 
// by Hiver 
//------------------------------//

The weather wasn't the nicest outside.

It was horribly sunny and the sky was a clear blue, which didn't help my headache, day goggles on or not.

Celestia stood next to me and I could tell she was similarly affected despite the fact that she looked almost normal. Mostly by the fact that she made sure we stood in the shadow of the exit to the airship tower.

Ponies were bustling around, carrying boxes of cargo and doing whatever unknown tasks necessary to ready an airship for departure.

We weren't the only ones to leave on the airship however, I had purchased a cargo hold of goods to be brought along to be distributed when we arrived. Mostly low weight, low volume items such as spices, tea and... coffee. Things that were generally expensive to import but ponies still needed. Cost me a nice pile of bits, but might as well while I was already here.

Also, there was a reporter to come along. Seems like she did manage to convince her editor, especially as the transit back and forth would be free. She was currently at the other end of the platform, talking to one of the airship ponies. Something about her bags.

Midnight and Talon were still missing which was a bit strange as we were to leave in like ten minutes. Even Skitter and her small gaggle of drones had already boarded, likely to prepare their cabin.

I glanced up at Celestia, "Did you have to raise the sun today?" I asked her quietly, "Was that strictly necessary?"

She smiled a bit, "Regretfully, yes," she said and looked down at me, "Ponies would have complained and I'm not sure I could handle that today."

"Fair," I admitted and then glanced at her, "...Do you happen to have any more of that stuff?"

She flashed me a grin that reminded me of the sun cresting the horizon, "There are a couple of bottles onboard."

"Thanks. I hate it."

Celestia giggled and then covered her muzzle with her hoof, "...Must still be affecting me," she admitted, "I don't... do that."

"Giggle?" I asked with a smile, "It's cute."

"It's not what a princess does," she admitted, the inside of her ears turning a bit red, "It doesn't fit the image."

I shrugged my wings, "We're long lived, images can change."

"True," Celestia admitted and then touched my side with her wing, her voice turning serious for a second, "Don't let Sunset taste it. Even a mouthful is bound to be dangerous for a normal pony."

"I won't, I promise," I said and then grinned, "Though I may offer Sparks and Midnight some."

Celestia smiled, "That sounds almost as dangerous."

"Maybe, but it would be fun," I said and then looked over as Midnight and Talon arrived, Midnight floating a wooden box in her magic in addition to the bags across her back and Talon's heavy backpack.

She put the box down for a pair of earth ponies to collect before she trotted up to us, "Hope we're not too late," she said.

I shook my head, "Just in time. But not like we would have left without you."

"I still don't like being late," Midnight said and eyed me suspiciously, "You look awful."

"Thanks, you're pretty too," I said and yawned, "I slept all night, but I'm still tired. Stupid jetlag."

"I have the opposite," Midnight admitted, "My brain keep telling me it's early morning, or evening," she said before she looked at Celestia, "I plan to try to be here winter holiday," she said and smiled, "I promised Night Light and Twilight Velvet I'd bring Tempest."

"Looking forward to it," Celestia said with a smile and pulled her into a soft hug, "It may be selfish," she said quietly enough that even my ears barely picked it up, "But I am glad you decided to return to us."

Midnight nodded and hugged back before stepping back with a small smile, "We best get to boarding. Everypony is waiting," she said before she bowed, "Goodbye, Celestia."

Celestia bowed back, long wings spreading, "Safe travels, Midnight."

Midnight and Talon moved to board and I looked at Celestia,

"She's right," I said and sighed softly, "I need to get going as well."

Celestia nodded, looking away before she turned back to me, "Page, I... I don't want you to go," she said quietly.

Reaching up with my hoof, I pushed my goggles up to look up into her eyes, "I don't want to either," I said, just as quietly, "But I have to. The same way you have to stay here, or how Luna will have to eventually return here."

Celestia's large wing slipped around me and I leaned against her in a hug, "Ponies think alicorns have so much power," she said softly into my ear, "that we can do anything."

"They don't see the collars around our necks nor the chains of expectations weighing us down," I murmured back with a small sigh before I looked up at her, "Sweet dreams, Sunshine."

"Sweet dreams, Page," she said and pulled her wing away as I took a step back.

I looked up at her eyes before I bowed.

Celestia bowed back before I turned away and pushed my goggles back down against the glare as I moved to board the airship. Rising High was standing by the plank, but she didn't say a word. She just bowed slightly and then raised it behind me.

I glanced back over the railing as the airship started to move. Celestia sat there until I could no longer make out her white coat against the marble of the tower.

Hoof steps against the wood made my glance to the side to see Midnight stand next to me. She looked out over Canterlot in the distance before she looked at me, "We'll be back."

"I know."