//------------------------------// // Chapter 60 // Story: Looking Glass // by Hiver //------------------------------// The airship lowered towards the docking tower below. “Relax,” Midnight murmured quietly to me. “I am relaxed,” I murmured back quietly, “I’m just…” “Your ear keeps twitching, it only does that when you’re tense.” I glanced at her, “How do you know that?” Midnight smiled a bit, “Twilight. And I have eyes.” Sighing softly I nodded and forced my ear to stop. I wanted to teleport from the ship and just get down there, but… it wouldn’t look right. So I waited with Midnight, Talon and Skitter as the airships crew did their job and got us down to dock like a good pony. The ramp lowered and the guards moved past us to take position along the bottom of the ramp before Moon Light gave us a nod. Adjusting my silver circlet and mane, I then walked forward towards the ramp and… They were there. Luna. Sunset. Twilight. All three smiling up towards me. It took every drop of willpower I had left not to galop down the ramp to them and instead walk to meet them. Luna smiled and stepped forward, “Welcome home,” she said. I just stepped forward and pulled her into a tight hug and that seemed to break something and I found myself in a three way hug. Nopony said something for several long moments before Twilight sobbed silently against my neck, her tears soaking into my coat. I shifted to press my nose against her mane, “It’s alright, Sparks. We’re home now, Twilight.” She shook her head and then looked up at me, her eyes filled with tears, “I… I tried so… I couldn’t figure it out, I tr-” “Hush,” I said gently and rested my forehead against hers, crossing our horns and I could see how just exhausted she was even after what had to be a week of rest since we returned, “Everything turned out alright. We’re here.” She pressed her face against my shoulder and I stroked her mane gently, looking up at Luna and Sunset. Sunset moved around to hug Twilight, giving me a small smile, “...It’s been a long month for everypony,” she said and touched her horn to mine, “She took the throne while you were gone as well.” I blinked at her and then glanced at Luna. Luna shook her head and sighed, stroking Twilight's mane softly, “Your thestrals would not have accepted me,” she said softly, “But they did our Twilight. So she tried to do both.” My job and advanced magical research. Oh Sparks. I held her closer, resting my head against her mane as Luna's wings encircled us and I glanced up at Luna, “Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked her quietly. Luna smiled sadly, “You would just have worried, there was nothing you could do.” Ouch. How many times had I used something like that line on her? I sighed softly and gave her a small nod, acknowledging the point. “Page,” Sunset said and nuzzled at my cheek, “It’s time to go down, your ponies wait for you to address them.” “They can buck off,” I said quietly against Twilight's mane, “You three are more important.” Twilight shook her head against me and then put a hoof against my chest, pulling back slightly and drying her eyes on her left pastern, “N-no. I’m a-alright, I promise,” she said and smiled weakly, “It’s important.” I frowned and touched her cheek with my hoof, “You’re important.” Twilight smiled and dried her eyes again before she frowned at me, “Stand still,” and her horn lit up and her magic ran across me, “There.” I met Sunset's eyes before I sighed softly, “Okay,” I said quietly, “I suppose you’re right.” Sunset smiled and moved a bit closer, kissing me softly before she smirked, “Of course I am,” she said. I smiled back and then took a step back, “...Many ponies down there waiting?” I asked Luna. “Only half the village,” she said with a small smile, running her magic through my mane and adjusting my silver circlet and the feathers behind my ear, “They just want to know their Prince is safe.” I nodded and spotted Flower Rain exiting onto the docking tower to approach and smiled at me, “Welcome home, your majesty.” “Thank you, Flower,” I said and smiled back, “Good to see you again.” She bowed and then frowned and shook her head as she moved over to Twilight, “Your highness, your mane…” “Sorry Flower,” Twilight said and reached up with her hoof, “Could you…” “Of course, Princess!” Flower said and dug into her small satchel for a comb, “Stay still please.” Lunas wing settled across my back and she nosed at my ear, “Flower has been helping Twilight a lot,” she murmured softly. “She’s getting another raise,” I answered just as quietly. She may be the highest paid pony in the village actually. Not that it said that much, we didn’t have much bits to give out. Or much to spend them on for that matter. “There,” Flower said and stepped back before looking at us, “Everypony ready?” I glanced at the airship and for a split second I considered the idea of everypony getting onto it and just leaving. Then I nodded instead, “We’re ready, thank you, Flower.”