//------------------------------//
// Chapter 41 
// Story: Eclipse 
// by Hiver 
//------------------------------//

I tried not to wince as I slowly shifted to lay down on the couch. Sunset was hovering close by in case I needed help, but I warded her off with an annoyed look, "I'm fine."

"You're not fine!" she answered, "You can barely walk!"

"I have five other working limbs, six if you count my tail," I told her as I leaned my side against the backrest to take some weight off my right foreleg, "Just because I can't put any real weight on one hoof doesn't make me invalid."

Sunset raised an eyebrow, "Oh? And we went to Celestia's rooms instead of Lunas for fun? The reason there are less stairs has nothing to do with it."

I smirked at her, "Well, if you're offering. I'm not sure how much I would be able to move though."

Her cheeks turned slightly red but she smirked right back, "Oh, you would like that, wouldn't you, Wingboy?" she teased as she jumped onto the alicorn sized couch and settled down next to me, careful not to lean against my injured side.

"I very much would," I agreed and then winced as I moved my foreleg wrong.

Sunset watched me with a worried frown before she snorted in annoyance, "When I find out who did this, I'm going to snap their horn at the base and stab them with it!"

I brushed her back calmingly with my wing, "Not sure you'll get a chance. Even if they are caught, I'm fairly sure Celestia and Luna are pissed."

Sunset shook her head, "Oh, you have no idea," she said quietly, "Twi and I figured out something happened before Luna even told us. The sun got so bright it woke us up."

Through a bubble of darkness? Wow.

Sunshine must have been furious.

"Oh."

"At least nothing burned this time," Sunset said and gently used her magic to adjust the bandages at my barrel, "Apparently, Celestia was in the bath when she found out."

I looked at her in amusement, "Well, I suppose that's one way to do it. For safety, keep wet at all times."

Sunset raised an eyebrow at me. I just smiled at her before I tried to get comfortable, "...Where's Sparks anyway?"

"With Midnight," Sunset explained, "They have an idea about maybe being able to read the magic signature from the wielder of the crossbow from either it or the site of the teleport."

I frowned, "that seems like a bit of a longshot, especially after this long. It's been almost two weeks."

Sunset sighed and looked down at her hooves, "Considering the best witness found just described 'a cloaked figure', it may be our best chance."

"You might be right."

She looked at me, "...Aren't you angry at them? They tried to kill you!"

"I likely should be," I admitted and rested my head against the couch, "But I'm mostly just tired of everything just always going wrong. You know, I was actually completely happy for a couple of days there. It seems the universe didn't like that."

"Page..."

"Everything just goes wrong. And it always ends with me being smacked about, clawed, set on fire, turned into something else or in this case, shot. Or even worse, made responsible for yet another thing. Why do I always get hurt?! …Why is it always me…"

Sunset moved around to face me. She touched her horn to mine before sliding closer until she rested her forehead against mine. She didn't say anything. I just closed my eyes and leaned slightly against the touch.

My side hurt. My Doctor wouldn't give me the good drugs anymore. Or even the medium drugs.

I felt like going to live in a hut in the forest.

Oh wait, I tried that and ended up responsible for an entire tribe of ponies.

The door opened and Celestia entered. She smiled as she saw us, "Page, Sunset. I heard you arrived but I didn't know they wanted to release you yet."

"They didn't," Sunset said before I could answer, "But Page insisted and Steady Beat finally agreed on the condition that there are daily checkups."

"...I just couldn't stay there any longer," I admitted, "I don't like hospitals."

Celestia sighed softly but nodded. She crossed over to us and joined us on the couch, taking the spot next to me that Sunset had vacated and her large warm wing settled gently across my back, "I suppose you can not be blamed for that," she said and her muzzle touched my mane.

Sunset smiled at us and I raised an eyebrow at her, "What?"

"Nothing," she said with a smile, "Just thinking it's good to see. Neither of you were fooling anypony, you know?"

"Don't tease me, I was shot you know."

Celestia smiled at Sunset, "I don't know what you are talking about. Do you, Page?"

"No clue," I agreed and rested my head against her neck, trying to do it in a way that didn't put pressure on my side. I completely failed, but did my best to ignore it.

Sunset rolled her eyes, "Fine, fine. This is a completely new thing and you didn't flirt enough to raise the temperature of any room you were in by twenty degrees before."

Exactly," Celestia said and lowered her head to give Sunset a small nuzzle, "You always were a smart filly."

Sunset stuck her tongue out at her before giving me a small kiss. She then scooted back, "Just so you know, you two are disgustingly cute. Make sure he doesn't do anything else dumb today, Princess. I need to go check on the Sparkle twins. I'm not sure they eaten anything today," she said and trotted from the room.

"It's so good there is at least one adult in Nocturnis," Celestia said with a small smile to me.

I smiled up at her, "I can show you how adult I can be if you like."

Her smile widened, "I'm sure you could," before her nose touched mine, "But what you should do is to get some rest. And then I'll help you up to Lunas tower."

"...Rest does sound pretty nice," I admitted and leaned against her, quickly feeling myself drift off to sleep.

It had actually taken more out of me that I liked to admit to making it here. And alicorns make the best pillows.