Mmm.

The sun shone in through a crack in the curtains to the bed. Of course it just about hit me right in the eyes.

Closing my eyes I supressed a groan and rolled over, scooting closer and hiding my face in Luna’s mane.

Damn it, Celestia! Couldn’t you move your big ball’o fun a couple of degrees north? Did you have to follow exactly that path?

Is it selfish of me to wanting to redirect the entire celestial system so the sun didn’t hit me in the eyes around lunchtime? What was the point of being good friends with a sun goddess if you couldn’t ask for a simple favour?”

…Of course, it would be simpler to ask the maids to change the style of curtain back to the old one.

Mmm.

I really didn’t want to move. Bed was awesome, soft, warm and smelled of my Luna. Outside was cold and it’s was where the stupid ponies were.

Poke.

...Poke.

Rolling out onto my back, I peered over my shoulder at the changeling poking her head over the edge of the bed, reaching to poke my shoulder.

Amber looked at me for a moment before I sighed and nodded. She was right, I couldn’t stay here all day, no matter how much I wanted to.

Slowly and carefully extracting myself from beneath Luna’s wing, I scooted out of bed and rolled onto my hooves before stretching my own ones and following Amber out of the bedchamber, closing the door behind us.

“What’s on the agenda today? Other than Sunny and the meeting with my guard?”

“Princess Celestia sent a message that she wants to talk to you when you have the time, sir,” Amber informed me as I poured a cup of steaming hot tea, “She suggested lunch?”

“Which means breakfast. As in, in about twenty minutes?”

Amber nodded, “Yes, sir.”

Hence you were making sure I was awake.

Rubbing my eyes, I then sipped my tea, “…Better get going then,” I said and supressed a yawn, “Nothing else come up?”

“No, sir.”

“Great, maybe I’ll actually get some time to write this afternoon before kicking Sunnies shapely tail around the training grounds.”

Just need to talk to Celestia first and I suspected she wanted a favour from me. But that shouldn’t take long, would it?

…Yeah, I’m not buying it either.

XXXXXXXXX

“So how was court today?” I asked and relaxed on the large pillow, floating a cucumber sandwich before me. Nice. Tomatoes, cucumber and daisies.

Celestia smiled, “About what you would expect.”

“I still prefer my way of handling them,” I said and took a bite.

“Had a bunch of complaints about that when I got back,” Celestia reminded me before she grinned, “Good. They need to be shook up from time to time. Sadly, tradition mean I can’t really do the same.”

“Screw tradition. You’re the Princess, they’ll fall in line once they’re done bitching.”

She shook her head, “Not that simple, sadly,” she said and poked at her salad with a fork floating in her magic field, “The court is meant to be for the people, to let them see the workings their government. Not only to solve problems the bureaucracy and courts can’t handle to satisfaction.”

“Luna said the same thing,” I admitted and sipped my tea, “I think it may have been my least favourite part of covering for you while you were away. At least with all the paperwork don’t come with ponies being passive aggressive at each other.”

Celestia shifted slightly, “It’s actually one of my favourite parts.”

I looked at her in surprise, “What, really?”

“At times anyway,” she explained, “Not when it’s like you said, but when you get to help a pony. Somepony that need your help for a chance to fulfil their dreams. Out of my duties as a Princess, that one is special.”

“Like being a teacher.”

That got a smile from her and she nodded, “I love teaching. I’m always looking for students with special potential, like Twilight and Sunset.”

“Or Skitter.”

Celestia nodded and then looked thoughtful, “Skitter was actually the reason I wanted to speak with you.”

“What’s up?”

She shook her head, “I don’t know, she’s seemed distracted for the last couple of weeks. She says nothing is wrong, but… I had hoped you could talk to her? I think she might tell you.”

“I’ll check how she’s doing.”

I found Skitter in one of the smaller libraries, she had two drones with her, fetching books for her when she needed it.

“Your Highness,” I said with a slight bow as I approached her table.

“Sir,” she said and looked up from her book, “Good morning.”

“Afternoon for most people, but sure,” I agreed, “Busy?”

“Studying,” she said and sighed, “…did you know how many laws Equestria have?”

Nodding I sat down with her, “Oh yeah. I run into quite a few of them getting my books published. But that would still be only a small part of it.”

“It’s so much simpler for Changelings,” she sighed with a frown at the book.

“What the Queen says is the law, is the law?”

She nodded, “Something like that, yes, sir.”

“Simpler if nothing else,” I agreed, “So, studies going on?”

Skitter sighed softly, “You have talked to Princess Celestia, haven’t you, Sir?”

“How could you tell?”

“You both taste concerned,” Skitter admitted and looked at me, “It’s… nothing bad for ponies.”

Yeah, not buying it.

“Perhaps not, but it seems bad for you,” I said, “Come on, Skitter. You know you can tell me anything. It might help to have someone to talk to about it.”

She looked torn for a long moment, looking away, her wings slowly fanning the air before she nodded, “…It’s Chrysalis.”

“Princess!” one of the drones exclaimed, “It’s not…”

She silenced him with a look and he shrunk down, bowing down slightly.

Skitter then turned to me, “It’s not something that should be mentioned outside the Hive,” she said quietly, “It exposes weakness to our enemies, especially other Hives.”

“Chrysalis mentioned other Hives before. How many?”

“We’re not sure, when Hives meet it’s usually end up in combat. We haven’t seen any in Equestria,” she said and then shook her head, “It don’t matter. But if any of them got word, they would find us and attack. So it’s not to be spoken of to anyone outside the Hive.”

Lighting up my horn, I cast a globe of silence around us, “Nobody can hear us now.”

Skitter forced a small smile and nodded before she sighed, “…Soon there will be a two-month period where we will be without a Queen. If another Queen moved in before I could go into a Cocoon she would be able to take over the Hive, absorbing it into her own.”

I blinked at her, “What? What about Chrysalis?”

Skitter shook her head, “Mother has stopped eating.”

“What!? Why!?”

“Once a Changeling notices it’s a burden upon the good of the hive, it’s meant to remove itself from it for the betterment of the rest of the Changelings,” Skitter explained, “That include Queens that get too old or weak to be able to support or guide the Hive.”

I shook my head, “But Chrysalis wasn’t weak last time I saw her. She didn’t even look old.”

“…She’s neither,” Skitter said quietly, “But she has decided that it would be politically advantageous for the Hive if I took over as Queen. That can not happen while she is alive so she stopped eating two weeks ago.”

I just stared at her for a second, “…Are you serious?” before I shook my head, “Forget that, I know you are. What is she thinking!?”

“…I tried to talk her out of it. I’m not ready!” Skitter exclaimed and surged onto her hooves, “I can’t!”

What the hell was Chrysalis thinking!

Skitter sank back down, her head on her forelegs on the table, “I... I’m…”

I moved around the table and sat down next to her, putting my wing around her, “You’re worried and afraid for her. You don’t want her dead.”

“But it… it would be for the best for the Hive! I hate her!”

I shook my head and held her closer as she leaned against me, “She may be a horrible manipulative bitch that’s outright evil,” I told her softly, “But she’s also your mother and Queen. Of course you’re worried and afraid and don’t actually want her to get hurt.”

How fucking dared Chrysalis do this!? How dared she put all of this on Skitter like this!?

That’s it.

That’s fucking it.

Skitter nodded and leaned against me for a moment before she looked at me. Yep, she could tell my mood perfectly well.

“I’ll go talk to her,” I said and got up, pulling me wing back, “Maybe I can talk her into changing her mind.”

Skitter shook her head, “…I tried that, sir.”

“I just feel like I have to try,” I said and walked out of the bubble of silence only to find Amber and the other two changeling drones blocking my path.

“…Can’t let you go to the Hive, sir,” Amber said, “The Queen has banned ponies from entering.”

I shook my head, “Amber, you know this is stupid, I have nothing but the best intentions of the Hive in mind. Move.”

“The Queen…”

“Do you still want to have a Queen next week? Move or I move you.”

Amber almost seemed to be in physical pain for several long moments before she looked away and lowered her wings but without moving.

I brushed past her on the way, giving her a quick nuzzle and some Love as I did.

Getting into the Hive was a lot trickier.

“I’m sorry, Sir, but Ponies are banned from entering the Hive.”

“Look, I know what’s going on,” I explained to the drone guard, “I need to talk with Queen Chrysalis.”

“I’m sorry, Sir, but Ponies are banned from entering the Hive.”

Sighing, I rubbed my eyes, “…What’s your name?”

“Short Antenna, sir.”

“Short Antenna, I’m trying my best to help you guys,” I said and shifted my wings, “I want this to work for you guys and that in this reason mean that I need to stop your Queen from being stupid. Please, you need to let me past.”

He looked hesitant before he shook his head again, “I’m sorry, Sir. I can’t allow you into the hi…”

He dropped as I hit him with a sleeping spell and stepped past, covering him with an illusion of standing on guard.

Then I dropped another illusion over myself of being another drone. It wouldn’t work the second a changeling got close as they would taste my emotions, but I wouldn’t instantly be spotted the moment they saw me.

Another illusion of a second drone walking along next to me finished the disguise. If somechangeling found the guard sleeping on the job, they might think to look for a lone changeling.

Two changelings however…

I made my way through the tunnels, leaving a pair of sleeping changelings behind me on the way before I reached the throneroom.

A pair of changelings where standing guard just inside the entrance.

I didn’t bother slowing down, dropping them to sleep as I walked past them to see a small crowd of changelings gathered around the risen part where the throne was.

Ontop of the throne were Queen Chrysalis. She were laying across it and quite frankly, she looked horrible.

Even for a changeling, she looked… gaunt. Like her exoskeleton was a size too large. She also didn’t look regal, she were more like draped across the throne.

The rest of the group snapped to look in my direction as the two guards dropped, but she didn’t move at all.

They quickly gathered to protect their queen and I dropped the illusion.

“Let me past,” I said to the group, “I need to speak with your Queen. While I can.”

One of the drones stepped forward, “We can’t let you! Leave the hive! You are intruding on…”

“On your Queen being an idiot,” I said and spread my wings, “She want to die gloriously for the best of the hive? Fine. She can do that if she like but she’s going to do it with me bitching at her. Because I’m not moving, and you can’t make me. Unless of course you wishes to challenge a Alicorn?”

Chrysalis shifted slightly at that, her eyes opening slightly, and she spoke up, “Let him past,” she said, her voice barely audible, “Leave us.”

The changeling drones looked between us before filing past me on the way out. It didn’t take long before we were alone in the grave quiet chamber.

I slowly approached the throne, “So this is how you end? Drowning in self pity?”

Chrysalis shifted slightly, watching me with tired eyes, “Here to… gloat… little predator?”

Ignoring her I moved up to her throne, “The end of the great Queen Chrysalis. The most powerful changeling in the world, able to go horn to horn with Princess Celestia and almost winning. The one that guided her swarm through a thousand year banishment to the most horrible parts of the world and keeping them alive. This would be an end to remember… locking herself in her room and refusing to eat.”

That got a reaction. She growled at me and then closed her eyes again, “…Protecting the hive.”

“The fuck you are,” I growled right back at her and I jumped onto the throne, pressing my side against hers, “You’re hiding from the problem like a coward, dumping it all on your daughter’s shoulders. She and the hive still need you, you selfish bitch. Do not have permission to die!”

With that I closed my eyes and leaned against her and thought of Luna, Celestia, Sunset, Skitter, Twilight. Everyone I loved, all my friends.

I kept it up until I started to feel weak and cold. When I opened my eyes again, I got a close up of Chrysalis luminous eyes and sharp fangs.

“Foolish pony!” she snarled, “you know not what you meddle with!”

“I know exactly what I meddle with,” I groaned, “I have dealt with changelings for years.”

Chrysalis snarled, “I’m a Starving Queen! I could drain you dry in seconds and if it wasn’t for the protection of the hive, I would! It you had come days later, I wouldn’t have been able to drop it even if I wanted to!”

“Try it, bitch,” I challenged her, and pressed close again, “You’re not dying now.”

Her nose pressed against my neck and I could feel her fangs, “Pony. Go. Away. Or…”

“Or what? You eat me? Delicious love. You taste it, don’t you? When was the last time you ate directly from a pony? Was it Shining Amour? Now you have an Alicorn to feed of all trapped and unable to run away. Delicious love mixed with furious anger? What does that taste like? Spicy?”

Chrysalis growled and hissed responding by in turn pressing closer and I could feel me starting to get drained again.

She was eating me for serious now.

Feeling myself getting weaker by the second, my vision swimming, I grabbed her with my magic before I no longer could and threw her of the throne and straight into one of the big wats filled to the brim with glowing green congealed love jelly.

She landed with a splash and slowly sinking to the bottom, the level of the jelly starting to visibly lower.

Struggling to get up from the throne I found that my legs didn’t seem to want to respond at the moment.

…And now I’m unable to move while in a room with a ravenous changeling queen.

Who’s plan was this again?

Chrysalis slowly pulled herself from the now half empty vat before dropping onto the floor of the chamber, hitting it hard before laying still.

It had been almost fifteen minutes and I had started to get motion back into my legs. Carefully I got off the throne, my legs shaking slightly beneath me as I approached her, keeping out of easy pouncing distance in case I had to smack a bug.

“You sane again?” I asked as I stopped.

Chrysalis didn’t move for a second before she struggled up to sit, “…Do you have any idea what you've done?” she grumbled.

“Yeah. Stopped you from being an idiot and dumping all of this on your daughter. If you think it was for you, then you’re even more out of your mind than I thought,” I said and sat down, now when it looked like she was less crazy, “She needs you. She might not like it, but she needs you. Nobody else can teach her about being a changeling queen.”

Chrysalis glared at me and slowly got up, looking a lot more normal for her now, her green magic running across her chitin and gathering up what remained of the love jelly before she put it back in the large container, before she slowly crossed the distance between us.

I got up to meet her eye to eye as good as I could. She was most definitely a predator and I was weakened in the middle of her lair.

She may have eaten, but she had also tasted my emotions. Teasing her instincts more now would be outright stupid. So would be backing down.

Instead I met her eyes, keeping my wings folded calmly on my back. I still felt very faint, everything felt muted.

That helped.

She looked down at me in a way that was much more Chrysalis than the way she had looked when I first walked in. Say what you want about the evil bug, but she had presence in a way I had only before seen in Celestia and Luna.

“It was foolish of you to come here,” she finally said, “Two days later and I would have eaten you whole.”

“I wouldn’t count on it,” I answered and stood as tall as I could without lifting my wings to look bigger, “You may have had less control, but you would have been weaker, you could barely move as it was. I might not be the strongest Alicorn, but with you that weak, I can kick your chitinous arse all across this chamber.”

She was quiet for a moment, “…You really do care for my daughter, don't you, little predator?”

“Yes. Yes I do,” I told her as I met her eyes, “I even care for the rest of the hive. They still need you.”

Chrysalis slowly moved around me and I turned to keep facing her, “And when they no longer do? When me being alive keep them back from building stronger bonds with the Ponies?”

“Then you can go crawl into the deepest darkest hole you can find for all I care,” I told her, shifting my wings, “But Skitter and the others need you. Until they don’t, you are staying right where you are.”

Chrysalis moved closer, wings doing a small buzz before she leaned down and nuzzled at the side of my head, “Well played, little predator. Well played indeed,” she murmured before she pulled back, giving my ear a lick on the way, “You may leave now. If you can still walk.”

Shooting her a look, I turned and walked out of the chamber.

If I’m completely honest, afterwards I didn’t really remember the rest of my trek out of the hive tunnels.

Walking out of the tunnels, I nodded to the guard ‘ling standing there before I took to the right, moving through the softly falling snow.

It took maybe a minute to get inside again.

That’s about as far as I got before my legs folded beneath me and I hit the floor, trying to get my breathing under control.

Quite frankly, it wasn’t fear or anything directly.

I just felt… I felt sick and quite frankly, like shit.

That’s where Sunset found me some time later. She didn’t say anything, she simply moved to help me up with her hoof and magic, guiding me to one of the sitting rooms close by.

Leaving me on the couch, she ducked out before returning a little while later with a cup of tea.

Climbing onto the couch next to me, she floated the tea before me and I took a sip before I sighed and leaned against her, “I feel like…crap,” I admitted and sipped the tea again as she offered it.

“Not surprised,” Sunset said, “I’m not completely sure what happened but I’m fairly certain it involved feeding Chrysalis. That was stupid.”

“Necessary,” I sighed and leaned against her.

She shifted to better support me, “…Maybe. Don’t make it any less stupid.”

“Mmm.”

Not sure I could really argue with that.

Sunset sighed softly, “Get some sleep, Page. You look dead on your hooves.”

“…Feel like it,” I admitted and settled down, “Bit drained… be back to normal in a few days. Better tomorrow.”

AN// Big thanks to FPSCanarussia for betaing this section.

Luna was…

…Not happy.

“What were you thinking!?”

“That… it was necessary.”

She paced back and forth across our sitting room before she turned back to me, “Page! She could have eaten you!”

“…not really,” I said and shifted my wings, “She is smart enough to know what would happen if she tried. And if she was so far gone she didn’t realize it, I could easily escape or defeat her.”

I wisely decided not to say exactly how close that had been.

Luna didn’t seem to care though, her wings flared, and I could have sworn she controlled the sun from the fact that her glare seemed able to set things on fire, “That was stupid! You barely got out of there! Sunset Shimmer found you laying in a corridor for ponies sake!”

Struggling onto my hooves, I got off the couch and moved up to her, “Luna, I’m fine,” I told her as I rounded the table, “I know how to handle Changelings, My Sky.”

Fern shot to his wooden paws and quickly followed close, settling down next to the couch as I climbed onto it. He had been growing like a weed lately and is almost my height now!

Luna let out a frustrated sound and shook her head, “You don’t know Chry…”

“…I don’t know Chrysalis like you?” I asked, cutting her off, “That’s what you were going say?”

She looked down at me, “…She’s dangerous, My Page. I know you like Skitter, but Chry…”

I shook my head, “I understand Chrysalis better than most,” I told her and looked up at her before I tapped the side of my head, “In here? I’m likely a bit closer to her than I am to any pony. She is a predator, a communal predator that’s used to outthinking her prey. So are humans. I may look like a pony, talk like a pony and mostly eat like a pony, but I’m fairly sure that’s never going away.”

Luna pulled back slightly, her ears folding to the side and she shook her head before she nuzzled with a sigh and idly scratched between Ferns branchy ears, “Page… even if that’s true, it was too dangerous. You should have gone to somepony instead.”

I nuzzled back and folded my wings again as I sat down, looking up at her, “And done what? Nobody else could have walked into that Hive. Nobody else could have done what I did. Trying to force the issue with the guard or any of the princesses would have been a disaster.”

“Then maybe you should have left her there!”

“And dropped the entire responsibility of the hive on Skitter?” I asked, flicking my ears back, “She don’t deserve that. She refuses to talk to Chrysalis unless it’s absolutely necessary, there is likely things she need to know that she don’t yet.”

Luna shook her head, seeming frustrated before she sank down, “Page… you can’t just…you should have told somepony first.”

I moved to lay down next to her, thankful to get to lay down as my legs had started to feel weak and shaky again, “I didn’t know how much time there was, My Sky,” I said softly and nuzzled at her neck, raising my wing to rest across her back, just barely reaching, “…but you’re right. I should have sent a runner with a message to somepony. I’m sorry.”

She nuzzled at my ear.

Ow!

Flicking my ear, I looked at her. Okay, I did kind of deserve that.

I leaned against her side and she rested her head against the top of mine,

“How are you really feeling?” she asked softly.

“…Bit weak, legs a bit shaky,” I admitted, “But not that bad. It’s not any worse than the time I accidentally overfed Skitter.”

Luna nodded but I could tell she still didn’t seem very happy.

Rolling onto my back, I looked up at her, “Luna, seriously. I’ll be fine, I just feel a bit shaky. My emotions will be back to normal by tomorrow and day after I will be close enough to a hundred percent that nobody would be able to notice anything.”

She peered down at me, “Your emotions?”

“Mmm. Everything feel kind of muted,” I admitted, “I think this might be what being depressed feel like. But it’ll be fine by tomorrow, not like this is the first time this happens.”

Fern moved to lay down next to us, curling up.

Puppy therapy helped a lot too.

Luna shifted a bit to rest her head against my chest and I put my forelegs around her, “…That can’t be good for you.”

“Fairly sure it’s not,” I said and stroked her mane, “But it’s hardly every time a changeling feed this much. Mostly it’s just a nibble or just background emotions, you don’t even notice that.”

Luna frowned a bit but didn’t say anything, instead she just relaxed and closed her eyes and I held her softly.

“Luna?” I asked after a long moment, “Are we going to stay on the floor?”

“Mhmm.”

“Just checking,” I whispered and nuzzled at her hear before closing my eyes and relaxing, slowly stroking her flowing star mane.

It didn’t take long until I slipped off to sleep.

Stretching my wings, I walked along next to Sunset, “So… thanks.”

“What was I supposed to do, leave you there?” she asked and rolled her eyes, “Amber went and got me as soon as you left the hive.”

What?

“Amber, why didn’t you do it yourself?”

She jumped down from the rafters above, landing on my other side, “…I didn’t think that seeing a changeling right then would be good, sir,” Amber admitted, “Thank you for what you did, sir, you did a great service to the hive.”

I gave her a poke with my wing, “Silly bug. If I can stand facing Queen Crysalis, why would I have a problem with a drone?”

“…Princess Skitter also thought it was better if a pony helped you.”

“Then she is also a silly bug,” I told her with a smile, “Can you tell her I’ll speak with her later?”

Amber nodded and disappeared in a buzz of wings.

“So, meeting,” I said and turned to Sunset, “What’s up?”

She shook her head, “The Sisters want to confirm the guard schedule with you and discuss some logistical matters.”

Record scratch.

“…Sisters?”

“Oh, you haven’t heard?” Sunset askes cheerfully, “That’s one of the things they want to talk to you about. They want to suggest a name for them. Sisters of Battle.”

I stared at her for a long moment, “You can not be serious!?”

She gave me an innocent look, “What?”

“There is no way that’s not your fault! I know you know where’s that from!”

That got a laugh from her, “I actually had nothing to do with it! I just find it hilarious!”

“Yeah, not happening,” I grumbled, “Guardians, they can be known as Guardians.”

Sunset bumped her side against mine, “Oh? How about… the Royal Angels?” she suggested, “They will be the tip of the spear and know no fear.”

I just stared at her for a moment, “…I can’t believe you are a forty thousand fan.”

She shrugged, “I’m not. Well, not really. But I did run into it a couple of times and there was a club at school. Never played a game or anything, but I did flip through a rulebook once or twice.”

Sighing, I shook my head, “…Not calling them Sisters of Battle. It’s just a really bad idea in general and just tempting fate.”

“So what about the Royal Angels?”

“No way, that way lies cults and flamers. I’m trying to avoid even the entire Prince thing!” I told her with a frown, “No.”

Sunny sighed and stick her tongue out at me, “Stick in the mud.”

“I’m going to have to live with it forever!”

“Hmm… Page’s Angels!”

“Maybe if there were three of them,” I grumbled and shook my head, “Did you do anything on Earth other than take in pop culture?”

Sunset shrugged a bit, “…Didn’t have any friends, so didn’t have much else to do,” she said quietly before she smiled, “Fine. Dream Guardians?”

I nodded, “Could work but like you said, bit generic. I may nix the sisters, but I think it’s only fair they get input into it.”

“Fair enough,” Sunny agreed, “So… feeling better?”

“Better,” I said, “Feel almost normal, but we should push practice up until tomorrow. Walking around is fine, but I likely shouldn’t try anything exhausting or I’ll end up on my face.”

“Can do.”

“…So how was your weekend with Sparky?”

That perked the unicorn right up, “It was great!”

“That good huh?” I asked and then smirked at her, “Where did you two put Spike?”

“Sleepover with the Cutiemark Crusaders. Some friends of his,” She said happily we went out for dinner.

“Aww, that’s adorable.”

She stuck her tongue out at me cheerfully before she smiled, “It was nice. I’m just a bit… well… long distance kind of sucks.”

“You could move you know.”

Sunset shook her head, “Wouldn’t help much,” she said, “I mean, it would be nice, but Twilight travel a lot and even when she doesn’t, she is so busy with everything.”

“Luna is also busy,” I told her, “But just being able to be there and spend time with her as she works on her papers or just being able to sleep next to her mean a lot, even if we go to bed at different times and wake up differently.”

She frowned a bit, “…That would be nice, I’ll think about it,” she said wistfully, “But Canterlot is my home. I don’t mind visiting Ponyville, but it’s so… everypony know everypony. I’m honestly not sure I could live there.”

I guess I could see that.

I was flipping through the book of notes as I walked through the hallway, a snowstorm howling outside.

With the meeting over, I’ll be able to get some writing done later. The book was soon going to be done enough to send over to Twilight for editing.

Swashbuckling adventure with skyships and floating islands. Fully original work which was exciting.

I think it was pretty good, but that’s for other ponies to decide really.

Kind of looking forward to getting it back from Twilight once I send it and then having to rewrite the entire thing from the ground up.

Girl was scary good at finding errors, both grammatical and story mistakes. The fact that she was willing to be paid in being the first one reading a brand-new book was just icing.

Not that I didn’t make sure to get my best friend's marefriend an extra nice Hearth's Warming gift.

The question is what to write next.

How to tame your alicorn?

Nah, Luna would kill me. Grinning at that thought, I pushed the door open and entered the dining room, “Evening, Sunshine.”

“Evening, Page,” she said and looked up from her dinner, “Glad you could join me.”

“Love you too,” I said and sunk down on one of the pillows by the table.

She looked at me for a second and I flicked my ears before I frowned, “Stop that.”

“Stop what?”

“Wondering if I’m okay after going into the changeling hive and wondering if you should blame Skitter for it,” I said, “I get enough of that from Luna. My choice, I did it.”

Celestia smiled a bit and shifted her wings, “That’s not it. I have confidence that you can handle yourself and you are the best equipped to handle changelings out of of all of us.”.

“Oh.”

“I was actually wondering how you were feeling.”

“…Better,” I admitted, “Bit tired, but I’ll be mostly back to normal tomorrow,” before I looked at her in return.

Her wings were moving slightly, ears perked up, her coat almost seemed to have an extra shine to it.

“Something has you excited,” I commented, “Clear Skies coming to visit?”

Celestia nodded happily as my food arrived. Ooh, baked potato.

I waited until the servant was out of the room before I smirked at her, “Tomorrow? I’ll have time to buy some earmuffs then.”

“Why, do we make things hard for you?”

“Well, difficult to sleep if anything else,” I countered and poked my meal.

She gave me a dubious look, “Your tower is on the other side of the castle from mine.”

“Oh, I know,” I said with a smirk, “And so does most of Canterlot.”

That actually got a small blush from the alicorn along with a small glare.

Score.

Better enjoy my victory while I could, it was rare I got one over either of the sisters, more so with Celestia because I couldn’t just cheat and tickle her until she surrendered.

Deciding to be the mature one, she stuck her tongue out at me before returning to her dinner, “So, how are things going with your guard?” she asked after a moment, giving me the round.

“Pretty well, actually,” I told her and had some extra butter on my stuffed potato, “We talked about deployment to guard positions at the Night side of the castle today and finally picked a name.”

“Oh?”

“Ended up with the Dream Legion,” I shrugged, “Names are difficult.”

Not that twenty-five ponies were much of a legion. But I had to pick something, or they would!

Celestia nodded in agreement, “And their abilities?”

“Well, they are well drilled and practiced,” I said before I admitted, “But they aren’t really tested. But I think I’d put them up against your guard in equal numbers.”

She looked thoughtful as she chewed on a piece of tomato before she smiled at me, “Willing to put that to the test?”

I frowned at her, “How do you mean? Some sort of wargame?”

Celestia nodded, “We decide on an objective, your guard tries to complete it and my guard tries to stop them.”

That sounded interesting and would let them see if their new tactics were useful or not against an experienced force. Safely too.

“Sounds good. What’s the objective?”

She smiled, “How about… retrieving an item placed in the throne room? Start in one week and it will last for a week.”

I nodded in agreement, “They get the objective and we win. The Solar Guard keeps them from it and they win.”

Celestia nodded and eyed me for a second, “How about we raise the stakes a bit?”

“What do you have in mind, Sunshine?”

“We both join our forces in the exercise and we put a bet on the line.”

This was a massive fucking trap and even a blind pony would have been able to see it from the fricking moon!

What to do… no way in hell I’m backing down from her!

“Sounds good,” I agreed, “What’s the terms?”

Celestia looked thoughtful before she shrugged her wings and sipped her water, “Not sure. We can figure that out later.”

Yep. She had something planned.

“Nothing that involves me taking over your job,” I pointed out, shifting my wings, “And a change of objective. I get on the throne, I win.”

“We capture you, we win.”

“Deal.”

We watched each other across the table for a moment before she spoke up again, “No asking Twilight, Cadence or my sister for help.”

“Same for you.”

“Agreed.”

How to go about this… hmm…

First of all, psychological warfare.

“So…” I started, “What’s your measurements? No, wait, never mind… Rarity likely has them on file.”

She frowned a bit at me, “How so?”

“I mean, she’s likely going to need at least a couple of days of warning before my victory to whip up a maid uniform that’ll fit you. Don’t think they have your size as standard.”

She smirked, “What make you think I don’t have one already?”

I blinked at her in surprise. Wow.

Okay, score to her.

AN// Big thanks to FPSCanarussia for betaing this section.

Dancing to the side, to avoid a fireball flashing past close enough to let me smell the superheated air.

Flinging my chakram and a dozen illusionary copies on different trajectories back at Sunset, I teleported a couple of meters to the left, avoiding a spear of fire cutting a shallow trench in the dirt of the training ground.

The moment I appeared, I ran in two directions at once, my illusion going left as I ran around her to the right.

For a second Sunset were busy blocking the chakram and the illusions.

She learned quickly that unless you are a hundred percent sure which is real, you block them all. Or better yet, not be there.

Sunset collapsed all illusions in the area in a large burst of magic, same like Twilight did. Triggering another teleport before she could follow up on the dispel, I folded a invisibility spell over myself as two copies of myself cast different spells towards her.

Force and Ice. Blocking one would make blocking the other difficult. To block both, you needed a powerful spell that blocked both physical and energy spells.

Snagging the chakram from the ground with my magic, I flung it towards her, so it would arrive the second her shield dropped.

But she wasn’t there, she teleported across the field as far away from as she were standing the second the shield dropped, scanning the training ground.

Which was the exact reason to why I had been running there.

The moment she appeared I jumped, tackling her out of invisibility.

Going rolling across the ground, we kicked up dust of cloud and snow as she tried to kick me, her horn lighting up in a shockwave spell to throw me away.

Twisting around, I rolled off her, avoiding the energy blast before I jumped her again, pushing her down against the dirt covered training ground, “Give?”

Sunset panted and collapsed back against the frozen ground, nodding as she tried to regain her breath, “T-that was cheating.”

“S-so wasn’t,” I countered and relaxed against her trying to get my breath back, “Didn’t say any rules.”

“We were using magic!” she complained and raised her head to look up at me, “So there is no way earth pony strength was fair!”

“Oh? I could have just as easily have blasted you,” I said with a grin down at her, “Go to stop being predictable, Sunny. I knew where you would end up before you threw that shield up.”

She glared up at me, “Nobody else would! We have been practicing together for years.”

“True enough,” I admitted stretched my wings, moving to lay next to her instead, “But we’ll need more than to get to Sunshine.”

“You’re not dragging me into that!” Sunny complained, “You’re going to get your tail kicked!” as she rolled over onto her stomach and leaned against my side as she tried to brush the worst of the dust of herself, “Let’s face it, she has experience.”

“Pretty much all the Experience, which is why I want you by my side for this,” I agreed as I brushed some dust of her back with my wing, “Going to need you for this one, Sunny.”

Sunset groaned and shifted to lean against my side, “…That’s so not fair.”

“To bad,” I told her, giving her a hug with my wing with a grin, “As best friend, you automatically get ‘Volunteered’.”

She sighed and shook her head before she groaned and relaxed again, “Just so you know, you’ll owe me all the spa visits. All of them.”

Frowning slightly, I eyed her, “…Don’t I already do that? I keep getting bills from spa facilities, but I don’t think I ever been to one.”

“Well, there is that,” she admitted with a smile, “Okay, fine. I’ll help you. But I’m not getting involved in that entire bet thing.”

“Oh yeah, that,” I grumbled and sighed, “I really don’t want to lose this one, I’m kind of afraid where that one will end up, especially after what I told her.”

Sunset turned to look at me with a frown, “What?”

“…I may have accidentally threatened that if she loses she is going to be my maid for a day. Uniform and all.”

Sunset made a small choking out before she laughed and rolled onto her back, “You are so bucked!”

“…Don’t need to enjoy it that much,” I grumbled and glared down at her a bit before I poked at the ground with my hoof, “So yeah. Kinda don’t want to lose this one.”

She stuck her tongue out at me, “You know that to even have a chance, we are going to need to cheat hard.”

“Oh yeah,” I agreed, “We’re going to need to be the cheatiest cheaters that ever cheated to even get close. But I planned on that no matter what. Going up the Solar Guard in a straight up fight would be stupid, that’s where they are the best.”

Sunset nodded and rolled onto her hooves, floating her scarf over to wrap around herself against the cold. The wind were picking up a bit, “When’s the meeting?”

“This afternoon I scheduled a meeting with Commander Bright Glow,” I said and got up, stretching, “I’ll announce it to the Legion then and then we’ll start preparations. I want you there for that if you can.”

She nodded, “Awesome, I’ll have time to get warm and clean again,” she said and picked up her bag with a smile, “Hey, guess what?”

“I’m about to get another bill from a spa?” I suggested with a smile, “Have fun.”

“Will do!” she agreed happily before she paused and glanced back at me, “…Why don’t you come along?”

“I’m not sure it’s my kind of thing.”

“What? Relaxing in a hot bath after a massage and having heated up in a sauna after coming in from the cold isn’t your kind of thing?” she teased, “It’s not all girly mudbaths and hoof-filings you know.”

That… that actually did sound rather nice right now.

“…Okay. I suppose I should have a look at what I have been paying for,” I said and picked my satchel up.

Might have as good or better resistance to cold as a Pegasus but going somewhere warm right now sounded really, really nice.

“Prepare to have your mind blown, wing-boy. Celestia know you need to learn to relax sometime.”

Bright Glow was a white unicorn, wearing the silvery armour of the Legion, her helmet nowhere in sight and her mane braided to keep it out of the way.

She blinked at me from across the table before she looked at Sunset.

Sunny nodded.

You could almost see the gears working beneath Bright Glows ear for a moment before she took a deep breath and nodded, “Yes, My Lord. And we are going up against the Solar Guard, why?”

“The official announcement will be in four days,” I said and shifted my wings, reaching to pull a scroll from a table as I rolled it out, “It’s going to be announced as a exercise for the new guard force.”

Bright Glow lit up her horn and smoothed the map of the castle grounds, “The official reason.”

I nodded, “The slightly less official reason which will leak to the press a couple of days into it is that it’s a test to changes made after the Changeling Invasion to improve security.”

“And the actual reason?” she asked with a frown.

I put my hoof on the map, “The actual reason is that I had a discussion with Princess Celestia and she didn’t think you could do it. I disagreed.”

Bright Glow flicked her ears and her jaw got a bit of a stubborn set to it, “I understand, My Lord. Well then, we have some planning to do.”

“We do,” I agreed, “Quite frankly going directly up against the Solar Guard is a bad idea.”

Bright nodded, “Yes, sir. What’s the objective?”

“Getting me onto throne. If I’m captured, we fail. If we don’t manage it in a week, we fail.”

She cringed a bit before she nodded, “…We’re going to have to get sneaky.”

Sunset nodded, “We are. Luckily we have the Alicorn of Lies on our side.”

Looking at her in disbelief I then facehoofed, “Sunset, that’s not how it works. It’s imagination, dreams and stories.”

“Alicorn of Sneaky?” she suggested cheerfully.

Sighing, I shifted my wings, “…We better hope so or there is no way this will work, even if it’s limited to just the Castle Guard, not the full Canterlot garrison, they still outnumber us by ten to one. Okay, we need to start preparing. We can’t count on the Solar Guard just sitting there defending, they might attack and try to capture me or strike a blow to our numbers.”

Bright Glow looked between us before she nodded, “You’re right, sir. We can’t stay at the barracks. We should move camp to the mountain outside the city.”

“Silently and carefully,” I said, “Alert the Legion, start preparations. But first, send the instructors from the Solar Guard away, not sure they can be trusted for this.”

Bright Glow shook her head, “I’d vouch for them, sir. They want to see this work and if we fail, it would make it seem like they failed,” before she smiled, “Most are from the Lunar Guard anyway.”

“They stay then,“ I agreed, “You know most of them better than me. I’ll get us some reinforcements.”

“Reinforcements?”

“Changelings,” I clarified, “We need scouts and axillaries. Only the unicorns of us can hide behind illusions and almost nopony as good as them.”

Bright Glow hesitated and frowned a bit, “…But isn’t this mean to be between the Legion and the Guard?”

Sunset shook her head, “Nothing in the rules says we can’t bring in assistance. Besides, cheating remember?”

Bright Glow nodded, “…Agreed, Lady Shimmer. Help would be good. I’ll gather the squad leaders and instructors before filling them in on what’s happening. See if they have any ideas.”

“Good plan,” I agreed, “I want you and them back here with a basic plan by the morning.”

“Yes, sir,” she agreed and picked up her helmet on the way out.

The door closed behind her and Sunset flicked her ears, looking at the map, “This will be… difficult.”

“Yep,” I agreed, “I’m going to track down Skitter and get her onboard before tomorrow. We’ll need her help with this.”

Sunset nodded, “Yeah,” and stretched, “Not looking forward to the entire camping thing.”

I eyed her for a second, “…You know… you’re not officially part of this. You could stay behind.”

Sunset shook her head, “Wouldn’t help. The second this entire thing start I’ll be banned from entering castle grounds, everypony know how close we are. First thing they would suspect.”

“…Good point,” I agreed, “Yeah, that wouldn’t work anyway.”

Sunny looked at the map, “We’ll figure it out. I basically grew up in the castle, I know it as well as anypony. I’ll see if any of my old sneak away and read spots are still open.”

“A secret and unguarded way into the castle sound useful. Terrifying if it exists, but useful right now,” I said with a slight frown, “You really should have told somepony.”

“Most are too small for an adult pony,” she said and hesitated, “…And to be honest, I kind of forgot about them until now. Sorry.”

“It’s fine, if the Guard don’t know about them, it’s unlikely a enemy would either,” I admitted, “But we have to block them of after. One of the reasons I actually ‘want’ to do this is to find those holes in our defences.”

That and getting one over Sunshine.

Okay, mostly getting one over Sunshine.

“I’ll go find Skitter,” I said and stretched my wings, “See if I can talk her into giving us a hoof on this.”

Sunset nodded, “I’ll go over these maps and then check some spots I remember. See you at the meeting tomorrow.”

I flipped through the book slowly before I looked over at Luna, “My Sky, would you…”

“No, I will not,” she said glancing up from her notes with a smirk, “You got yourself into this. You get yourself out of it.”

“Not seeing a lot of sympathy from you,” I commented, shifting my wings.

Luna flicked her ears, “Do you deserve any?”

“…I suppose not,” I admitted and closed the book on battle tactics. Written by one Princess Celestia for the Solar Guard.

Not sure it applied here, but it was required reading by all Guard officers.

“Especially after your bet with my sister,” Luna teased and stretched her wings before slowly relaxing again, “I’m a bit curious about what you were thinking?”

I cleared my throat a bit, “Was actually… just kind of trying to get one over her. Sorry.”

Luna rolled her eyes, “Not that, what were you thinking getting into an open ended bet with my sister?”

“Ah. That.”

“Yes. That,” Luna said with a grin, “Want to find out what happened last time a pony was stupid enough for that?”

“…I’m thinking no?”

“I believe the term is marriage?”

Gulp.

I shook my head, “Well, won’t happen this time at least. She has a consort. Marefriend. Besides, she knows that…”

“You two keep flirting?” Luna teased and stuck her tongue out at me.

Double gulp.

“She… she knows it’s just… she wouldn’t…”

Luna laughed and jumped off her chair, padding over to nuzzle, “I’m teasing, My Page,” she said and got onto the couch next to me, putting her wing across my back, “She wouldn’t do it like that with you.”

“…I can’t help but notice that you said not like that.”

“Alicorns are long lived,” Luna said and gave my ear a nuzzle, “I have no doubt you will get involved with the others and other ponies with time. Including Celestia. But I don’t think she would ask you over a bet.”

Shifting a bit, I leaned against her side.

“…Yeah, likely not. Don’t mean I’m not worried about it though,” I admitted, “Whatever she’ll ask if she win, it’s likely to be big.”

Luna nodded a bit, “Likely, yes.”

“…Luna damnit, I’m going to end up with a job, aren’t I?”

That got her to break out laughing and cuddle me closer, “Silly Page.”

“I mean, come on. I’m already crazy busy,” I grumbled and leaned against her side, “Well, there is one way to just never needing to find out.”

Luna nodded, “You need to win.”

“Yes. Yes, I do,” I said and glanced to her, “…Luna. I need to win this!”

She just nodded again, “Yes,” before she smirked, “Still not helping you.”

“Damn it!”

She giggled and nipped at the tip of my ear, “Silly Page.”

“Well, worth a try,” I said and flicked my ear before I picked the book up again, “Well, if you’re not going to help, mind leaving me to my studies?”

“Yes,” Luna said, sounding a bit smug, “Yes, I do.”

Looking at her, I shifted, “…You do realize that to even stand a chance at this, I need to gain every advantage that I can? I need to study as much as I possibly can.”

“Indeed.”

“…And you’re still not going to stop distracting me, are you?” I asked with a small sigh, closing the book.

Luna shook her head a bit and nuzzles at my ear, nibbling along the edge, “No, I will most definitely not.”

Growl.

“My Sky, are you sabotaging me?”

“Am I? Wouldn’t that be against the rules?” she asked with a smirk, “And would I do that?”

I blinked at her before I gave her a suspicious look, “You are angling for something.”

She shot me an innocent look.

“…I’m suspecting I know exactly what you want,” I said and smirked at her, “Well, if you’re going to be distracting me from my work anyway...”

“Well then, any ideas?” I asked and put my hoof on the map of Canterlot. The tent was not exactly crowded, but there were plenty of ponies around.

Swift Spear was standing across from me, looking at the map, wearing the armour of the Lunar Guard. He was still on loan as a instructor.

To my left was Skitter in her form of a white unicorn. This time her wings weren’t visible and her horn straight. The perfect disguise.

Didn’t want anyone to find out she was helping us.

At my other side were Sunset, wearing the same kind of cloak I were. My chakram replaced by a dagger for her.

Bright Glow was standing next to Swift Spear.

Sunset shook her head, “None of the old spots really remain. Well, a couple does but they are too small for anypony.”

“A changeling could perhaps squeeze through?” Skitter suggested.

“Perhaps,” Sunset agreed, “But it would be a very tight fit even for a drone.”

I shook my head, “Maybe to get someling inside to open the gates or something like that, but not enough to slip a full force inside, especially now when they have started to screen at every checkpoint,” I said and frowned, looking over at Bright Glow, “The Legion?”

She shook her head, “We stand ready and the camp is set up and ready. Guards are posted and sentries set up. While they may attack us, and I really doubt we can stop them fully with their larger numbers, we’d see them coming.”

I nodded, “In a straight up fight, maybe. What’s the first rule of combat?”

“Cheat,” she agreed, “But I’m not sure how in this case.”

“I have some ideas,” I said and looked at them, “Squads, fliers and teleporters, those that can move quickly or quietly. I want harassing forces around the castle.”

Swift Spear shook his head, “We can’t break through like that and none of it matter unless we get you inside.”

“Oh, we won’t, “I agreed, “We’re not going to even try it. Pepper them with noise, paint arrows… bright lights. Keep them moving, keep them reacting. Let’s not give them a chance to rest.”

“…And you’re not going to let them sleep either,” Sunset said and grinned, “Evil.”

“Effective. And every single one we tag down early without losing any of our own is another pony less that can take up a spot in the rotation,” I said, “But this only work if we use our forces effectively and anypony get tagged.”

Bright Glow slowly nodded, “I’ll get our best fliers and illusionists on it.”

I nodded, “I’ll handle the sleepers. As for the rest of the plan, we just have to see how things evolve first. Just make sure they keep it up day and night in shifts without tiring themselves out. The Solar Guard are stronger and more experienced,” I said and looked between them, “Let’s see if they still are after a couple of days without sleep.”

She nodded and saluted, “We’ll get it done, sir.”

Pausing, I looked at the map for a second before I turned to Swift, “…Think it’ll work?”

He did have the most experience of us of the Guard, having been a member of the Solar Guard before moving on to the Lunar Guard.

Swift shrugged, “I don’t know. Standard procedure against a tactic like that would be to first of all rotate ponies away from the walls to give them time to rest. But that won’t work in this case. But there would also be counter attacks to try to capture the raiding forces. By their function, the raiding forces would be small, light and separate from the main enemy force.”

Sunset nodded, “Makes sense. How do we counter that?”

“By being ready to move against their counter forces,” Swift said, “Our raiding forces would be primarily set up of pegasi and some unicorns. Which leave us mostly earth ponies and unicorns.”

Bright Glow looked thoughtful, “…Traps to counter their traps?”

“Easiest way to trigger a trap is to enter it,” I agreed, “But ambushes to stop them would be better I think. But they would expect us to try it, right?”

Swift hesitated, “…It depends. On what they think that we think that they think that they will do.”

Sunsat grinned, “That get silly really fast. We can’t keep thinking like that or we’ll never get anything done.”

Skitter nodded, “Agreed. I say we continue with Lord Page’s plan, but with things ready to pull our forces back from possible counter attacks.”

“Sounds good,” I agreed and tapped my hoof on the table, “And your forces?”

Skitter smiled, “Infiltrators are in place. The entry of the hive is inside the outer castle walls, so we can come and go as we wish. While the inner castle is trickier, and I have no doubt that Princess Celestia know I’m here, we should be able to feed you useful information, Sir.”

“Thank you, Princess,” I said with a smile and a nod, “I have no doubt it will be quite useful.”

To say the bloody least. Even if the changelings didn’t get directly involved, I didn’t want them too either, accurate information on enemy movements would be invaluable.

Tomorrow it all start for real. All we needed to do to win would be to outsmart the god empress of a realm that lasted for thousands of years and her loyal guard at the seat of her power.

“Very well then,” I said and looked between them all, “Let’s be about it then.”

I’m so fucked.

This will be fun, but I’m still so fucked.

Putting my hoof on the ridge of the roof, my horn glowing keeping a bubble of invisibility over us as I overlooked the city and the closest part of the castle along with its guard post.

I’m Batcolt.

If just the wind could pick up some to make my cape move.

Of course, being late afternoon in the middle of winter didn’t help that much with that impression. The gloom might but the snow fall were way to cheerful to match.

“Well?” Sunset asked as she moved up next to me, her horn lighting up to pull her own cloak a bit tighter and adjusting her scarf.

“Should be any minute now,” I said and put my wing across her back against the cold.

We didn’t need to wait long. A pair of unicorns wearing cloaks over their Legion armour. Moving close to the guard point they threw their hoods back and started to pelt the group with spells.

Only spells allowed for this were non-dangerous ones and paint spells. Basically, they were made specifically for this kind of thing and developed by the guard. They acted like the most common battle magic but left a bright spot of paint on the coat if the one that’s hit.

Didn’t wash out, just faded away naturally after a couple of weeks.

To the Solar Guard’s credit, they reacted quickly to the surprise attack. The unicorns throwing up tower shield spells while the Earth Ponies went for their weapons and the Pegasi went to the air.

Well, not all of them. Two Pegasi stayed on the ground alongside of a unicorn and an earth pony. They didn’t look happy as they rubbed the spots the spells had hit.

As soon as the surprise was over, the two Legion mares broke into a galop to escape, heading across the square towards the street to the right of the building Sunset and I were on.

The Guard Pegasi flew across the square to chase down the unicorns.

Close for our own Pegasi to strike from a building to the right. Not the roof, too easy to get spotted by a flier without invisibility. Instead the five crossbowers struck from the windows on the second floor.

Two salvos from two sets of bolts flew across the small square with just a couple of seconds apart. Hitting a flying and moving target with a crossbow bolt is not easy. It’s actually damn hard.

Luckily, they were a lot better at it than I was.

Three of the six guard Pegasi went down for landing, cursing loudly enough that I could hear them from where I was.

As soon as they fired, the Legion skirmishers grabbed their crossbows and escaped through the back of the building.

The rest of the guard Pegasi quickly circled around and returned to the guard post, clearly wary of other ambushes.

They were right to be.

Down the alley to the left of us, the unicorns joined up with a group of earth ponies. The six of them were carrying crossbows and arched some bolts across the square towards the guard post as the unicorns threw up shields to catch return fire.

This wasn’t a hit and run. As soon as they had fired, they reloaded and fired again. None of the bolts actually did anything, the guard unicorns deflecting and stopping them.

But volley after volley seemed to make the guardponies decide that enough was enough. They left half the unicorns to hold the checkpoint but the rest galloped out in protection of the rest of the unicorn shields.

As soon as they did, the Legion group turned and galloped away with the Guards in pursuit.

“We’re up I think,” Sunset said and shifted out from beneath my wing, “Let’s do this.”

I nodded, and we allowed the Legion to galop pass before I threw up the illusion of a stone wall growing out of the ground in the middle of the street between them and the Guard.

The following guard ponies skidded to a halt.

“It’s a trap!” the sergeant of the group yelled, and instantly went into a protective posture like they had been trained, the unicorns shields shifting from being semi circles to stop bolts and spells to be a full-on dome.

They didn’t get the chance. While I put up the illusion, Sunset were timing her teleportation perfectly, flashing out of existence before reappearing in the middle of their formation.

“Hi guys,” she said with a grin, charging a second spell. They had just enough time to realize what was happening before she cast the spell, sending them sprawling across the street with a shockwave.

Jumping off the roof, I glided down to the street on my wings, sending a pair of spells flying, ‘painting’ the two unicorns before they could recover enough to put shields up or get back on their hooves.

“And you’re all dead, congratulations,” I said as my hoofs hit the cobble stone, folding my wings.

“Not yet!” the sergeant who’s name I couldn’t remember answered as they got back onto their hooves.

“You lost your magic support,” Sunset said with a smile, “Which mean…”

“Nighty night,” I said and cast an area sleeping spell across the group.

A couple of them managed to keep standing, wobbling on their hooves as they struggled against the spell. Mind spells like ‘sleep’ can actually be resisted with enough will power. It’s generally also pretty low power so easy to dispel. Hence needing to take down the unicorns first.

But asleep or no, they were still a very easy target and Sunset quickly tagged them before moving on to their sleeping companions.

“Trust me on this,” I said and trotted past the closest one still on his hooves, “You’d be glad you got taken down early,” I reassured him as Sunset joined up next to us and I wrapped us back into a bubble of invisibility.

Similar things were happening at the other points of entry into the castle. Not the same, we didn’t have the ponypower for it, this one was by far the largest one.

But random spells and arrows raining down on the guards at random times should keep them nice and tense.

Celestia were standing by a war table in a tent, surrounded by ponies I didn’t know. It was a dream, clearly based on an old memory. I suspect triggered by the war games.

Very old, she was smaller and shorter, about Cadence’s size and her mane was pink.

I slowly moved around the table to stand next to her to look at the map. I didn’t recognize the place, somewhere along the ocean.

Tapping my hoof against the grass covering the ground beneath the tent, I solidified the dream around us, wiping the ponies around us away, leaving only the tent and table.

Celestia blinked and looked around before she turned to me, “You’re not letting my ponies sleep!”

“Hello to you too, Sunshine. And only the ones still in the game,” I said with a smile, shifting a wing to brush my cloak a bit to the side, “The rest can sleep tight.”

She shook her head and shifted slightly, “That’s cheating. It was meant to be your guards and mine testing each other.”

I nodded in agreement, “It would have been. If we had not involved ourselves into the entire thing.”

Celestia didn’t look happy. Not happy at all.

“Page, I have fought more battles than you can think of. You don’t want me to take direct command of my forces,” she warned me as she moved closer, “You’d lose.”

“Never did plan on fighting you, Sunshine,” I said with a smile, “Luna kick my tail every time and… if I’m to be completely honest, I’m pretty sure you’re stronger. Even if you likely have been falling a bit out of shape sitting around for a thousand years.”

Celestia blinked and her wings flared in annoyance, “Excuse me!?”

“Well, I didn’t see any pillows on that throne of yours and it’s quite hard. Good thing you always bring your own. It’s kind of smooth, round and with such a nice solar print.”

Oh yeah, that’s a pissed off goddess.

For a second anyway before her wings folded again and she smiled, “…You’re trying to make me angry.”

Damn it.

She shook her head and moved closer, “Making me angry and have me make hasty decision wouldn’t have worked anyway, Page,” she cooed and nosed at my ear, “That’s a beginner’s mistake. I’m not a beginner.”

I flicked my ear and swallowed, “Uhm… nobody would ever mistake you for a beginner. I… You are clearly quite experienced.”

She is… quite close.

“Mmm, you have no idea,” she murmured into my ear as she and moved past me, brushing her wing along my back, “but maybe you can find out.”

This was not the plan. This definitely not according to plan!

“Still, nice to know you are paying attention to my ‘pillow’” she continued and glanced back at me over her shoulder with a playful smile, “So… going to end the dream now or do you want to continue?”

“You win this round, Celestia.”

“Why, am I making things hard for you?”

Lighting my horn, I let the dream collapse in the middle of her laugh. Just because I could, I didn’t put her to dreamless sleep, I sent her waking up with the adrenaline rush of a nightmare.

I take what little victories I could.

But the laughing didn’t stop as the dream were replaced by the shimmering dreamscape.

Instead it changed tone.

Turning around, I saw Luna laying on the not-ground laughing so she cried.

“You were watching,” I commented and moved to settle down next to her, “It’s not that funny.”

“It really is!” she said with a grin, slowly calming down, “You really thought that would work? On my sister?”

I shrugged my wings, “Kind of hoped it would at least work for a little bit. But it wasn’t that funny.”

“No, but how easy she turned it around on you was!” Luna giggled and nuzzled at my ear, “My Page, you’re going to have to try a lot harder than that to get one over her.”

Didn’t seem to be difficult at all actually.

I did not just think that.

“…You’re not helping,” I grumbled at her before turning to give her a kiss, “What’s the guard up to?”

“Not telling.”

I looked up at her, “My Sky, I need to know how the guard is mobilizing. When they plan to counter attack. I need a spy.”

Changelings were good, but I needed to know what they were doing right now. Celestia wouldn’t have them just sit idle, she already knew they didn’t get to sleep before she went to bed.

I had kept the ones doing night watch awake during the day after all.

Luna smiled, “A spy?” she asked and shimmered into a unicorn with white coat and a diamond cutie mark revealed by the red silk dress she was wearing.

She looked like the spotting image of Shimmering Diamond, the main character of the spy novel I wrote.

Oh my.

“…Does that mean you take the job?”

“It means that you can try to convince me to.”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I opened my eyes and stretched my wings before pushing the blanket off and sitting up, rubbing my eyes.

As soon as I were properly awake, I headed out of the tent past the guards standing outside, “Wake Lady Shimmer and the Commander, get everypony moving. We have two hours until sunset and when it comes, we can’t be here.”

“At once, Sir!”

Luna refused to break even during the most horrendous torture so I had to assume they were coming now.

“Maybe this won’t be so bad at all,” Sunset said and sipped her coffee, “Hiding out isn’t horrible.”

I looked across the table at the now pink unicorn before I nodded and turned back to look towards the castle. The guards standing at the checkpoint were at lower strength today. They were also looking more than a bit less energetic than yesterday.

“Sir.”

“Not here,” I said and turned to the earth pony that stopped by the table, “What do you have to report?”

“The scouts returned, and the guard hit the former camp two hours past sunrise,” she said softly, “Almost thirty guard ponies. Princess Celestia was there.”

“Which explain the lower numbers by the gates,” Sunset said, “We could have tried hitting them.”

I shook my head, “Not with Celestia there.”

“We have our own Alicorn.”

I looked at Sunset and raised an eyebrow, “Even if by some miracle I was better than her, which I’m not, she is strong enough to literally fold me in half. Or into ash, whatever would be easier at the moment.”

“Maybe in a real fight, this wouldn’t be.”

You were not the one calling her fat last night.

“Either way, it wouldn’t work,” I told her and sipped my tea before looking at Flower Seed, “Proceed with plan bee sting.”

She nodded and headed off with her pick-up cup of tea.

Sunset nibbled at her cookie, “This won’t work forever. They do outnumber us by quite a bit, we aren’t picking them off that much faster than they catch us. And sooner or later they will make an effective ambush.”

“We don’t need to keep it up forever,” I said and sipped my tea while watching a unicorn pop out of a nearby alley to send a couple of bolts of magic towards the guard post and then turn tail and run away.

Didn’t hit anypony, but it sure got them sitting up and paying attention a bit.

None of them tried to follow her though.

They looked tired for some reason.

“Not sure even a couple of days of this is workable.”

“We’ll see.”

I really hoped it wasn’t true. We needed into the castle to get me to the throne and for that we needed every advantage we could get.

In this case it involved getting the opponents as bone dead tired as possible.

To be frank, I had no idea how else we would have a chance.

“So, what now?”

“Now, I’ll go find a chocolate muffin,” I said and got up before I stretched my wings, “And regret disguising as a Pegasus. Magic is way too useful.”

XXXXXXX

“My Lord,” Bright Glow said as she walked up next to me, “We lost another one. Drifting Mist got tagged when strafing the western gate.”

“We’re down to twenty,” Swift Spear said and shook his head, putting his hoof on the war table set up in the living room of Bright Glow’s mother.

I nodded and frowned, “Can we keep it going for another day?”

Bright Glow nodded, “Should be able to, sir. But we need to conserve as many ponies as we can to complete the objective.”

Translation: Stop wasting ponies like an idiot. Sir.

“Right,” Swift agreed, “Long range strikes only. Crossbolts and long range spells. One and then relocate.”

Bright Glow nodded, “I’ll pass word that they have to be more careful. But we can’t keep this up.”

“Won’t need to,” I said, “We strike tomorrow afternoon. Send word that everyone but two unicorns are to gather at site beta tomorrow at noon. The two you chose will continue the bee stings, focusing on sector four and five.”

Around four or so seemed good. Mostly because what idiot ever start a military attack at four in the afternoon? There is no advantage there.

The Guard tactics books re commended attacks at sunset, noon, sunrise or around two in the morning as that’s when the enemy is likely to be the weakest.

“We’re finally moving then?” Swift asked as Bright Glow hurried off to get the messages sent out, “What’s the plan?”

I shifted my wings, “That’s something I want to go over with you and the rest. We’ll wait until Sunny and Commander Glow return, but I have an idea that might work.”

The guard patrol trudged back towards the castle through the falling snow. In all honesty, they looked all kind of miserable.

I didn’t blame them, it was well below freezing, snowing hard and none of them had more than a couple of hours of sleep for the last three days. And they just spent the last two hours chasing somebody that flung magic at their checkpoint.

They never did catch her either.

None of them even reacted as I exited a side alley and joined the back of the formation, a set of golden armour covering my wings and turning my coat white, making me look like the rest.

I fell into step, lowering my head against the wind like the rest as the snow whipped across the street.

We slowly approached the castle checkpoint across the square.

Come on, Sunny.

Come on, Sunny! If this don’t work, things will be very awkward!

Bone dead tired or not, I don’t expect the checkpoint ponies to miss that there was a pony more returning than they sent out.

Not without a distraction.

We had just reached the checkpoint when there was faint sounds of spell fire at the distance and yelling.

The Lieutenant at the checkpoint looked away and a Pegasus quickly swooped in for landing, “Sir, we need reinforcement at the west gate! They are attacking!”

“Not just another probe?”

“No! Come on, we need more ponies!”

Lieutenant Thunderstorm nodded and pointed at a pair of unicorns, “You and you, stay here. The rest with me!”

I saluted with the rest and we quickly galloped off.

Nobody noticed when I slowed down and left the rest of the group to walk into one of the gardens. The distraction won’t last forever, the Legion were outnumbered and soon Celestia would get involved.

More yelling.

Ducking behind a pair of bushes, another group of guards galloped past.

Ditching the armour, I wrapped myself in the illusion of one of the maids before heading back onto the path.

Armour were a good disguise, but I couldn’t risk getting grabbed and pulled along to the defence.

I shifted the way I walked to match my illusion as I headed for the door to the castle. Thanks to Discord it was much easier to copy how a mare walks… personal experience, not just observation.

Fucking Discord.

But in this case, it was useful. Couldn’t risk discovery by something as stupid as walking wrong.

Fighting the impulse to hum the metal gear solid theme, I paused and perked my ears.

The sounds were dying down.

That’s not good, I wasn’t that far away. Needed to hurry without seeming to be hurrying.

Ducking in through the door, I glanced around before turning left and headed down the corridor, trotting along at a good pace.

Needed to get to the throneroom.

Guards!

Ducking behind a statue, I waited until the tired pair passed by.

Close one.

Sneaking back outside, I continued on until I reached the sidedoor to the throneroom. Putting my hoof against it, I hesitated.

One of two things were waiting on me on the other side.

Either an empty room if Celestia bought the distraction. If she did, I would get on the throne and then I would have won.

If she didn’t buy it, it would be a massive trap and she would win. I had no doubt whatever she picked would be annoying, frustrating and most definitely not something I wanted to do.

But this was the only shot at it I would get, and it took everything we had for this shot.

There wouldn’t be another one.

Ah, fuck it. Either this is a massive trap or it’s not, hanging around here does nothing but increase the odds of getting trapped.

A look and if it’s a trap, there is still a chance I can back out and try another path if my disguise holds.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open and slipped into the throneroom. The snow outside made the chamber somewhat dim even if it was afternoon, the sun being low didn’t help either.

But what’s more importantly, it was empty.

Closing the door, I started towards the throne along the edge of the throneroom, allowing the illusion to drop as I paused and looked around the empty room.

Yes!

I win!

The large main door started to open and I quickly ducked behind one of the pillars.

Fuck!

Shit! Shit! Shit!

Thinking fast, I cast an illusion of myself on the throne. Not enough time to teleport!

The door swung open to reveal Princess Celestia and a pair of guards entering the throneroom.

Celestia paused when she spotted my illusion, “Page.”

“Princess Celestia,” I said and stretched my wings, the illusion lounging across the throne as I stuck as close to the pillar as I could, trying to keep my breathing under control.

She sighed and flicked her ears, “It seems like you win,” she finally said, “You used your guards as a distraction to get inside.”

“Goal never was to defeat you or your guards, Princess. Just to get me on the throne.”

“How did you get past the guards?” Celestia asked as she slowly approached, “Everywhere were watched and guarded.”

My illusion shrugged his wings and jumped off the throne, “Wasn’t that difficult, one second, I’ll show you,” it said and headed for the pillar, “I have it in my satchel.”

Casting another quick illusion to make a copy of my satchel. As the illusion moved out of view of them, I cancelled it and trotted out the other side of the pillar, seemingly digging through the illusionary bag, “I have it here somewhere,” I said as I moved towards the throne.

Come on.

Just buy it for another twenty seconds. I just need to get my arse onto that chair and I have…

A sunlight yellow glow covered me and pulled me into the air, floating me over to the larger alicorn.

She looked tired, if slightly amused.

“Page,” she said as she sat down on the carpet.

“…Celestia,” I answered. Damn. I should have risked a teleport instead of the illusion. Damn it., “When did you figure it out?”

“When you returned towards the throne instead of heading to me me,” she said and reached out to tap my nose with her hoof and a smile, “Boop. Gotcha.”

Oh crud.

“…You win,” I admitted and relaxed in her magic, “That was fun.”

Celestia flicked her ears and put me back down, “You are an infuriating opponent, Page.”

“Only real chance we had,” I admitted and shrugged my wings as I glanced around. Teleport to throne?

No, was too late already. I had admitted defeat, she won.

“How did my Legion do?” I asked as I got up, “In the distraction?”

Celestia smiled, “They did very well. Sunset Shimmer especially so, you have trained her well, Page.”

“We are about as good, we practice together,” I said and folded my wings again, “Luna teach me anything I know, I pass it on to Sunset. We practice until we have it down.”

Celestia nodded, “I can see both my sister and the old War Mages in how both of you do combat.”

I smirked at her, “We should try some one on one. I’m curious how you measure up compared to Luna.”

“Oh, we are completely different, but I think I’m better,” Sunshine countered with a smile, “But I think that it’d be fun. I would offer tonight, but I’m rather tired. I think somepony may owe me some nice dreams too?” she then added.

I nodded and flicked my ears, “…Yeah, fair enough. Nice dreams for you and your guard for the rest of the week.”

She smiled and got up, “As soon as my sun is down, I’m going to bed. You should head down to the guard barracks and gather up your guard,” she said, “They are being kept under guard there until you were found and captured.”

“Better go let them out then,” I said with a nod, “Then I’ll take them all to the Pathfinder. After all of this, they deserve it.”

They did a damn good job. I was the one that bucked it up at the end, that wasn’t on them.

“Come see me tomorrow, Page,” Celestia added, “We have some matters to discuss.”

I did my best to hide my cringe, but apparently not well enough as she smiled and head out of the throneroom, leaving me with the guards.

They didn’t look overly happy with me.

“Uhm… you heard the part about all nice dreams all week, right?” I said and shifted a bit backwards.

“…Yes, sir,” the one on the left finally said and sighed, “If you come with us, sir?”

Nodding, I trotted along.

All that was for nothing I suppose. Well, not nothing. I clearly did reveal some weaknesses in the defences. But the fact that Sunshine won were kind of sour to be honest.

I had been so close!

Damn it.

The Pathfinder were empty other than the members of the Legion. Not much of a Legion if I’m to be honest, not enough ponies.

I had made sure to hire the place for a private party, sending somepony to talk to the owner before I picked everyone up from the barracks.

I had sent them Sunset on ahead as I took care of some paperwork to finish everything up for now before I followed them.

Pushing the door open, I shook the snow from my mane. The place was silent other than the sound of cups clicking against the tables, a warm fire crackling in the central fireplace.

Not at all the normal atmosphere of the place.

Everypony just looked… tired and defeated.

That just won’t do. That won’t do at all.

I headed up to the bar, “Barkeep, something strong and warm.”

He nodded, “Wintercider, coming right up,” he agreed and headed to get it.

Turning I looked over the pub, “What’s with all the downer looks?”

“…We got our tails kicked, sir,” Bright Glow answered from her table, “Badly.”

I looked at her and then across the group, “Is that how you all feel?”

There was a smattering of nods and mumbling, a lot of ponies not meeting my gaze. Sunset was looking on with a curious look on her face from her seat furthest from the door.

“That’s fucking stupid,” I said and shook my head, “Look at yourselves! Look at what happened!”

Confusion.

I grinned at them, “You have been training for a year. You went up against the First Solar Guard. The Elite of the elite of the Solar guard, the Canterlot Castle garrison. They outnumbered you ten to one. They have traditions tracing back since the beginning of Equestria and the experience to go with it… and we almost won. Does that sound like a bunch of losers to you?”

You could almost feel the mood of the tavern rising.

“We had an alicorn on our side. Without you making sure they couldn’t sleep…”

“They had Celestia!” I countered with a grin and picking up the mug of heated strong cider from the bar, rising in the air in a salute to them, “The Princess that with her sister united Equestria into a force to be reckoned with. I’m a brand new alicorn that rule dreams. Let’s say at absolute best, Princess Celestia and I cancel each other out. What does that leave you against the Solar Guard?”

Some excited muttering between them.

“I’ll tell you where that leave you,” I continued, “That leave you standing up against the most powerful army of the land and not breaking. You accomplished your objective. You got me into that throneroom against all odds.”

Grinning at them, I pointed at one of the pegasi, “You, Storm Swell. I personally saw you lead a group of twenty ponies on a wild goosechase halfway across the city. Brilliant.”

Her ears flicked and she folded her wings a bit tighter at being singled out, “They tagged me though, Sir.”

“But not without you tagging three of them with your crossbow. One against twenty and you still took some down and bought your squad time to handle even more,” I saluted her with my cup, “You brought glory to the legion.”

I turned to look across them, meeting each of their eyes, “I could tell similar stories about each and every one of you. Whatever happen next time, you won’t be underestimated again. They know to fear you now.”

Bright Glow blinked at me, “Next time!?”

I gave her a predatory grin, “Next time. Don’t you want a rematch?”

She hesitated for a split second before she set her jaw stubbornly, “I do.”

I nodded, “So do I,” I agreed before looking at the rest and raising my voice again, “What say you!?”

“YES!”

“Good!” I agreed and spread my wings, drinking down the entire mug of cider, “But that’s for another day. Now! Drink and be merry! Enjoy yourselves because tomorrow, you’ll all be too damn hungover to!”

With that, I smashed the wooden cup against the stone floor, “Everything tonight is on me!”
I exclaimed, “A round to everyone!” I commanded the barkeep and the tavern erupted into cheers.

Grabbing another pair of mugs of the warmed cider, I crossed the tavern as I folded my wings before sitting down across Sunset, sliding one over to her.

She caught it with her hoof and smiled at me, “You’re so hot right now.”

“Damn right,” I agreed and sipped the cider, “That was a kind of spur of the moment thing. How did I do?”

“Right now if you told them they’d do it all over tomorrow, they would,” Sunset answered and took in the scent of the her drink, “…It was just what they needed.”

“Well, I am the Alicorn of Inspiration,” I said and shifted my wings, “Kinda anyway…I think it may have been about time I did something on that side of things.”

It just… kind of felt like the right thing to do.

Maybe getting in a drinking contest with Sunset had not been the best idea in the world. But at least it had been a worse idea for her.

I at least had the resilience of an Alicorn/earth pony. Still, she kept up well enough and I felt all kinds of so much not very up for this today.

Besides, early morning.

Sipping my cup of quadruple strength tea with enough sugar that if it cooled down, it would likely be some kind of desert you ate with a spoon, I pushed the door open and shambled into Celestias room.

“Good morning, Page!”

I hate morning ponies.

Grumbling something approaching a greeting, I sat down on the chair across her desk from her, “…What did you want?”

Celestia shifted her wings and smiled cheerfully at me from across the desk before lifting a maid uniform from behind it in her magic, holding it into the air.

I just stared at it for a long moment and swallowed.

“…You’re kidding,” I finally managed to say.

She held her expression for a couple of more seconds before she started to laugh as she nodded, “Had you for a second there!”

“I blame not getting to sleep,” I answered and sipped my ‘tea’.

“Still, could be fun having you fluff my pillow.”

“I’m sure those pillow could use a good smacking,” I countered as I finally started to feel a bit awake, “But don’t you have a pony for that already?”

“Oh, I have had more than one maid before,” she said before her smile fell a bit, “…She couldn’t come last week. Something came up for her.”

I frowned and nodded, “Oh. That sucks.”

Celestia sighed and nodded, “Clear Skies has her own life, I have no right to monopolize her… but we have scheduled next week.”

“Sounds nice.”

“Mmm,” she agreed and sipped her own much more liquid tea, “Awake now?”

I nodded, “Being around you never do fail to get me up,” I said with a smile. She actually blushed slightly! Barely visible, but it was there!

Score!

Okay, she is by far in the lead, but still.

It was the long game that counted.

“So… did you wake me up at this horrible hour just to mess with me or do you have an actual point to it, Sunshine?” I asked as I took another bite out of my tea.

Celestia put her cup down and nodded, “I do. I need to ask a favour of you.”

“Not using the bet?”

“That would be folded into the favour if you are willing to do it,” she said, “But it’s too big just for a bet. I need somepony to go visit the griffons.”

I just kind of blinked at her, “Griffons? Do you remember what happened last time I met a griffon? As I recall it, there were almost fighting involved.”

“Which they would have respected,” Celestia said, “But I need somepony to deliver this message that can understand griffons.”

“…Message?”

Celestia nodded, “A treaty for a permanent trade route between our nations, ships paid for by both our nations, crewed by mixed crews to move cargo back and forth over the ocean.”

“The ocean filled with sea monsters?”

She smiled a bit, “While there are sea monsters in the ocean, they are not anywhere near as common as some think. Not anymore at least… and most avoid ships.”

“And you think it’s a good idea to send me?” I asked with a sigh, “…Celestia, you know I’m not good at the entire politics thing.”

She stretched her wings before folding them again, “You seem to handle yourself well enough, Page,” she said before she smiled, “Besides, I need somepony that would understand them. While I’m sure asking Twilight and she would do a good job and, I wanted to ask you.”

“Because of what I was?”

Celestia moved out from around her desk, “Only partly, Page,” she explained, “But not because of what or who you were, but because who you are. And because I think that you can do it.”

I took a drink from my cooling tea before I looked up at her, “You really think I can do it?”

She nodded, “I do. If I didn’t, I would never have asked.”

“Okay. I don’t really have a choice, do I?”

“Well, there is always the maid uniform.”

I snorted and shook my head with a grin, “Tempting. Okay, fine. How long do you think it’ll take?”

“Perhaps a month.”

I tried not to cringe at that. But it did sound rather reasonable to be honest. A week there on airship, deliver the message and answer questions, give them time to talk things over and then a week back while allowing things to continue on normal diplomatic channels.

It just kind of sucked to be away from Luna for that long.

“When do I leave?”

“The airship won’t be ready for a few days, but as soon as you wish after that. You may want to give your legion a few days extra to get preparations ready.”

Nodding, I got off the chair and headed towards the door but not before giving her a half hug with one wing, “I’ll better go and start to prepare then.”

“I’ll send somepony with the documents you’ll need to read through, now get some rest Page.”

This would be interesting.

Luna looked thoughtful, facing me on the couch, “So what do you think about it?”

I shook my head, “I think it’s better than the alternative.”

“Don’t want to try one of the maids uniforms?”

I blinked at her, “You knew about that!?”

She just grinned at me, “Celestia asked what I thought would be fitting.”

I glowered at her, “Oh come on, you two teaming up on me is not even remotely fair.”

Luna smiled and scooted closer, giving me a nuzzle, “If you stop having my sister trick you into things, we won’t need to.”

There may be some truth in that.

I nuzzled back and shifted my wings before I looked up at her, “…And the Griffons?”

“I agreed with Celestia that you would do well,” Luna admitted and shifted her ears, “…We really do need somepony to send for this.”

“Don’t you have diplomats for this.”

“We do. But it will mean more to send an Alicorn. Especially you. The griffons are a patriarchal society,” Luna explained, “Besides, they respect martial ability. You demonstrated that taking down Tirek.”

“Better hope their spies are slow to report back, I got my tail firmly kicked by your sister,” I sighed before I nodded, “Fine, I’ll do my best.”

She smiled and stole a small kiss, “You’ll do fine, they like you.”

Better hope so. I really don’t want to accidentally a war.

“Besides, it’s kind of your job,” Luna then added and shifted around to lay next to me, putting her wing across my back as she nosed at my ear.

“Huh?”

“Herald, remember?”

“…Oh yeah.”

Didn’t think of that. I glanced down at the medallion around my neck, the silver half moon and gold half sun motif standing out against the dark background.

Sighing, I leaned against her side, resting my head against the side of her neck, “Don’t want to leave you though.”

Luna nuzzled softly, “It’s only for a few weeks. And we always have the dream realm.”

I nodded and then glanced up at her, “…Why aren’t you against this? You hate it when I go running off into danger.”

Luna stuck her tongue out at me, “Because you’re not this time. It’s a diplomatic mission with a mostly friendly nation. It’s trade negotiations, they might get loud, but very rarely dangerous.”

“Unless it turns into aggressive negotiations. You know, negotiations with a sword?” I suggested before sticking my tongue out as I realized what I just paraphrased, “But you’re likely right.”

“I always am.”

I tickled her side with my wing before I smiled up at her, rolling onto my back to look up at her, “So what are you going to be up to while I’m away?”

Luna shrugged her wings and settled down, resting her head on my chest, “Nothing much interesting sadly. Preparations for the Heartswarming festival is going to be among the most interesting events.”

I blinked and did some quick math, “…I’m not going to miss heartswarming, am I? No… be back a week before if all goes well.”

Missing Heartswarming would suck!

Luna nodded and stole a small kiss, “You should be back in time, My Page.”

I’ll better. It was by far my favorite holiday. Mostly because other than the yearly play, there wasn’t really any expectations on Luna. Meaning we could curl up by the fireplace together for most of the day and have nopony bother us.

Also, giving gifts was fun.

“Going to ask Sunset along?”

“…Not sure she’d forgive me if I didn’t at least ask,” I admitted, “I mean… a week on an luxury royal airship and visiting an exotic country? Let’s face it, she’d be annoyed at me forever if I didn’t at least offer to take her along.”

Annoyed Sunset would make my life miserable for quite a while.

Luna nodded, “Wise,” she commented and stretched her wings, “…I do wish I could come with you as well. Showing you around their capital would be fun.”

“You really can’t come?”

She shook her head, “Wouldn’t be fair to my sister to leave all the work for her.”

“…Would be none but her own fault, “I grumbled before I shook my head and cuddles her close, “I guess it’ll be an adventure. And I do suppose I does kind of look forward to it a bit, I never really seen anywhere outside of Equestria.”

The airship was big. As big as a large modern day jetliner, but fatter. Which honestly was kind of expected, it was a airship after all.

While it did have the expected gondola beneath it, it also had rooms through it. I could only put that up to magic.

Which was also how it moved, a magically turning propeller at the rear.

“Captain Stellarite,” I said as I walked the gangplank onto the ship.

“Lord Page,” He answered with a smile, “Welcome onboard.”

He was a unicorn with dark grey coat and darker mane.

“Thank you. But you didn’t need to come meet me, I’m sure you have more important things to do.”

He grinned briefly, “Protocol, sir. But you’re also right, this is a rather busy time. If you’d excuse me, I’ll have somepony direct you to your quarters?”

“Please.”

He nodded and motioned to a pegasus mare with pale pink coat and blonde mane in a similar uniform but with less bling and without the hat, “ Crewmare Steel Night here will be assigned to you while onboard, sir. She’ll show you where your quarters are.”

I smiled, “Hello,” and then thanked him, letting him get back to the much more important matter of actually being Captain.

“Hello sir, and welcome onboard the Honeydew,” she said with a cheerful smile, “If you’d please follow me?”

“Of course,” I agreed and then followed her through the corridors. Didn’t take long to get to where we were going,

“Here you go, sir,” she said and opened the door before following me inside.

It reminded me more of a full on hotel suite than anything on a ship. Seriously, place was larger than Luna’s and my primary rooms in the castle!

“Bathroom through here, sir,” Steel Night said cheerfully, “Full bath included. Through here is your bedroom,” she continued before trotting over to a rope by the door, “If you pull this, it summon a maid or myself if you require any sort of assistance.”

I nodded with a smile as I looked around, “Thank you, this is great.”

She bowed and then trotted out with a smile, “I’ll go see what happened to your luggage, sir.”

Nodding, I then looked around as I trotted over to jump onto the bed. Wow this place was amazing.

That’s it, this is how I travel from now on.

Fuck flying chariots and trains. Airship is where it’s at!

“Seriously! You get this place!?” A very familiar voice called out from the main sitting room, “Are you kidding!?”

“What?” I asked and jumped off the bed to move out to join Sunset, “You don’t?”

“Mine is a shoebox!” she complained before trotting up to peer into the bathroom, “It’s smaller than your bathroom!”

I grinned, “Sucks to be you, doesn’t it?”

Well, make sense I suppose, space would be a premium.

She rolled her eyes, “Well, that’s not happening. I’m moving in here.”

“My, my, how forward. What would ponies think?”

Sunset stuck her tongue out at me, “Oh please, half the castle already thinks we’re together. It wouldn’t change a thing.”

“Eh, good point,” I agreed, “Fine. But the bed is mine.”

She fluttered her eyelashes at me, “You would leave me sleeping on the couch?”

“Damn right.”

She snorted and then grinned, “Still better than my so called ‘bed’. So how soon do we leave?”

“Not completely sure, should be any minute. As I understand it, they were basically waiting for us to get onboard.”

Sunset nodded, “The Legion is already onboard, I talked to Bright Glow before coming here, everyone seems to be ready.”

“Been on one of these before?”

Sunset nodded again, “Once when I was a little filly, Princess Celestia gave me a tour once. Oh, we should head onto the top deck for departure, it’s the best view.”

“Sounds like a plan,” I agreed and motioned towards the door, “Lead the way.”

“Should be able to remember how to get there,” She said and trotted towards the door.

It didn’t take long to find our way there. Basically, we just looked for stairs leading up and asking a couple of ponies on the way.

We emerged into the cool winter air just in time to see the large propeller at the back of the airship start to slowly turn.

Sunset looked around and put her hooves on the railing. I moved to stand next to her, watching Canterlot start to slowly pull away.

Shifting my wings, the air tugging at my feathers and mane before I looked at Sunset again as we started to rise among the clouds.

She was clearly freezing.

“Come on, let’s head back inside. Find something warm to drink.”

“S-sounds good.”

Sigh.

I looked up from the notes were reading, “Oh come on, it’s been less than a day. You are the one that chose to come along, remember?”

Sunset sighed again and rolled onto her back on the couch.

“Somepony are trying to study here, go flirt with a sailor or something,” I told her before trying to go back to reading.

It lasted about five seconds before there was the sound of movement, the large comfy chair shifted beneath me and Sunset draped herself over my shoulders, “What’cha reading?” she asked as she peered at the papers.

“Notes Luna wrote about the griffons when she visited before,” I said, “You can read too if you are that bored.”

Sunset picked the papers from my magic, “…I didn’t count on this trip coming with homework.”

“Hey, you are the one that always push for me to study pony culture so not make a mistake,” I said with a grin, poking her with my wing, “Wouldn’t want to cause a diplomatic incident, now would we?”

Sunset glared at me for a second before she sighed, “…I suppose you have a point.”

“Of course, I do.”

“No need to be so smug about it!”

I gave her the first couple of papers before going back to my reading, floating a book over as well, written by the previous ambassador to the griffins.

It touched mainly on their culture which seemed to revolve around being dicks to each other. Okay, that’s not quite right, but they were a very meritocratic society. If you didn’t have any skills to contribute, you could basically fuck off.

It seemed to be rather political as well with more factions than you could shake a stick at.

Glancing up as there was a knock on the door, “Come in.”

The door opened and Steel Night entered with a small bow, “My Lord, My Lady,” she said, “I’m to deliver a message from the Captain, he would like to invite the two of you to dine with him this evening.”

Nodding I slipped my wing of Sunsets back, “Thank you, Steel Night. Please let him know we’ll be there.”

Steel Night smiled, “Of course, sir. Sorry to interrupt you… would you like some tea?”

“Yes please, that would be amazing.”

She smiled and then trotted to get some.

Sunset jumped off the large chair and stretched, “Wonder if I should get dressed for dinner.”

“Don’t see why.”

“I might not exactly be a society lady, but getting dressed up in something nice from time to time is fun!”

I grinned, “I predict you’ll get more than you want of that once we arrive.”

“…Probably true,” she admitted, “Okay, but I still want to take a bath before dinner. Wanna come?”

I shook my head, “I should finish reading this through, so I can ask Luna something actually useful questions tonight. Have fun.”

I glanced after Sunset as she headed into the bathroom before I returned to the book. Luna and Celestia were trusting me not to screw this up.

Screwing this up would be bad. I didn’t want to disappoint them.

Which meant learning as much as possible about the griffons. Sadly, I had not been paying too much attention during the visits and dinners with the ambassador.

Sure, we talked and such but I left most of that to Luna, I was there for appearances… well, and the food. Only place in Canterlot I could get some decent fish.

Besides, they were literally doing the same thing I were. They had been doing their best to fit in among ponies and it was their job to be polite.

Now it would be my job not to insult everypony.

Griffon. Everygriffon. Everyone?

Damn it. Needed to figure that one out too. What was the right protocol there anyway?

Sighing, I leaned my side against the back of the large chair. I’m not a diplomat, why did I agree to this again?

Oh yeah, Celestia asked and then Luna backed her up.

Of course I folded like a wet napkin. I mean, who wouldn’t? At least it was better than the alternative Celestia had.

Wait… did she plan this entire thing? All to get me to go?

…Nah, even she couldn’t have planned that from the start. Could she?

She was good, but nopony were that good. Not even Chrysalis.

…Okay, maybe Chrysalis.

“Five degrees up rudder. We want to avoid that wild thunderhead over there. Let’s see if we can’t go over her,” Captain Stellarite ordered, looking out the window with his telescope.

“Aye, sir. Five degrees up rudder,” the helmsman answered.

I did my best to keep to the back and out of the way as I looked around, Steel Night standing next to me.

I had asked to be allowed to see the flightdeck… or rather bridge was it was called here. It actually reminded me more of the bridge of a submarine. With more windows of course.

But I suppose that does make sense. Movements would be a quite similar with rudders and buoyancy and such.

“Lord Page,” Captain Stellarite said as he lowered his telescope and turned to us, “I hope you find the journey pleasant?”

“Very much so. Very smooth and pleasant. You and your crew are to be commended, your ship is clearly in top condition,” I said, “I must admit, airships like this are fascinating.”

“Thank you, Lord Page,” He answered with a nod and a smile, “The Honeydew is a good ship and my crew is the best in Equestria.”

“Wouldn’t doubt it,” I said and shifted my wings, “Thank you for allowing me to see your bridge, but I’ll get out from underneath your hooves now. I think I have taken up quite enough of your time.”

“No trouble at all, My Lord.”

Well, he said that, but I could equally see that he wanted to get back to work.

Giving him a nod, I headed out of the bridge into the corridor outside, Steel Night trailing along.

What to do now?

I didn’t feel like going back to reading. I had been doing that for days and we were halfway there. I needed to rest my brain.

“…Are we moving at Pegasus flight speed?” I asked, Steel Night, “Would it be possible to go for a flight?”

She shook her head, “While a fast Pegasus would be able to fly alongside, it’s not advice other than for emergencies, sir. The propeller…”

I nodded, “Ah. Yeah, I see your point.”

Forget bird strike, try Pegasus strikes.

Ouch.

“Better not,” I continued.

“Could ask the captain to slow down and drift for a while if you wish to go for a flight, sir,” Steel Night suggested.

I shook my head, “No, it’ll slow us down and not important. Just felt like stretching my wings. I suppose I’ll just return to my quarters instead and get some writing done.”

Well, editing anyway.

Kind of fitting to do editing in a story about flying ships on a airship.

XXXXXXXXX

The dream realm glittered around me. Mostly empty. Sure, there were always some ponies that worked night and slept during the day, but compared to night there was almost nopony there.

Almost.

Luna nuzzled at my ear, “Focus, My Page.”

“Would be a lot easier if you didn’t do that…” I answered before I jumped, “Or that!”

Luna just looked at me innocently.

“Okay…” I said and closed my eyes, feeling the dream realm all around us. Deeper. Beyond the not-surface.

Feel it.

I could feel Luna standing next to me. Not from her hooves against the not-ground, but because of her… she’s smack me with her wing for this, but because of her weight. Not physical, but meta physical.

She felt like a star right next to me.

The dream world bent to her ‘gravity well’.

But what surprised me, was my own ‘gravity well’. It dwarfed hers. She was…

She was the Moon if I was Equestria.

“Deeper, Focus beyond this plane.”

Taking a deep breath of not-air, I pushed further. Reaching far with my senses. No… not far at all. I had been wrong, the other planes of dreams wasn’t contained far away from each other, they were right here. Right next to me, just in…

Normally there are three physical dimensions. Back and forward, up and down, sideways. Pony dreams where here, and strangely enough changelings. Not sure why that was.

But nopony elses.

They were…

I took a step in the fifth direction before opening my eyes again, surrounded by shimmering portals. They felt…

The dreamscape was different too. A different… not colour, but something like it.

“Well done, My Page,” Luna said and smiled, stroking along my back with her wing, “Welcome to the dream realm of the dragons.”

“So that’s why the portals smell of teeth.”

“Indeed.”

Standing on the top platform of the airship, watching the slowly approaching massive pyramid castle.

It looked even bigger than when I saw it in that dream with Luna. That pyramid actually were larger in ground area than most of Canterlot. The city, not the castle.

It was built in a very monolithic style and been constructed for thousands of years. The seat of their entire government and most of their military.

Where we are going.

“Wow, that’s bit…wow…” Sunset said over the wind as she moved up next to me.

“That’s what she said.”

Sunset rolled her eyes and put a hoof on the railing, her horn lighting up to adjust her thick winter scarf, pulling her winter cloak tighter around herself.

Putting my wing across her back against the cold, I frowned at the massive building. As we slowly got closer, the rest of the city slowly got into focus. Two levels of city, one massive circle of monolithic blocks fitted together like a wall around the city. Half way to the pyramid, there were a second circle, identical to the first one.

That city was a fortress.

I completely understood why. The griffons didn’t have magic and there were literal monsters wandering around. I would have wanted the biggest honking walls as I could get too.

Which admittedly was one of the original reasons Canterlot were built on the side of a fricking mountain.

“It’s kind of intimidating.”

“That’s what sh… oomph!” I started before I rubbed my side where she elbowed me.

Sunset flicked her ears and turned her attention back towards the view, “So… how do you wanna play this?”

“I was thinking to just about go with the flow and do my best. You?”

“Oh, I just planned to follow along, everyone is going to paying attention to you anyway, wingboy, I don’t need to do anything.”

I turned to look at her, “Hey, that’s my move when with Luna!”

“Well, it works!”

“I know, but I kind of counted on you drawing some of it,” I grumbled, “Can’t you just… you know?”

“What?”

“Dress up a tiny bit and be yourself? That always draw a lot of attention.”

That got a smile from her, “Forget it, I want to see this place, not be drawn into political stuff.”

Sigh.

“That’s not fair,” I grumbled.

“It totally is, wing-boy,” Sunset answered with a smile.

Sighing, I shifted my free wing, “…I guess you’re right.”

Sunset rolled her eyes and then smiled, “Oh relax, I’ll go to any official functions with you.”

“…Thanks,” I said before I pulled her a bit tighter to my side with my wing, “Worst thing about those things is when there is nopony there you know and can talk to outside of the usual pointless small ltalk.”

“I know,” she answered and leaned softly against my side in turn,”Besides, I’m kind a curious on how a griffon reception turns out.”

I grinned, “I predict fish or even meat meat may be involved.”

“Oh, ick.”

“Vegan.”

“Carnivore.”

I glanced at her and she looked at me in turn before she grinned. I grinned back and flicked my ears, “You know… the portal should open again for a couple of days in a year or so. I promised to take Luna through on a date. You’d want to pop back through too.”

Sunset hesitated for a second, “That would be extra strange. Not sure to be honest.”

“Oh, come on, you know there are things you would like from the human world,” I told her with a smile, “How about a laptop?”

She stuck her tongue out, “Yeah, sure. How would I be typing on that?” she asked and held her hoof up.

“Yeah, how could that possibly work,” I laughed and tapped my horn against hers.

Sunset cleared her throat and shifting a bit then looked thoughtful, “…Yeah, I guess that could maybe work? With practice at least. But how would I keep it char… okay, solar cells, figured it out.” She said before she added, “May want to be careful with the horn tapping… it’s a rather intimate thing for unicorns.”

I blinked and then nodded a bit, “…Sorry.”

“It’s fine. It’s not very common nowadays anyway, kind of old fashioned.”

I nodded, “Still about the laptop thing, worst case, throw Sparks at it, bet she’d figure it out fast enough.”

Sunset nodded a bit, “She would… and most likely fry the first couple ones. Maybe I should pop through and see what I can find. Oh, and stock up on gummy candy. It’s impossible to find in Equestria.”

I nodded and then frowned in thought, “Wait, don’t that contain…”

“I don’t want to hear it! Don’t you dare ruin this for me!”

“Ready?” I asked and looked around as I adjusted my cloak. Bright Glow nodded quickly. Sunset looked herself over, “Ready.”

“Amber?” I then asked, the changeling dropping down from somewhere next to me.

“Yes, sir?”

Only a couple of the guards jumped when she appeared, starting to get used to her by now, “Stay hidden.”

“Yes, sir.” She agreed with a smile and trotted around the corner and out of sight.

Taking a deep breath, I then nodded to myself. No more procrastinating I suppose.

“Okay, let’s go.”

The closest guard hit the switch and the door opened to reveal the bright sunlight. No snow here but the air was cool compared to the inside of the airship.

Let’s fucking do this.

Exiting the door and walking out onto the ramp, it gave me more of a view of the landing dock. Halfway up on the side of the pyramid, it opened into a large hall filled with griffons of every size and shape.

That’s when the national anthem of Equestria started to play from the gryffon band to the right.

Oh, good Luna.

Flicking my ears I started down the ramp to the group of griffons waiting at the bottom, Sunset and the group of guards falling in behind me.

Several griffons, some with more bling than the rest.

The one at the front didn’t have the most bling, but the rest were staying behind him. Next to him were also a pony I did recognize. He was the ambassador to the griffons, a earth pony named Ivory Rock.

He stepped forward when we got close and did a small bow, “Lord Page, Welcome to Griffona. I hope your travel went well?”

I smiled at him, “Thank you, Ambassador. It was quite smooth, if a bit boring.”

“Airship travel usually is,” he agreed before motioning to the eagle/lion griffon, “Lord Page, I’d like to introduce Lord Aether, brother of the King.”

I nodded with a smile, “A pleasure to meet you, Lord Aether. I can honestly say that I am impressed of what I seen of your country so far.”

“How kind of you to say, your highness,” He answered with a slight bow.

Ambassador Rock then motioned to us in turn, “In turn, Lord Aether, I would like to introduce Lady Sunset Shimmer, Lord Page’s companion.”

Companion?

“Lady Shimmer,” the griffon said with a nod, Sunset bowing slightly in turn.

He then turned to me and motioned for me, “Please, this way. King Darkfeathers wishes to see you as soon as possible, Lord Page. One of the servants can show your companions to your quarters.”

I nodded, “Of course.”

With that we were moving. It didn’t take long to leave the hangar leaving it alongside with the Ambassador and Lord Aether and a honour guard of griffons.

Not that I was worried about being alone with the bunch. They didn’t feel hostile, and besides, Amber were somewhere close by.

Also… fucking with me would make Luna and Celestia annoyed. Getting goddesses that literally control and moon and fucking sun mad at you, were not smart. Even taking me hostage wouldn’t be smart at all.

I’m sure it’d work well enough for the first eight hours.

Then you’d fall asleep.

As we moved, the hallways got more and more ornamental and blingy. By the time we reached the set of large steel doors with gold inlays, the place looked like it belonged in a French palace back on Earth.

Then the doors opened to reveal the throneroom.

“Presenting Lord Blank Page of Equestria, Herald of the Celestia Diarchy, Lord Aeather, carrier of the Royal Star, and Ambassador Ivory Rock of Equestria!”

Wow, somepony really were over compensating when it came to this place. Seriously, comparing to it to the throneroom in Canterlot were like night and day. Celestias throne room were a lot white marble, decorated pillars and coloured glass windows. I always found it a bit much for my taste, but tasteful all the same.

This place made it look muted. Everything was covered with gold, silver, precious gems. There were statues along the walls, paintings and murals.

The floor were covered with gold, a silver path moving towards a massive throne shaped like massive claws, curling around the griffon sitting on it.

King Darkfeathers were a owl/lynx griffon and smaller than his brother, his feathers living up to his name and so did his coat. His eyes however were a pair of very piercing amber ones.

I moved to approach the throne, following the silver path before stopping some four meters away, giving a small bow, “You’re Highness, thank you for receiving me. I bring well wishes of Princess Luna and Princess Celestia.”

“Welcome to Griffona, Lord Page.”

The quarters were less like a set of rooms and more like a mansion set of rooms built into the pyramid with windows towards the outside.

“Well, this is nice,” I said and looked around.

Sunset nodded in agreement, “It is,” and removed her cloak, starting to unbutton the uniform, “Tomorrow while you do the entire political talk thing, I’m going to check out the city.”

“Bring a couple of guards,” I told her and started to do the same, “For the image if nothing else.”

Trotting over to the couch, I jumped up and gave it a bit of a try, “Hmm. Not bad. Bit soft.”

Sunset finished undressing and shook her hair back before she put the uniform on the table for a maid to collect before she trotted over to check out the balcony.

Closing my eyes, I sighed and leaned against the couch, slowly relaxing.

Nothing had even started yet and I was exhausted. Smile, look comfortable, confident. You’re representing Equestria. All you have to do is be perfect.

Celestia, this is the last time I’m letting you talk into any kind of official work. Next time, I’d take the damn maid uniform for a day.

I just found this kind of stuff so exhausting.

Stretching my wings, I opened my eyes and jumped off the couch, heading for the balcony to join Sunset looking out over the city, “Pretty.”

“Strange,” Sunset disagreed, “The buildings are so… square.”

They did look rather boxy and a lot more uniform than pony buildings. I can’t imagine that those were individually planned and constructed.

Very different from how ponies do things.

I nodded, “Very different,” I agreed before I looked at her, “Speaking of which, reception tonight. Dinner.”

Sunset nodded, “Formal?”

“As formal as pass for griffons, which mean yes, dressing up.”

She nodded, “Dress it is.”

“And uniform for me,” I agreed and shifted my wings, “Could be worse. Besides, if I’m to suffer through these things, then so are you.”

She shot me a look, “I like ‘these things’! How often do I get to wear a dress that cost more than I make in a year?”

I paused at that before I frowned at her, “…What do you get paid for anyway?”

“Same as Twi,” Sunset explained, “An educational stipend. More than enough to live on.”

“Especially when staying at the castle and eating for free.”

Sunset grinned, “That too.”

I nodded, “Well, that’s go…” before I frowned at her, “Wait, how do you have a dress worth more than you make in a year?”

“You bought it for me. Thank you by the way.”

“Huh, that was nice of me,” I teased and poked her with my wing.

That got a laugh from her and she shook her head, “I actually got it from Rarity for free. When she heard we were heading here and there were going to be formal events. She was outraged that I was going to bring my own dresses. She went into a couple of all nighters and got me a couple of new ones.”

“That does sound like Rarity,” I agreed with a smile, “Well, there’s going to need a dinner in a couple of hours, I’m going to take a long hot bath and try to relax.”

“Mmm,” she agreed, “That would be nice. But I need to get ready. Just a short bath for me and then I need to start getting dressed. See you in a couple of hours.”

With that, she headed for her room.

I glanced after her before looking out over the city again. Sun was slowly setting in the distance.

Back in Canterlot, Celestia were standing on her own balcony, slowly lowering the Sun. Luna would be getting out of bed around now.

Getting ready to raise her moon.

A couple of weeks and I’d be back there. I’d just have to do my best not to disappoint them.

That was not helping my stress levels but a bath might. At least a little.

Heading back inside, I looked around, “Uhm… Amber?”

“Bath is to then right, sir. I turned on the water while you were outside, should be full by now,” she answered from where she was lounging on one of the comfortable chairs, forelegs hooked over the armrest.

I blinked at her in surprise, “You didn’t need to do that.”

She buzzed her wings, “The Princess tasked me with your protection, sir. Had to make sure there were no dangers in there, all I did was turn on the water.”

Crossing the room, I gave her a quick hug, “Thank you.”

“Very welcome, sir,” she answered with a smile.

Changelings was the absolute best.

Which I suppose is a survival trait for them now.

Entering the dream realm, I sighed and slowly allowed myself to sink down onto the not-ground.

In all honestly, dinner had not been that bad and there had been fish. But it had been a very long day and I felt exhausted.

I stayed like that for a moment, just keeping my eyes closed as I enjoyed the coolness of the dream realm.

Tomorrow negotiations would start. Or rather, I would present what I was here for. There were procedures of these things. I would have preferred to show up, tell him what we wanted and then leave.

But noooo…

Oh well, at least we were getting to the point tomorrow.

Sitting back up, I looked around before I sighed. Luna would be bright awake by now so no Luna time.

I started to flick through dream portals after giving them a quick sorting to get the ones with bad dreams.

No Nightmares in which was good.

I didn’t really feel like hunting any down right now.

Anyone around that I could hang out with? Sunshine were deep asleep, but having a way too nice dream for me to want to interrupt. Celestias portal were almost shining pink.

It was rare to see one in that particular shade and almost everytime I seen one before was from Cadence.

Eyeing the portal for a second I then flicked my ears and sent it on it’s way. I had to admit, I was kind of curious, but looking would be wrong.

Mentally flicking through the portals, I found some ponies. Sunset were asleep and without dreams at the moment.

Swift and Cloud were still awake so they were out.

Twilight were awake which were not very strange, she usually stayed up late reading.

Silver were awake too which was stranger. Maybe she were out with her friends.

Finally, I came up to a portal. Flat dark silvery green.

Changeling. More specifically, Chrysalis.

I had only gone into a changeling dream once with Skitter before she became a Princess. It was a strange experience I didn’t really feel like repeating.

But I also felt like I really should check in on Chrysalis again so see that the stupid bug wasn’t doing something idiotic again.

Glancing around for an excuse, I then sighed and folded my wings and entered through the portal.

Everything went all twisty for a second and then seemed stretch out forever just at the edge of my vision.

The effect of stretching out into infinity stayed around the edge of what I could see, but the rest formed into a dark cave with a ceiling just above my head, the walls kind of creeping in around me.

It was cool, dry and gave of a feeling of comfortable safe home.

Told you changelings were strange as fuck.

Chrysalis were laying on the floor of the cave, looking down at a pile of hoof sized white and fat squirming grubs on the floor between her forelegs.

She looked down at them for a long moment before she turned her head in my direction, “Welcome, little predator.”

What in the fuck!? I hadn’t solidified the dream! How did she know I was here!?

Tapping my hoof, I solidified it around us anyway before I spoke up, “Chrysalis. How…”

“Did I know you were here?” she asked and buzzed her wings before turning back to the pile of grubs, “I could taste you.”

Ah.

That did make sense. Was still strange, but made sense.

“Why are you here?” she finally asked and got up, turning to face me, “Checking in on me?”

“In a way,” I agreed, “Just making sure you’re not being stupid again.”

Chrysalid looked at me and took a step closer, “And here I were starting to think you were starting to understand changelings.”

“I do,” I said and shook my head, looking up at her, “You thought you were a hinderance to the hive’s greater good and as such needed to go away. They still need you, and that was the stupid part.”

“The hive is Everything.”

I nodded, “Almost everything.”

Chrysalis snorted and shook her head, “No. Everything. The Hive must survive and thrive, no matter what. I’d burn the rest of the world if it meant the Hive would make it.”

“But that’s not the kind of thing that would make it happen,” I told her, “It’s not about force, not anymore.”

She paused, and her wings lowered against her back, “…No. It’s not. That’s the old way. My way.”

“The Hive need to adapt if it’s to survive. Change to its environment.”

“Yes.”

I moved closer to look up at her, “So are you telling me that the Queen of the Changelings is incapable of change? Incapable of adapting?”

She growled at me, her wings buzzing hard as she took a step forward, sharp fangs bared with a snarl.

I raised my eyebrows at her, “Well?”

Chrysalis hissed at me, “Let me wake up.”

“Sweet dreams, your highness,” I told her with a smile, letting the dream fade away around us, letting go of my grasp around her and she disappeared from the dream world.

King Darkfeathers looked thoughtful from his spot on the throne, “A trade route across the sea,” he said as he looked at me.

I nodded, “That’s the basic proposal. A joint effort to increase trade between Equestria and Griffona. The only other trade route is a single rail line all the way around the sea and it dosn’t go all the way. It would turn transport times from months to weeks.”

While train were technically faster, it was a hell of a lot shorter to go across than around.

Sadly, airships were too expensive and couldn’t carry enough cargo. At least so far.

“And what of the sea monsters?”

I shifted my wings, “The ships would be defended by our joint forces. But they are also rarer than most ponies realize… and tend to avoid ships, especially if they keep getting booped on the nose by an arbalest or fire spell when they get close.”

Sure, would work on me. If there was a muffin on a table that shot sparks at me when I got close, I would find some less hostile food instead.

Darkfeathers moved off the throne, “And who would pay for all this?”

“It would be a joint effort,” I said, “The details are all outlined in the paperwork. But in short, Equestria will pay for half the guard, the magic protections and the pegasi and the construction of the ships. We have the expertise needed for this kind of ship building. Griffona would pay for the materials for the ships and the majority of the crews for them.”

“How many ships?”

“The current plan is for five ships,” I told him, moving up to stand next to him as he looked at a painting of a griffon in a full plate set of armour.

Darkfeathers was quiet for a long time, “That’s a lot of material and griffon power. In case you didn’t notice on the flight here, Griffona is not covered with forests. Especially the ones suitable for shipbuilding.”

“The specific terms are very negotiable,” I told him, “I’m just here to present the proposal. I have no doubt that actual negotiations over the details will take years until it’s all hammered down. Does it sound like something you would be interested in?”

“If it worked, it would help both of our economies,” he admitted after a second, “I’m unsure on how feasible it is however. Even five vessels of the size of a cross sea trade ship is rather significant.”

I nodded in agreement, “True. But think of all that Equestrian goods and Bits flowing into Griffona.”

“I need to think of this.”

“Of course. Like I said, I’m just here to present the proposal. If it turn into something real, is up to normal channels. The paperwork has been turned in and should arrive for you soon.”

He nodded, “What do you think of it?”

“If I didn’t think it had a chance of working, I wouldn’t waste my time being here, I would be much rather spend my time by the fireplace with Princess Luna,” I told him quite honestly, “It won’t be easy. But I think that if it works, it will be well worth it for everycreature, pony or griffon.”

Darkfeathers shifted his wings, “If it works.”

“Indeed.”

“But as you said, Lord Page,” He started, “Cutting three quarters of the transport time of goods would open up…”

He didn’t get much further before being interrupted as the door to the throne room opened to let another griffon inside. She looked like she were falcon/lion pattern.

“Father?”

Darkfeathers visibly perked up as he spotted her, and he smiled, “Silverlining! You’re back early!”

She nodded and approached, “The hunting trip had to be cut short, one of the guides hurt his wing so there were little point continuing.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” He said and reaches to stroke the feathers on her hair before motioning to me, “May I introduce Lord Blank Page of Equestria. Lord Page, my daughter, Silverlining.”

I bowed slightly, “A pleasure to meet you, my lady.”

“You as well, Lord Page,” she said, eyes flicking between my wings and horn.

I smiled at her, “Never met an Alicorn before?”

She shook her head, “No, my lord.”

“We are rather rare,” I admitted, “May I ask what you were out hunting?”

“Saldian,” She said and then explained, “It’s a kind of horned animal that graze in herds on the plains. Fast and stupid.”

I nodded, “Hunt them a lot?”

“Rarely, only my second time,” she admitted, “It’s only allowed for the royal family and on special dispensation.”

Darkfeathers nodded, “To prevent overhunting.”

That made some sense, especially combined with the entire ‘kings woods’ thing that used to exist on Earth. It made sense it did here too.

“Makes sense. Don’t want to deplete the population for the local predators,” I agreed.

He looked at me in surprise, “I’m curious, what would a pony know about hunting?”

“Oh, not much,” I said with a smile, “Never been hunting. Just fishing a couple of times.”

“Would you care to try it?”

Not particularly to be honest even if I wouldn’t say no to a steak, but there was a challenge in that question.

“Of course.”

AN// Many thanks to rad for betaing this section.

That was… an interesting experience.

Griffons hunted using bow and arrow. Which made sense, they could use them with their hands, they didn’t need crossbows like ponies.

Of course, ponies could also use bow and arrow, but crossbows was way easier.

The animals turned out to be somewhat small deer like creatures with ram horns. Never seen anything like it.

But they were clearly stupid animals. There was no comprehension on their eyes, they seemed more interested in eating grass than anything else. Which in this world was a really worry really, not that I thought the griffons ate people.

Now meat was cooking on the fire, the scent filling the air of the camp. I had not really felt like killing some deer thing, and it did seem like the griffons had no expectation that I would.

I was not the only pony there either actually. Sunset had declined, but the ambassador was here, as well as a couple of my guards.

“Do this often?” I asked as I settled close to him, a goblet of wine floating in my magic, “Doesn’t seem to bother you.”

“…Stay enough with griffons and you get used to things,” Ivory Rock admitted, “At times, it helps not to look. But I can’t help but notice that you seem quite comfortable as well.”

“Been to plenty of dinners at their embassy, they serve fish. I figure those Saldian is basically big fish,” I said, shifting my wings, “Besides, one of my best friend is a changeling.”

“Princess Skitter?”

“Indeed,” I agreed and relaxed, sipping my wine as I looked around, “This is turning from a camp into a party.”

“Hunts usually does in my experience.”

Nodding I watched the fireplace as a couple of griffons started to play a couple of instruments I didn’t recognize alongside of some drums.

The tune was not one I knew, but it was interesting and kind of catchy.

It didn’t take long before the party were at full speed. Laughing, dancing and more drink than you could shake a goblet at.

Thank Luna for earth pony resilience.

By the time a wooden plate with slices of sizzling meat arrived, I actually felt a bit of a buzz from the wine. For not tasting like alcohol at all, it had one hell of a kick.

“Lord Page,” Silverlining said as she held the plate out, “Would you care to try some?”

I had not had any meat other than fish since I arrived in Equestria. The one I ate on Earth didn’t count.

The griffons were lucky I didn’t eat the entire thing straight of the fire place, clinging to the toasting deer thing like a changeling on a box of chocolates.

“Please,” I said and picked a piece up in my magic before giving it a nibble.

Oh my Luna.

Marry me.

That was the most amazing thing in existence. I ate the piece of meat as slowly as I could, I still had some dignity.

“That is quite good,” I said with a smile, “Better than expected, I have to admit.”

She smiled and handed the plate over to my magic before moving to get a plate of her own, “What did you think of the hunt?” she asked when she returned.

“It was interesting. Firing a bow while flying like that can’t be easy.”

To say the least, even casting accurately when flying was tricky and that was mental as much as physical movement.

I haven’t tried a crossbow but it had to be a lot trickier than using a spell and a bow have to be almost impossible. Not even sure a pony could do it. Hands were a lot more nimble than hooves.

“It’s not. Take years of practice to be accurate.”

Clearly.

Nodding, I tried another piece of the barbeque and sipped my wine, “Would be interesting to try sometime.”

“I’ll arrange that you get a bow before you depart,” Silverlining said and dug into her own meal, “I’m not sure trying it while having wine is a good idea.”

“I’m not sure me trying it at all is a good idea,” I admitted with a grin, “I’m fairly sure the safest place to stand would be in front of my target.”

That got a laugh from her, “Same as when I started!”

I glanced to the side. Ambassador Rock had retreated a bit away to talk with one of the hunt masters.

“What’s Equestria like?”

I poked the grass with my hoof, “Different from Griffona. More magic, less… no, not less competition. Different. The construction is different, your capital is… amazing. Never seen anything else like it. Nothing else in Equestria compare.”

Silverlining nodded a bit and ripped another piece of meat from her larger piece, “Would like to see it sometime.”

“I’m sure there’s to be a diplomatic meeting at some point. I’ll show you around if you do. If your father agree with our suggested deal, trade would pick up between our nation, and so would travel.”

“Sounds like it would be fun, I have always wanted to see Canterlot. Is it true it sit on the side of a mountain?”

I grinned, “It is actually, it’s a sight to see at night, especially from a distance.”

It’s when you got close that you realized it was mostly full of stupid nobles.

A question, what would you guys think about small one chapter oneshot stories between the regular ones?

Sneaky.

Sneaky, sneaky.

Slowly moving through the dream realm, I approached the prey I had been tracking for a bit. Slowly rising up through the floor, I spread my wings as I slowly snuck closer before pouncing!

Luna ducked to the side and tackled me in turn with a laugh.

We rolled across the not-floor and I warped not-reality around us, shifting relative size to make it easier to pin her down.

Luna countered and melted away into a cloud of smoke. I quickly followed her, entangling us as we twisted across the not-air and into one of the silver portals.

Rolling across the ground, I turned into a timber wolf and charged. Luna grinned and switched into a little rabbit, bolting into the brambles quickly growing beneath one of the apple trees.

Shrinking down to the size of a rabbit, I charged into the brambles as they kept growing larger than any tree.

Diving into a rabbit hole, Luna escaped the dream and I followed behind and into the next one, turning back into a pony before looking around.

Where was she?

I was in a mansion in Canterlot. I knew this place, it belonged to Fancy Pants, the dream belonged to Fleur.

My hooves sounded soft against the marble floor as I slowly moved along the hallway. Where was she?

I could feel she was close by.

An old pony pounced me out of one of the paintings, swinging his spear.

Not Luna.

I didn’t bother ducking, I just made a hole in the floor so he fell through instead of reaching me.

There!

Diving into the next painting, I found myself back in the space between dreams only to see the top of a tail disappear into nothing.

She had switched Planes.

But which one? Feeling for her distinct solidness in the ever shifting realm of dreams, I started to move slowly through the different planes of dreams until I came to a stop in the griffon one.

Here.

But where?

I slowly looked around and started forward. Luna on the other hand slipped up next to me and nosed at my ear, slipping her wing across my back,

“Well done, My Page.”

“Still got away,” I said and turned my head to kiss her, “You are slippery, My Sky.”

Luna grinned into the kiss before resting her horn against mine, “I do have a bit more experience. But you are learning quickly.”

I winked and switched our sizes, putting my wing around her and pulling her close, my nose against hers, “Just not that sure how useful it is in here.”

“Never know,” she said and smiled up at me, “But it’s more about you practicing in a natural way… and you do like playing tag.”

“Mmm. Like the reward when I win more…”

That got a giggle from her. Something I’m fairly sure very few other ponies have heard from the princess of the night.

“Too bad you didn’t win this time then,” she teased and leaned against me, “How are things in Griffona?”

I nosed at her horn, “Waiting for an answer from the king on the proposal. Don’t expect a yes, but he's likely going to at least agree to see if it can be done. Should be on the way home soon.”

Luna nodded and smiled up at me, “Getting along with the griffons?”

“Yep. Was actually observing some cultural events yesterday.”

Luna raised her eyebrows and looked at me until I clarified,

“…There was a hunt. It was interesting to observer.”

“Not sure I should ask any more questions about that,” Luna admitted, “I know enough about griffons so know where that’s going. Having fun at least?”

“I am,” I admitted and hugged her a bit closer, “Not as much as Sunset is though. She has a whole new set of guards to harass as she explores the city.”

That got a laugh from Luna and she nodded, “That does sound like Sunset Shimmer. Remind me to invite her to dinner with us when you two get back.”

“Luna?”

“She’s still your best friend, I wish to get to know her better.”

I nodded and ran my wing along her back, “Sounds good. Now though… if I didn’t win, then it means that you did…”

“I did, didn’t I…”

AN// Many thanks to FPSCanarussia for betaing this section.

“So how were things at the market?” I asked as I looked up from my editing work as Sunset walked inside.

“Interesting,” she said as she took off her bag, “Different from ponies for sure.”

“In which way?”

“More aggressive haggling,” she answered before she grinned, “Got you something!”

“Oooh, presents!”

Still grinning, she looked through her bag before pulling out something wrapped in a bit of cloth and handed it over to me.

Grabbing it in my magic, I unwrapped it.

It was a small statue of an alicorn, carved from obsidian rock and smoothed out, a moon cutie mark painted on.

Luna.

“That’s amazing, Sunny. Thank you!”

“They had an entire stall selling alicorn merchandise. I picked up a couple more things,” she said and floated some from her bag, “A Princess Celestia one for Twi, like the one you have. And something for me and...”

I jumped off the couch, “What did you buy?”

She grinned and floated a brown coated alicorn plush with a scroll cutie mark from her bag, “Well, I have to get you in bed with me somehow,” she teased.

I just stared at the thing for a second before I facehooved, “...I feel like I should be owned royalties or something.”

“Mhmm,” she agreed with a laugh before she put the toy on her back, “I may have picked up this one too,” she admitted and floated one of Sparks out of her bag.

“D’aaawww, you two are ado...omph!” I didn’t get further before Sunset punched my shoulder,

“Cut that out, wing-boy.”

Rubbing my shoulder, I stuck my tongue out at her before I looked at the squishy toys, “...Did they have one of Luna?”

“I asked, they were out,” Sunny said, “Statue felt like it was more you anyway.”

“True. I do prefer to cuddle the real deal anyway,” I admitted.

Before any of us were able to say anything else, there was a knock on the door and when prompted, a griffon entered with a bow, “Lord Page. His Royal Highness would wish to see you in the throneroom as soon as is convenient.”

Translation: Get your tail down here, pony, I wanna talk with you!

“Of course.”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I entered the throneroom, King Darkfeathers wasn’t on the throne, instead he was standing to the side, looking at one of the statues.

“Your highness,” I said as I approached.

“Lord Page,” he said, “Do you know who this is?”

“I’m afraid not.”

He nodded, “Can’t say I’m surprised, wouldn’t expect you to be an expert on Griffon history. This is an ancestor of mine, Sergetal. He was the Griffon ruler some fifteen hundred years ago.”

I moved up next to him and looked up at the regal looking griffon. He was wearing armour and had his hand on a spear planted in the ground.

Darkfeathers paused for a second before he continued, “He would not have been in the favour for the suggested deal with Equestria. He lead the last war against your nation,” he said before he snorted, “That went about as well as you would expect.”

I wasn’t quite sure what to say about that.

Shaking his head, Darkfeathers turned to me and smiled slightly, “I never said he was very smart. But in this case, I was inclined to agree with him. This deal wouldn’t work, it’s too expensive and too risky. Even if you ignored the crews of the ships, if we lose even one to a storm or one of the sea creatures it would wipe out a lot of the profits. Ships are expensive.”

“They are,” I agreed, “But things are very much negotiable.”

Darkfeathers nodded, “I was against it. Until last night.”

“What changed your mind?”

“A few things,” he answered before he shifted his wings, “Mostly my daughter. She was excited after the hunt, she always wanted to see the world. Travel is… dangerous in our lands. Bandits and pirates, if you are to travel from Griffona, you have to pass through weeks of hostile terrain. That got me thinking and she was right. It’s expensive and dangerous, but we need it, despite the risk. My people deserve to be able to travel and see the world, they deserve to have access to the goods of the rest of the world.”

“They do, and you do,” I agreed.

Darkfeathers turned to me, “I’m not saying it will happen, but I’m willing to entertain negotiations. I have the first suggestion for modification for you to bring back to Princess Celestia. I want twice as many ships. Then losing one wouldn’t be as big of a blow.”

“Makes sense for me,” I agreed, “I’ll pass it along.”

“…And we’re back…” Sunset commented and looked around the cabin, “Yay.”

“You can stay in your own cabin if you prefer,” I teased and poked her side with my wing.

“No thanks!”

With that she trotted over and jumped onto the couch, “…Though to be fair, I should get the bed this time around.”

I just rolled my eyes, “Fine.”

Not like that couch was exactly uncomfortable. Besides, it was only for a week and I would be spending most of it reading anyway.

Sunny perked up at that, “What, really?”

“Why not? I did have it last trip,” I agreed.

She jumped off the couch and trotted past me with a smile, “Thank you.”

Yeah, I know.

I’m awesome.

“Sir?” Amber asked and I turned to her.

“Yeah?”

“Captain Stellarite wishes you to know we are about to head off and is wondering if you want to observe from the top deck this time as well?” she asked, wings slowly buzzing.

I shook my head, “Not this time I think, it’s been a long day. Thank you, Amber.”

“Of course, sir.”

Next time I looked, she was gone again. Changelings are awesome. Amber seemed to take pride in her ability to only be seen when she needed to be.

I know she was a harvester before and preferred that way to gather love. Passively by staying hidden close to… well…

She was even better at hiding than Skitter.

Now how to spend a week of travels?

Didn’t feel like writing right now, but a nap sounded rather nice. Luna would be asleep by now, I could let her know the good news.

Settling down on the couch, I closed my eyes and drifted on into the dream realm. It looked like always and I…

Omph!

Woke up violently as Sunset landed on me!

“Do you mind!?” I asked, looking up at her.

“Bored.”

“It’s been five minutes!” I groaned up at her.

She grinned and scooted off me, “I’m bored. Don’t we have board games or something?”

“Go pick something out then,” I said and rubbed my eyes as I surrendered. Yeah, as long as she was in this kind of mood, I’m not getting any sleep.

“Chess?” she asked as she returned with the board.

“Sure,” I agreed and sat up, “Looking forward to getting back?”

Sunset nodded as she started to set up the pieces, “I do. It was interesting to see this place, but I miss Canterlot and Twi. I think I’ll go visit Ponyville when we get back. You?”

“Something similar,” I admitted, “Want to get back and curl up by the fireplace with Luna for Hearth's Warming."

“Mmm, that does sound nice,” Sunny admitted and took the first move, “Twi might come back to Canterlot with me for Hearth's Warming. She does always spend it with Princess Celestia after visiting her parents.”

“And the evening with you. By your own fireplace.”

Sunset actually blushes slightly, “Hopefully. I did get her something nice before we left for this, Rarity should have it done by the time I get to Ponyville.”

“Oh my.”

“Oh, shut it. Like you haven’t done that for Princess Luna,” she countered and stuck her tongue out at me as I made my move.

I grinned at her, “Eh, guilty,” before I flicked my ears, before I looked at her in curiosity, “But how can you afford something from Rarity?”

Sunset shrugged a bit, “…I don’t, not really. She gives me a friends and family discount normally but when she found out it was for Twi, she demanded to do it at no cost.”

“Well, she is the element of generosity,” I agreed and moved my next piece, taking one of her pawns, “Still, that’s nice of her. But you know, you really should be paid more than you are.”

Sunset grinned, “Yes, please. But in all honestly, it’s usually more than enough. I both eat and live for free and the stipend is calculated on needing to pay for both of those. Rarity custom stuff is just… expensive.”

“Yeah, tell me about it.”

Everything I got for Luna was completely custom after all, nothing off the shelf so to speak would even come close to fitting and I didn't get any kind of discount.

Not like I would ever get her something off the shelf even if it was possible, she deserved the best.

AN// Big piles of thanks to FPSCanarussia for betaing this section.

The dream realm sparkled all around as I moved between the silvery portals of ponies dreams.

Luna were awake already. Strangely enough, so was Celestia. Or maybe not so strange if it was this week when Clear Skies were dropped by.

Twilight was actually asleep and having a nice dream at that. Not the adult kind, but I still didn’t want to bother her when she managed to actually get to bed in a reasonable time.

Pausing, I looked at the portal next to me.

Cadence was asleep and having a normal dream. Been quite a while since I visited her and checked how things was in the Crystal Empire.

Cadence was the Alicorn I was the least close to and I should likely fix that. We were after all likely to know each other for a long while.

Touching my horn to the silvery portal, I stepped through to find myself in a throne room. Blinking, I looked around. This wasn’t in Canterlot…

Oh! I knew this place. The palace in the Crystal Empire. Silvery crystal walls all around with a soft red carpet leading towards the throne.

Cadence was sitting on the throne… I could only assume. All that sticking out from beneath a pile of scrolls the size of a small house, was a pink, purple and yellow tail.

Oh. So, it was a nightmare.

Wait, no. not nightmare for her, just a very boring and stressful dream.

That’s funny!

Grinning, I tapped my hoof against the floor, sending out a pulse to solidify the dream for us before sitting down to wait.

Cadence wiggled and struggled before letting out a sound of frustration as she pushes the scrolls and piles of papers off herself, her head poking out of the pile before she spotted me, “Page! A little help!?”

I grinned and shifted the dream to a more comfortable one, tapping my hoof against the floor again to make it a copy of Luna’s and mine sitting room in Canterlot castle.

The wave of change radiated out from my hoof and the dream melted and shifted, leaving Cadence laying on the couch instead.

“Better?”

“Much,” she admitted and worked her magic through her mane, “Luna, I hate that dream.”

“Didn’t seem like an actual nightmare though,” I said and jumped up to sit down on one of the comfy chairs.

“…It’s not. Not really. Just… ugh.”

“Things stressful?”

She sighed, “You could say that. Been spent the last couple of weeks reviewing next year’s budgets.”

“Ow.”

Cadence nodded, “Shining is about as stressed as me, not even sure he have gotten to bed yet.”

“He hasn’t, I didn’t see his dreams anywhere,” I said, “His guard taking up a lot of time?”

“Something like that. He’s doing his own paperwork,” Cadence said and looked at me, “So how are you?”

“Mostly bored. On the way back from Griffona.”

“I got a letter about that from Twilight. How did things go?”

I smiled, “Well enough that they are willing to start negotiations through normal channels. I think it’ll work out.”

“Twilight said Sunset Shimmer was going along.”

I sighed and looked at her, “Cadence, will you drop that?”

“Page, it’s…” she started to say before she frowned thoughtfully, “Page, how do you see dreams?”

“What?”

She motioned around us, “I see us in a room. To me, it’s perfectly real. As real as if I was here while awake. What is it like for you?”

I glanced around, “Uhm… the same. Kinda. But there are also levels beneath, I can feel it all around. Almost like… warm sunlight on my coat?”

No way to really confuse it with the material world. I suppose it was almost like being Neo in the Matrix, I could see the ‘code’ beneath the rest of the world.

Cadence nodded, “That’s how things are with Love for me. I can literally see and feel what ponies and other creatures feel.”

“You can detect other emotions too?”

She nodded, “Love is just way easier. Missing a pony in love is like somehow missing that the sun is shining!”

Oh.

I wasn’t entirely sure how to respond to that.

Cadence jumped off the couch and approached, “Look, I’ll drop if it you can answer a question for me.”

I blinked at her before I shook my head and pointed my hoof at her “No. No Cadence, stay out of things. I don’t know what your plan is, but no.”

She let out a small frustrated sound before sitting down, flexing her wings, “Fine! Fine! But I reserve the right to be smug.”

“We’re just friends.”

“Mhmm. I had a friend like that before too. We got married.”

I’m not sure why everypony is so insistent about this! Sunset and I were just friends!

…Right?

“You said you were bored,” I said with a grin, “Mare up.”

Sunset stuck her tongue out at me, “Next time, we bring more books,” she said and looked around the dream of a forest clearing. The middle of the clearing was a bonfire, lighting the area up as the moon shined high above.

The forest around were dark and full of terrors.

Literally.

“So…” she asked and turned next to me, scanning the edges of the clearing, “No cheating?”

“No dream powers,” I said, “I get taken down, I wake up. You get taken down, we both wake up.”

Her side touched mine and I could see her swallowing, “Uhm… Page? What kind of monsters are there?”

“You tell me, I told the dream to use your nightmares as a base.”

“…Oh Luna…”

“What?”

“I watched a lot of horror movies on Earth!”

With that, a metal skeleton in jeans and a leather jacket with burning red eyes stepped into the light of the clearing. It’s minigun quickly spinning up.

I stared for a second.

Oh.

…Not good.

This may turn out to be a rather short endeavor.

Gathering my magic, I threw up the strongest kinetic barrier shield as I could. The night exploded in a horrible roar as I could feel the shield sparkle and be pummeled hard.

“SUNSET!” I yelled as I struggled to keep the shield up and solid. Luckily, I didn’t need to wait more than a couple of seconds before a burning log smacked the terminator over the head hard enough make it stumble.

It stopped firing and I dropped the shield to smash it with a spear of ice before it could re-aim. It went down in a shower of sparks.

“You have disturbing dreams!” I said, turning to the unicorn.

“I didn’t really run into horror stories like these before coming to earth, don’t blame me, blame the gore obsessed monkeys!” Sunset shouted right back before the air filled with a hissing sound.

One I would recognize anywhere.

Nope! Nope! Nope!

The black chitin covered and razor sharp creature pounced from the shadows and I blasted it from the air, “No! Go away! Go away! Go away!” I yelled as I pummeled it into the ground with small log Sunset had thrown at the robot, “Go away! Go away!”

The log slowly melted as acid splashed.

“…You have issues,” Sunset commented from next to me as she stared at the mess before turning to me, “How in Equestria can you be friends with changelings?”

“Totally different!” I said and shook her head, “I don’t like those things!”

I may have been permanently scared by watching those movies when I was nine.

Next thing wandering out from the shadows was a big human wearing a white hockey mask.

I glanced at Sunset and she nodded at me before we ran to flank the dream monster.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

An hour later, I dropped down on the ground, struggling to catch my breath of the not air. The words of Morpheus came to mind.

'Do you think that’s air you’re breathing?'

In this case, yes it was. Because I was following the rules of the dream. Kinda. As Sunset dropped down next to me, struggling to for her own breath, I flexed my powers over the dream and cleaned up the site, sending broken robots and monsters away, leaving only the clearing and sparkling bonfire.

“…That was exhausting,” Sunset managed to groan, “Is my horn going to hurt like this tomorrow?”

“No, just dream stuff,” I said and brushed dust off her back with my wing, “Want it to go away?”

“Yes please?”

I flexed the dream again, cleaning away the dust from us as well as the leaves and small branches stuck in her long mane, “Better?”

“Much,” she groaned softly and shifted to lean against my side, “Thanks.”

“Welcome. Bored still?”

That got a small laugh from her and she shook her head, “No. Not really. Let’s not do that again anytime soon.”

“Agreed,” I said as I nodded and sighed, relaxing and watching the fire for a couple of seconds before I turned to her, “Maybe letting your dream pick attackers wasn’t the best thing,”

“Yeah, no kidding,” she agreed and turned to me, her horn clicking against mine as I suddenly found her nose millimetres from mine as our eyes met.

All of a sudden, I became very aware how close and warm she was, and how large and light green, almost blue her beautiful eyes were.

She slowly moved closer, her nose touching mine and I met her half way, pulling her closer with my wing as I kissed her.

I slowly entered Luna’s dream. She was relaxing on a beach, a drink floating next to her in her magic, an umbrella protecting her from the sun.

“…Hey.”

She smiled and looked over at me, “My Page. I got a message from Cadence.”

I nodded and settled down next to her, “On our way home.”

Luna smiled and slipped her wing around me, pulling me closer before she frowned slightly at me, “…My Page? Is something wrong?”

I shifted and hesitated for a second before I shook my head, “Don’t think so. I…” I started before I looked over and up at her, “I kissed Sunset.”

Luna frowned slightly.

Oh.

Oh crap.

Her eyes quickly widened, she must have seen my reaction and she shook her head as she smiled, “No! No, My Page! That’s not that I think you did anything wrong, it’s my sister!”

“…I’m not following,” I said and blinked at her.

Luna pouted, “This means I owe her twenty Bits. I thought for sure it would take at least until Hearts and Hooves day. She’ll be so annoying about it.”

I stared up at her for a long moment, “…Seriously? You actually bet on when I would get together with Sunny!? Not even ‘if’ I would get together with her!?”

Luna stuck her tongue out at me, “Silly Page. I have known it was coming since you two started to spend time together. Anyone that saw the two of you together could see it. Who knows you better than anypony?”

“…You do.”

“Who is the pony that almost needed to literally tell you I liked you? After dropping hints for months?”

“It was you.”

Luna smirked, “And who is the pony that you acted similarly with before you got together with her?”

“Celestia?”

Next thing I knew, I was laughing and trying to get away from her tickling, “Stop! Stop! I surrender!”

Winking out of existence, I ‘teleported’ on top of her to return the assault. Luna squeaked in surprise, squirming to get away.

I clung to her, using my wings on her sides before I finally gave up and slid off her, laying on my side on the not-sand, “Luna?”

She got her breath back and rolled to face me, “Mhhmm?”

“You really don’t have a problem with this?”

Luna scooted a bit closer and stole a small kiss, “Of course not, my silly Page. I wouldn’t have pushed for you two to get together if I did. I like Sunset Shimmer, even if I don’t know her anywhere near as well as you do, I think she is good for you. I would like to get to know her better.”

Nodding, I scooted close in turn, resting my head against her neck, “This is strange to me.”

“I know, My Page. But we’ll figure it out,” Luna said with a smile, nuzzling at my ear, “Would you like me to tell Twilight?”

I shook my head, “We’ll talk to her when we get back. This is kind of the kind of thing that should be discussed in person, My Sky.”

Luna nodded and cuddled me, slipping her wing around me, “It is indeed. I do think think I should go talk with Sunset Shimmer as well though.”

“Now?”

“She is asleep, so now would be as good a time as any,” Luna agreed and gave me a kiss before getting up and stretching her wings, “There are a couple of things we should discuss.”

I nodded and got to my hooves, “I’ll come.”

Luna gave me a playful look, “I think not. This is not the kind of talk that’s for sensitive stallion ears.”

I hesitated, ears flicking, “Uhm… oh,” and I most definitely didn’t blush.

Luna grinned and moved in to kiss me, “I’m so happy for you, My Page, I was worried you would be to stubborn for your own good.”

“I was worried I was going to break things, My Sky,” I admitted and kisses back before resting my horn against hers, “Despite what you said before… it’s not normally how things are done where I grew up.”

Nodding, Luna nuzzled, “I know. But you seem to have things well in hoof. Now, go check on some dreams or something, Sunset Shimmer and I will be busy for a couple of hours.”

With that, she turned and disappeared into a shimmering silver portal.

I dropped back onto the sand as I took over her dream, stabilizing it now that she was no longer holding it up on her own.

That went way better than I feared it mi…

I blinked and quickly looked towards the spot where Luna had disappeared… and I just realized I got outnumbered as well as outgunned.

Buck.

AN// Many thanks to FPSCanarussia for betaing this part.

Waking up, I rolled over and stretched my wings. Outside the windows of the airship snow where whirling between the clouds.

We must be pretty low to have snow outside. But I’m sure the Captain had a good reason for it.

Folding my wings again, I leaned my side against the back of the couch as I looked out of the windows, very carefully not looking towards the door to the bedroom.

Finally, I turned my head towards the door and slipped off the couch and slowly headed over there. I hesitated for a second before I tapped my hoof against the wood on the door.

“Come in.”

I knew she had been awake, her dream portal had been missing just before I woke up.

Pushing the door open, I looked inside, “Morning.”

Sunset were laying on the bed, a book floating before her before she smiled, “Good morning.”

Smiling I trotted over, “What are you reading?”

Shifting slightly, she turned the book in her magic so I could see the title. It was the second Daring Do book.

“That one is good.”

“Mmm,” she agreed and shifted a bit to the side, glancing at me.

I jumped up to settle down next to her, “Sunny…”

“Hmm?”

“Talk to Luna?”

She nodded a bit with a small smile, turning back to her book, “I did.”

“Do I want to know?”

That just got a giggle from her.

…I’m guessing no, then.

Slipping my wing across her back caused her to scoot closer, putting her side against mine while closing her book.

“…Cadence is going to be so....” I finally said. Sunset snorted and then nodded,

“She will,” she agreed before she turned her head to let her horn tap against mine, “…Luna may also have been a bit… ‘I told you so’ about it as well.”

I grinned a bit I rested my horn against hers gently, “…Yeah, kind of got some of that too.”

“Figured,” she said and then looked at me, “…Page?”

“Yeah?”

“We’re still… us, you know?”

I looked at her, “How do you mean?”

“I mean…” she started before she frowned, “You’re my best friend, I don’t want to lose that. I don’t want to lose our dynamic. If we can be more, I would love that. But… if it means we lose that, I…”

I nodded a bit in agreement, “I know how you mean. But I don’t see why it would change, we just add a bit… uhm…”

Sunset shot me a playful look, “A bit what?”

“More.”

That got a laugh from her and she nodded, “More, huh? That does sound like something I want to try,” she teased.

I shifted slightly, running my wing along her back,“ Me too. But I want us to stay us too.”

“But before…” She said and rested her head against the side of my neck, “I want to talk with Twi. In person, not through a dream, it’s more traditional that way. So, let’s keep things light before then.”

The fact that any of this was traditional at all kind of blew my mind.

“But then…” Sunset continued, raising her head to whisper into my ear.

Oh.

Oh my.

I swallowed and turned to look at her, “Really?”

“Mhmm,” she agreed before she stuck her tongue out at me playfully, “Why? Don’t think you can handle it?”

“I can assure you, I most certainly can!”

“We’ll see,” she teased and flicked her ears.

Growling at her, I pulled her tight with my wing and kissed her before I smiled and rested my horn against hers, “You know what occurred to me?”

“Hmm?”

“You’re such a Mary Sue.”

Sunset pulled back a bit to look at me in surprise and a bit of outrage, “I’m not!”

“You knew what I meant!” I teased her with a grin, “And you are!”

“Am not!” she protested, “And you’re one to talk!”

I grinned at her, “You totally are. Beautiful very magical pony with dark tortured past and that managed to get two Alicorn lovers. While trained at ancient combat arts to defend Equestria.”

She rolled onto her back, looking up at me with a smirk, “And which part of that don’t also apply to you, Mister ‘also famous author and only male alicorn’.”

I glowered down at her, “So very much not the same thing and I don’t have a dark past, just a mysterious one. Besides, I’m ruggedly handsome, not beautiful. If anything, I’m more Captain Kirk than anything else.”

“Kirk!? No way you are a Kirk!” Sunset protested and put her hoof on my chest, “…Maybe Captain Reynolds. Maybe.”

“Mmm… I’d take Reynolds…” I agreed and leaned down to kiss her as her fore legs went around my neck.

AN// A pile of thanks to Itsune for betaing this part.

I couldn’t help but be in a really good mood as I trotted along the hallway of Canterlot castle. It was so good to be back.

Even the outside was nice. Cold maybe, but the sun was shining, and the sky was blue all over.

Giving the guards a cheerful smile as I reached the door, “Is she busy?”

They glanced at each other, “No meeting at the moment, sir.”

Nodding, I moved to push the door open and entered into Celestia’s office, “Hey Sunshine.”

Celestia glanced up from her spread out papers, “Page. Welcome back.”

“Thank you, your royal highness,” I said and bowed deeply, going as far as to spread my wings as I presented the scroll I had been carrying in my magic, “A missive from King Darkfeathers, to your own glorious self.”

That got a snort from her, “Good news I take it?”

“Eyep,” I agreed and got up again, tossing the scroll onto her desk as I folded my wings, “Want a summary?” I asked as I trotted up to her.

“Please, if you would?”

“In short, he thinks it’s a interesting idea and is willing to hammer down the details. But he want twice the ships so that if a ship is lost, the loss is relatively lowered.”

She looked thoughtful and nodded, “It’s something to think about,” she agreed before she smiled, “More importantly, I heard some news from my sister.”

“Did you now?” I asked with a grin, “Yes, I’m getting together with Sunset.”

Celestia smiled and leaned in to give me a nuzzle, “I’m so happy for you. You two fit so well together.”

“Maybe, we’re leaving for Ponyville tomorrow,” I said, “We’re going to talk to Twilight in person.”

She nodded, “Good.”

Something suddenly struck me, and I blinked up at the taller alicorn, “…Did you sent me on this entire thing to matchmake me with Sunset!?”

Celestia shifted back a bit, putting her hoof to her chest as she frowned down at me, “Page! Do you really think I would mobilize dozens of ponies and spend tens of thousands of Bits to set my sisters Fiancée up my former student and his best friend?”

I blinked up at her, “…You did, didn’t you?”

“Of course not, that’s silly.”

I shifted my ears a bit before I facehoofed, “…No. No it wasn’t. It was to win the bet with your sister, wasn’t it?”

Celestia laughed, “Since when does anything like that have just one reason? It was a legitimate diplomatic mission that you were uniquely suited for. That I could also win a bet and make you and Sunset happy at the same time were just a bonus.”

Sighing, I shook my head, “Seriously, you and Chrysalis…” I said and hugged her quickly, “…Still, thank you.”

“You’re more than welcome, Page,” Celestia answered and hugged back, putting her wings around me, “Now, go wake up my sister. Or if you’re up there when she does wake up, her moon will be late.”

“Come on, that happened one time!”

XXXXXXXXXX

Carefully I slipped into the bedroom. Luna were deep asleep, sprawled out on the bed in the bubble of silence around the bed.

Smiling I carefully moved through it and crawled onto the bed, carefully making my way beneath her closest wing as I moved up next to her, nosing along her neck.

She slowly stirred and smiled lazily, pulling me tighter, “Mmm… welcome back…”

“Sleep well?”

Luna mmed and cuddled closer, shifting to rest her head against mine, “Trip went well?”

“Very.”

That got a small giggle from her and she nuzzled at my ear, “I figured it would.”

I poked her, “Not like that, My Sky.”

“Hmmh?” Luna asked and smirked, finally opening her eyes, “Why not?”

I don’t blush, damn it.

“…We’re talking to Twilight first. Going with Sunset to visit tomorrow,” I said and nuzzled at her neck.

Luna nodded and curled up a bit more, smiling as she put her nose against mine, “Good,” before she blinked and frowned, “…What time is it?”

I smirked, “Around six.”

She groaned softly and closed her eyes again, “Too early.”

“Too early?” I asked and stole a small kiss, “Missed you, My Sky.”

“Missed you too, My Page,” she mumbled and nuzzled, wing sliding along my back, “And maybe not too early…”

Ponyville always had a story book village feel about it. The fact that it was now covered by half a pony height of snow only reinforced it.

All in all, as we trotted off the train, we were instantly hit with freezing air and whirling snow, causing Sunset to wrap her scarf a bit tighter around her neck, “More snow, really?” she asked and glanced up at the clouds, “What’s the weather ponies thinking!?”

“Plenty of snow is nice for Heartswarming day?” I suggested and shifted my wings, stretching then and folding them again.

“Well… yeah. But who likes shovelling snow?” she asked with a frown, “This is why I like living in the city!”

True enough. Could appreciate that, I felt pretty much the same way. Shovelling snow sucks and if I could avoid it, I would.

“Looks nice though.”

Sunset made a small sound in agreement, “Come on.”

Nodding, I trotted along next to her. I was a bit nervous about this, but… I also looked forward to seeing Sparks again.

I did bring the latest draft for my next book for her to look through. The chance to read a brand new book?

She’d love it.

Ponyville was a small town, the town library came quickly into sight. The sky was already getting darker as night were on the way. The warm lights from inside the library shone bright and welcoming through the windows.

Sunset quickly trotted up and pushed the door open, “Twi!”

No movement.

I moved up next to her and shared a look with her before I smirked, “Basement?”

Sunset grinned, “Basement,” she agreed, and we moved inside, putting our bags down by the door Sunset unwrapped her scarf and then headed for the door down to the basement.

By the time we reached the door, we could already hear Twilight from down stairs, “Spike! Where did I put note book! I had it right here!”

“Twi! We’re here!” Sunset called out.

There was a gasp from below and then a kind of purple whirlwind as the alicorn rushed up the stairs and tackled the unicorn onto the floor for a kiss, “Kitten!!”

I couldn’t help but grin. That’s bloody adorable!

Sunset kissed back, putting her fore legs around Sparks for a second before she broke the kiss and blushed slightly, “We have company.”

Twilight blinked at her and finally spotted me. She turned red and quickly scooted back and up, folding her wings and clearing her throat, “Oh! Uhm… H-hi Page.”

I grinned, “Oh, don’t mind me. Please, continue. I’ll just be over here, taking notes.”

“Page!” Sunset exclaimed and trotted up to smack my shoulder with her hoof as Sparks turned even brighter red.

I rubbed my shoulder and winked at her.

Sunset stuck her tongue out at me before she shook her head and turned to Twilight, “Twi… we kind of need to talk to you.”

Twiligh blinked and looked between us, “What do you want to talk ab… Oh!” she exclaimed with a smile, “her wings quickly going up, “We were right!”

I nodded, “You were. I suppose this should be a lesson to listen the ponies that know us the best,” I admitted before I grimaced slightly, “…Especially when the Alicorn of Food agreed with them.”

“Love,” Sunset corrected me, facehoofing, “Alicorn of Love. You spend way too much time with changelings.”

“I like changelings,” I protested before I shifted a bit, “…but admittedly, I shouldn’t be calling her tha-omph!”

I suddenly found myself in a hug from Twilight as she hugged me and Sunny tight,

“I’m so happy for you!”

“…Thanks, Sparks,” I said and hugged back.

She smiled and pulled back to look at Sunset, “During the trip to Griffona?” she asked and pulled back, folding her wings again.

Sunset nodded a bit, “…Yeah. Page were in one of my dreams and we had been fighting monsters. We were relaxing after and… kind of ended up kissing?”

Twilight laughed slightly and shook her head, “That’s so you two!”

I shook my head, “We just kind of wanted to tell you in person. I talked to Luna through a dream, but we kind of… wanted to let you know.”

Sparks nodded with a smile, “I appreciate it, but not we didn’t already know, despite what you two said,” she teased, “I’m glad for you two.”

Sunset moved up to give her a nuzzle and a kiss, “Thank you, Twi.”

Twilight nuzzled back with a smile and moved up next to Sunset, putting her wing across her back, “Are you two hungry? Getting about dinner time.”

“Yes please,” I agreed before I smirked at Sunset, “Kitten?”

The unicorn blushed dark red.

Opening my eyes, I yawned and stretched before rolling out of the guest bed and stretching my wings as well.

We had all stayed up late last night, mostly talking.

Both about us and of course about the griffons. Unsurprisingly Sparks wanted to know everything.

I’m actually surprised I didn’t hear much after Twi and ‘kitten’ went to bed. But their dream portals didn’t appear until late so I very much suspected more than cuddling went on.

Grinning to myself at that idea, I started down the stairs, keeping quiet. Not that Luna and I didn’t spend most of the time in similar activities. In the dream realm, of course.

I moved carefully, not wanting to wake either of them.

Now for the real goal… tea!

Heading for the kitchen, I quickly brewed myself a cup of black tea I found in one of the cupboards. Sparks wasn’t much of tea pony so she didn’t have much variety home.

We were going to stay here for a couple of days and then all head to Canterlot for Hearth’s Warming so that meant I needed to go find a source of tea. Rarity should have a source, I needed to visit her anyway to find a present for Luna. Kind of short of time this time around which I kind of felt bad about, but things had been a bit hectic.

As I poured my cup, I headed out into the main room, the library. Grinning, I looked around. There are some massive pros to living in a library!

Smiling to myself, I walked among the shelves until I found a copy of the latest Daring Do book before heading to light the fireplace with a spark of magic.

“I don’t understand, how do you do it?” a sudden voice asked behind me. I give changelings all the credit for me not jumping and screaming like a little filly, after years with them I’m basically immune to jumpscares. Seriously, my tea didn’t even spill.

I turned to look at the mismatching pile of parts in the general shape of an elongated eastern dragon laying across the back of one of the armchairs, “What do you want, Discord?”

He looked at me before he slipped down from the chair, “I’m curious. You are spread chaos, yet they love you. Why?”

I blinked at him, “Chaos?” I asked before I frowned and glanced down at my tea.

Maybe should have asked before picking something from Sparks kitchen to drink. For all I knew, this was ‘special’ tea from some experiment or whatever.

Discord shifted, flowing to peer at me from centimetres away, “I’m a being of Chaos, you shine of it. You always have. You Change Things.”

I frowned at him as I sat down, sipping my maybe tea, maybe something else as I looked at him. He didn’t seem here to cause trouble, at least not intentionally, so I wasn’t about to antagonize the most omnipotent being around just because I didn’t like him.

“…You’re talking about the timestream,” I finally said as the maybe caffeine got my brain in the game, “Me arriving in Equestria changed things in unpredictable manners.”

Discord disappeared in a flash before reappearing again, this time with his arm around my shoulders, “Indeed, my prime primate. You were not meant to be here. I can feel the world changing, has changed.”

I glanced at him, “Without me, Tirek would have won. I hope you realize that he would have betrayed you in the end. Equestria, the rest of the world would have been his playground.”

Shrugging, Discord shifted back, “Perhaps. Wanna find out?”

“Not particularly, no,” I admitted.

Discord laughed and floated into the air, “But I do! And I know how! Something is coming, and it can show you.”

With that he snapped his fingers. The air in the middle of the open space in the middle of the library started to shimmer before he disappeared in a flash of light.

Oh fuck.

Setting the cup down, I readied myself, “Sparks! Sunny! Get your tails down here!” I yelled quickly.

There was a snap of displaced air and suddenly there was a massive round crystal table sitting there on the floor, tall enough to reach my neck and maybe four pony lengths across.

I blinked in surprise.

What?

What did a crystal table have to do with me not being in the timeline? Why did he… what did any of this have anything to do with me spreading chaos?

Frowning to myself, I slowly approached the table.

This didn’t make any…

Suddenly the air above the table crackled, a blue portal snapping open. I quickly took a step back and charged my horn as I spread my wings, ready to throw myself out of the way of any danger.

The portal stabilized and out fell…

Twilight Sparkle and Spike.

I blinked in surprise. The Twlight on the table rubbed her eyes and sat up before startling when she spotted me, “Wha…” she started to say.

Amber jumped in front of me, wings buzzing as she hovered, “Sir, get ba…”

That’s about as far as she got before the alicorn on the table screamed and cast a spell. Amber threw up a green shield, but it was like tissue-paper against a firehose.

Before I could reach, the beam of force smashed Amber backwards and into and through the closest bookshelf.

Motherfucker!

Casting myself to the side, I spun illusions in all directions before returning fire with a spear of ice.

Dupli!Twilight scrambled and shielded before throwing another spear of force towards one of my illusions.

The fight was on, spells going all over the place and I did my absolute best to not be where those spells hit. She was strong, as strong as the real one. But worse, she didn’t have Sparks training.

Ice spell towards the left, she’ll shield and then…

I charged a teleport, teleporting onto the table before throwing myself forward, tackling her as she reappeared from her teleport and I quickly hit her with my strongest sleep spell.

She threw it off like nothing, sending me flying with a shockwave of force and I hit the closest bookshelf, knocking it over.

Ow.

Okay, that’s it.

I started to pick myself off the bookshelf, spreading my wings for balance.

No more mister nice pony.

“WHAT IN EQUESTRIA IS GOING ON HERE!?” Sparks yelled as she charged down the stairs, Sunset close behind her.

Dupli!Twilight paused and picked herself off the floor, looking between us all, “What?”

Welcome to the Twilight Zone.

Sparks was pissed. Sunset was confused. I was with Sunset on this one.

I kept a very close eye on Dupli!Twilight as I checked on Amber, having pulled a bookshelf off her.

Her chitin seemed mostly okay, it was cracked on one rear leg, but she was alive if completely out of it.

Holding her close by my wing to let her draw on my energy, I explained to Sparks and Sunset what happened with Discord.

Fucking Discord.

Sparks looked between me and Dupli!Twilight, “And you thought it was a good idea to wreck my library!?”

“She attacked Amber!” I protested, “It’s weird mirror dimension Twilight!”

Lack of beard or not!

“I saw a changeling!” Dupli!Twilight protested, “They’re evil!”

“They are not evil!” I protested, “She was protecting me! From you!”

Sparks shook her head, “Okay everypony, calm down,” she said and spread her wings with a sigh before turning to Dupli!Twilight, “Why are you here?”

Dupli!Twilight picked a hiding Dupli!Spike up and put him on her back, “I’m… well, he, whomever he is, isn’t wrong. I’m from another dimension, well, timeline really. I’m trying to stop a mare called Starlight Glimmer from ending the world. She’s trying to stop me from meeting my friends, the other bearers of the elements of harmony. Then she sends me into those worlds and I have to return to stop her.”

“Elements of harmony,” I said and held Amber tighter as I felt her stir slightly, “Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle.”

Dupli!Twilight blinked at me in surprise, “Yes! I met them here!?”

Twilight nodded, “I did, they are my best friends.”

Dupli!Twilight looked confused, “But… then what…”

“Discord,” I said, “You weren’t mean to end up in this timeline. He accused me of being a source of chaos ponies liked and that I changed things. He said he was going to show me. I think he redirected you here from where you were really going.”

Dupli!Twilight nodded, “That makes sense. I mean, in any other world I gone to, things had been…”

“Bad?” Sparks asked her.

Dupli!Twilight nodded, “Bad. Nightmare Moon ruling Equestria, Equestria at war against King Sombra…” she said before glancing at Amber, “Changelings overrunning the land, feeding on ponies.”

“They are not like that,” I said and shook my head, “not anymore.”

“It’s true,” Sparks confirmed, “The changelings are our allies. At least the hive of Queen Chrysalis and Princess Skitter are.”

Dupli!Twilight looked a bit confused, “Who’s Princes…” she said before she shook her head, “Never mind, I need to get back and stop Starlight Glimmer.”

Sparks frowned, “…Did you say Starlight Glimmer?”

“Why?”

“Because here, she is my student.”

Dupli!Twilight looked surprised, “…Did she take over a village and steal their cutiemarks?”

“Yes, but she was misguided, not evil,” Sparks protested, “I mean, she’s trying to do better, and I don’t see her doing something like this!”

I did. But I had also seen her dreams. Even now, Starlight Glimmer was trouble and without help, I could easily have seen her snap after losing if we didn’t manage to catch her.

Dupli!Twilight frowned and then shook her head, “Maybe. But I must stop her,” she said and moved around the table, “I need to find the scroll to… oh no.”

Sunset looked at her, “What?”

Dupli!Twilight lifted up burned and tattered fragments of what looked like paper from the ground. There wasn’t a lot there.

Sparks quickly moved up to her, “What was it?”

Dupli!Twilight sat down, staring at it, “It… it was the scroll. The scroll containing the spell, the key to the entire matrix. Without the scroll…” she said and glanced back at the Dupli!Spike on her back as he stared back at her before he spoke up,

“…We’re stuck...” he said, sinking down to lay on her back, “…We’re not getting home.”

Dupli!Twilight swallowed, “We’ll find a way.”

Sparks nodded and put her hoof on her shoulder, “We will. I haven’t found a spell yet I can’t figure out with time.”

“And now there are two of you,” Sunset said with a smile, “We’ll fix it.”

Dupli!Twilight managed a small smile, “Thanks, I…” she started before she frowned at Sunny, “…you’re Sunset Shimmer. What are you doing in Equestria, aren’t you supposed to be in the human world?”

Sunset blinked at her, “I am?”

Dupli!Twilight then turned to look at me, “…And I still have no idea who you are. A male alicorn… I didn’t even think that was possible!”

“King Sombra, nice to meet you,” I told her with a smile.

Dupli!Twilight took a quick step back.

Sunset sighed and facehooved, “Page, so not the time or place. The pony who think he is funny is Blank Page.”

Amber groaned a bit and started to slowly blink awake.

“If you excuse me, can we perhaps focus on the injured ‘ling?” I then asked, shooting a look at Sunset, “Help me move her to the couch?”

“Are you sure you are okay?” I asked Amber with a frown.

The changeling nodded and rubbed her head, “I’m fine, sir.”

“Your chitin…”

She shook her head and smiled a bit, “I’m fine, sir. It’s not outright broken and I’m mostly healed already, plenty of love to use for it. It’s just going to look messy until I molt next time.”

I frowned at her before I nodded, “Well I want you to stay still and tell me if you feel dizzy or anything.”

“Yes sir,” she said and shifted slightly before groaning, “If you don’t mind, sir, I’ll rest for a bit.”

“You did a good job Amber," I said and stroked her mane, “Get some rest.”

She closed her eyes and relaxed on the couch and I moved over to Sunset. The Twilights were by the large crystal table, seeing what they could piece together from the remains of the mangled scroll.

The two Spikes were sitting by the fireplace looking at each other, eating gems and reading comics.

Well at least things have calmed down a bit.

I looked at Sunset and then at the Twilights, “This is very strange, even for us.”

She just nodded, “Very,” she said before she looked away from the Twilights to smirk at me, “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

I snorted, “I am now at least.”

She grinned and then shifted a bit closer, “My, my. Thinking of my marefriend like that, Page?”

Grinning I shook my head and put my wing around her giving her ear a nuzzle, “Tease.”

She smiled and then sighed, “How’s Amber?”

“Bit beaten up but she should be fine,” I said, “I’m not an expert on changeling medicine but as long as she eats love she should recover.”

Sunset nodded, “So… following anything the Twilights are saying?”

“I get maybe one word in five,” I admitted, “They were way above my head about two sentences in.”

Left Twilight turned to us, “We need to head to Canterlot. And we definitely need to talk to Princess Celestia.”

I nodded in agreement, “Now that sound like a good idea.”

Sunset nodded as well, “I think so too but one thing first, stay put," she added before trotting up the stairs and returning a couple of moments later, “My Twilight, hoof up.”

The Twilights glanced at each other for a second before the one on the left put her hoof up.

Sunlight trotted up and tied a black choker style necklace around her neck . She smiled and admired her work before pointing at Sparks, “Twi,” she said before moving to Dupli!Twilight, “Twilight.”

I grinned, “Thank you. That would have been confusing,” I said as I moved up next to her before I smirked at Sunset, “You found that thing rather fast.”

Sunset poked my shoulder with her hoof, “Quiet you.”

Twilight looked between us, “Are you three?”

Sparks shook her head with a smile, “I’m with Sunset. Sunset is with Page and me, and Page is with Sunset and Princess Luna.”

Twilight hesitated, “That’s ... even more complicated,” she said before she glanced at Sunset for a second and shook her head, “We should head for Canterlot. The faster we get there, the faster I can get back to stop Starlight Glimmer.”

Sparks turned to the fireplace, “Spike!”

“Yes?/Yes?”

“No, this won’t be confusing at all,” I said with a sigh as Spark walked over to find out who was her Spike and to get him to send a message to Princess Celestia, “Amb…” I started to say before I paused. I couldn’t send her to get one of the royal carriages, could I? In fact, we should make it easy to get her back to Skitter.

I looked at Sunset, “Train?” I suggested.

She nodded, “There should be one by noon. Only an hour until then, should get us there before dark. I’ll go pack our stuff,” she then added and trotted upstairs, only stopping to give her Twilight a quick kiss.

I moved up to the other Twilight, “Hey… uhm… sorry about this entire thing. I can’t help but feel a bit responsible for it being damaged.”

She sighed, “I’m the one that jumped to conclusions. The last world we were at … it’s the one where changelings had conquered the world. You were just defending her.”

“Oh,” I said and sat down, “I… yeah, I can see why that made you jumpy about them.”

“What happened here?”

“Long story but in short their invasion of Canterlot failed and Queen Chrysalis was captured. They were allowed to set up a hive in Canterlot in return for stopping impersonating other ponies. They get the love they need from the Crystal Heart and ponies that donate from their love. Or from love they can get in the air around ponies in love. They are our allies now.”

“Oh.”

I smiled, “Don’t get me wrong, Queen Chrysalis is still a manipulative bitch, but she truly wants what’s best for her Hive. And Princess Skitter is one of my best friends.”

“Huh,” Twilight said after a moment, looking thoughtful, “This world is strange.”

“We like it.”

AN// Big thanks to Evillevi for betaing this section.

Twilight crossed the private train car to me, jumping onto the seat next to me, “So… uhm… Page, Twi said you was from the human world?”

I nodded and closed my notebook, “’A’ human world anyway,” I agreed, “Not the one on the other side of the mirror. Close, but not quiet.”

“How did you end up here?”

“No clue,” I admitted with a sigh, “And to be honest? At this point I don’t think I would go back. I mean, hands are nice, but horn and the ability to fly? More than makes up for it. Never mind this is where my friends are now, where my Luna and…” I glanced across the cabin at Sunset where she was checking on Amber.

Twilight nodded and followed my look, “…I’m still not sure how Sunset Shimmer returned to Equestria, yet alone get in a relationship with this worlds version of me.”

“My fault,” I said with a grin, “Actually, thinking about it, I’m probably responsible for most of the changes. I’m fairly sure this timeline split from yours when I arrived in Equestria.”

Twilight slowly nodded, “Huh.”

“Yeah,” I said and stretched my wings as Sunset moved up, “How is she?”

“Annoyed she’s not allowed to move,” Sunset said with a smile and gave me a quick nuzzle before jumping onto the couch next to me, scooting close.

Smiling I nuzzled back and settled my wing over her back, “Good. And Twilight here was wondering how come you ended up back in Equestria.”

That got a small laugh from her, “Did you tell her?”

“Not yet.”

Now Twilight looked really curious, so Sunset smiled at her, “He went to the human world with Twi and forced me back through the portal by threatening to stab me.”

Twilight blinked at her and looked between us, “Uhm…”

I grinned, “Our relationship has improved since then. Sunny is my best friend and has been for quite a bit, the entire upgrade from that is rather recent.”

Sunset nodded, “Yeah. Kind of glad he brought me back to be honest, I was in a bad place mentally.”

Twilight frowned slightly and glanced down, “I see…”

“I got together with Twi well over a year ago,” Sunny then added and smiled, “We just kind of clicked. Do you have a special somepony back in your universe?”

Sighing softly, Twilight shook her head, “…Not really, no. I mean… I look but I haven’t gone on any dates or anything.”

Sunset nodded, “Oh? Anypony special you look at?” she asked as I started to look for a way to escape. Sadly, I was trapped between her and the couch. No way to make an easy escape and make it look natural.

Twilight blushed slightly, “Well… there is this one guard in the Crystal Empire. We kind of gave it a small try but we didn’t really click.”

“Anypony else?”

What is it with mares and gossip!? Sunset wasn’t even that much into this kind of thing!?

“I don’t know,” she said and shifted her wings a bit, “I… I do like spending time with Princess Luna.”

I couldn’t help but smile at that.

That Luna might not be my Luna, but if there was anypony else that I thought would be a good match with her it would be Twilight.

And Luna did deserve somepony to love her. Even if it wasn’t m…

I blinked and I felt my eyes go wide as I suddenly finally understood why she was so much for me and Sunset getting together. Because she thought I deserved to be loved.

I felt the same way about her. I wanted My Sky to be loved. She deserved to be loved, even if it wasn’t by me.

Even if I loved her, she deserved all the love.

Sure, it was still a stretch to think about her with another pony, but I was fairly sure that was just my human upbringing making angry monkey noises in the back of my head. I mean, I was perfectly fine with Sunset and Sparks after all.

But I finally got it.

“If you do decide that you want to pursue a relationship with Luna,” I told her with a smile, “I may have a couple of suggestions.”

Twilight nodded a bit, looking a bit shy all of a sudden, “I…I might.”

“Twilight!” Twi called out, “I think I know what this equation is!”

Twilight quickly jumped off the couch rushed over.

Sunset looked over at them, leaning against my side as she smiled, “You know, I’m kind of happy this happened. I think this may be the first time Twi met somepony that can actually keep up with her.”

I couldn’t help but laugh and not at that, “Well, you’re not wrong about that.”

Sparks was for one hundred percent sure the absolutely smartest being I ever met. Human, pony or otherwise.

“You know, they are missing the obvious though,” I then added and nuzzled at Sunsets mane.

“Hmh?” she asked and turned to look at me with a frown, “What do you mean?”

I raised an eyebrow at her, “Discord got her here, maybe he can get her back?”

Sunset blinked and me before she facehooved, “D’oh. You’re right.”

“Of course, I am,” I said with a grin before I shrugged, “Assuming we can find him and get him to do it. And that he actually can, maybe he just redirected the spell… which I can only assume is easier than doing the entire thing.”

She sighed, “Well, there is that. Let’s see if they can figure it out first before we try that option.”

“Yeah.”

Relying on him for anything was just asking for trouble. He kind was the one that caused this after all.

If he would even show up when called…

…Then again, he was most likely hiding out with Fluttershy anyway.

Spotting Luna in the throneroom standing next to her sister, I crossed the empty room to give her a quick nuzzle, “You’re up early.”

“For this, I’m waking up,” she answered quietly with a smile before she frowned slightly, “Page, you always bring the most interesting problems.”

I flicked my ears, “You can so not blame this one on me, this was all Discord.”

“We’ll handle Discord later,” Celestia interrupted, “Let’s focus on the matter at hoof,” she said before she moved down from the dias the throne was set on, “Welcome to Canterlot, Princess Twilight.”

Twilight bowed slightly, “Thank you, Princess.”

Twi smiled a bit, “She’s the visitor, I’m from here, Princess. Just to keep things clear, I’m Twi, she’s Twilight.”

Celestia nodded and looked between them, “I understand from the message that you have been working on recreating the spell scroll?”

Twilight sighed, “We have, Princess. But we have less than a third puzzled together and the rest… we have to recreate.”

“Do you think you can help us?” Twi asked, “It’s really complicated.”

Celestia smiled a bit, “We’ll do everything to get you and your Spike back home, Twilight.”

The Spike on her back put his hand up, “Thorn, Princess. Make things clearer.”

She smiled and nodded, “Thorn then,” before she looked at the Twilights again, “Shall we see what we have to work with?”

With that, Luna gave me a quick kiss before joining the other three Alicorns heading further on. I hung back with the rest, when it came to that kind of spellwork I would just be in the way to be honest.

Sunset moved up to me and frowned, “I really hope they figure it out.”

“Yeah, me too,” I said before I looked around at the empty chamber, “Discord! Discord, get your scale covered tail in here!!”

Sunset and I looked around.

Nothing.

She sighed, “Well, worth a try I guess.”

“Well, if it worked it might have solved a lot,” I said and scowled, “Discord is starting to be way more troubled than he is worth,” I then added and shifted my wings.

Never mind that fact that almost the only thing keeping him more or less in line right now was the fact that he liked Fluttershy.

Fluttershy wouldn’t live forever but he did.

…Then again, she might because he almost certainly had the power to make it so. I really, really wish that he had just stayed in the stone he had been trapped in.

That would have made things a lot easier.

I finally shook my head, “Well, I’m not doing any good here anyway, I need to go pick up Fern from Silver Leaf.”

Sunset nodded and touched her horn to mine, “See you later.”

“Count on it.”

XXXXXXXXXXXX

“Sir,” Swift Spear said with a salute as I exited the throneroom, “Welcome back.”

I grinned, “Swift! Good to see you again.”

He smiled back, “Same, sir. So… how’s your new guards?”

“Way prettier than you.”

That got a laugh from him, “No arguments there. So where are you of too now?”

“Silvers place to pick up Ferm,” I said and shifted my wings, “She have been keeping an eye on him while we was away. How’s Minuette?”

“Crazily busy with Hearth’s Warming coming up,” he said and shook his head, “One of the few drawbacks of being together with a baker. She gets up even earlier than I do and then fall asleep before the sun is down.”

I nodded, I could very easily relate to that with me and Luna.

“So, when are you off?”

“Now actually. Want some company?” he asked and then glanced up against the clouds above, “Did they schedule snow today?”

“Sure,” I said before I shrugged, “No idea, didn’t check todays weather. Been a bit busy since I got back from Griffona, went to Ponyville and things kind of got complica…” before I blinked as a thought struck me, “oh my Celestia…”

Oh no.

No. No. No!

Swift blinked at me, “What?”

“…I was going to get something for Luna while in Ponyville,” I said and sank down, facehoofing, “I can’t believe I forgot.”

Actually, I could very well believe I forgot, I kind of had other things to think about, but it was just wrong. I had never forgotten before.

Wait, it was even worse! I had to get something for Sunset too. Well, not had to, but I wanted to.

Damn it, both of them deserved better than that.

I needed something really nice and only a couple of days to do it, there is likely weeks of wait time at jewelers and such.

You know what though? Screw the rules, I have money.

I looked to Swift, “Change of plans, who’s the best jeweler in Canterlot?”

“Don’t ask me, I’m at a guard salary. I can’t afford jewelry that nice,” he said, sounding amused, “You have to find somepony else for that.”

Amber buzzed down next to me, “I know a store, sir.”

I blinked at her before I frowned, “What are you doing up? Go back to bed!”

“I’m fine, sir.”

She actually did look better. Steady and she didn’t favor her leg.

“…Fine, where?”

Twilight shied back as I walked inside. I blinked at her before I smiled, “Oh, don’t worry. Fern is harmless.”

The wood/woof spirit padded in next to me.

He’s growing like a weed, at the flank he was taller than I was by now. But he was still the same puppy as before at the core. Waaay more interested in chasing the closest ball than finding out what pony taste like.

Twi nodded, “Relax, Fern is safe,” she said and looked up from her pile of books floating before her, “Page has had the timberwolf since he was a sprout.”

Twilight frowned and hesitated, “I… I didn’t think you could tame timberwolves.”

I shook my head, “Don’t think it was easy,” I said and patted his shoulder as he sat down, “He did need a twack across the nose from time to time before he learned to behave,” I explained as I rubbed at his neck.

Fern wrufled and leaned into the touch before pouncing at me.

I just laughed as he knocked me over onto my back, trying to push his head and that sticky leaf tongue away, “No! Stop it! Not in front of the royalty!” I protested.

It had been a while since I could just catch him when he did that, he had been physically stronger than me for quite a bit.

Pushing the plant monster away, I glared at him, “And I was just saying how well behaved you were. Seriously, Silver spoil you and you know it.”

Fern looked seriously pleased with himself and padded over to snuffle through the bag of his toys and treats I brought back from meeting with Silver. She had some of her own around, but I always brought his favourites to her to have while she watched him for me.

Quickly pulling the bag away from him with my magic before he got into the treats, I pulled out a rubber ball and bounced it into the corner for him to engage himself with for a bit while I put the rest of the bag on the table, out of easy reach.

As fern bounced away to follow the ball, I found Twilight staring at me in slight horror.

I blinked at her, “…What?”

“I…I… timberwolf,” she managed to say before she looked at Twi, “Am I wrong in thinking that it’s very dangerous? Yet alone have him jumping all over him like that?”

Twi gave me an apologetic look and then shook her head, “…No, not really. I never even read about somepony taming a timberwolf before and while he’s behaving, he’s still a nature spirit.”

“Spirit or not,” I said with a smile, “Still puppy. But said I said, as long as he gets who’s the Alpha of the pack, he’s harmless.”
Twilight looked between me and the timberwolf gnawing at the rubber ball before she shook her head, “…This world is so strange…” she finally said and returned to her calculations.

I grinned, “So how’s it going?”

“…Not sure,” Twi said and sighed, closing the book and picking up the next one, “We have made some progress, but if we’re unlucky this can take months.”

I cringed at that, “…I’m so sorry.”

Twilight shook her head and forced a small smile, “I told you, it wasn’t your fault.”

“I still feel responsible. If it wasn’t for me, Discord never would have…”

She shook her head again, “That’s not your fault either. That’s all him… I’m not sure anyone can control him other than possibly Fluttershy.”

“Speaking of which,” I said and sat down, “I tried calling for him on the chance that he would be able to send you back. He didn’t come when I called, but that don’t mean anything. If you want, we could try sending a message to Fluttershy and see if he’s there.”

Sparks nodded, “If we don’t find something by tonight, I’ll send her a note. Not sure I want to rely on him for that.”

Twilight hesitated, “…I think it’s worth a try. Since Tirek, he has not been anything but helpful other than the random prank.”

I frowned, “…I suppose Tirek went way different than here. How did you defeat him?”

Twilight smiled, “We unlocked the power of our Friendship and embodied the Elements of Harmony. We stripped him of his powers and then we locked him away back in Tartarus again,” she explained before her eyes widened, “….Wait, how did you? The library still exist here!”

Sparks turned to her, “Wait, the library is gone where you are from!?”

“Tirek blew it up,” Twilight explained, “When he came for me for holding the Alicorns power.”

“Oh. That never happened here, Page defeated him before then.”

Twilight turned to me, “What? How!?”

I cringed a bit, “With the help of Sunset Shimmer. I noticed when he approached Canterloat that he was protecting his eyes and face from the arrows using his arm Sunny helped shrink most of the guards armoury down and I then tricked him into swallowing it. The resulting magical explosion is how I got these,” I explained and shrugged my wings.

She stared at me for a long moment, “…Oh…”

Sparks looked at her time twin for a second and then flicked her ears, “…your world is really different, isn’t it?”

Twilight nodded, “It is,” she said before she looked thoughtful, “Wait, if Tirek never reached Ponyville, then he never betrayed Discord… then how did you unlock the chest? Wait, do you even have that?”

“The chest from the tree of harmony?” Sparks asked, and Twilight nodded,

“Exactly.”

Twi jumped up, her wings spreading in excitement, “You know how to open the chest!?”

“Did the Twilights come up with something?” Luna asked as I walked into our sitting room.

I shook my head, “Not yet,” I said as Fern rushed past and into the bedroom, “But they kind of sidetracked hard by the time I left them to it. Sparks found out that they had managed to unlock the Tree of Harmony box in Twilights timeline.”

“I see.”

“Turns out there was some kind of elements of harmony powerup in the McGuffin,” I continued and moved up to give her a small kiss, “So how are things on your end?”

She smiled a bit and moved off the chair to slip her wing around me, “As it turns out, just because we get visited by a Princess from another timeline, paperwork don’t take a break.”

“Such a wonder I don’t want a crown,” I teased and moved closer, leaning softly against her, “But speaking of which…”

“Hmm?”

“Wedding.”

That got a happy smile from her, “Yes, My Page?”

“…I think we have waited long enough,” I said and looked up at her, “I know these things take time to plan, but they have had plenty of time to try to figure things out. This summer.”

Luna spread her wings, pressing her nose against mine with a smile, “That short a timeframe will run the staff ragged…”

“Well, screw them. We gave plenty of warning that it would happen,” I told her, “We just didn’t set a date. Now, I am. Two weeks after the summer sun celebration.”

Luna blinked and smiled brightly, “The date we met.”

I nodded, “It works, right?”

“I love it, My Page,” Luna said softly with a smile, running her wing along my back, “The day we met is perfect.”

“I like it too, My Sky,” I said, “I thought about it while out today to get Fern.”

And buying presents. In all honesty, I thought about a lot of things. Me, Luna, Sunset. That was still a strange thought.

But it felt… it was strange but felt nice.

I loved Sunset. But I loved Luna first.

This would be complicated, but I think it was worth trying. Luna… I understood why she wanted me with Sunset.

“And you came up with wanting to get married quickly?” she asked with a smile.

I grinned at her, “It’s been over a year since I asked you, My Sky. I hardly think that was very qui~uhg!”

Something hit me heavily from the side, “Gah! Fern! Not now!”

Mruff!

The wood spirit pawed at me, trying to push one of his toys against me. Luna was giggling hard, “I think he wishes to play.”

“I think he could work a bit on his timing,” I groaned and struggled up, pushing him away before giving the ball a tug with my magic before tossing it across the room.

He quickly scrambled to chase it and I moved back to Luna,

“As I started to say,” I continued, “A year and a half isn’t quickly.”

“Perhaps not,” Luna admitted and caught the ball when Fern return, giving it a toss this time, “But you just started something with Sunset Shimmer.”

I nodded, “We did. In some ways at the very least, but in others we have… well, been together for years. Just not romantically. It’s going to be some adjustment, but no matter what, I won’t allow… damn its Fern, I’m trying to have a heartfelt moment here!”

The spirit wuffed and prodded my shoulder with the ball again. I just sighed and let my head drop.

Damn it.

Luna laughed and used her magic to guide me up for a quick kiss, “You don’t need to say it, My Page. I know what you meant to say.”

“And?”

“And I think you are quite silly like always,” she continued with a smile, “It’s always going to be you and me, My Page. No matter what happens, no matter how long apart or what else…”

“It’s will always be us,” I agreed and absentmindedly tossed Ferns ball again as I looked up into her eyes, “I love you, My Sky.”

“I love you too, My Page,” she said and smiled, reaching with her hoof to stroke my mane, “How about you get your writing equipment and I get my papers and we relocate to in front of the fireplace?”

“That sounds great,” I admitted, “…While being away, I think that was what I missed the most. Just spending time with you.”

“Me too, My Page,” Luna said with a smile and let go of me, tossing Ferns ball again, “You just being here make even things like the never-ending supply of paperwork more enjoyable.”

“Want some help with that?”

Luna shook her head, “No, it’s my task,” she said before she eyed me playfully, “Though, if you do want to be helpful, how about you…” she started to say before I grinned,

“Fully uniform or just the cloak?” I asked and nuzzled playfully, “I’m thinking full, with the weapon belts.”

Her cheeks turned slightly red.

I waited with the rest, Sunset was sitting between me and Sparks, on Sparks other side was Mirror Twilight. Luna and Celestia was talking quietly to the side of the table.

The rest of the Elements were on the way to Canterlot along with Starlight Glimmer, and Fluttershy were bringing Discord. The Twilights had been working through the night, and still discussing spell equations but they were fairly stuck.

Hope right now was that Discord could send Twilight and Spike back to their rightful place. If that didn’t work, that’s why Starlight Glimmer was coming as well.

Sparks was hoping our Stalin Glimmer could give some insight into the spell. I was dubious, most likely was that Twilight’s Starlight Glimmer had stumbled onto some sort of ancient spell than figuring it out on her own.

…but I also didn’t really want to give the crazy mare any ideas.

“So, think it’ll work?” Sunset asked me quietly.

I sighed, “I hope so.”

“But you don’t think so?”

“…not sure,” I admitted, “I think Discord might have the power to do it, he got her here after all. But I don’t trust him to not fuck it up somehow.”

“Well, there is that.”

We got spared more discussion by the doors opening and Rarity leading the group inside, Discord trudging around behind her next to Fluttershy.

The two Twilights jumped up and quickly made their way over to them. I made my way to follow them over, Sunset bringing up the rear,

Just giving the Elements a smile and a nod as they crowded around the Twilights, I made my way directly to Discord, “I get it,” I told him, “Me being here changed a lot of things. You made your point. Now send them back.”

He looked between me and the Twilights before he shrugged, “Well, I’m sure I could, but where is the fun in that!” he said with a grin, “This is great! Twice as much book-horse!”

“Discord!” Fluttershy exclaimed and turned to him, “That’s not very nice! Her friends are waiting for her back home!”

The chaos god grumbled, “Fine,” and raised his hands before he frowned and looked at his hand.

“What?” I asked him.

Discord hesitated, “Well… I didn’t actually bring them here,” he admitted, “I just redirected their spell from where it was going. I could… maybe send her back, but I have no idea where to send her.”

I gaped up at him and Twilight rushed over to stare up at him,

“What!?”

“The spell parchment was your anchor,” he explained, “It tied you to the stone table, that’s why you always landed on one when you arrived even if there wasn’t one where you was going.”

He sounded like he was making a lot more sense than normal. Sadly, I didn’t like anything he was saying.

“Are you saying that even if they remake the spell parchment, she can’t go back?” I asked slowly as I took half a step back.

“…Don’t know. But I can’t send her back as it is…” Discord admitted and crossed his arms, floating slightly off the floor.

Twilight made a small distressed sound, her eyes widening as she slowly sunk onto the floor. Sparks and Celestia quickly moved up to her, Celestia putting her wing over them both.

Sunset snarled at him, “You were wondering why nopony like you!? This is why!”

Discord shied back and then disappeared in a flash.

The rest of the girls stuck close to the three Princesses on the floor, Luna hovering close as well. Fluttershy looked distressed about the entire thing and I couldn’t blame her.

She was his friend and he just did something… well, evil to one of her friends. Alternate version of her friend anyway.

Seriously, making Fluttershy cry was like kicking a puppy, it was just wrong. I had to say something even if I didn’t know her that well.

I moved up to her, “Fluttershy, It’ll be fine, Twilight is the smartest pony I know and now there are two of the…” I started to say before I trailed off.

What?

There was something… what? As I got closer to Fluttershy, it felt almost like I was going crosseyed for a second, seeing a super imposed image. It was still Fluttershy, but I got flashes of fluffier ears and bat like wings along with red eyes and fangs.

She looked at me and both versions of her blinked, “Lord Page?” she asked. One version of her looked almost like one of the batpony illusioned guards of Lunas Guard.

What in Equestria was going on?

Whatever it was, this was the completely wrong place to alert everypony on a possible impostor, so I sighed, “…I’m sorry about Discord, Fluttershy. But I’m sure we’ll figure this out.”

She hesitated and raised a hoof a bit off the floor, shying back a bit, “…He’s supposed to be better now.”

“Yeah.”

“Luna,” I said as soon as we was alone in our sitting room, “Are batponies real?”

She blinked at me in surprise, “Batponies? What make you ask that?”

“I… I saw something,” I admitted and scraped my hoof against the floor, “When I got close to Fluttershy, I saw two versions of her.”

Luna sat down with a small frown, “What did you see?”

Looking up at her, I described the other version. With bat wings, red eyes, fangs and slightly fluffy ears.

Luna blinked down at me before she smiled, “…Wow. I didn’t think any of them still existed. They were horribly rare even back before I was exiled.”

“So, it was real?” I asked with a frown.

Luna nodded with a smile, “It’s very real and what she really looks like.”

“But I thought the bat pony thing for your guards was just illusions?” I asked and glanced towards the door.

“It is,” Luna confirmed, “Nowadays.”

“Oh.”

She moved over to jump onto the couch and I followed to jump up next to her, “Once, long before Unification, a tribe of Pegasi got in conflict with a tribe of Unicorns. The Unicorns were losing, but they got the last laugh in the end.”

I nodded and listened to her, moving up to her side, “What did they do?”

“Their leader, her name lost even to me, she cast a curse on the Pegasi tribe. Mind, this was long before I was born, it was mostly myth and legend even back then,” Luna explained, “But she cursed the bloodline of everypony in the Pegasus tribe. They turned into batponies.”

“What happened?”

Luna sighed, “At first, the curse was strong. The tribe splintered and the batponies hungered for the blood of ponies.”

“...Oh.”

“Batponies was rare and was hunted by all tribes. In time, things changed. A bit before I was born, they were levied with another curse,” Luna said, “Or rather, somepony. Nopony knows why or who, managed to change the curse. Maybe they tried to break it, but the end result was that they now hungered for fruit instead of blood of ponies.”

I nodded, “That’s better, right?”

“It was,” Luna agreed, “But that didn’t change how they was seen.”

“…Yeah. I suppose that makes sense,” I sighed, “But… why do your pegasi guards all use a batpony illusion?”

She smiled a bit, “To hide the real ones that once was among them. After unification, they were still feared and outcast. Very rare, but there were groups back then, but even then the curse had been weakening.”

“And they all looked like batponies to hide them?”

“That and it fit the Princess of the Night,” Luna admitted with a smile, bumping her nose against mine, “By the time I went into exile, only two in my guard were actual batponies. Since my return, I haven't seen a single one.”

“…Was she always a batpony?”

Luna shrugged her wings, “Perhaps. They do have the ability to hide what they look like, pretend to be normal ponies. Not permanently, but for days at a stretch if necessary. But even back before my exile, the curse was so weak that batponies had Pegasus foals most of the time. The curse was still there, mind, but it usually took a powerful magic surge to trigger it.”

“Like… becoming the embodiment of an Element of Harmony?” I asked with a frown.

“Like that,” Luna agreed, “Or any other magical surge from being around the Element of Magic casting spells. She was there when Twilight Ascended after all. It could have been anything really.”

I nodded and relaxed a bit, “So… no impostor?”

Luna shook her head, “Unlikely. Especially with Discord that close. For all his flaws and unreliability, he does love Fluttershy and there is no way he wouldn’t notice.”

“Yeah, makes sense,” I agreed, “But how did I notice?”

“That, My Page,” Luna said and nuzzled softly, “I believe you may be getting more comfortable with your Realm.”

“Oh?”

“Your realm includes things such as stories, illusions, dreams,” she explained and smiled at me, “You recognized the false image when you got close enough.”

“But… changelings…”

Luna turned her head, “Amber?”

Amber ducked out from behind the armchair, “Princess?”

“Would you mind taking a different form for Page?” Luna asked the changeling. Amber smiled and nodded, green fire crawling across her to turn into a copy of Luna.

Looking between them, I then jumped off the couch and approached Amber. As soon as I got within two meters, it was the exact same thing again.

A kind of double vision. I could see Amber behind the changeling shift, but I could also see her look like Luna.

“…I can see you,” I finally said, slowly walking around Amber, “Through the shapeshift.”

Amber looked at me in surprise, “You can, sir?”

“I can.”

Wow.

Okay, that’s new.

The top of the tower rising above Canterlot was covered in a fine dusting of snow, but most of the cover had been either shovelled away or blown away by the wind.

Stretching my wings, I walked to look out over the city below. Lights were slowly coming on as Celestia settled her sun below the horizon.

Snow was still falling from the clouds above, as was appropriate. Tomorrow was Hearth’s Warming after all.

Not that any of us were in a Hearth’s Warming kind of mood. Discord’s revelation of not being able to send her back was… it had hit everyone hard.

Sparks and Twilight harder than most.

I knew exactly how much it sucked to be trapped in a world not your own, leaving family and friends behind.

It hit me kind of hard too to be completely honest. Made me…

…Remember.

“Hey.”

I glanced back at the familiar voice as Sunset moved up next to me, “Hey… are you sure you should be up here? It’s cold.”

She smiled a bit, “Luckily I have an Alicorn to help keep me warm,” she answered and moved up next to me.

Smiling back, I slipped my wing around her against the wind, “Warming spell too?”

“Mmm,” she agreed and touched her horn against mine, “Not really that effective against wind though, you know.”

“Yeah,” I agreed and pulled her a bit closer, “…I thought you were going to stay with the Twilights?”

She sighed softly, “…Twi and Twilight are going to Twi’s parents to spend the night. Twilight’s taking things kind of hard. She may be stuck here for a bit, they’re trying to figure things out. I think they were talking about Twilight picking a new name until she can return.”

“Yeah.”

“…And you?”

“Hmm?”

“…Kind of what happened to you too, right? I chose to leave. I didn’t know what was behind the Mirror, but I chose to go through it. You didn’t have a choice in coming here.”

I nodded and sighed, clicking my horn softly against hers, “To be completely honest, we don’t know that. I don’t remember anything between maybe half way through a day on Earth and waking up in a hospital in Equestria. For all we know, I might have chosen to go here.”

Sunset frowned and nodded, “Still…”

“…Yeah,” I admitted, “Yeah, it struck a bit too close to home. Especially since it’s my fault.”

“It’s not your fault,” Sunset protested and pulled back to frown slightly at me, “It’s Discord's.”

“That she ended up here, yes. But not that she’s stuck. I’m the one that got into a fight with her and messed up the parchment with the spell.”

Sunset shook her head quickly, “You was protecting Amber. It’s not your fault!”

“Maybe not just my fault, but I am still somewhat responsible,” I admitted, “It’s true and you know it.”

Sunset frowned and then shook her head before leaning against my side, touching horns again, “…Twilight doesn’t blame you.”

“I know.”

I blamed me. I just blamed Discord more.

“…Some Hearth’s Warming this turned out,” I then said after a moment as I looked at her.

She smiled a bit, “You got something for me, didn’t you?”
Yes and no,” I sighed and then smiled a bit at her slightly confused expression, “I had planned to bribe Rarity for a rush order, but things got a bit… well… hectic. With the entire Griffon thing, I got distracted and you know…”

That got a small grin from her, “Yeah, things have been kind of busy.”

“Mmm,” I said and tapped her horn with mine, “…You know, I read about this entire horn thing.”

“Oh?” she asked, cheeks turning a bit red.

I nodded, “Mmm. I had to dig a little to find out where it’s from, most of what I found about it was from romance novels. But I finally managed to find it in a history book on the old Unicorn tribes.”

Sunset nodded, “Yeah,” she admitted, “It started for negotiations… if one starts casting, all it takes it a twitch of the head and they're is curled up in pain on the floor. But that’s just how it started, not what it became.”

“Mmm,” I agreed with a small smile, “Hence, trashy romance novels. Mostly with Unicorn stallions in armour on the cover.”

Sunset blushes a bit and nodded, “…Yeah,” she admitted, “But it is historical too. Before actually kissing spread from the Earth Ponies, it’s what Unicorns did. It’s… nice. Luna doesn’t do it?”

“Not really. Back before she Ascended she was a Pegasus. She’s more about wings than horn,” I said with a small smile, “And Twi?”

“…Sometimes. She prefers more modern.”

Grinning a bit, I ignited my horn in a simple light spell while holding it against hers. Sunset blushed a bit and did the same thing.

Our magic sparkled softly, and I could see why Unicorns used to do this. It felt very, very intimate. Kind of… tingly. Very nice kind of tingly.

Smiling, I reached into my satchel with my magic from where it was sitting on the ground to pull out a small present, “I did manage to figure something out.”

Sunset blinked and shifted back to glance down at it, “For me?”

“Like I would leave you without a present.”

Smiling a bit, she unwrapped it and opened the box to reveal a simple gold filament attached to a golden ring. Sunset blinked and them smiled, “Wow, where did you find that!?”

“Ran into it during my research,” I admitted, “I know, not really fashionable anymore, but I found a jeweller that could make it in time. I thought you might like it.”

“I love it. Put it on? Those are impossible to do on your own.”

Nodding, I lifted it from the box and slid the ring down her horn to the base before carefully weaving the gold along her horn into the slight grooves of her horn before I looked at her, “You look amazing. I was right, that does suit you.”

The smile alone was well worth what I had to pay the pony that made it to put me before his other orders.

Sunset glanced up at her horn and then turned her attention back to me, “Let’s head inside.”

“Cold?”

She shifted closer, “No.”

Huh?

Oh!

AN// Many thanks to FPSCanarussia for betaing this last section. Yes, it's sadly the last of the story for now, more to come in the future however. I would also remind everyone that my patreon exist.

If you like to see more of my stores placed in other universes, they can be found over at forum.spacebattles.com

Anyway, hope you all enjoyed this one and see you next week for the next one.