“How are things going with the minotaurs?” I asked Celestia as I settled down next to her on the balcony overlooking one of the gardens.
She shrugged her wings. “Slow. Tedious. But well enough, I suppose,” she said before she smiled and poked me with her wing. “I wouldn’t mind if you joined us tomorrow. Perhaps a new point of view will help.”
I cringed at that before I shook my head. ”Can’t. Luna returns tomorrow.”
“It will be good to have her back.”
Nodding, I looked out at the trees below. A gardener was working on trimming the rosebushes.
Maybe I should take up gardening. I likely should know some of it in any case, if I were to own a timberwolf.
“Bit for your thoughts?” Celestia asked after a moment.
I shook my head. “You would be overpaying. Was thinking about Fern.”
“How is the timberwolf?”
I looked over at her at her tone. “You don’t like him?”
Celestia sighed. “It is not that, Page. It’s just that I don’t wish anypony to be hurt. In my life, I have never heard of a timberwolf being tamed.”
She had a point there. Normally they hunted ponies… not beg to taste their tea. But Fern had never hurt anypony.
“He's never hurt anypony.”
“I know,” Celestia answered and nodded. “Just… be careful. He is still little but he will grow.”
Nodding, I frowned down at my hooves. “I am.”
We settled down into silence again and just enjoyed the warmth of her sun for the moment. It was nice for me…
But I knew it was even nicer for her.
Both Luna and Celestia were under so much pressure. Constantly, even during just the normal day to day operations.
All of Equestria rested on them both.
Celestia carried it all alone for a thousand years along with… locking her sister away in the moon. There were no words for how much I admired that. I couldn’t do that.
I didn’t have that much responsibilities. To be honest, I didn’t have any really.
There was nothing that said I even had to deal with dreams. It wasn’t really my special… thing. It was involved, yes, but I think my actual thing was imagination. Or… maybe inspiration.
Not dreams.
I just did it because I could help Luna. To take some weight off her, if even just a little.
Finally, I looked up at Celestia. “Sunshine?”
“Hmh?” she asked and looked over at me in question.
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“How do you mean, Page?”
“Not just… going to a cultural thing in your place, but… something I can do to help out day to day,” I explained and shifted my wings. “You always have so much to do, same as Luna. I don’t want a throne or a crown, but I want to help out if I can. I help Luna with dreams… not all of them, but enough that she can actually put it out of her mind if she wants to. So that she can focus on other things.”
Celestia smiled and leaned in, giving my ear a nuzzle. “Thank you, Page. But I don’t know what it would be.”
“Neither do I,” I admitted and flicked my ear. “Just… I want to help out if I can.”
She nodded and then eyed me. “Maybe I should just put you in charge of the Guard. You get along with guardsmen.”
I gave her a flat look. “If you do, I swear I’ll use the Guard to take over Equestria and put a democracy in place. As revenge.”
That got a giggle from her and a poke from her wing. “Better not then. Whatever would we do with ‘Darth Page’?”
“Cower in fear, of course,” I said with a grin and then slowly flicked my ears in thought. Hmm.
Now that was an idea.
Not exactly the conquer Equestria thing, but other parts… yes. Definitely workable.
I grinned and quickly jumped up. “Celestia, you are a genius! Thank you!”
That got me a head tilt. “…I’m afraid you lost me.”
Shaking my head, I stretched my wings. “No time to explain, I have too much to do before tomorrow.”
Celestia shot me a suspicious look. “What exactly are you up to now, Page?” she asked with a smile as she got up.
I gave her a quick hug. “You’ll see tomorrow. Have fun with the minotaurs.”
“Yes. Fun.” She snorted. “That’s one thing to call it.”
“Hey, see it like this… if you get tired of talking, headbutt them,” I suggested. “They have those horns for a reason.”
Celestia looked at me for a long moment before she started to laugh. “Maybe having you not join the negotiations is for the best. But I’ll keep it in mind,” she then added, sticking her tongue out at me.
Winking, I jumped off the balcony and took to the air. I had some things to do and not a lot of time to do it. First of all, I needed to track down Cloud and Swift, I would need their help with this. Sunset as well.
The democracy Part? A constitutional democracy? Get them ministers and a prime minister?
WHAT IS HIS PLAN?!!!!!. Dammit all this is killing me!!!
Please don't give the minitores the crogen treatment
A plus Luna is coming back! Yay!!
Ok, now I'm scared.
I actually think Celestia would be ok with a democracy if her ponys would be mature enough to create a somewhat fair system. Or where even interested in a democracy, since they are doing pretty well with the diarchy.
The stroke of inspiration... I wouldn't be surprised if Page becomes a living muse.
I suppose the minotaurs could be kind of like dealing with the Krogan...
8099136 it has kinda sorta moorta worked for the brits
A uni/alicorn headbutting someone seems like it end poorly for everyone. What with goring and all.
Oh stars, he's going to make a costume.
Is it actually a part of alicorn nature to "help" people all the time?
you are not the only one tia
Later:
Celestia: This is so BORING. You know what? I'm going to take a page from Page. *Headbutts Minotaur representative*
Minotaur: "Celestia! I didn't know you cared to learn our ways! You're right, of course, let's forget this negotiating for today and get drunk!"
Celestia: "Oh dear Gods what have I done?"
Later later:
Luna: *Walks in through ruined castle entrance, makes way through trashed hallways and over the bodies of passed-out revelers. Finds Celestia nursing a hangover in the throne room.* "What in the name of the Gods have you done?"
Celestia: "I took diplomatic advice from Page."
Luna: "...Ah."
Celestia: "But, the good news is that we hashed out that trade agreement and arranged for reparations for that skirmish we had two hundred years ago." *Rubs head* "Also I think I may have won one of their provinces in a drinking game."
Luna: "...Huh."
Celestia: "...yes."
Both: "...."
Celestia: "I'm going to kill your coltfriend."
Luna: "I understand. Let me give him a head start."
Page: "DON'T YOU DARE BLAME ME SUNBUTT!"
*Later, Page is staring intensely at a partially melted face mask*
Darth Page: "Grandfather.... I WILL make them all pay!"
Please don't play the Imperial March for Lunas return.
hum I have a idea as to what is on Pages mind I think and if he plays his cards right thins will work.
Well... it works for Krogans... so why not.
What is Pagie up to now?
.... I have many questions.
8099573 It would be even more funny if it was taken as him challenging him for his daughter. XD
blank page? more like blank vote! "I AM THE ALICORN OF DEMOCRICY, ALL WILL VOTE, ALL WILL BE HEARD! mwahahahahaha!"
At the end of this chapter this sene just popped into my head. Sorry
8099234 Unicorn horns, at least, are strangely springy.
8100375 ehh, wouldn't be too sure about that, as that same effect, both sound and visual, can be achieved with anything long and rigid enough. It's how music boxes work.
Oh shi- Page is gonna be Equestrian Nick Fury! His going to restore warmages or something?
Next few chapters will be glorious with this intro!
... Is he about to start SHIELD?
8275595
Celestia should have explained that headbutting was part of their courtship rituals.
9825476
That makes me wonder, normally the males headbutt each other to win the female. What happens when a female headbutts a male and knocks him out?
9962765
Drags him home for snusnu
Have you heard the legend of darth pageus the wise?
Horn duel + Duel of Fades from Starwars... It would be epic
Darth Page incoming ♡
10184325
Stop it ya doofus.
11287685
So you have heard it!
Somewhere from the Castle:
"Foal service!"
*Minatour dancing on a pole*
*Celestia is whooping and cheering, while putting bits in their loin cloth* 👍
8099400
I bow to the superior humor this chapter 👍
Glorious idea ♡
*As he flies away, but while still within earshot*
Page: "I just need two things, the most powerful explosive and the most corrosive acid! Oh! And poison!! Shit! Can't forget the poison!"
Celestia: "Oh, shit! What's he planning!?"
Page *thinking to himself*: "Heh! Heh! Heh! That should keep her worried "