The house was a nice one. Not in the central parts of Canterlot, it was actually rather close to the edge, but the house itself was nice but small with a small garden around it. Of course, right now it was covered with snow, but I could see the outline of a small growing patch for vegetables.
Shaking some snow off my hooves, I walked up the shoveled path as I looked to Iron Shine, “Hopefully we’ll have better luck here.”
She nodded, “Yes, sir.”
She looked completely unbothered by the icy cold. She wasn’t even wearing a cloak. Completely unfair.
I pulled my cloak a bit tighter around myself and raised my hoof to knock on the door.
It only took a few moments before it opened to reveal a blue unicorn with purple and violet mane. She blinked at me in surprise, “Prince Page!”
I smiled and waved at her, “Hi Minuette. Can Swift come out and play?”
She shook her head in amusement and stepped back, opening the door to allow me and Iron Shine inside. Closing the door, she turned to me,
“I have some things to say to you,” She said firmly as she faced me, “Swift got hurt going into that jungle with you.”
I felt my ears droop slightly and I nodded, “I know. I’m sor-”
“I’m not done,” she continued, interrupting me as she raised her hoof, “He went with you as a guard, he got hurt. That happens, I know it’s not a safe profession. But you found him again, you got him home safe to me.”
Minuette stepped forward and kissed my cheek, “Thank you for bringing him back.”
I shifted a bit uncomfortably, “I just found him, it was my guard that brought him back. They deserve most of the credit… actually, it was mostly a unicorn mare, Rising High. She was the one to keep him safe until they could be found. She and her brother.”
Minuetta smiled at me, “Oh, I know, but I have already thanked her.”
I nodded, “So… Swift around?”
She nodded, “He had a night shift, he’ll be waking up in a couple of minutes,” she said and moved towards the kitchen, “I was about to make some waffles for lunch and breakfast, can I get you some, Prince Page?”
“Just Page, we have known each other forever,” I said and followed, “And I don’t think either of us would mind a couple of waffles if it’s no trouble?”
“No trouble at all,” she said and started to get things ready, “Just have a seat. How many would you like Miss…
“Iron Shine,” my guard supplied, “...Two please?”
“I’m not going to ask his royal highness how many, like all stallions he’s a walking stomach,” Minuetta said with a grin as she started to mix things with her magic as the waffle iron heated up.
I mean, she wasn’t technically wrong.
There was a slight creak in the stairs and the sound of hooves against wood by the time we had waffles on our plates and a sleepy looking Swift Spear entered the kitchen.
I waved at him, “Good Morning.”
He stared at me for a moment before looking at Minuette, “Am I still asleep or do we have an overgrown bat eating waffles in our kitchen?”
She grinned and kissed him, “Behave.”
He kissed back before he grinned and turned to raise a hoof, “Good to see you, mate. When did you get back to Canterlot?”
I tapped my hoof against his, “Yesterday, going to stick around for a week or so, thought I should check up on my friends.”
“And steal my marefriends cooking.”
“Well, it seemed worth the trip on it’s own, so…”
He grinned and settled down by the table as Minuette put a plate of waffles before him along with a cup of coffee, “Thanks love,” he told her before he looked back to me, “We should do something while you’re in town.”
“Was my thinking too,” I agreed, “I stopped by Cloud’s place on the way here, but nopony was home. Did he move?”
Swift shook his head with a small laugh, “No, the dumbass is in the hospital!”
“What!?” I exclaimed, “What happened!?”
Swift snorted and sipped his coffee, “He was showing off to his marefriend and clipped a streetlight with his wing. Broke it in two places. They’re keeping him overnight to make sure he didn’t hit his head when he crashed.”
“Unbelievable.”
“I know, right?” Swift said, “I didn’t believe it when I heard it either. Who would have thought he would ever find a marefriend?”
Minuette smacked his side with her hoof as she put another plate on the table, “Be nice.”
Swift grinned at her, “Oh come on, you said the same before.”
Minuette rolled her eyes and moved to the door of the kitchen, “Hey! It’s noon! Get your lazy tail down here! Breakfast is done!” she called out before returning to making waffles.
There was a sound upstairs of hooves hitting the floor and then heading down the stairs. I blinked in surprise and then looked at Swift.
Somepony else was here too?
Soon a grey coated unicorn mare entered the kitchen, she had a very light blue mane still mussed up from sleep and a flying balloon cutiemark.
I knew her.
“Good Morni-” Rising High started to say before she blinked as she spotted us, her eyes going wide before she bowed, “P-Prince Page!”
“Good morning,” I said with a smile, “And if I’m in your kitchen eating waffles, just Page is more than enough.”
I glanced at Minuette. Thanked her, indeed.
Rising High hesitated but nodded, “Yes, sir,” and headed over to the table to sit down by her plate.
“Anyway, we should do something,” Swift said after leaning in to kiss her cheek, turning back to me, “After he gets out of the hospital today, we should do something fun.”
“Yeah, if nothing else he’ll need some cheering up, we should-”
“Absolutely not,” Minuette interjected, “If he’s just out of the hospital, you three are not getting sloshed at the Pathfinder!”
Swift flicked one ear and looked at her, “I was-”
“You’re going to invite him and his new marefriend here for dinner tomorrow like a civilized pony” Minuette told him firmly as she sat down on his other side with a plate of her own, “You and yours are invited as well, Page,” she told me.
I nodded, “Yes, ma’am, Thank you,” I agreed and looked at Swift. He shrugged slightly.
I guess our plans were decided then.
Rising High stared at Minuette with wide eyes.
We have fun here
.... I think every single mare in this story has said this before. Kinda immersion breaking when every single character behaves the same way.
Nice little chapter.
I wouldn't be surprised if Page decides to provide some light refreshments as thanks for the invitation.
11024505
You have a point... Sparks, Sunny, Luna, Sunshine (soon™)
How she could reward her?
Oh, this way.
Brother is in the herd too XD?
The mare knows who wears the skirt in that relationship.
awww Minuette do you have any idea of just how large of a heard Page has now?
you are going to need a bigger table.
11024505
...I mean, if it works on every stallion, I’d kind of expect the mares to catch on eventually.
11024321
760 now. It really is going good today. With luck, I am done tomorrow.
Would you mind being a prereader for this one?
11024505
There's several phrases and actions that seem to be repeated over and over. Probably more justified for actions, but dialogue... yeah.
Sgt. Murphy Has been doing some mighty fine work here since Page was elsewhere...
It’s happened. Nights out with the boys are finished. Now it’s dinner parties, and civilized conversations. Coming soon it will be play dates with the foals, barbecues with silly aprons.
This is why you don’t herd up it happens exponentially faster.
Oh dear... Minuette, you might just get more than you bargained for!
11024505
It might just be a common turn of phrase in the area. Also keep in mind the 'dominant female' trait being very common is rather sensible given the culture depicted, much in the same way you'd expect a bit of misogyny from any man in the 1930s, for example. You see that in the 'protect the fragile stallion' urge that pops up occasionally as well.
It also helps that Page seems primarily attracted to strong puckish mares, which creates something of a bias since those ones get by far the most 'on-screen' time. Add Celestia to the mix alongside Twilight naturally being influenced by Sunset and you get an even stronger concentration.
Examples I don't recall doing that include Silver Leaf (teashop owner and part time aberration wrangler, for those a little rusty on the older books) and Fluttershy, not to mention Page's secretary. Only characters who make sense doing it, do it. Minuette is definitely pushing what is polite, but that's just Minuette in this 'verse.
Assorted jackboots:
Typo: Minuette
marefriend's
It's is only used as a contraction of 'it is'. Possessives like this are 'its'
...FEW HOURS LATER...
Twilight: Page...out of all human things you have told me about, this one is the most fun! What is this game called again?
Page: Twister and hurry up! Spin another color!
Twilight: Oh sorry! *spins the spinner* Right Forehoof Blue!
Minuette: EEP! Swift! That's not the blue she's talking about!
Swift: I couldn't help it. Your flank is more fun to touch than the floor~!
Twilight: Left Forehoof Yellow!
Sunset: PAGE!! Not you too!
Page: Oh sorry. I too forgot the rules to my game~!
11023691
I agree that one of many things could explain why Page wouldn't interfere with the Timeline, but I'm more concerned if he will.
From what they have pieced together at the Thestral Site in the jungle, the Thestral Alicorn was part of why the Thestrals had the blood curse, and that they fought viscously to the point of being called monsters. This, of course, then leads to the discrimination of the Thestrals thousands of years later.
If Page really is the Alicorn thestral of the far ancient past, that means that he will be forced to perform heinous black magic, turn his innocent people he cared for into monsters who will then be persecuted for the next thousands of years, and becoming the very thing he hated. He will suffer, he will suffer greatly. Slivers of his soul cut away, his morals dropping day-by-day, performing actions he loathed, sacrificed to protect his own people from enemies that would be allies in the future.
I see the possibility of him traveling through time, but I desperately hope he will not. Because if that is the outcome then the Blank Page that we know and love will not be the same one we meet at the end.
Well what do you know
That will make it nine ponies, do you guys have enough room for them all?
Nice
11024567
"Minuette we're here!"
"Oh that..HOLY CELESTIA, LUNA, TWILIGHT, OTHER TWILIGHT, hi sunset...HOW MUCH OF THE GOVERNMENT ARE YOU IN BED WITH!"
she just invited the equivalent of a ball with that "your and yours", but it would be lovely to see a late night party with them all
Love this chapter
11024788
Hmm... just imagining how much fun it would be to play that variant with Rainbow Dash!
11025135
Page is the governemnt... or soon will be...
11041883
(Page) I am the senate…?
Kinda surprised Minuette and Swift aren't married at this point. They've been together for several years at this point, haven't they?
11606897
Not everyone gets married. It's more of a culture thing. Religion can also play a part
The comment section is absolutely worths it's sentences in gold ♡
Loving the general humor and dluce of life development.