The sun was up and it was late morning, but I was still awake, blinking against the glare
The changelings were gathered outside the castle, the solar guards in a group towards the side. Celestia was back, facing Chrysalis between the two groups.
I was to the side with the rest, standing next to Midnight, Cadence and Shining Armor standing by her other side. Her parents were somewhere in the castle.
“You could just get some sunglasses, you know,” Midnight murmured to me.
“Yeah, yeah,” I grumbled.
Sure, the light didn’t help, but I was tired too.
“So we’re agreed?” Celestia asked Chrysalis.
Chrysalis nodded, “We are agreed. We will move and dig a hive at the other side of the mountain, like discussed. At the agreed site our scouts located.”
Celestia shifted her wings and nodded in return.
With that, Chrysalis spread her wings and took to the sky, every changeling there taking to the air and following and so did a squad of pegasi, taking an escort formation to the side of the group.
The entire group circled once and then headed towards Canterlot.
Celesita looked after them for a long moment before she turned and crossed over towards us, golden shoes clicking softly against the stone path, “Well done, everypony,” she said quietly with a small smile.
“All thanks to Page,” Midnight said and smiled at me.
I shook my head, “No. All I did was get everypony talking. It was Cadance and you,” I told her and then smiled at them, “You were the ones to convince her in the end.”
Midnight eyed me for a second and then turned back to Celestia, “Chrysalis is sneaky, she’ll have to be watched closely.”
“And we will do so,” Celestia agreed, “But turning an enemy into a friend is the best way to defeat them. This is a good start and one I never thought possible with Chrysalis.”
Cadance snorted, “Friend might be pushing it.”
“Perhaps,” Celestia agreed, “But it is a start. I should return to Canterlot, there is much I need to discuss with my sister and the nobility.”
I snorted at that last part.
Midnight suppressed a smirk as she glanced at me before she looked up at Celestia again, “A good idea,” she agreed.
“Yes, best go deal with the matter of the useless parasites,” I said, nodding and looking up at Celestia, “And then likely prepare something for Chrysalis’ visit as well.”
Celestia's usual polite mask broke. Not a lot, but her lips twitched and humor shone in her eyes, “Indeed,” she agreed, “Be well, all of you.”
With that, she moved to get onto the royal carriage and it took off towards Canterlot, a honor guard of pegasi pulling a dozen more carriages with guards joining her.
As the carriages pulled back, the leader, a unicorn general I didn’t recognize, raised his voice, “Alright colts! Get your tails moving! We don’t get paid to laze about!”
That got everypony moving and the guard got moving. You could actually see the chain of command as yells replicated down the chain and ponies got ponies going to start to pull their camp down.
“Well, if the circus has left the town, I’m going to go sleep,” I said and suppressed a yawn.
Midnight nodded, “Go get some rest,” she agreed, “Come see me tonight, we’ll go through what we have so far when it comes to getting back.”
“Sounds like a plan,” I agreed and rubbed my eyes with a pastern, “Good morning,” I said and headed back towards the castle, going by hoof.
Wasn’t in a hurry and flying was more tiring than walking when you couldn't glide. Flat ground sucks, trees is definitely where it’s at.
“Page, one moment?” Cadance said and trotted up next to me, “I can walk with you as we talk.”
I blinked and paused, nodding to her, “Of course, Princess,” I said before I continued on towards the castle, “What did you wish to speak to me about?” I asked and ignited my horn, pulling the gate open and allowing her inside before following.
Cadance paused and let the door close, “Shining and I are heading to Canterlot by train tomorrow,” she said, “I’m not sure we will be able to speak again before you leave back to your world.”
I nodded, “I hope you don’t mind if I say that I hope so. Because the alternative is that Midnight and Starlight have been unable to figure it out. And I want to go home.”
Cadance smiled and nodded, “I was wondering if you would mind if I asked you to carry a letter for the Cadance of your world?”
“Of course not,” I agreed before I smiled, “And I doubt you will be the only one.”
“I’ll write it before we leave,” she assured me before she regarded me for several moments.
“What?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
She smiled, “Nothing, just looking at your feathers,” she said and nodded towards the two feathers in my mane, “Curious who’s idea that was, Luna and Twilight. Your Twilight I mean, I never knew either to be overly sentimental about such things.”
“You’d be surprised,” I told her with a smile and shifted my wings, reaching up to touch Lunas with my hoof, “And it was Twilight actually.”
Cadance nodded with a smile, “I like it. Hope you don’t mind, but I may introduce the custom to Shining.”
I grinned, “I don’t. He might.”
She smirked playfully, “I may be able to convince him,” she said and then looked closer, “It’s not fully traditional though,” she then added, “Not sure I ever seen anypony carry a lock of mane like that.”
“Well,” I admitted and touched the small braid holding the feathers that had some red braided through it, “Sunset doesn't have feathers, being a unicorn. We considered a horn ring, but Sunset wanted to marry Twilight first and Twilight doesn't feel ready for marriage yet. And with Sparks and My Sky marking me with their feathers, she wanted something to add to it too.”
“Sunset Shimmer,” Cadance said, nodding a bit before she smiled, “And speaking of unicorns… what could you tell me of Tempest Shadow?”
“Not as much as Midnight,” I admitted, “We’re friends, but not quite close. But I suspect it’s painful for her to talk about her. Come, let’s find something to drink and I’ll tell you what I know. Maybe… maybe it’ll help Midnight,” I then added, feeling my ears droop slightly.
I have no idea how she did it, if I had been cut away from Luna… Sparks or Sunny… like she was from Twilight…
If I didn’t trust Midnight completely in finding me a way back…
I’d be a wreck.
Cadance nodded, “I’ll do what I can.”
It'd be a real dick move if he had to start over forever
great chapter
I think this will teach them to consider all the people of their world and their effects on it. Considering Celestia never even noticed the storm king till he was on her doorstep and considering the hippogriffs had to move underwater just to be safe that says they haven't been paying attention to the world around them to the point where they are getting affected and just reacting to the world. Equestria has become almost as much an isolationist as the hippogriffs were in the movie and least they had a decent reason not a great one because there isn't a great reason for doing that as a country. When you hide from the world as much as you can you fail to grow as much as you can.
11328667
I prefer the saying, "When you turn your back on the world, it will bite you in the ass."
11328758
That too. They barely were aware of their non pony neighbors and the fact was equestria is way too nice on the carrot and stick front. You mess up you should be punish some depending upon how bad it was. Twilight was often forgetting the lessons she learnt and sometimes she was so busy teaching rainbow a lesson she completely forgot about empathy. Unfortunately equestria had this you mess up you learn your lesson then you can get off Scott free. They would never been almost sold if they were more willing to take some caution and remember that everyone was counting on them to save the day.
Well, Chrysalis and the Changelings might be parasites, but NO ONE can EVER honestly call them "useless"!
11328796
I think he means the Polyticks that are the ponyticians and the neghbility that reside in Canterlot
never did find out what his changeling name was and what significance it had to bring chrissy to the table
You know... If Changeling replace the useless Nobel ponys and hel Celestia & Luna than the alliance would be perfect. Changelings get influence and ressources and the Royal Sister actual support to rule pony kind.
True Mutual Benefishal Symbiotic Relationship.
Plus... Chrysalis could Stud for Luna and Celestia as Blank Page since she is a Shapeshifting lover~♡
Win - Win !
Looks like we might get a solution to the problem of Midnight soon, one way or another, assuming Cadance is worth her salt!
11328667
This is something I think Equestria at War plays with very well. The early game as Equestria is all about rushing to get ready for the (almost) inevitable conflict while also navigating a sticky situation somewhat similar to Page's problem with Nocturnis.
Meanwhile in the backstory, the Hippogriffs (or specifically, their air force) are the ones to beat and kill the Storm King, albeit only when pressured to stop hiding and actually defend themselves by the mane six. Turns out that biplanes are more than a match for zeppelins.
A couple of grammar jackboots today, along with a rogue Alicorn of uncertain name:
Cadance
We will move and dig a hive into the other side of the mountain, as discussed.
reaching up to touch Luna's with my hoof
Yeah, but that is kind of important
...FEW HOURS LATER...
Chrysalis: How?! How are we lost?! You were supposed to mark the dig site.
Pharynx: WE DID!
Thorax: Yeah we picked up these green heavy rocks and place them on precise locations for construction!
Chrysalis: Heavy green rocks??
Pharynx: Yeah! HEY! I found one of the rocks! Weird...I don't remember us putting any on a tree stump..
Chrysalis: That is not a rock. THAT is a tortoise. Please tell me you two didn't use these moving creatures as landmarks?!
Thorax&Pharynx: OH.
*Pegasus guards trying to hold their laughter and failing*
Chrysalis: *frustrated scream*
11329104
11329104
Sounds like Changeling Space Program!
11328796
I think he means the so called "nobles", when he talks about parasites.
11329104
Yay, they found new friends for Tank.
Thanks for chapter!
Have a good day!
Everyone in the comment: Casually talking about the impact of isolationist policies on governments and societies! Also engaging in our favorite pastime of making pony nobility the butt of jokes.
Me all by myself: TORTOISE SHENANIGANS NO ONE ASKED FOR!
11329104
*After said frustrated scream later Chrysalis pulls out the Sunday edition of the Canterlot Gazette and proceeds to smack Thorax & Pharynx with it. Once they were inksplotted and bruised, the Queen lowers the paper and then snarls*
Chrysalis: Now you lazy grubs go find the correct spot to start the hive and be quick about!
*Chrysalis then throws the newspaper at one the laughing pegasus guards with precise aim, stunning him.*
Chrysalis: And I don't need comments from the peanut gallery either when dealing with these idiots!
*Then both the pegasus guards and the changelings gulped and in one voice said "YES MA'AM!!!!"*
11329257
ah the ancient conundrum of "Is that a rock or a really slow reptile?"
11329104
Pharynx *whispers to Thorax*: "We'd better not let her know these are the same landmarks we used to construct the Hive back in the Badlands...."
Thorax *nods vigorously*
Celestia: "Oh, my! Chrysalis! I had no idea you changelings could build your hive so quickly!"
Chrysalis: "Whu--? What are you talking abou--" *sees hive already in place on the mountainside* "--uh--sure--Yeah! We do that. We're changelings, after all. Wow! That looks awfully familiar.... exactly like the one back home...."
One little plot thingy that may or may not get resolved in a future chapter - will Skitter still become a princess? I know that Page overfeeding her caused her to become one, but that's not likely to happen here.
11329711
ya and the more involved he gets the less he's able to detach himself from the equestria hes in
11329104
I bloody love this random stuff
11329120
Exactly
11328667
Reminds me of a saying:
A Nation that is unwilling to fight isn't peaceful, it is harmless. When you get attacked make sure the offender learn his lesson.
Or something along this line...
11329140
In space noone can hear Chrysalis scream her head off
11329206
Or a way to make a exotic soup