“Well? What do you think?” I asked Luna as I lounged on a cloud high over the now long lost town that surrounded what used to be the Castle of the Two Sisters, in what was now the Everfree Forest.
She lifted her head from my chest with a smile. “I think it’s a great idea, Page. Twilight will love it.”
“Hope so,” I agreed and sighed. “I do owe her a lot for teaching me how to fly… and for letting us stay at her place. Besides, I think she’ll like it.”
Luna smiled and relaxed again. “Mmm.”
I put my forelegs around her and sighed, closing my eyes. I just wish we weren’t in a dream right now. Better than nothing, but I really missed her in the real world.
I didn’t even get a chance to give her that gift.
“How’s things with the griffons?” I finally asked, causing Luna to sigh. “That bad?” I then added and opened my eyes to look at her.
She flicked her ears and shrugged her wings. “No… In all honesty not. If nothing else, they remind me of a simpler time, long ago,” she mused before she smiled at me. “I suspect you would enjoy this quite a lot, my Page.”
“Oh?”
Luna nodded and shifted off me to tap her hoof against the cloud and I felt the dream shift as she poured her will and magic into it.
With more experience now, I could feel it. I could feel the effort she put into it and the magic flowing. She worked a lot harder to make changes than I needed to. Which made the fact that she could still overpower me anytime all the more impressive.
I glanced at her as I rolled onto my stomach with a smile. My Goddess.
The hole in the cloud spread to reveal a city below, centered around a grand pyramid with a number of terraces on it.
Honestly, it was all rather impressive.
“Nice,” I commented. “Is the scale wrong or is that larger than the Royal Palace?”
“It is,” Luna confirmed with a nod as she settled her wing over my back. “They worked for generations to build it. It’s the Palace, that’s where the new King will take residence.”
Nodding I frowned in thought. “Luna… I have not thought about it before, but why do I only see dreams of ponies? Not griffons or dragons?”
“Because ponies come naturally,” she answered and nipped at my ear tip with a smile. “The other races take work to reach. Once you are ready, I’ll teach you how.”
That made sense, I suppose.
“So how do they elect their ruler? You said it was some kind of Game?”
“The Great Game,” Luna agreed. “Made up of politics, economy, personal power, contacts, allies, alliances… tactics, strategy and even personal combat.”
I slowly nodded. “How does that work?”
Luna shifted her wings a bit. “Different challenges advance or make their piece fall back on the board, depending on their performance. It’s all rather complex. But the result is that in the end, there will only be one winner and he or she will rule.”
She was right, that sounded really complex. But if they got it to work, it might even be better than democracy in theory. In theory at least, it would let the best possible griffon become their new leader.
But only in theory. In theory a lot of systems sounded good, the real test was to have them work in practice. What do I know though, sounded like it works for them?
“Ah,” I said and looked down at the city before I eyed Luna. “So that’s the real reason.”
“What do you mean?” she asked with a frown.
I smirked. “Oh, the reason I was unable to come. The distance to the airship was just an excuse, wasn’t it?”
Luna tilted her head. “Page, what do you mean?”
“You were afraid I would join the game and become king of the griffons, weren’t you?” I asked with a grin. “King Page. I would then conquer Equestria! I would steal ALL the cakes and The Royal Sisters would be mine! MuhahahEEEP!”
“Silly Page,” Luna giggled and let go of my ear. “You would hate being King.”
“…Hmm, true. I suppose Equestira is safe,” I answered and flicked my ear with a smirk. “For now.”
“For now, hmm?” Luna asked with a smile as she eyed me. “You and what army? I would have you know I could defeat you on the field of battle.”
“I have a lot of fans. I’m sure rabid fanmares would be quite effective against the Royal Guard.”
Luna and I looked at each other for a long moment before breaking down laughing.
As we slowly calmed down, I grinned and leaned against her side with a grin, before I sighed and raised my head to nuzzle at her chin. “…Miss you.”
Luna smiled softly and sighed, nuzzling back before giving me a soft kiss. “I miss you too, my Page. I wish you were here.”
“Yeah. Me too.”
Holding me a bit tighter with her wing, I relaxed against her, looking down at the city below. “…Are you having fun at least?”
“Somewhat,” Luna admitted. “I have to admit that it’s nice to have a change from my normal duties for a while.”
I nodded. “Good. You deserve a break.”
Smiling, Luna kissed my cheek. “It’s nice. Getting to be morning though.”
“Yeah… I can feel it too,” I sighed and then got up to kiss her properly. “Good morning, my Sky.”
“Good morning, Page,” Luna murmured back before the world dissolved into nothing and I opened my eyes to see Celestia’s sun rise above the horizon.
Wonder if I can get Celestia to sleep in sometime? Bribes maybe?
Ugh. Too early.
Sighing, I rolled over and pulled the covers over my head. Stupid sun.
*hums the Game of Thrones theme*
Bit of a typo here.
Other than that, I want to see some details about the Great Game. Kinda reminds me of a mix of Aztec ball games and Iain M. Bank's Culture Series, specifically The Player of Games
I do hope the Culture is sending it's best Player of Games... :D
Not sure if you want to use this or not but I once read a book series called the "Wheel of Time". They had the exact same phrase, but called it "Daes Dae'mar", not sure if you'd want to use it but i'm just putting it out there, it sounds more mysterious and interesting imo
Rabid fan mares would be effective against the guard... sadly, this is legit from what I've seen of them XD
8012714
8012794
The Great Game is a semi-common term used to describe political conflicts. Think of it like "The Game of Life" only for nation states, politicians and anyone with the drive to acquire and wield power. As others have pointed out The Culture, ASOIAF and The Wheel of Time are good examples of it in action. Another good example is how Palapatine managed to seize power and form the Empire in Star Wars (blegh prequels).
The historical origins of the name come from a conflict between Russia and the British Empire back in the good old days of imperialism.
Love these scenes between these too, makes me wish Page was canon, she does deserve someone this good for her.
"Democracy is the worst form of government. Except for all the others that have been tried."
-Sir Winston Churchill
I get the impression that these dream meetings are kinda like a non faulty, 20% cooler version of Skype
verityjes.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/got1.jpg
Guess the gryphons are fans.
ehhh considering the guard usual track record... my money is on the rabid fans too.
sweetness over load to much cuteness.
I love it.
8012955 Discord app then?
A lovely chapter. I look forward to Page getting Celestia to sleep in.
The Great Game?
The Griffons are Orlesians, it seems.
8012935 ya but nobody has ever really tried a comprehensive exam to be ruler before...
.....
actually this would explain why twilight knows next to dirt about griffons, she would easily conquer them if they let anyone join the game...
You got a double there, mate.
8016444
Everything you say sounds extremely aggressive because of your profile picture.
This game sounds alot like the political Game from a certain sci-fi series called the Culture by In Banks....
Sounds alot like it actually. Except it is in a space opera novel.
...
...
...
Page got beaten to the punch on Martins work I guess.
Is the throne made up of the talons of defeated lords?
“For now, hmm?” Luna asked with a smile as she eyed me. “You and what army? I would have you know I could defeat you on the field of battle.”
“I have a lot of fans. I’m sure rabid fanmares would be quite effective against the Royal Guard.”
Never underestimate fans, they are willing to go to crazy lengths to get what they want or what their idols want
8012964
Okay. Put me down for a thousand bits on the griffon hen who raised three dragons she hatched in her own funeral pyre and the stunted griffon cock who joined forces with her!
9225631
1000 bits on Sean Beak.
Bit too much grinning in the same sentence, I think. That is unless her side were grinning.
Equestria
Perhaps a Moon Pie to bribe Celestia with
Meh... Griffon system sounds better than ours system. They put work and effort not just money into it to successfully get a chance of representation of there Nation.
The Great Game reminds me of Orlais and how much I hated it there.
Cute fashion style, though.
Equestria
Still need fixing...
I actually can see Blank Page rule Griffons more than Canterlot noble ponies, he has more in common with the Griffons. Also he get to eat meat more often!
Damn... I can see Blank Page being a awesome griffon leader
Maybe he could need a Griffon concubine
And don't neglect the Royal Guards who happen to be his rabid fans--Luna's army gets defeated before they engage the mobs they're facing.
Tsun Tsu wouldn't make that mistake!