“She was afraid,” I told Luna, “Afraid her friends would abandon her if they discovered what she really is.”
Luna hesitated and shifted her wings, her ears flicking once before she answered, “There…” she shook her head, “I don’t know. That’s how ponies reacted before I… left. That was one of the reasons my Guard is like it is with the pegasi disguises.”
I looked to her in surprise, “I can’t believe it would still be like that. It’s been a thousand years!”
Luna sighed, “I know.”
I frowned at her, “...No, I’m sorry, but I cant believe that’s true. Sure, ponies have been a bit hesitant since these,” I said and shifted my wings, “But I can’t believe they would literally shun a thestral out of town!”
Sunset shifted a bit on the bed next to me across from Luna. She frowned slightly as she watched me, “Page… I don’t know…”
I looked at her in surprise, “What?”
Sunset sighed softly, “Page… you know ponies are easily… startled by things they aren’t used to,” she admitted.
“There is a difference between being unsure about unknown beings and outright rejecting ones you know because they are different!”
I shook my head and got up, “I’ll prove it. Tomorrow I’ll disguise myself as a regular thestral and go out on town and have lunch.”
There was a scramble of hooves against the floor and Amber jumped into view landing next to the bed, her wings buzzing as she glared up at me, “No, sir!”
I blinked down at her, “What?”
“You’re not putting yourself into unnecessary danger!” she stated and stomped one hoof, “It was bad enough that you snuck out without guards yesterday!”
“That’s not the-”
“You did what!?” Luna exclaimed and quickly sat up, “Page! They are there for a reason! What i-”
“You can’t just ditch them!” Sunset said as she looked at me with a frown, “I know you don’t like it, but-”
“Enough!” I said loudly and stomped my hoof on the bed, the lack of a sound somewhat running the effect, as I spread my wings and I looked between all three of them, “I’m doing this.”
Neither Sunset nor Luna looked exactly happy about that idea but Amber looked outright rebellious.
I jumped off the bed and folded my wings again, “I need to know, and I need to know as soon as possible. Because if that’s true, it’s not right and needs to be fixed.”
Sunset shared a look with Luna before jumping off the bed and moving up to give me a small nuzzle, “Page… I didn’t say it shouldn’t change,” she said softly, “But I just don’t see how to make ponies accept somepony.”
I slipped my wing around her back and pulled her close, nuzzling back and touching my horn against hers, “You did.”
“...I’m not a usual pony,” Sunset admitted, “For one thing, I spent years as a bipedal primate. Besides, I knew… I knew where it was from and for what.”
I frowned at her before Luna moved up to my other side, slipping a wing across both of our backs, giving me a nuzzle at my ear,
“I would like for nothing more than to let Thestrals be accepted,” she told me softly, “I have tried to do that before, with my guard. While the guard, as you say, is accepted… it’s not to say the same would happen to thestrals in public. I don’t know for sure how it is now, but I know how it was before I was detained.”
“It’s been a thousand years, My Sky,” I told her with a small sigh, nuzzling back, “If it hasn't changed, then it’s way past time that it does. Too many generations have been forced to live hidden from other ponies. If that’s what’s going on, it’s stopping. Now.”
“But you’re taking your guards,” Luna told me, “Promise me that.”
“Luna, I can’t do this if I’m followed around by two ponies everywhere I go!”
“What about another couple of Changelings?” Amber suggested as she moved around to face us, “I can talk to Princess Skitter.”
Sunset nodded, “That works for me.”
I sighed and shook my head but Luna nodded as well,
“That seems like a reasonable compromise, doesn’t it, Page?” Luna asked and looked at me, “...For us?”
Don’t look at me like that, I’m weak, okay?
“...Okay,” I agreed with a small sight, “I suppose that’s fair enough.”
Page is gonna look like a Thestral and walk around canterlot? This is gonna be a sight to see....
OOO! What if one of the changelings goes as a Mare Thestral who will act like Thestral Page is her coltfirend?
Page next chapter:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjgp2iOM1cM
"Yes you sir, yes I see you're screaming in abject terror but are you screaming at me or the three identical ponies behind me standing on the wall? Sir, its just a simple survey...oh he's throwing pottery now."
He gon get assaulted.
I'm honestly happy to see Page taking the initiative in an issue that he cares about. It feels like he is more often than not just going with what he's been told to do or expected to do. Or is manipulated into doing by Celestia. He is a lot like Twilight from the actual show in this regard. Up until she made her own school, she had hardly ever done anything out of her own desire to see change. It was save the world that, or do what the Princess said this.
I'm not saying that it's necessarily a bad thing for this story or the show. It was realistic and a believable part of both Page's and Twilight's characters. But, as did Twilight, he needs to do more without being pushed to do so.
So, I'm happy to see what I hope is a turning point for his character. It's good to see him put his hoof down on an issue that is truly important to him and I hope this trend continues.
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Now to repeat the survey several times, and throughout several cities. Can't be sure with just one sample, after all.
For example, what if in Manehatten they throw rotten tomatoes? Bricks in Vanhoover?
Thanks for the interesting chapter! I'm looking forward to the update!
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I agree with you on that point. Why not put the aliance with the Changlings to good use and let some of them disguise themself as Thestals in every major city to get a better view of the situation? Maybe in some smaller village and the countryside to. Wouldn't be surprised if the reactions there are different.
Pretty sure we all know were this will do. This is no 'ordinary city' its canterlot! City of stuck up nobels and status obsessed unicorns.
I dont see how this can be fixed without extream measures. While a bit over the top its still perfectly reasonable. Extrem situation need extraordinary actions to be fixed.
So basicly, because soft methods failed, Luna and Celestia decided that nothing can be done? Shame on them, it's duty of rulers to do, what is needed for their all subjects, even if some of them don't like it. Hard and ruthless methods aren't inherently bad and simply sometimes you must use them as ruler, if don't have a choise.
Edit: i will also precise, about what actions I think:
Firstly, ABSOLUTLY they must avoid giving of any privilages to thestrals, as nothing build dislike more than feeling of unequal treatment. Instead they should harshly and loudly punish these openly opressing thestrals and officials "not noticing" such acts. Also official state-wide anti-hate campains personally and openly promoted by alicorns. And campains aimed to thestrals urging them to show themselves on some controlled way to protect them eventual attacks. Fortunally thestrals are already fully integreted into society (just in disguise), so it will not be an additional problem.
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Indeed that has many advantages as well. They can feel/taste/smell there ponys reaction around them. Literally going around and making checklists to nerd-gasm Twilight
Example:
Test day one to three: 1 Thestral visits the village/city.
Test day four to six: Another one join the next. As a friend or sibling. Let them look like 101 Tourist out of the books.
Test day seven to twelve: add two more to the test. They now are eatch 2 sibling with there respective Thestral mate/partner having dates while doing there Tourismus Routes.
Day Thirteen: detailed report of all observed behavior.
Followed by the Tourist ask openly about there behavior. A week later. 'Changelings playing royal guard' investigate in general if anyting happend
( Tirek and other events have it in there nature to create rippels in surroundings long after the event ).
End report of the Summary:
- Individul observation
- pair observation
- Couple/Group obserbation
- Area Q&A with the local test population
- 'Royal guard' survey/incident/event report
This will repeat in lets say all knows citys and village in Equestria. This will have the side effect raising 'Thestral' sightings and increase in public awareness.
Im very trilled to see the media react to it!
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Exacly.
MEANWHILE...AT DISCORD'S HOUSE
Discord: Excellent~! Not the exact goal I had in mind but Page is now looking fully invested in the Thestral politics! Someone deserves a reward~!
MEANWHILE...AT HIVER'S HOUSE
Hiver: Heh...a plate of cookies just fell out of a wormhole in my house with a note that say "For Good Behavior". I really should question this...but I won't because COOKIES! *nom nom nom* Me Good Hooman *nom nom nom*
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MEANWHILE AT CADANCE’S HOUSE - “Shiny!”
“What?”
“I sense Three mares and one Page on bed!”
“...freaking hate that guy...”
“Relax, your Birthday is coming up.”
“Last year you invited Twiley over.”
“Yes.”
“That’s sick Cadie.”
“...technically she’s from another timeline.”
“NO!”
“...What about Moondancer?”
“You mean the mare whose basically Twilight but a different paint scheme.”
“Yes.
“....ok.
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Princess Cadance: And for MY birthday...*takes out her secret folder on Sunburst* ...you interested Shiny dear??
Shining Armor: ......YES!!!
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“Wow, that’s a little more eager than I expected.”
“I’m open minded.”
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It better be Skitter
Sigh, not sight at the last line, but at least with this, the lings have a chance to again shine not just with being undercover guards, but also show how useful they are to others and get a great feel for the crowd.
This will either end wholesomly or in tears. No middle ground.
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Don't... don't give Cadence more hope and ammunition. She has enough of that already.
Blank Page.
Prince-consort and husband to Princess Luna, protector of the denizens of the dream plane, and last but not least of all; architect and radical of change.
Having already started integrating a changeling hive , whom was not long ago an enemy, into Equestria's capital city of Canterlot, allowing another ex-enemy commander to be accepted into a militant position close to the royalty...
And now finally, addressing and confronting pony cultural discrimination against the average Therstal.
How, I wonder, do the pompous nobles deal with someone so controversal but so brave? I say he should keep going, show them how a real noble should act.
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Completely agree with you
10363903
It better be Skitter, love this idea they should do this
10364636
To be fair, it is easy to forget that Page was once a Human. And since he wasn’t raised by ponies, he can look at things like a human would.
10364208
the conundrum of being immortal, why force the painful abrupt social change when you can direct the long controlled shift. It doesn't do those currently living any good but it does ensure that things don't go off the rails either. To use an example, if Celestia was in charge of the US, she probably would have ended slavery but she probably also would have let it die slowly instead of forcing it with a bloody war.
this came up to an extent in a story about Equestria having a space program (which I can't seem to find right now) where Celestia essentially said things were moving too fast and ponies must adapt more gradually and the director rebutted that on celestia's terms she would be long dead before they ever got to the stars.
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Link when you find it please
10365243
Send to me as well please.
And here we see eaw lore creppong in, the equestrian civil war roots being laid. Personally I’m feeling like taking everthing over as vanhoover. Never quite managed it last time just a stalemate def
I‘m reminded of this for some reason…
If it turns violent you can just drop the disguise and LOUDLY publicly shame the ponies for their behavior... then get the equestrian newspaper involved. Sunlight is the best disinfectant.
Sooo... this is either ending with a nobel screwing things up, or guards that are uneducated on unity and equally in law and order...
We need to save Bat-pones! ... The cuddling is just a bonus not the main reason...