If there was something that had gotten worse after the attack on Canterlot and the kidnapping by the other hive, was that I had even less privacy than before. If I wasn't at the castle, I had at least one, usually more members of the Legion following me around. Thankfully usually out of armour. That's not even counting Amber shadowing me from... well, the shadows. Even if you didn't see her... maybe even especially if you didn't see her... the changeling was always there with a stubbornness that would make Skitter proud.
There were times I missed the time when I had just arrived, when I had just started to get to know my Sky, when I wrote a bit on the side while working in a bookstore for some Bits.
At least then I could go anywhere I wanted, anytime I wanted.
Now, I couldn't ditch Amber. Know your limits and all that, besides it would make me feel bad to do that to her, but the rest?
Illusion, a bit of sneaking around, a second Illusion and a bit of flying and I was out of the castle, wrapped in the illusion causing me to look like a blue coated pegasus with white mane and a star mark.
I knew how annoyed Amber would be at me about it, and I had apologized to her about it, but sometimes, just needing to step away was a thing.
There was just so much going on right now and I needed to clear my head.
Pushing the door to the tavern open, I entered the small establishment. A faint scent of smoke in the air from the fireplace and a faint mumbling of conversation. It wasn't one of my normal places and was actually in what for Canterlot passed as 'bad' parts of town. But considering it was Canterlot, that just meant less shiny.
Considering it was the middle of the afternoon, just a couple of hours after lunch, the place was far from packed. Maybe a dozen ponies in total, including staff.
Shaking the snow from my hooves, I moved over to the bar and ordered a big hot cider before taking it over to one of the corner tables where I settled down.
It was still freezing cold outside, but the hot drink and the warmth from the fireplace radiating through the room was exactly what I needed to warm up again and get my brain back in gear.
I had way too much to worry about right now even if not any of the things was outright critical, it was just all of them together.
There was Celestia, the entire thing with the Changelings, whatever the Minotaurs had been mumbling about with that contested area... then there was worrying about Midnight. I had not seen her for weeks since she left for Ponyville to talk with Sparky about something. I hoped she had come up with a way back home, but I didn't want for her to get her hopes up if it didn't pan out again.
I felt sorry for her and the other Spike, especially as I was the one she got into a fight with when she arrived... the fight that destroyed the scroll she needed to return. Oh, it was Discord's fault for bringing her here in the first place, but that didn't change that I still felt horrible about it.
I sipped my cider and sighed.
Then there was Celestia. She had been acting strange since she swatted me like a fly with her spe- sun. I could get why she was feeling guilty about it, but it had been my fault in the first place for startling her like that, especially at the time. Not that it likely helped that Sunset apparently didn't talk to her anymore because of it. I should talk to her about it.
Then... then there was Skitter and the entire twisting nest of trouble that was Changelings in general. Her idea about the other Hives was a good one, but how in the world would you go through with it when there was a chance they would indeed see it as weakness and attack?
Wonder if the Griffins are looking to hire any alicorns right now, that sounds like it would be a way easier job... and this with me just being Lunas Prince-Consort, I wasn't even an actual Prince.
They couldn't pay me to take one of their jobs.
...no, they just fluttered their eyelashes at me, showed off some feathers and I just volunteered to do it for free.
I'm such a dumbass.
I drained my glass with a sigh and put it back down before I leaned back against the wall behind me for a moment. Well, whatever was going on, it couldn't continue like it was.
I needed to talk to Celestia and Sunset, or rather, I needed to talk to Sunset first and then Celestia. Sunshine can handle the ambulatory burgers on her own, she had for a millennia after all, so I wasn't worried there. Then I needed to find someway to figure out exactly Chrysalis was up to... and somehow in the middle of all that, find some time to write to clear my head or I'm going to go cra-
"Excuse me, would you like a refill?"
I opened my eyes, looking up at the pegasus waitress across the table from me. Or rather... the image of the white pegasus with pink mane pulled into a side braid across from me overlaid on a white batpony with grey mane pulled into the same side braid. Her cutiemark in both forms was that of a half moon.
I blinked at her in surprise. I... I did not expect that.
At all.
Batponies were rare, the only other one I knew was Fluttershy! And I suppose her mom, but I didn't know her, just knew of her.
"Huh?" I asked smartly.
"I was wondering if you wanted a refill?" she asked and motioned towards my glass with a smile, "Five Bits."
"...Yes, thank you, yes," I said and then shook my head, "...Sorry, long day," I said and picked the bits from my satchel and slid them over to her with some extra, "Could I get a fruit bowl too?"
"Of course," she said with a smile as she scooped the bits into her apron, "Coming right out," before she turned and trotted back towards the bar.
I watched her go for a moment.
I needed to find out who that filly was.
We know how he does it, but how does she? Can't wait to figure that one out.
(btw, can't remember if it's been covered, but why are the bats so illusive in this AU?)
10358916
And is she seeing the horn with this disguise, or just his wings?
10358922
Depends I guess, on how she 'sees'.
If she echoes, she'll see the horn, but he'll know. The wings are easier to figure by visible/audible disparities. (If you know what you're looking for.) (And now I need a bat/Luna emoticon )
Finally, the long awaited batpony, looking forward to the continuation of the story! Thanks for the update!
And there it is, a new member for his herd.
Huh, another Bat pony. I can't wait to see what he finds out about this new pony.
Amazing story writing, keep up the good job, I'll support you all the way😁
10359094
Interesting, definitely want to see where this goes
Down boy! She’s not even a regular cast member!
Page sure has first world problems I wonder if he could get another friend. She could be a archiv of knowledge for him about Thestrals.
Lovely comment section in general
Page has a eye for Griffons
Wonder if Page will visit a Thestral village ones it get warmer... In many story there is at least one.
MEANWHILE...AT DISCORD'S HOUSE
Discord: *taking an apple cider and whipped cream bath while singing* Baking these treats is such a cinch~! Add a teaspoon of vanillaaaa! Add a little mor---
*LOUD BEEPING NOISE GOES OFF AS FLASHING BAT-SHAPED DISCO BALL LOWERS FROM THE CEILING*
Discord: Hmm? Wait! Can it be? It is the Batpony lore signal!! Page is about do something thestral-related...I must go and guide my ship!! *dresses up like a pirate with fake parrot and all*
*Discord opens a wormhole*
Discord: FOR THE HONOR...OF FLUTTERSHY!!
*Discord dives into wormhole*
10359290
I should stop drinking while reading the comments.
Thanks to your's I have now coke in the nose and need to clean my desktop....
10358916
An old curse on a single pegasus tribe (before Equestria was Equestria). It is slowly being bred out. Fortunately the blood drinking was edited out way back when during a curing attempt.
10359328
10358916
Also enough racism that Page was still getting dirty looks with Chrysalis in the room.
10359367
What does she [Chrysalis] have to do with bats being elusive?
10359431
It's an explanation of why they're hiding, as opposed to simply rare. In that room, it would make more sense for the mastermind of a full-scale invasion that most of them were there for to be getting all the hatred, but somehow they still found some for the bat.
10359465
Your response is nonsensical
"That room" you mean the bar? So Chrysalis is masterminding a plan that involves the use of batponies, and we only know of three, by... redirecting? hatred of changelings onto bats? Maybe the focus of the hatred. Might i remind you that only the closest of friends and family are likely to know about the barmare being a bat? Only one lives in the open and not even all that often.
10359489
No, the room in the last chapter that Chrysalis physically appeared in, where Page was somehow still getting those kinds of looks with, again, a not-even-pony who had previously openly declared her intent to reduce them all to foodstock. Chrysalis isn't masterminding any of this, it was Canterlot nobles acting independently of any manipulation.
10359498
Still making close to no sense. (Admittedly much more than the last two combined)
The reason the bats are in hiding was already established. By the time the curse was modified to allow a more pony diet enough time had past that racial stigma was concrete. (This had nothing to do with the non existent Canterlot nobles). With the curse being less and less common all anypony has to go on is old stories. That, coupled with mild xenophobia, gives batponies reason to hide in the modern day.
10359556
And enough of that stigma has remained to keep pace with a similar case that, if not necessarily fresh in their minds at this point, is at least something they experienced firsthoof. If this is mild xenophobia, I don't want to see what you think of as severe... but I have to anyways, because it's all over the news to the point that I don't even look for news and have still heard about it. (Sorry for bringing real-life politics into all this, although I'd like to imply a connection between it and how the story apparently showed up earlier than expected...)
10359624
Mmm... I can understand how others would not see it as mild. If they were not ponies I too would not consider it mild. I have two big reasons that i consider it mild. The first is the natural inclination to run or get away from the object of their fears. A stark contrast to us humans who are more likely to confront or attack such fears. So apart from knowing "their place" that the ponies put them in they are relatively safe. Zecora, for instance, was in no actual danger from the ponies and was not confronted until after Applebloom was "in danger".
And second is how situational that it is. To pick on Zecora again; she walks out of the eldritch forest of horror* (with some predictability) wearing a cloak. The cloak covers everything so you can't really see her or her (possible) cutie mark. Then she walks into the center of town and paws at the ground. The is horse/pony for "this is my place, fight me for it!" and understandably no one does. Zecora would not know this as zebra have to dig for water and pawing the ground is acceptable in polite company. The townponies react to her as we likely would seeing a mad maxed jeep roll out of a ghetto, with its owner clad in leather with a black cowboy hat and red bandana. You don't see a weapon but there are places it could be hidden.
Now let's contrast Zecora with Gilda. She dropped in out of the blue with no warning so ponies had no time to panic before she was among them. She is as naked as they are and though she has no cutie mark she at least doesn't look as disreputable as Zecora with her cloak. Despite her bland color scheme she can be mistaken for a pegasus at range and can pass as one of them in a crowd also at range. While Gilda will attract more stares and more fear long term she was more acceptable in the eyes of ponies than Zecora's early methods.
*despite what most authors seem to think is also relatively safe in that ponies have been attacked in it fewer episodes than we have seasons. The CMC are regulars and they are fine. Rarity even once yelled at the spooky yellow monster eyes and they ran from the ponies.
10359290
Pfffffft Hahahahshaha!
That hissing fit scene stuck with me. images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/29e0efca-dbe3-44db-acd0-387f0fe959dc/de2d3z8-6bfd47ba-ac62-4565-aa14-816a225a1f26.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOiIsImlzcyI6InVybjphcHA6Iiwib2JqIjpbW3sicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvMjllMGVmY2EtZGJlMy00NGRiLWFjZDAtMzg3ZjBmZTk1OWRjXC9kZTJkM3o4LTZiZmQ0N2JhLWFjNjItNDU2NS1hYTE0LTgxNmEyMjVhMWYyNi5qcGcifV1dLCJhdWQiOlsidXJuOnNlcnZpY2U6ZmlsZS5kb3dubG9hZCJdfQ.oP9HfSztgeYmL_4n8Hk_eww6KGWSf6mMYZ9oaVicp5o
10359556
on the flip side it does seem quite easy for them to hide in the first place
10359290
10359313
Priceless
10361071
Were all doomed...
10360848
What Page isn't aware of, is when he hissed back at Chrysalis, what he unintendedly said was "I love you, will you marry me?" in the Changeling language (given that what she had hissed at him translates to "fuck you and the horse you rode in on, pony-food!", his response actually surprised her). Her stunned expression and showing up at the summit is Chrysalis is her actually considering it.
Up in the Empire, Cadance fainted, muttering "another ship on the horizon! another ship on the horizon!"
This makes no sence. If Page is no prince than Shining Armor isnt one as well...
10367475
Cadence should be careful how involved she gets. Chryssie's ship could always be... detoured into a more northern port.
I forget isn't "Midnight" supposed to be the canon Twilight that was going through the whole Starlight time travel thing and got stuck there?
10415927
yes, poor girl is lost in the multiverse
10415927
im wondering what happend to the starlight of that time line. midnight said she came from the changling timeline last so its possible that starlight is stuck there ( or whatever one came after that)
Isn't that what it takes to convince most males?
11042175
Most yes sadly but not all. Heavens above someone like me ends up in a situation like that. It's not being stubborn when your bloody trying to trick me into doing your job
11042175
50/50. Will either succeed on the full lane or blow up in your face. There’s usually no inbetween.
(Results may wary depending on how familiar you’re with the person.)
I'm starting to think that Page would make a great Public Relationship Ambassador for the bat ponies. As Discord put it, he's very chaotic and ponies love him for it.
Good work is rewarded with more work. Blank Page has a lot of papers to fill out in the future.
Makes me wonder why most stories go still with 3 aspects of a pony makes a Alicorn. After all the potencial pony subraces, I think it should be increased into 4 aspects.
Pegasus, Unicorns, Earthpony, Thestral are widely accepted in MLP Fandom. Makes me wonder about:
-Hippogriffon (Griffon X Pony)
-Kirin (Dragon X Pony hybrid apparently)
-Bi-Corns (two horns instead of one)
-Zebra (Pony X ???
-Zoney (Pony X Zebra)
-Centauer (Pony X Minotaur)
Etc etc...