“Thank you for coming to this thing with me,” I sighed and sipped the admittedly rather good wine.
Sunset shrugged, “Hey, how often do you get invited to a royal reception?” she commented and adjusted her dress a bit with her magic, “...Do you ever get used to these things?”
“Dress or receptions? You could have worn the uniform you know, you are entitled to it.”
“What, and look a couple of hundred years out of place? You just like that the cloak hides your wings, I for one like the opportunity to wear a nice dress from time to time” she commented and then shook her head, “The reception.”
Somepony is in a mood today.
“It’s not too bad,” I said and looked around. It was held during the middle of the day and Luna was fast asleep.
Lucky, lucky mare.
That however left me without anyone to talk to. Sure, Celestia would be here but she would be busy with pleasantries the entire time. Serves her right really.
That left me bored though so I invited Sunset to join me.
“...Not, I suppose it’s not,” she said and looked around, “At least I haven’t been hit on yet by somepony twice my age.”
“I must be scaring them away, sorry. I’ll move so you can get the full experience.”
Her look could have melted lead, “You stay where you are. You got me into this, you get me out of it.”
“What, the dress? Scandalous.”
“Like that, would you?”
“Don’t know, I see that all the time. This looks good on you.”
“Thank you,” she said with a smile, “I admit, for being so old fashioned that uniform suit you too. Even if it was originally for your roleplaying.”
“Be nice, Sunny,” I snorted and sipped my wine again before I sighed and looked around, “Remind me again, how long do you have to stay before it’s polite to leave?”
Normally I wouldn’t care, but this was Celestia's thing and she invited me especially.
Sunset shrugged again, “About two hours or so at the very least.”
“I could be writing,” I sighed, “Like I don’t have enough things stealing time away from that already.”
She nodded and stole one of the cucumber things from my plate, “You do tend to keep busy. Anything new?”
I nodded and protected the rest of my food, “Luna wants me to get my own Guard.”
“You have guards.”
“That’s what I said! But no, she means an actual guard force. Like the Nightguard,” I complained quietly, “Forget the fact that there is no need for it, but when exactly am I going to have time for that?!”
Sunset frowned and slowly nodded before she smiled, “I could do it,” she offered.
“What? Join?”
“Oh, buck no,” she snorted in amusement, “I’ll set it up for you. I’ll take Swift Spear for help and I’ll likely need some sort of paperwork signed for Captain Cold Skies for that, but I’ll fix it for you if you like.”
I blinked at her, “You would do that?”
“Sure,” she said and then she shrugged, “In all honestly, it would be interesting.”
“Thank you, Sunset, that would be amazing. I’d owe you a big favor for this.”
“Damn right you would,” she agreed and stole another cucumber thing with a smile.
Nodding, I then handed her the plate, “I should likely go say hello to the guest of honor. But seriously, this is a reception for a griffon. Where are all the fish? Maybe meats?”
Sunset stuck her tongue out, “Carnivore.”
“What, you were on Earth. Don’t tell me you were a...vegan!”
“Vegetarian, thank you very much,” She said with a grin, “You do know that cows here talk, right?”
“That had to have been a surprise for you the first time someone ate steak.”
“Yeah, no kidding.”
Grinning, I shook my head and made my way across the floor towards the new ambassador. He was younger than the Ironbeak, wearing something that approached a military uniform and flanked by a pair of guards in armour.
“Ambassador Razorwing,” I said with a nod, “A pleasure meeting you.”
He looked down his beak at me, “If I wanted to be addressed by a pony playing at wearing a uniform, I would have gone to the theatre. It’s not even a real uniform.”
“Actually it is, it belongs to..”
“Leave.”
I raised my eyebrows at him, “Well, somepony woke up on the wrong side of the perch this morning.”
“How dare you!?”
“Well, I tried to be polite, this was your party after all. Go fuck yourself birdy, I’m leaving.”
The next thing I knew, the right side of my face was aching and I stumbled a couple of steps to the side.
Fucking, ow. The fucker suckerpunched me!
Alrighty then. Let the bloodshed commence!
Now where did I leave that popcorn?
Somewhere deep in the castle....
Luna’s eyes shoot open.
The sky goes black. Shadows themselves begin to pose into the room, reaching, writhing, hungry. From them a midnight mare appears, her slitted eyes glowing in an unearthly light.
“Razorwing, your angel of death awaits.”
Ooh let the games begin!!
Ok have have the feeling he names his Guard the Jedi Order or some in this Line.
And i smell war incoming.
I am curious what the repercussions of this would be. It's tempted to say that Blank Page started it first, but technically the griffon did by not even allowing him to introduce himself, which in ancient times might be cause for an honor duel. I mean, if he did that to some normal pony diplomatic immunity might cover the griffon. I'm not quite sure it would qualify against an alicorn though. Then again, Blank Page chose to not be the subject of a coronation. Still, he has other titles other than Prince, and he is betrothed to Luna, so something might come of that.
Then again, it's just a sucker punch. It's not like it was an assassination attempt, and it was an escalation of an argument. Usually, you might see the ambassador named a persona non grata for something like this, in short requiring a new ambassador to be appointed. Then again, the appointment of this ambassador is specifically to send a message to the country that is dealing with them. It's an interesting problem, and one Celestia might actually push if she is annoyed enough.
I wouldn't put it past her to want this very thing to come to pass, using Blank Page like a grenade, primed to go off when mishandled. Knowing the new ambassador would pull the pin. She is used to diplomatic games with griffons, after all.
I can't help but wonder if the ambassador knew whom he was talking to, and specifically baited Blank Page.
Someone has to make the obvious reference/joke
I get a feeling Page is about to lay this poor bastard out flat. He's' been training with Luna for how long now? It was long enough to be classed as an apprentice or some such in the last story so... methinks I look forward to this. Although I'm pretty sure what he just did could be argued as an act of war as well, given Page is Luna's consort, so maybe a forced/strong-armed apology... either way, entertainment ahead.
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I wouldn't be so sure, Blank Page is regarded as weaker than trained guards, and this griffon is probably a military appointee, so he probably has some skill in that regard (it can't be for his diplomatic abilities).
Of course, nothing like that would happen because the guards would step in long before it got to that point. No, it would require an honor duel of some sort to get that kind of showdown. Plus, Celestia is right there, so she could easily intervene if she had the power and inclination to do so.
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Has he been compared to the guards thusfar in this story? My memory is awful but I thought that was in the last story when he was said that'd be on the level of an apprentice were the battlemages (was that their name) still a thin? Ima take your word for it methinks.
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Well, his status has changed over time. Sunset saved his bacon the previous story, and she was shown to be quite strong magically, but he held the upper hoof against her in duels. So either Sunset was just in the right place at the right time and he's stronger than her, or she surpassed him in ability. He's certainly no pushover (consider his bout with Tirek, he lasted longer than a few seconds, which is what the majority of guards lasted), but he isn't a grand champion like Luna, Shining Armor, or Celestia are. His loss to Starlight Glimmer's sneak attack keeps me wondering how he'd fair against a military leader.
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True, but we don't know that this griffin is a military leader in any capacity, just that he was "more aligned" with the Griffin King's politics. And while I see the griffins being more militaristic, I could see a duel between Page and the griffin if only for the drama of it and that it could (arguably) make a good impression that Page, a pony, stood up for himself and flattened or went toe to toe with the griffin.
I can think of so many ways that this will play out. I am counting on you to give me the most entertaining option for forcing me to wait to find out! Arrrgggh!
8632573
at least the updates are only a couple of days apart.
Well, I've got my snacks... a drink... I'd say I'm set.
*waits with anticipation*
Fairly certain that Diplomatic Immunity doesn't cover assault on royalty.
Also, Skitter is likely about to call in the entire hive.
8632400
You can keep the popcorn, I want chicken.
Punch him back! (Can you punch with a hoof?)
2 things:
1. Sunset is awesome.
2. *grabs a tub of popcorn* Fight Fight Fight Fight Fight.
this bird needs plucked bald.
this is a vary good chapter.
forgive me but this just pooped in to my mind.
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He's certainly on par with a normal guard before his alicornation, but he doesn't seem to have gained much in the way of power, just endurance as well as the wings and strength so hes probably above the average guard now but nowhere near twilight or any of the other alicorns
One thing he does seem to have going for him is a great ability to weave illusions as well as a mastery of ice magic (and potential dark magic use)
Word of advise.
When in a diplomatic posting, your diplomatic immunity does not help you when you assault the people issuing you that diplomatic immunity.
8632549
One thing you are forgetting is that no matter how bizarre and out of place it is, the ambassador doesn't seem to recognize him or his uniform. That means Page has the element of surprise for the counterattack that is almost certainly coming next chapter, and considering his combat training it's almost certain one real attack is all he needs to flatten the ex-ambassador and probably his guards too.
Also, Amber and Sunset are both on hand, and I'd expect both of them to jump in with surprise attacks of their own since Amber is obviously not visible and Sunset is blending into the crowd thanks to her dress. This is going to be a quick curbstomp and will almost certainly be over before Celestia and the guards realize what is going on.
I'm pretty sure Celestia is going to facehoof when she hears about this.
Page will need to put a leash on Skitter and Amber.
Sunset will most likely be helping Page in the fight.
Discord can't keep himself together, cause he is laughing himself to pieces.
I also have to wonder if Celestia invited Page to this gathering like she did to the Mane 6 to the Grand Galloping Gala.
Page always knows how to make the best first impressions.
8632429
Let me just hide behind this pillar and we can begin!
Freeze him...
Soo...did the Griffons send this particular ambassador to provoke exactly this reaction? At the very least their message is very unfriendly. I wonder how that will go down.
"Do you want to start a war? Because that is how you start a war."
8632493
As you said, diplomatic immunity might allow the new ambassador to escape any ramifications had Page been a normal pony.
While Page might not have a crown of his own, he IS Luna's betrothed.
Just be aware, "Diplomatic Immunity" as we understand it today, is really a very recent thing--only a couple hundred years old or so. Equestria is a nation several thousand years old, and if the old laws still apply, this sort of shit usually results in an ambassador's head getting shipped back to the country who sent him....because wars have frequently started with far less provocation.
Let's hope it's just the ambassador wanting to test Page's mettle with a friendly duel of honor, Otherwise...
I was unaware cucumbers are capable of facial expressions.
Oh, yes. Bite me, me spirit animal is Crow.
Oh I cannot wait to see what happens when the griffin finds out he just punched an alicorn consort to a princess...
BTW Hiver...you better not skip to after the party in the next chapter. I love you but...you frustrated me when you constantly skip the fun bits to a bunch of ponies talking about the aftermath! STOP IT!
God dammit, Page.
God dammit, Razorwing.
God dammit, everyone.
And that's what we call a diplomatic incident.
Aren't diplomats, especially ambassadors, suppose to have intimate knowledge of the political landscape of the country hosting them? This Razorwing is not a very good ambassador, is he?
*Grabs popcorn*
You know, I think that the Pageguard would have a nice ring to it, don't you think?
Furthermore, Razorwing is in searing boiling oil with Princess Luna for sucker punching her fiancé.
What! You stopped there?!
Bring him down Page!
I never sucker punch ponies - nut shots are far more satisfying.
i wish luna was there to react to that...
9156392
ITSA CAT FITE!! Yes? No....? Okay........
9369958
???
8706889
Normally i dont antagonize others in the comments. But nut shots are for cowards.
8634109
God damnit WORLD
DAMNIT GOD
Dead bird! Bead bird sqwaking.
img-comment-fun.9cache.com/media/azBVwK/abx5Vdd9_700w_0.jpg
Welp that bird is dead
FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!
Somehow I don't think diplomatic immunity will count for much when you assault a
technicallyPrinceYou'd get torn apart by angry changelings and alicorns
THAT Griffon fucked up HARD!
c.tenor.com/ZfzM1wYQjbYAAAAS/politics-madness.gif
8632849
...why
A useful advice: If you meet someone for the first time, threat them with respect by default. You never know who they might be…
Verbally striking is fine, but physically? Wtf?
That Griffon just caused a International incident!
Celestia could declare a war for that!
'A nation that isn’t able and willing to do great harm is harmless, not peaceful'.
Somebirdy failed their pony relations course
It was at this Moment that Razorwing realized that HE FUCKED UP!!!