I left the small cottage as the sun set at the horizon, leaving Pepper and Fluttershy talking on the couch.
Yawning, I rubbed my eyes for a second before I lit my horn and wrapped myself in an invisibility spell and took to the sky.
I took to the skies and then I banked around, heading out over the Everfree forest. I needed somewhere to think away from everypony else.
Climbing higher, I flew as the sun set at the horizon and the moon rose, throwing a silver light across the forest.
The wind picked up slightly and I rested on my wings, sweeping silently across the forest as I let my spell fade away. Nopony here to see me.
There.
My destination became visible at the horizon and I changed course slightly, heading towards the Castle of the Two sisters.
I would be able to be alone to think there.
A slight rumble at the horizon made me look and I almost smiled. Wild thunderheads, no ponies managing the weather here.
Reminded me of home.
But unless I wanted to fly in the rain, I would need to find somewhere with a roof. We might be able to handle getting wet better than any other sort of pony, except maybe sea ponies if they existed, but didn’t mean I would enjoy getting rained on. Especially here where it was a lot cooler than back home.
Banking around, I circled the remains of the high towards before I beat my wings and then spiraled, pulling up before flying in through an open hole in the wall.
My hooves touched down on the stone floor and I looked around.
I had judged it right. It was Lunas room. Not… not my Lunas room. Or rather it was, just in a different timeline.
Luna here and my Luna was the same Luna, just split further back in the timeline. If I never appeared, this Luna would be my Luna. Or rather this would have been the only Luna.
To be frank, it gave me a headache.
I slowly looked around, careful not to touch anything. But I scowled when I spotted the evil book. I could feel its draw now when I had more experience.
A kind of oily dark aura whispering promises of power and shadows.
I sneered at it, grasped it in my magic before I threw it outside, sending a pair of my strongest blasting spells after it.
Not entirely sure if it completely destroyed it like Lunas spell had, but it went into pieces, falling towards the ring lake below..
Sighing softly, I looked around before I closed my eyes.
Luna.
Sunset.
Twilight.
Home. Needed to go home. I had to get back to them, but… was what I was doing here the right thing?
This would cause upheaval. The revelation of bat ponies being… not common. But among ponies…
Not only that, but kicking things off and then fucking off back to my world, just leaving everything behind for somepony else to clean up.
I was tricking ponies to do it. Putting responsibility on the shoulders of ponies that deserved so much better.
Fluttershy alone… she would be exposed and this time with no Nocturnis to hide in away from everypony else.
Pepper… every bat pony would be relying on her.
Was it right? Did I have the right? If I didn’t, was it too late to prevent it? Had I even a right to stop it?
It would improve the life of thousands of ponies. Prevent the extinction of an entire tribe of ponies and prevent so much suffering and pain before then.
The rain started to pour down outside with a crack of thunder. I looked towards it, walking over to put my hoof on a thick fallen stone, looking out towards the forest below.
A timberwolf howled somewhere in the distance.
It was too late to stop anyhow. Even if I had said nothing, reached out to nopony, just me arriving here would have put things into motion.
Luna. Celestia.
Just hearing my story put the bats on their radar again. Revealed their pain… and neither Luna nor Celestia would be able to leave that alone.
So no. There was no stopping or preventing it. Only helping and for that…
We needed ponies like Fluttershy and Pepper because I was right in my first thought in that everypony else would need some bats in on this to show them that they could trust Luna and Celestia.
…Though after a thousand years of having to live in the light of her sun, I’m not sure any of them will ever trust Celestia.
Even my ponies in Nocturnis didn’t like Celestia. Some liked Luna, but most just tolerated her.
Sunshine.
I felt bad about manipulating Celestia like that, using her hidden romantic side against her in such a way, especially when putting Equestria before family. I knew Celestia, either Celestia.
Their armor, their control was unbreakable.
But I knew them, I knew where that unbreakable armor had flaws. Open gaps if you knew where to look. And I felt horrible for taking advantage of it.
It hurt her.
I closed my eyes and took a slow and deep breath, taking in the scent of the rain and the night.
Luna…
Sighing, I pulled away from the opening as the wind picked up and drops of water hit me from the outside.
No going back until the rain is done, might as well get some rest. It had been a long day.
Looking around, I then spread my wings and took to the rafters to hang from my tail, wrapping my wings around myself as I squeezed my eyes closed tight.
I hate being a prince. I never wanted this sort of responsibility.
…I just wanted to write books and curl up by Lunas fireplace…
"after a thousand years of having to live in the light of her sun, I’m not sure any of them will ever trust Celestia." - why is that? Sounds superstitiously illogical. Like grudge against sunlight.
Pinkie Pie: DEPRESSION CUPCAKE!
Page: What in th---mnfph! *suddenly chewing on a cupcake* Mmmmm...mango lime with cherry filling...
Pinkie Pie: I sensed your sadness and came over. I gave you cupcake so my work here is done. BYE BYE!
*Pinkie happily hops out the castle window*
Page: WAIT! This is the 3rd floor! *looks out window but Pinkie Pie disappeared into thin air* ..I swear that Earth pony is a mystery I will never solve..
Heavy is the Crown that has to care for all of them...
11339292
I don't think it's as much about an aversion to sunlight, as it is about an association with Celestia's rule and the way they've been treated overt the centuries.
I kind of see where he's going, at least from a human perspective there's a very real potential of starting a partisan revolt or a ethnic cleansing, or at minimum a large cultural backlash movement, unlike nocturnis the bats will actually have to organize in an underground fashion until their movement is large enough, and with the nessescity of decursing they won't be able to hide anymore if they want to grow their numbers. Ontop of that he's basically linked the current power structure to this so whatever backlash forms will be aimed at the government in power, none of this is great but there's probably no real chance of going all bioshock infinite here
11339346
Page "Heavy is the plot that sits on the throne."
Celly "Are you calling me fat!?"
Luna "Take the hint sister."
Page, it's not how you destroy powerful dark artifacts. You aren't sure, you managed to do this, for all we know, if this book is sufficiently powerful, it may self-repair and then float with water toward some another innocent victim. You are writer, yet you are so not genre savvy. This book was in perfect stare after 1000 years after all.
Edit: Also it was risky, what if dark energies stored in book would unleash themselves upon book's destruction. With Page being closest target for them.
Thanks for chapter!
Have a good day!
11339344
Just trying that would set you on a path to madness. On the other hoof, we may than finaly get to see the Dark Page we want.
11339358
This exactly what I meant - grudge, personified. Celestia here represents scapegoat to their ire, and this is superstition.
11339132
Maybe give as much information as possible and the jewelry known as the elements would have been a good idea in that situation. The more you know the more you have to work with. Twilight basically got evil unicorn trying to take over stop him. And she might not mean to but she puts a lot of pressure on twilight to handle everything that she throws at her even if she isn't prepared for it. Anyone can see that twilight would do anything to please her and that isn't the healthiest mindset.
11339358
Plus they are more built for the night. They have good eyesight at night so they are better suited for it but due to stupidity they are awake during the day even if they don't want to be.
11339360
Page: Why is the Moon coming closer?
Luna: Nay, this is my Sister about to sit down on you.
Celestia: Your end is near, praise the sun!
*The mighty Sunbutt sits down on the poor Stallion*
11339292
More like she knew that they were there and ignored them and their needs until it was shoved in her face that they needed help and she didn't even try. Years of ignoring a problem doesn't get you fans.
Sadly for PAGE princess or not he is the type of person to let something issues with the bat ponies go when he knows how to help resolve it
11339402
It could be seen as that. Yet if I remember correctly, nopony even tried to petition her the issue so her ignoring it is mere speculation. Also you've called practicality of working, travelling and cooperating with those who don't see in the dark "stupidity".
11339415
When you are a hated species living in the shadows are you really going to the head of the country and ask for help. Page was barely in their world an hour when rainbow attack and considering how many ponies hate bat ponies how would they find the courage to change anything when they and their families are all they know. And the stupidity is the hate not becoming allies and maybe more.
11339417
One isn't connected to other. Ignoring is seeing but doing nothing. If you intentionally hide, how exactly you can blame others for ignoring you and your problems? If you don't voice your plead how you can blame others for dismissing it?
"due to stupidity they are awake during the day" - how I was supposed to interptet this as hate?
11339431
They hid because if they revealed themselves publicly they get hated. Given the choice between a almost normal life and being hated by almost everyone what would you choose.
11339431
What would force a night creature to be awake during the day when nature designed them for the night. If they were only awake at night someone might get suspicious and act hatefully and possibly violently.
11339401
...Poor?
Page is simply wrong in his thinking. He knew there was a problem that was causing agony to thousands, and he knows he can't stay around to personally see through it's completion. Therefore, the only viable option for him was to alert the authorities (the Sisters) who DO CARE and WOULD take proper action to fix the problem. Furthermore, he knows the best qualified ponies to help the Sisters to achieve that goal.
That's called "delegating", but it's NOT selfishly dumping the problem on anyone--it's simply doing the best option that was possible to fix the problem!
11339438
It doesn't answer question of how can you blame anyone for not hearing you if you were silent and not seeing you and your problems if you were intentionally hiding all the time.
And I've already answered this question - practicality. It is not evident to some but working, scouting, travelling, trading, coordinate with day creatures, farming, conserving heat in more cold areas, etc is just easyer and more productive during day than night.
11339461
And except for Luna and the bat ponies all other ponies are awake in the day. They are awake then because they don't get a choice between the two. And they remain silent because it either that or be hated. Celestia out maneuvered the nobles when they tried to punish page for being a bat pony but she knew when he changed he would be hated for his appearance. That says she knows their is a problem and does nothing. She has played too nice with the nobles and the other brats of her country and she has to stop playing nice.
11339457
She's heavy, if you didn't think about that. Like two, three or four times heavier than him.
11339468
Yeah i get that, buuut...
You sure he'd be unlucky because of it? Death by Snu Snu and all that?
11339475
He would prefer life of snu-snu, than death be Snu-Snu, I presume.
11339496
True... But if he had to go, that'd be the way, i think.
11339464
I'm not saying that this is total unawareness. But just knowing that they exist and that they're feared, does nothing to provide material for work. Is there actual another tribe or it is curse or it is just couple of this strange families in all world? May it be just rare genetic mutation? Many of them themselves may think so. All ponies see, all Celestia see, is sudden apperancess and just as sudden disapperancess of singular individuals. No, rumors of those apperances that inspier wild tall tales without any means to affirm them or disprove them. I just don't see how anyone could fix this problem without actual interraction with those in need. And who is to blame for lack of those interractions? Even if Celestia actually had reason to search for bats, bats would see this as witch hunt and hide even more fanatically. Especially considering that they could stay right in front of her and she wouldn't see any.
11339401
Page: nom
Celestia: jumps up in pain, discovering four bleeding holes in her posteriur as the stallion she just sat comfortable on retreats.
interersting
11339460
What about the ponies that will be stuck like this?! Bat ponies will be EXPOSED and UPROOTED. Sure, they as species will have better future, but have you ever thought about the INDIVIDUAL perspective.
A person knocks on your door, and under the pretence of removing your disguise you will be moved to a remote village. You friends, your bosses, your neighbours, everyone will be left BEHIND. Your co-workers. Tell me, within a week, if you were told to move and either take a top position, or just man a village, would YOU do it?
11339402
I don't think she knew they were in existence anymore and absolutely did not know about the curse and the cross breeding problem because that's info only Page's expedition uncovered
The comment section of the story is quite entertaining
11339344
Got to love the random comment section fun
11339360
Good one
11339457
Glorious way of suffocating is still a low death
11339517
Saved by a love nibble on to mutch mass
'O Lórien! Too long I have dwelt upon this hither shore,
And in a fading crown have twined the golden elanor.
But if of ships I now should sing, what ship would come to me,
What ship would bear me ever back across so wide a sea?'
11339361
It worked fine for Luna before, presumably.
11339460
Alas, the conscience can be a frustrating thing at times.
A bit of a jackboot parade today with regards to grammar errors unfortunately:
Repetitive from the previous line.
It was Luna's room. Not… not my Luna's room.
its draw now when I had experience.
like Luna's spell had
curl up by Luna's fireplace
11340000
Luna did it in more controlled, not rage induced way. Also it more looked like, she hid this book in some dimensional pocket or annihilated it. Page merely damaged it without confirmation of total destruction. He doesn't confirmed, that book indeed is destroyed and this is massive mistake in regard to such artifacts, as they are ussually made to survive.
It's really good way of preserving magical things from destruction, by making it apparently easily "destroyable", but actually self-regenarating from most of damages, as it will fool most of persons, like Page here.
11340032
that or evil books filled with dark powers just *have* to exist so you burn one and another shimmers into existence somewhere else. this is why we have tax codes, the lawful neutral book that you can't legally burn but contains many many evils but is fine because nobody but the dullest ponies in the universe will ever read them anyways
11340032
The bits are floating down toward the lake. Short of someone literally waiting at the bottom to try and save what they can, it's almost certainly destroyed. It seems quite a leap to assume the book itself is magical, or enchanted against destruction.
This is where it turns out that book contains the will, malice and hate of Grogar and Luna and Page both were just kicking the can down the road.
11340052
Book, in oryginal appearence and in this chapter too, was evidently shown as mind influencing, so it must be magical. Also it must have preservence spells, as otherwise it would rot in 1000 years. So it's not a great leap to suspect it of having other enchantments.
This is not nice. It's sad
11340127
The room had the preservation spells. As for the mind influence, that could well be what's written in it, not the book itself.
11339842
I ask for year buddys of mine of the get Yodas line. They just as myself had no idea. Funny enough in Starwars Rebels Kainan didn't know it neither.
11340232
Reminds me of one dr who episode:
11339644
When you're immortal, you can't afford to think about the short term. Partly because it's filled with stuff like this and your heart can only take so much.
Oh. Hey Fern.
I just remembered something, In Canon, EG2:RR Twilight was able to create a way to make the EG portal stable, sustainable and permanent, using Sunset's book that she left behind to speak with Celestia. So, if Page manages to go back with a similar book, and they leave another one in the canon.002 verse, they'd have a stable connection between worlds, because Sunset could still send and receive messages even when the portal was closed and/or inactive. Then they could just configure the EG mirror in Canon.002 world to work with Page's world as well as Sunset's world, or, use it as a template to reverse-engineer another set of mirrors, and boom, instant, stable, and sustainable inter-dimensional travel for everyone.