I looked around the throne room. Since it was closed to the general public today for the meeting with the Minotaur envoy arriving, the normal crowds of nobles and general hanger-ons were missing.
The room was hardly empty with the guards and other castle personnel, but it was emptier than I was used to seeing it during ‘business hours’.
Wishing I could stretch my wings, I instead cracked my neck and moved over to the thrones. Celestia was sitting in the one in the left while Twilight was in the one to the right, taking up Luna’s normal spot.
“Nervous?” I asked Twilight as I got closer.
“Bit?” she said and took a deep breath before letting it out again. “You?”
I shook my head. “Not really. But then again, I’m just going to be here. You have actual work to do.”
“Not so,” Celestia said with a smile. “If you have anything to add, I expect you to speak up, Lord Page.”
I gave her a flat look at the title and she just kept smiling that serene ‘in public perfect princess’ smile at me.
Finally, I rolled my eyes and moved to sit down next to her throne, adjusting my cloak a bit with my magic. At some point, I was going to outsmart her and get her horn stuck somewhere. Literally if possible.
Of course, that was unlikely to be today.
Settling down, I pulled a book from a pocket inside my cloak and flipped it open. This one in particular was a book I got from Luna once on ice magic. Other than the basic spells, I never really got into it.
But a lot of this stuff sounded really neat. I mean, being able to cool fruit and beverages is really fucking useful, but how cool is gales of icy wind or spears of ice?
Pun very much intended! Turning the page, I considered using some ice based puns next time I pulled these out against someone.
There was a sound of horns and I glanced up to see the throne room doors open to allow a big minotaur inside. He was followed by a group, carrying boxes, instruments and other things. All of them minotaurs, if smaller than the leader with the big horns.
His coat was a whitish grey, his horns big, curved and black, greying towards the tips. He also wore what seemed to be his own weight in gold chains and jewellery.
Approaching the thrones, he bowed with a rumble. “Your Highnesses. I am Lorok, of the Sharphorn clan. I bring you greetings and gifts from the Emperor and the Minotaur people.”
Celestia spread her wings. “I greet and welcome you to our lands, Lorok of the Sharphorn clan. May your travels be short and your enemies few.”
“Enemies few,” he answered and stood up, motioning to one of the other minotaurs. “Some small trinkets from the Emperor's own collection. Nothing compared to your legendary beauty or power, Celestia Solarflare, but a small token of our friendship.”
Celestia simply nodded. “The Emperor has my personal thanks for his gifts and I wish him and his people a prosperous year.”
He turned to Twilight and bowed once more. “Princess Twilight Sparkle, Goddess of Magic, the Emperor wishes to gift you this tome,” he continued and motioned for a thick book to be brought forward. “We have heard you seek knowledge and it contains many things lost to the mists of time in this realm, guarded by the Minotaur people.”
The way Twilight's eyes lit up was quite adorable, even if she clearly fought down a blush at the Goddess comment as the Minotaur carrying the pillow it rested on held it out for her.
“Thank you,” Twilight said with a smile, picking it up in her magic. “I am honoured by your gift.”
Lorok bowed to her again, turning to Celestia. “It has been a long time, Princess. I am uncertain if you remember me.”
“It has,” she agreed. “And I do remember you. Last we met you were the apprentice scribe of the last Ambassador. Thirty years ago.”
“I am honoured.”
Yes, yes, everyone is honoured by everything and everyone. Could we get to the fucking point already? This was why I didn’t like diplomacy.
Say what you want and let’s get it over with.
Nobody seemed to be paying attention to me in any case, so I went back to my book, idly turning the page while studying the Minotaur entourage.
They all looked attentive and ready to serve their leader with whatever they were carrying. Each had different jewellery than the next, the ones with more stood closer to their leader.
Rank identifications? Or just status? The one with the fancy hat tended to be the leader… no hat, but the one with the most bling in this case.
As I kept watching the proceedings, I couldn’t help but almost miss dealing with Chrysalis. At least you always knew more or less where you had the sneaky fucking bug and she was never boring.
But since Skitter became a Princess, Chrysalis had more or less shut herself inside the hive and left Skitter to handle everything pony related.
Glancing up from my book, I caught one of the minotaurs watching me closely. He was one of the ones close to the back of the group. The same size as the rest, but with not quite as much bling. He wasn’t carrying anything but some scribing gear, his pen moving across the paper as he wrote down what was being said.
Hmm… why would that be? Why watch me when Celestia and Twilight was just next to me and actively talking to his leader? Something that was literally his job.
Because I was right next to the thrones, wearing a fancy cloak and seeming to not give any fucks about what was going on.
I stood out.
He noticed that I did. I think I found the smart one in the group.
I turned the page in my book.
Ummm...repeat? Better fix that.
Did you mean to do a hard reset? Cause you repeated your text.
For some odd reason the story repeated in this chapter, you might want to check that out, other then that I just LOVED it.
the chapter repeats about half way through
you double the chapter this time
why is the story written twice?
after this It goes though the story again.
You basically duplicated the chapter.
you double posted everything theres litterally 2 copies of this chapter in this one chapter
Did discord pull something? I feel like he did something?
... Where'd this giant purple salmon come from?
The words have been doubled!
Sorry, couldn't resist the reference. Seriously, though, something went wrong with your posting and the words double posted.
8058006 um...what pink shark?
*sees a chapter actually break 2k words and gets excited*
*finishes actual chapter and realizes the rest was just a literal repeat of the first half because unknown derp of double text*
Dang it. Once again, it starts getting interesting and suddenly it cuts off.
8058015
Discord made it so you can't see it.
But only you and anyone else that asks.
Amen brother.
Repeat? or starlight got lose and decided to do the time warp.
And just like that, we set the clock once more.
As much as I like this story this every other day thing
Is not getting easier. Still I shall miss it when it is done.
Hopefully we are going to chapters in the fifties?
Minotaur- Who are you?
"Blank Page"
"What right do you have to be here?"
"You notice the absence of one big centaur despot?"
"...yes."
"All me."
This chapter has a lot of accidental double post. May wanna fix that, friend.
I think this sums up Page's mood spectacularly.
Either this was a double paste of text or Starlight just broke out and there's a time loop battle happening in the background
Edit: Ah, so it was just a mistake, sad
8058033 We probably need more since chapters are shorter compared to the previous entries in the series as well as taking longer too update.
I guess I'm spoiled by the length and update rates of previous stories
Perfect
(1:34 if the time-stamp doesn't work.)
I wonder what that book contains also goddess of magic ha more like the goddess of knowledge.
Someone needs to make Page rewatch Batman and Robin, so he'll understand what a bad idea that is.
8058055 That should be the official statement/slogan for Blank Page to everybody who questions his right to be on/by the throne.
8058239 Hiver is busy with irl work. He'll go back to normal when everything gets sorted out for him. I believe.
8058015 Pink shark? I said purple salmon
8058457 Now you're just messing with me.
hum I wonder ware this ark is leading to?
a good chapter exultant righting.
8058449 I understand. I was just telling Sipoc that this will most likely take more than 50 chapters to finish given the current rate of posting as well as the average length per chapter.
8058579 we all thought it but you couldn't just leave it
8058959 Everyone else seemed cool with it. No need to get frosty over abit of ice.
Black Page, the unicorn on the throne that couldn't give less fucks anout diplomacy.
Damn straight.
Trollestia accepts your challenge.
static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gilsnicehat_3200.jpg
What can we say? Its tradition.
Interesting chapter, especially the scribe at the end, looking forward to more.
Ah, and Page is going to learn the next most annoying thing about diplomacy: the actual negotiations take place between the underlings while the big boys posture and strut.
I suspect he's going to be talking to "the smart one" and sorting a few things out.
8059679 Yep, that's pretty much the way it works.
absentmindedly steals tome and hides it behind his back
Oh dear I wonder where that tome went?
8210291
oh, that made me think of a gag in the online comic "girl genius" where she hit someone with a large book and the sound-effect balloon read "TOME!"
to make it even sillier, the title of the book was "using found objects as weapons"!
8210291
Mr. Black: *absentmindedly reading through tome with a short chuckle over you thinking that reverse whoopi cushion is the real one* "Mortals."
9899502
Make a wish
minotaur republic with emperor?
Sounds familiar
Maybe he was the former chancellor and decided to reorganize it for a safe and secure society
You lack appreciation for culture, my friend... There is true beauty in speaking and being understood. And I personally find cultures built around honor very interesting with their customs. They can be a pain in the ass, sure, but exchanging greetings like these (and meaning them) can be quite elating, especially if you're from different cultures.
Besides, learning what words to say, in what order, and to whom? That shows you have respect for their culture. Sometimes, that means a lot. Sometimes, it means the world.
Both sides have a silent observer... Clever...
There are the ones talking, but the ones listening are way more dangerous. Because they noticed slipping in words and their implications.
Page is suspicious in being uninterested in everything:
camo.fimfiction.net/wo8ruT8oY5zVbq4olC2gsHiEdwbtoUNcXqvNGrFQSI4?url=https%3A%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2F0MRy0au9Ty5osb7BWM8XhKoyYWoGqWKjLaN2DtvYXe9SE11AQXpoh6imoGPciWwotS5MRLI3mci74XBcw2qmM8K0OeHBQ0tPlYcK4p5ccsGZ2Z7pnODEKLrtmRy0UYngzPyJZ7pi
Page: "Three."
Celestia: "Did you say something, Lord Page?"
Page: "Oh, just a minor time loop. Seems to have been fixed, thanks to Twilight. Nothing to worry about."
Twilight Sparkle: "Uh--I did what now!?"
Celestia: "By chance, did it involve explosions?"
Page: "....Um---maybe. That was oddly specific for someone who shouldn't remember what happened. How'd you know?"
Celestia: "They usually do involve explosions."