I stared down at the papers laid out before me on the couch but I didn't see them. It had been three hours since I came back from visiting the families of those lost ponies.
I had fought Tirek. Confronted Discord. Faced down Changelings and spent time in a jungle filled with predators.
But that... that had been the hardest thing I had ever done.
What's worse was... none of them. None of them...
I would have prefered if they yelled at me. Blamed me. None of them did. Or... rather, they did, I could see it in their eyes when they looked at me, but none of them dared to say it.
Because alicorn. Because... thestral.
The door opened and Luna walked into our quarters. She looked agitated, her mane moving a bit faster than usual. But she took one look at me and moved across the room to slip up onto the couch next to me. She didn't say a word, she simply put her wing over my back, hugging me to her side as she rested her head against the top of mine.
I leaned against her, pressed against her neck and my tears stained her coat.
Neither of us said anything for what felt like hours. Could have been hours. Could have been minutes.
"I understand why it's not normally done," I finally said against her coat before pulling back to look up at her, my voice sounding strange even to my ears, "But if-"
I broke off and closed my eyes for a second, taking a deep breath before I continued, "...When. When it happens next time, I'm doing the same thing again. It's the very least I can do."
Luna frowned slightly, but she just nodded and sighed softly, "It's up to you, Page."
"It is up to me," I said seriously and then shook my head, "There will be a memorial at the castle in a week. Give everypony some time to recover first. I have been working on my speech, but..." I continued, motioned towards the blank paper.
Luna nodded, her horn lighting and an amber bottle and a couple of glasses floated over to it. She filled both of them with a good amount before putting one down before me, "Drink."
I drank.
It burned slightly, but was good stuff. Putting the glass back down, I sighed and leaned against her side, closing my eyes for a second.
"Sunset or myself would have come with you," Luna said gently.
"I know," I said and then shook my head, "But it was something I needed to do on my own."
Luna just nodded against my mane.
I sighed softly and wiped my eyes with my hoof before I looked up to her, "...You're up early."
"Things haven't been standing still while you were away," she explained, "We are still dealing with negotiations with the minotaur delegation."
"So that's why you looked annoyed when you walked in," I said and frowned, "What did they do?"
Luna smiled slightly and shook her head, "Oh, nothing. Negotiations are going well, it's my sister that's annoying me. She's being an idiot."
"Idiot isn't exactly the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Sunshine," I said and looked to her in concern, "What's going on?"
Luna shook her head and gave me a small kiss, "It's nothing, just a sister's thing. You have a sister, I'm sure you know what it's like."
Somep-one I'll never see again.
I nodded though, "Yeah. Yeah I do. You love them, but sometimes you just wanted to smack them or something."
"Mhmm," Luna agreed and gave my ear a nuzzle, "Sadly, I'm fairly sure it wouldn't help in this case. She has a very thick skull and is frustratingly stubborn."
"Tried it a couple of times, huh?" I teased.
"...We were foals once too," Luna agreed with a small smile, "Well, even disregarding that entire rebellion thing."
"Yes, disregarding that. Anything I can help with?"
Luna smiled and flicked her ears, "No. Not in this case, I think she just has to come to the realisation on her own."
I nodded, "Yeah, okay. Just let me know if there is anything I can do."
"Well, I can think of a couple of things that could help, but not now. I promise though," Luna agreed, "You'll be the first to know. Now... you have been up all day, shouldn't you get some sleep?"
I glanced down at the empty papers before me. I wanted to at least get a first draft done, but... maybe starting on it fresh tomorrow would help.
"Is Sunset sleeping here tonight?" Luna asked after a moment, glancing towards the door, "She's usually here by now."
I shook my head, "She's with Sparks. She offered, but I said I wouldn't be very good company anyway. Better she spent the evening having fun."
Luna sighed and nuzzled at my ear, "You, My Page... are a very noble and very dumb pony."
Well, she was half right. We all know which half.
Celly has romantic feelings for you but is trying to keep herself from expressing it... I think
I bet
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Page is completely hopeless when it comes to love
"Page, I am deeply in love with you."
"We playing tennis now?"
I'm kinda confused why they are back in Canterlot already.
The whole point of the Expedition was to figure out the origins of Thestrals. As I understood it they only had a vague idea where the Temple Ruins would be before heading out.
Then the Zeppelin crash lands and Page gets knocked out and...it just felt too easy. Like they found the temple right away, interpreted the murals right away, and...
Maybe it's because Page did so little. About his only contribution I can think of was calling for backup, so I'm left wondering why we spent 40+ chapters on the ho-hum chapters of jungle life.
Sorry, just disappointed with this arc.
Also, not sure what they DID find. Curse layered over curse, but Batponies drink mango juice, not blood, so one or both of them should have worn off in after millennia, so...confused there as well.
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Well, they discovered several new facts that are fairly important:
1. Bat Ponies were once a pony tribe like the others, not just transformed Pegasi
2. There was a male bat pony alicorn who became the leader of the bat ponies.
3. The whole “Bat ponies drink Blood” was essentially a side effect of a blood magic ritual the alicorn did to make bat ponies stronger
4. As a result of the bat ponies attacking the other tribes with the enhanced abilities given by the ritual, someone cast a curse on the bat ponies which made them herbivores again. The curse apparently also made the bat ponies have 2 pegasus foals for every bat pony foal.
I don't care who you are, but Page knew that being there to tell family that their kin had died is NEVER easy, and will NEVER be. And while it is a hard thing to do it is also a noble thing as well.
Rest and recoup Page, for it will not be easier tomorrow when finding what Sunshine is being stubborn about.
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Must have gotten the order of operations reversed in my head.
But honestly, felt like the whole trip could have been summed up in a report. I get that Page has no experience in being Indiana Jones, but to just be a glorified distress beacon...feels bad.
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Slightly incorrect.
It is unknown what caused the population problem. It is unknown if pegasei were a thing (could go either way really). It was heavily implied that the bats were already facing extinction from the other tribes.
When it comes to love, Page is as dumb as a sack of rocks.
Celestia could spell it out with flashing neon signs and Page still wouldn't get it.
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...IN A PERPENDICULAR YET SOMEHOW PARALLEL SHIPPING DIMENSION...
Discord is still silent.
Is Page going to end up creating his own Tantabus, because that kind of talk is how you get Tantabuses.
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probably a setup to have him flung into the past or something.
Luna: "Page if you feel sorry for them you should give them what they lost..."
Page: "???"
Luna:"A foal!"
Page: "WHAT?"
Cadance voice: "If you give them a foal for there lost familie members than its only fair right?"
Page"... ... ... Ok i give, gimma that 'im sorry letter'".
Cadance: "There goes my future harem (T-T) "
...HOURS EARLIER...
Luna: It's okay sister~! Your secretary has copies of every negotiation proposal on hoof...the minotaurs won't see THIS one! I promise.
Celestia: This is embarrassing~! *hides face behind rainbow hair in shame*
Luna: Honestly its adorable. Your mind wondering away during the meeting and ending up writing "Celestia and Page 4ever" all over official documents...WITH HEARTS! It's soooo cute! *pats her silly sister's head*
Celestia: SHUT. UP!
Luna: *rolls eyes* Stop being in denial already! I won't be mad so just properly court Page already!
Celestia: No...denial is comfy! *hides further inside her own hair*
“Your being mean, Lulu!”
“He’s MY husband!”
“Sharing is caring!”
“NO!”
What was that in previous chapters about never mentioning something you aren't planning on bringing up later?
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This is the bringing-up-later of the fact that he was human at some point.
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God, I wish all these shipping posts could be properly consolidated together!
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Honestly it scares me that I have proper written notes to make sure I keep everypony "in character" within my posts. Consistency is key people!
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And we love you for it!
My harem senses are tingling. ;]
Absolutely priceless re-reading chapters and comment section ♡👍
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The only reason I'm still here is because of the comment section. The story is dragging a bit honestly...
Comment section is in war with itself. One part want more
The other side... more of something else
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It's building upto a lot of stuff.
But the comment section sure is extremely entertaining