"I know."
I blinked at Celestia in surprise, "You know?"
She smiled slightly, "I have ruled Equestria for a couple of years," she said, "I know how to handle the nobles."
"...So..."
Celestia shifted her wings, "I could simply deny their petition. It may cause some problems, but they really can't force it through," she said and rounded the desk, moving over to a table where a steaming pot of tea sat, "Tea?"
"Yes please," I said and slid my cloak off, folding it up and putting it over the back of a chair, "How much trouble?"
Celestia shook her head, "Don't worry about it, Page," she said as she poured me a cup, giving me a small smile, "I'll deal with it."
I took the cup in my magic, shifting my wings as I frowned slightly at her, "How much trouble?" I asked again.
She hesitated slightly and her hoof scraped against the thick carpet of the floor as she poured herself a steaming hot cup, "Depends on how I handle it," she admitted, "If I simply deny it, a fair bit. Not directly, but they can make things difficult."
I sipped my tea, "And there are other ways?"
"Some that may or may not work," Celestia admitted, "If they drop it in return for some tax cuts or something similar, it would likely be the best result."
"So...bribing them."
She sighed, "Basically, yes. But it’s not polite to call it that."
I didn't like that idea. At all.
"Do you know the actual wording of the petition?" I asked, "I only heard about it."
Celestia nodded, "Indeed. In short, they want you removed from your position Herald, both as Luna and my own. They also want your title of Lord stripped," she said, her voice steady, her expression calm as she explained. But even as I looked, there were... shimmers in her mane.
Sunshine was pissed.
"Buck," I said and jumped up to lay sideways across the chair, sipping my tea, "That's not so bad."
Celestia looked at me in surprise and then she smiled slightly, "I know you're not that attached to your title, Page, but you earned it. It's more than can be said about any of them."
More shimmers.
Better help her calm down quickly before her regalia starts to drip gold onto the carpet.
"Sunshine, calm down," I told her quietly and gave her shoulder a small nuzzle, "Your mane is shimmering."
Her eyes widened slightly and she took a deep breath, the shimmer dying down again before she shook her head in disgust, "...I'm sorry," she said and sank down to sit on the floor, "It's just, after all you done, after everypony you have saved… I usually have better control than this."
"Even if they win... somehow...I'm still Lunas Prince-Consort," I said and shrugged my wings, "That's one thing they can't touch and it gives me a bit of authority on my own."
Celesita nodded, "Yes, but sometimes you need more," she said before she looked at me playfully, "Well... there is an alternative."
"Oh?"
"A coronation to Prince."
I groaned slightly, "Oh please no."
"But imagine their expressions," Celestia teased with a small grin, her wing brushing across my back.
I rolled my eyes and sipped my tea, "So... does my wife know?"
Celestia shook her head, "I will talk with her tonight unless you want to?"
I sighed, "I... I should likely be the one to talk to her about it. To keep bloodshed to a minimum. Luna's going to be pissed."
Celestia moved over to me, putting a hoof onto the chair next to me, "I'm surprised you're taking this as calmly as you are," she asked gently, "Most ponies would have been furious."
"I have more important things to worry about than titles," I told her seriously, "I need to figure this thestral situation and find a solution. I don't need titles for that, at least not those. I'm still Lunas Prince-Consort and I'm still an alicorn. I would be able to work with that."
Then I grinned, "So... if you can take their petition and squeeze enough concessions out of them to let it past, Sunshine. Do it. Make it hurt."
She shook her head and gave me a small nuzzle with a smile, "Page, you are a good pony. But we still have time to think of a different solution because I am not going to let this happen, I promise you that much."
I nuzzled back, "And I could never do what you do. If I tried, there would be a lot less ponies around court and a lot more broken windows."
That got her laughing.
I liked that a lot better than anger. It was like the entire room lit up when she did.
That's it?
The solution is simple then, take up the crown and become Prince of Equestria
I am Celestia in this scene
We can only hope
Yes, get the nobles to give up a bunch of stuff in exchange for stripping Page of those titles and then give him a proper coronation (maybe let him have a short break first).
"Lord Page, in the name of the Noble Peerage of Equestria, you are stripped of your powers."
"I am Equestria."
"Not yet."
"It's treason, then."
Spell correction. Should be Luna's Prince-Consort and not Price-Consort
Just fuck already!
10490677
Now your thinking like a Politician!
10490665
10490663
If Page becomes prince, all the thestrals will then have someone to rally behind. Someone who has power to enact laws around thestral discrimination!
Why does Celestia even give the nobles the time of day she controls the sun?
Cadence: *Sip's Coffee*
Discourd: Well?
Cadence: Nope.
Discourd: What do you mean 'nope'? aren't you going to yell in a fury at the slowness of progression, rage at the Thickness of Skulls, rage at the relationships that refuse their inevitable ignition into a mighty fire of passion?!
Cadence: *Yawns* Nope. Too early, drinking coffee.
Discord: Well you're no fun.
Cadence: Ehh. *Sips coffee*
10490695
Generally because the nobles have wealth. Since this is a feudal style system, the Nobles collectively control more wealth Celestia by several orders of magnitude. They own the land, the businesses, and are nominally responsible for the ponies under their dominion. While they may be better about than human nobility was shown by history to be, they will simply be more benign on the scale, not a different scale. And that means they are against anything that diminishes their own wealth, power, and influence. In addition to being against whatever social trends they just personally don't like. If all the nobles came together and said "We are going to stop funding the government entirely unless you do what we want, try to send the guards when we are the people who pay them," there is little Celestia could do. And that is on the direct confrontration route. It is entirely possible for the nobility to quietly hire people to say scupper that ship deal with the griffons or send their own expedition down to the jungle with the sole purpose of destroying any and all threstal artifacts. And before you ask no. Celestia is not capable of running an entire country by herself without delegating critical functions to the nobility (historically the only people with enough education, political sense, and wealth to let them focus on administrating the state instead of surviving. )
It's always funny to see Elitists demand that they get everything that they want, yet not lift a hand/hoof to do what is necessary for the true good of a country. Page should tell the nobles that if they want to remove his title and Heraldry then all the nobles as a whole have to protect and defend the country themselves when the next evil villain comes attacking. I can see them either going pale from the thought or have multiple aneurisms from the indignancy.
10490698
Yes, but if she puts out a polite request to the populace that they stop doing business with the nobility (not a law, just a personal request), then it doesn't matter how much money they have. And do you think that the common pony of Equestria isn't going to let Celestia run a tab?
If Blank was any thicker, romance-wise, he’d be a soup.
Well, I am still waiting the day Page pulls his Politics aspect of stories *Sips Tea*
And I still am just waiting for him to start pulling some Positive Propaganda for the thestral population...
Give him a year of working the right narrative into the overall news, fiction, etc and I suspect he will sway a decent amount of ponies to his side....
10490715
The thing about stopping doing business with the nobility is you stop doing business entirely. That is the feudal system. The nobility owns basically everything. Functionally, they are the economy. And historically, they were perfectly willing to use that power entirely for their own benefit. Could Celestia turn a request against one or two? sure. And it would probably work. But the entire class? That is effectively asking for a populist revolt. How long could the crown afford to fund the military and all the ponies who stop working? How long would grain reserves last if the nobles that own the farms demand they all be burned and hire mercenaries to do it if their peasants refuse? There is a reason in our world it was generally a bloody war or a long term ruinous scheme to break the control the nobility had on a country.
10490721
Back in college, my roommate made potato soup. We were able to eat it with a knife and fork, before we fried up some bacon and threw it in grease and all. Still not as thick as Page.
10490727
Then Celestia, Luna, and Page can use force on these nobles and name them traitors to Equestria
There won't be any problem with the support of the populace on that one if they will burn farms and employ mercenaries
10490685
https://m.Celestia: So as you can see from the generous tax cut I'm offering on mining gem ston--
Neighsay: No your Highness! Our goals will not wafer on this. We won't agree to anything unless Lord Page is stripped of his title.
Celestia: So...this is REALLY how it is going to be?
Neighsay: Horn or no horn, a flying rat should have never been given power!
Celestia: Very well...you have chosen your fate...
Neighsay: What?! Princess? PRINCESS?! Your hair is in flam---
*Celestia turns into Daybreaker*
Daybreaker: You were offered the carrot and refused...now prepare your hind quarters for the stick!
Neighsay: EEEP!
10490727
See Royals are Nobles too and would have their own holdings if they were smart (at least in our medieval fudalism). The kingdom would, in fact, survive in an uprising but it is unlikely a feifdom or two can keep Equestria afloat. Also the kingdom would effectively shrink and unless the nobles want to lose a king's ransom need to function as kingdoms of their own (so the common pony won't immediately suffer). Due to what appears to be a high centralization effort by Celestia that cannot be done anymore. Then you have Celestia herself. She keeps herself approachable, treats her subjects with kindness and, most of all is adored by the peasantry. The Nobles are powerless if push comes to shove.
Of course there is a catch...
Page has bat wings, rumored to use dark magic among other things. If the Nobles can turn popular opinion away from Celestia she might not recover for decades. Celestia's kingdom has many flaws but as long as she has popular opinion her kingdom is perfectly structured to keep her in power.
Best Princess.
10490877
"Bend over, Chancellor"
10490877
somehow... I can actually see something similar to this happening... we've already seen glimpses of daybreaker trying to breakthrough...
10490696
Discord:*looks at Windy* Aren't YOU going to do something?
Me: Hmm...nah. Besides torturing Neighsay is WAY more entertaining!
Discord: My goodness! Everyone is lazy this morning!
My last chapter comment story could still happen
10490665
Would make Celestias workload a bit better. I probably happens in a few centuries or a millenia but for now his near and not so near future is full of plans:
Make Luna&Sunset a haapy mare, add Skitter Celestia, kick pony social order in the nuts so they treat Thestral and Changelings better AND breed.
Lets Page get burried in cute foals/nymps ♡
10490677
Stripping everyone on the Petition of there titel along and crown Page i day later Prince
10490681
Neat
10490688
I like the idea very mutch
10490695
Pilling up reasons to dump em all at ones. Taking territory and wealth along there titel. Less garbage, more funds and space to get use out of it.
10490696
this is me
10490698
True. Indeed a complicated matter. But wile it hurts in the short run, taking out the trash should give over chances to grow ( especially royal Supporters ). Also imortality makes sure Celestia will suffer any consequences since she will live long enough to see it.
Playing the long game is becoming something else entirely.
10490700
Purrrfect ♡
10490715
Also pretty sure if they have to chose between millenia old ruler that let them life secure and prosperity and a group of someone else... I dont see Celestia ass pinned to the wall/ get kicked out of Equestria.
10490721
Thick as tar... His love soup is already impressive
10490726
Winning the hearts of Equestria via reading his books
10490727
That why you cut there titel/funds&territory in one swift motion, deal with em. Hard and permanently *sinister*
10490732
Neat
10490773
Indeed. No one fucks with goddess of sun/moon/love and
snu-snuStorys10490925
If the play hardball than i see the same outcome.
10490987
*insert few minutes of laughing*
10490877
Basicly the short version of my comment last chapter Short but to the point
10490663
10490688
Celestia: "Your petition hereby is granted, Chancellor Neighsay. Lord Page, you are a lord, no longer! Guards, seize Blank Page!"
Blank Page *fighting to get away*: "NOOOOOO!!! NEIGHSAY! YOU FOOL!! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE DONE!"
Neighsay: "Oh, but I do, No-Longer-Lord Page! Guards, remove that riffraff from our presence! At once!"
Luna: "Belay that, Guards! Bring Blank Page to us."
Blank Page *still struggling to pull away from the guards* : "NEIGHSAY!! YOU IDIOT! YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS!!"
Neighsay: "You dare threaten me, peasant!? I'll have you flogged for that!"
Celestia: "Blank Page, in light of all your accomplishments and selfless devotion to the crown..."
Luna: "...and seeing as how you've willingly given up the title of nobility by signing Chancellor Neighsay's petition..."
Neighsay: "... wait, something's..."
Celestia: "...the Crown recognizes your continuous contributions to the survival and security of the Nation of Equestria..."
Luna: "...as well as your negotiated trade with our allies..."
Neighsay *checks the petition* : "...not right..."
Celestia: "...and securing treaties of peace with our foes..."
Blank Page: "THEY'RE NOT STRIPPING ME OF MY TITLES!"
Neighsay *eyes widen when he finds Page's signature* : "...here...? "
Luna & Celestia: "We hereby crown Blank Page--PRINCE OF EQUESTRIA!--to join the Ruling Princesses as our mate!"
Blank Page: "IT'S A PROMOTION!!"
Luna & Celestia: "--AND DECLARE TODAY TO BE THE FIRST DAY OF THE TRIARCHY OF EQUESTRIA!!"
Neighsay: "eep! "
Celestia: "AND it's a marriage, Prince Page. "
Blank Page: "eep! "
10491004
And perhaps Daybreaker isn't so evil after all
I really prefer the method that De Writer has Celestia use in his stories. It's called the traitors drop.
A unicorn fell tumbling and screaming from a shattered rose window on the side of the castle. Smoke was pouring out of the window. His screams went on and on. It takes a long time to fall 1800 feet.
From
A Brief History of the Rom and Their Customs OR How Celestia and Luna Discovered the Rom of the Equestrian Roads By De Writer
10491068
oh gods l wish l could be there to witness that... and to take a picture of Neighsay's face as he is arrested for high treason
I still suggest bringing a catapult to court to yeet uh... the trash out the window
Luna is not the ONLY one, let's remember that Page STILL IS the main diplomat with the Changelings AND Thestrals, and i talk of everyone here that with "Crissy", that would be an understatement on the subject.
10491074
nah shes totally evil...
10491143
There are a couple of points that need more than proofreading, but here you go.
Sooo the nobles are trying to piss of quiet afew major players at once? Who wants to get the changelings are assembling blackmail files?
10491959
Since its a random idea that cost me a hour or two for fun. Its ok i think
10492052
Puuurrrfect ♡
Sooo.When do Celestia draws the line? Its literally a move against her familie... Not to mention the only lifing male Alicorn!
It's time to do the most logical, let's talk with the bourgeoisie and centralize power
So, prince-double-consort it is. Being lord and herald will be really redundant at this point.
10490721
One cup of Blank Page molasses coming up!
(door bangs, sounds of fading hoofsteps)
Funny, I didn't think molasses would run in January.
10496531
And that's how Boston Molasses Disaster happened
... I don't know if I'm reading into things, but what went through my mind was "Slowly but surely". ;]
I mean, I'm sure he has the capacity for it, and it's been touched upon a number of times by now. Chekhov's Gun.
10966192
<.<?
Not quite picking up what you're putting down. Could I have some clarification on this? My brain do the no worky today.
11068313
I think the only one that's not seeing how much Page and Celestia are into each other - is Page.
There have been enough hints dropped already that you could build two ships out of 'em, and still have enough left over for a small boat.
And, considering that more are being dropped in the sequel, we're "slowly but surely" moving towards an all but inevitable conclusion here. ;]
Wonder if Celestia got the ball rolling on this petition to get MC his office so she can finally make a move…
I think the best handling of nobility was in the story My Secret Life as an Evil Insect Overlord, where ponies can gain or lose nobility based on their merits. For example, Applejack is a duchess because her family was essential in the founding of Ponyville. And just like how one can gain nobility the misuse of the powers granted could cause them to lose nobility.
Just tell the Nobles that Lord Page gained his title from defeating Tirek and if they don't like it they are welcome to fight the next Tirek-level threat to keep their titles
Celestia