A spell went flying towards Sunset, crackling through the air brightly, the bolt of fire lashing out, impacting against the shield held against it with a faintly metallic fizzle.
Sunset took the heavy hit on her shield, and she gritted her teeth, pushing against it even if it actually forced her hooves to slide back half a step before she responded in kind, her own bolt of power flying out and crashing against Tempests shield with a bright flash, lighting up the night.
“Who do you think is strongest?” I whispered to Twilight as we watched from further up in a nearby tree, the wide branch easily giving us a place to perch as we looked at the training platform.
“As much as I hate to say it,” Sparks whispered back, her wing a bit tighter across my back, “Easily Tempest. Sunset is strong, but Tempest hits like a runaway train. Midnight and I think it’s from having to force her magic her entire life combined with starting off already strong.”
I nodded.
That was true, I had practiced with her a couple of times. Sparks and Midnight might be a close second to Sunshine in magical punching power, but Tempest may be number three. Her control was still so so, even now, but she punched hard.
We had planned to grab Sunny as soon as we arrived, but as she and Tempest had been alternating shielding and throwing full power blasts at each other...
Interrupting that and disrupting their concentration during that was a bad plan and could very easily get somepony hurt… or considering the amount of magic they are throwing about, killed.
Or vaporized.
Last time I got hit by something like that, it was sneaking up on Sunshine.
Leaning softly against Sparks I shifted slightly on the thick flat branch, relaxing. Twilight smiled and rested her head ontop of mine, her wing brushing across my back and my wings, “Is lunch going to get cold?” she whispered.
I shook my head slightly, “Put a warming spell on it,” I answered quietly, “There isn’t any hurry.”
Sparks relaxed against me in turn, “Princess Celestia changed your mind about today?” she whispered softly.
“...Kinda,” I admitted quietly, “She yelled at me for stressing out and not delegating enough. I couldn’t help but realize that she was right. And I have been neglecting Sunny and you.”
“...We have been as busy as you have…” Sparks admitted with a small sigh against my ear, “All of us. She’s right, we should take more time for each other.”
I nodded slightly, “And to just relax,” I said and glanced at her, “You know… you don’t have to stay here for Hearth’s Warming. You could go see your friends, bring Fluttershy too?”
Sparks frowned slightly in thought, “I...I have to think about that,” she admitted and then relaxed against me again, “I miss them, but I want to spend it with you and Kitten. Maybe invite Midnight and Tempest too.”
“Kinky.”
Sparks blinked at me before she stuck her tongue out at me with a small glare, poking my side firmly with her hoof.
I grinned and stole a kiss before I flicked one ear before I blinked at her and quickly looking over at where Sunny and Tempest were still trading blasts, both of them looking slightly more tired by now.
Grinning, I then looked to Sparks again as their blasts took turns lighting up the forest.
Sparks flicked one ear and tilted her head in question, “What?”
“Oh, nothing. Just noteing the similarities.”
“Similarities?”
“You know, between Sunset and Tempest,” I teased, “Powerful athletic unicorns, both of them. A few days ago I’d say you and Midnight had a type, but now I’m on your list so…”
Twilight smiled and shrugged one wing, “I know what I like,” she admitted and kissed my cheek before she eyed me, “Speaking of which…”
“I know, I know,” I sighed softly and leaned against her, “I need to exercise more again and I will.”
“...Me too, maybe we should do it together?” Sparks said before she shook her head, “But I didn’t mean that. It seems like things are slowing down down there.”
“Oh,” I said and looked down to see Sunset and Tempest talking while heading towards the side of the platform where a couple of bags and water bottles were sitting, “Yeah, let’s get down there?”
Sparks nodded and got up, walking towards the outer edge of the branch to jump off. I took off where we had been, having an easier time to spot any random branches.
I followed Sparks down to the platform.
“Twi! Page!” Sunset exclaimed, lowering her water bottle in her magic as she looked at us in surprise as Sparks landed before her, me setting down a second later, “What are you doing here?”
I smiled, “Lunch!” I said and gave my bag a small shake in my magic, “And we’re taking the night off!”
Sunset blinked, “We are?” and looked at Twilight.
Sparks nodded with a smile, “We are,” and moved up to touch her horn softly to Sunsets before she glanced at Tempest, “Assuming we can steal away your training partner?”
Tempest shook her head, “Of course, Princess,” she said with a smile before she hesitated, “Is Midnight still in the lab?”
Sparks nodded, “Should still be, she’s working on a new ballista design. She’d like your company I’d think.”
Tempest nodded and picked her things up before giving me a quick bow before retreating towards one of the paths leading in the direction of the lab.
Sunset sipped her water and then looked at Sparks and me questioningly, “...So, lunch?” she asked.
“Lunch!” I agreed and looked around, “...But we should likely move somewhere we’re less in the way, somepony is likely going to need this place in a bit.”
“I know a spot,” Sparks said with a smile.
First. Nice
Next. Don't think uploading this when I should be asleep is gonna stop me from reading.
You really know how to give me a good start in the day.
What the fuck, how did I ever miss these stories... wait hold on *Flips through pages* There's EIGHT SEQUELS?!
Well, I guess I have a long journey ahead of me
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~Welcome to the Jungle, we've got fun and games~
Well he was right
ONE TELEPORTATION SPELL LATER...
Page: ...you ruined it. I was having a lovely day and you all ruined it!
Twilight: What? No pony would bother us here and this place is no longer scary now that we removed all the skulls.
Sunset: Plus the view is lovely~!
Page: Of the giant obsidian statue of the thestral alicorn who terrorized the world centuries ago?!
Sunset: but...its wingspan tho..
Page: You're in a relationship surrounded by gorgeous wingspans Kitten! This statue's wings are not special!
Twilight: Somepony sounds jealous~!
Page: I AM NOT! *pout*
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Keep and eye open for the comments of Sipioc and Windy, they are allways worth to be read.
I imagine twilight and midnight at some point are going to compare notes about page's fun times seeing as how they are nearly exactly physically the same
Where is Amber? What of the hive? Why don't they invite there ponyville friends down for harts warming? And why did it take me a week to reread all the books now I have to wait.
Great humor, delices treats on four hooves... What more to ask for
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Insomnia or hype? Both result in a good time reading stuff
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Or Night?
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Yes but the chapters are very short
Still amazing
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They are practicaly a comment section representation of a side story
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Page Sandwiches between the Twilights
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Standing watch of my groups gear.
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It can be assumed that Amber is present. That's how it always worked with her (and Skitter before her).
I think you forgot to delete one of these.
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We are 10 chapters in and no Amber, Amber has been in 9 out of 10 chapters while furn is about 1 in 5. Numbers never lie Amber is gone. There has been no goodevning Amber. Amber always sleeps close by and page has not acknowledged her once there for no Amber.
Nice solid continuation from the previous chapter, all the speculation about Amber suggests to me that either she's back home with Skitter or away doing something else (to do with the trains perhaps?)...
Or she simply got really, really good at hiding.
i finally finished binge-reading the entire storyline in less than a week.
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Yeah if you like reading the comments, keep in mind...starting during "Complications", Sipioc and I practically created side-story adventures within the comments. A lot of it about Cadance's and Discord's mission to ship Page with the best ponies.
I try to keep a consistent narrative but sorry if you get confused!
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I'll make sure to keep an eye out so I don't miss any Easter Eggs.
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Enjoy the ride, Pink Abyss
Amber is either gone or she has become Vietnamese
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So has all the talk of him going to the other changeling hives. It's like all that build up was for nothing and changelings are completely forgotten now. I'm still early in the story so I'm hoping that changes later.
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All of them were, long before. I have a feeling that if you tried taking Canterlot now, it would look completely abandoned... until the walls started fighting back.
Page was prevented from writing "Alien" (or maybe he did later? don't remember), but if you think about it - it could double as a training manual. For the changelings.
Aaa yesss, excursions for exercise:
The twins get both lucky
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The Legion initiation is always fun to watch:
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Nope, a pet peve of mine as well
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The best shadow are never seen. But Hiver probably just dropped the ball in that regard.