Hearth's Warming was a quiet and private event for us. We had done as much as we could last year, but we had been too busy trying to get things built for us to be able to spend a lot of it, but this year…
We all took a day to just spend with friends and family. The entire village did.
Spike and Talon were reading a stack of comics imported from Canterlot, a gift from Midnight and Twilight.
Sparks and Midnight were to the side of the room, laying a large puzzle as Tempest watched.
Sunset was reading a book by the balcony and I was using her back as a pillow, just relaxing for the moment, listening to the night sounds of the jungle as she read by the light of her horn, the rest of the room inside lit so everypony could see clearly.
A gramophone was playing in the corner inside, filling the room with music.
Amber was laying on the couch inside, the ‘ling looking completely relaxed for once and had an expression on her face that… you know how it is after eating a massive meal and all those calories hit you as ‘sleepy’ at once?
That expression.
That was one happy and full ‘ling.
I couldn’t help but smile and shift a bit closer to Sunset. She glanced back at me briefly with a smile, “Comfy?”
“Quiet pillow.”
Sunset smiled and flicked her tail, smacking me across the nose with the hair, “Be nice or you’ll regret it.”
“Oh yeah? And why would I be regretting it?” I asked with a grin at her.
Sunset hmmed, “Well, maybe not so much why and more of a when.”
I flicked my ear, “Okay, I’ll bite. When would I be regretting it?” I asked with a grin.
“Oh,” Sunset said with a playful look, “I’d say about fifteen minutes after our guests have left and Spike has gone to bed.”
I blinked at her and swallowed, “...I’ll be good.”
“Thought so,” She teased with a smile and wink before she then went back to her book.
Smiling, I relaxed again, listening to the thump-thump of her heart.
Tonight had been a good night. Not the best as Luna had been missing, but good.
Tempest got up and stretched, “I’m going to go get something to drink,” she said, “Anypony want me to bring something back?” she then asked, looking around.
Sunset looked up, “Some cider please!”
“Same!” I agreed, raising my head.
Spike started to speak up too, but he quickly stopped, clearing his throat before he burped out a stream of green fire that materialized into a scroll that fell to the floor.
Everypony looked at it before Twilight smiled, “Oh, it’s likely just from Princess Celestia, wishing a Happy Hearth’s Warming.”
Oh. Yeah, that made sense.
She floated it over to herself and untied it before she blinked, “...Actually no, it’s for Page.”
I raised my head and looked over at her, “...I don’t like the sound of that, “ I said and took it in my magic as she floated it over to me.
Unrolling it, I started to read.
‘Prince Page,
I’m sorry for bothering you at Hearth’s Warming, but this is somewhat urgent. Earlier today we got an official request from the Griffon ambassador for assistance with diplomatic talks with the Yetis. They have been having trouble with them along their border.
There will be diplomatic talks with them at the Griffon capital city in one moon and they requested you by name to represent Equestria as a mediator of the diplomatic talks.
I know how much you are already doing in Nocturnis, but this may prevent war between the Griffons and the Yetis. While the Storm King is no longer an active threat to Equestria, they may still be in the future.
Please, if you decide to go, send a response via Spike or visit my dreams if you wish to discuss it first.
Yours,
Princess Celestia of-’
I met Sunsets eyes where she had been reading over my shoulder and floated it over to Sparks and Midnight. They quickly read through it, taking half the time I had and even an even shorter time to think it through.
Sparks closed her eyes, taking a slow deep breath before she slowly let it out before she flicked one ear and looked over at me and Sunset, “I see…” she slowly said before she nodded firmly, “Okay. Page?”
“...It does sound important,” I admitted and sighed, “I’ll talk to her in a bit, but assuming we go, who goes?”
Tempest finished reading the letter, “If it involve the Storm King, I should-”
“Absolutely not go,” Sparks said firmly as she shifted to sit up, “It would increase tensions unnecessarily. Spike, Talon, you two would stay in Nocturnis,” she said and looked at the two dragons before she looked at Midnight, “Page is going, one of us should go with. Sunset, yo-”
“Are going,” Sunset said firmly.
Sparks nodded, “Wasn’t going to say otherwise,” she reassured her with a small smile before she looked to Midnight, “Well?”
Midnight shook her head, “You go. One of us need to go along and one needs to stay at Nocturnis in case of an attack… and me going with your stallion and marefriend while you stay here makes no sense, no matter how much I would like to see the Griffon city.”
“If we’re going,” I said and got up, stretching my wings, “I’m going to go talk with Celestia.”
Now we have plot. Let us see where this leads
Oh fuck I forgot
Nice
OMG Plot!
Storm King knows not to screw with Page.
Than again... Hired non Yeti assasins make sence...
Plot twist: those guys from the previous chapter are actually spies sent to do something to the village while Page has been sent away via this distraction. Those fiends!
10950604
huh... l could actually see that happening.... especially if they were part of some weird fanatical sun cult.
The story needs more changelings they become too rare
If because of Page his skills less effective,worst maybe, he got defeated in a duel or something
Sgt. Murphy has dropped yet another Plot Bomb on Page & Company.
“So who is going?”
“Tali and Garrus.”
“What? Who?”
“Sorry, flashbacks.”
I'd imagine so
This should be interesting
You mean more tension than just having Page be there will inevitably cause
Yeti: So, why ask for page?
Griffin: he's a meat-eater, then we don't have to mow a lawn before we make dinner for our guests
Yeti: ah, understandable
If memory serves, the Storm King was dead as fuck after he got petrified and smashed into a hundred pieces.
10950730
Read it as a plural "they" and it makes a bit more sense; the conditions that led to him haven't changed, and his death may be a sore spot for some.
This isn't gonna go well.
10950730
Not in this verse. His attack on Canterlot was stopped here and he was bullied into peace by Page using dream attacks. So he just lost battle, but not crown neither live.
10950757
Ah alright, you're right
Also I doubt, that Storm King took defeat well and he probably really want to wash away this shame, so negotiations may go really bad.
Amber: Sir?
Page: Yes Amber?
Amber: You have no choice in the matter...
Page: What do you mean?
Amber: SIR...you promised my Queen and my Princess to accompany them to make contact with the Griffin hive once you're available. REMEMBER?
Page: ....OH BUCK. It sucks to be a royal! WHY DID I SAY YES?!
Did we ever get to find out what celestia thought of that raunchy novel page was writing for her?
Is that the conflict I see on the horizon?
10950730
That was in the movie, here he never came to Canterlot after his invasion failed.
This should be short.
“Prince Page welcome to Griffinstone.”
“Your highness, good to see you again.”
“And you are familiar with the Storm king as well.”
“Yup. The Griffins get their way and he can suck it. Any other problems-no?-Kay-bye!”
Oh no, oh no it's the Plot police.
They're to take our cuddles and happiness and give us baddies
So, we get the Griffin Princess instead of Sunshine or Skitter?
Claws would be an interesting addition.
Hmm, the fact the letter cuts off suddenly has me a little suspicious. The griffons have decent trading relations and their King doesn't seem the type to pull something silly, but I'm not sure putting Page in direct contact with any yeti representative would be wise. All it would take would be a concealed dart or barb with some nasty poison in it and a disregard for one's own life...
The Storm King likely sees Page as his primary obstacle to a second attempt at invasion, given how things played out last time. Obviously he doesn't have the element of surprise any more and in fact there are plenty of other things to stop him, but he doesn't seem the brightest bulb in the box and might just tunnel vision onto Page.
Strapping on the grammar jackboots:
'if it involves'
When or if they find a way back for canon!twilight it should be back to when she left. She should, in theory, be outside of time for that universe, so could go back whenever.
10951537
I think that letter cutoff might just be him omitting her titles because he didn't bother to read them. That's what I assumed it was. I do admit that I had the same initial thought as you though.
10951537
An interesting point of view
10963870
I think Page just stopped reading at that point, to be honest.
Finally! It took 29 chapters before Plot Device is introduced.
2Darnit, why is my name still "Talon"? "Claw" was so cool!
Who cares what your name is? We got the new issues of "Power Ponies"!
🦉 Who?
What are you hooting about? You're not even in this story.
🦉 Whoo...
That Horseapples, they have a two way communication with Spike going and Talon staying in Nocturnis!
Blank Page... Negotiations with dream magic.
Why did he need to travel if he can link ponies together? Or in that case Griffon and Yeti ambassadors.
10950835
2024 ... still waiting for that to happen