Taking a long pull from the bottle, I then lit my horn up with magic, forming a spell before I sent it flying towards the target.
The swinging metal plate on a rope let out a loud Clang as I just about managed to snag it on the edge, sending it spinning as well as swinging.
“Hey, good shot. You're getting the hang of that.” Thunder Cloud said with a grin as he fitted his crossbow with an arrow.
“Well... better than when he started, at least.” Swift Spear interjected, taking a swing from his own strong drink. “Remember when he almost managed to hit himself?”
“...Screw you too.” I grumbled to their laughter before moving to the side to give the pegasus room to aim.
Settling down next to Swift Spear, I took another pull from the bottle before I yawned.
It was rather nice to just hang out again, all three of us.
“So... graduation soon.” I commented as Cloud sent his arrow flying and it just barely missed the metal plate and bounced off the wall behind it, ending up on the ground.
He nodded. “Yeah. Next month.”
“Nervous?” Swift asked with raised eyebrows.
The pegasus frowned and stepped back, letting Swift take his place for a shot. “...A bit. Mostly about where I might be posted. I know I'll pass. I'm at the top ten percent of the class.”
“Shouldn't that make you a easy shoe-in for Canterlot?” I asked with a frown.
He shrugged. “Not certain. Make it more likely, yeah, but it depends on where I would be needed. If they need more pegasi couriers or if some border garrison needs more air scouts, I could very easily end up there. So what's up with you? Writing anything?”
I couldn't help but grimace at that. “Less than I would like.” I said and gave a pebble a small kick as I got up as it was my turn with the target. “Right now I'm just too involved with the changeling negotiations to get much time for it.”
Swift nodded. “They are causing the guard schedules to go to Tartarus too.” he noted as I passed him. “Every time a new meeting is scheduled, it moves every shift around.”
I snorted and fired off my spell, just barely missing the spinning metal plate. “Blame the Princesses.”
Cloud was watching with interest. “How is that going? Anything exciting?”
I shook my head and moved to let him take his shot. “Nope. Not sure I'm really allowed to discuss it, but it mostly involves Queen Chrysalis and Princess Cadance glaring at each other.”
“Well, what did Chrysalis expect?” Swift asked, taking a swig from his bottle. “Bugs impersonated Princess Cadance and used her wedding to invade Canterlot. They can't just come and make demands after that like this.”
“It's not about what's right in this case. It's about what needs to happen.” I commented and fired off another magic blast, this time making the metal plate go spinning on its rope. “Sometimes, politics is not about doing what is right, but what is the least wrong.”
As much as it sucked, that was the truth and the rest of the changelings shouldn't suffer because their queen was unpleasant. And a megalomaniac. And somehow for somepony that fed on emotions, she still managed to be unemphatic.
...Even worse, I was on HER side in this. She was right.
The Crystal Heart was the best chance for this to work. The alternative was to change ponies' perceptions of changelings enough to make up the emotion harvest shortfall in less than a year.
Settling down in the grass, I downed the last of my bottle before I spun it in my magic.
“Now that's just a sad thought.” Cloud sighed and stretched his wings. “There should always be a right thing to do.”
“Should be, yes.” Swift agreed. “Always is... no. But I trust the Princesses to find one.”
The least bad one would be to move the hive, just as Chrysalis wished. But...
“Eh, fuck it.” I grumbled as I pulled a new bottle of hard cider from the case. “I'm trying to avoid thinking of that clusterfuck right now. That's a problem for future Page.”
“Future Page should likely stop at two bottles.” Swift remarked as he uncorked his own fourth bottle with a grin. “Or future Page might regret it.”
“Bite me.”
There was a buzzing of wings and Skitter descended from the skies above, landing before us. “Lord Page.” she said with a slight bow. “Princess Cadance has called an emergency meeting to continue the talks.”
Son of a...
“Did she give a reason?” I asked and gave the bottle a sorrowful look. Politics.
Fuck politics. Here I was looking forward to my first day away from that shit for over a week.
Then I gave the bottle a thoughtful look. Maybe if I got drunk enough they would bar me from the meeting?
...No, that wouldn't work. It wasn't strong enough for that. Besides, and much more importantly, it would embarrass Luna. I would never do that.
Taking a swing of it anyway, I then offered it to the changeling. “Want some?”
“...No, sir.”
“Suit yourself.” I sighed and took another swig before tossing it over to Cloud and cracking my neck. “Very well, let's get going.”
Let's see if things are actually going to move on or if we are on for another rousing round of Pink Princess and Black Queen glaring at each other.
...Maybe I should bring the cider. If I could get them drunk enough they were bound to either kill each other or end up in bed together. Either way, the problem would be solved.
But that was likely just the cider talking.
Cadance and Crysalis together in one bed?
THE WORLD IS DOOOMED!!!!!!
Or at least Shining is. Or Alicorn!Twilight.
Alchool, the source and solution to every problem
Nice idea at the end. The cider is talking through him, isn't it? The cider wants to get in on politics.
Chrysalis had made the first step NOW THE NEXT THING TO DO IS FLUFFLE PUFF!
https://www.youtube.com/user/FluffyMixer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GpAywgS6Bw
I still think that the changlings should stage the majority of the crystal empire guards. It would be perfect.
They work for their "food", the crystal ponies see them as their protecters and Shining Armor has control over them while on duty.
well....it explains how THIS happened.
Maybe a Flufflepoff cameo would be nice.
It would be funny if Chrysalis was interested in Page, he's different and talented. Also wasn't afraid to whack her good, to telling her to do something. Because if it was anyone else but him telling her to say sorry to cadence, she would have figuratively bit their ear off. Though her being interested in him does make sense, out of any of the ponies, she singles him out individually besides the princesses.
Though if his nobility title rises to Duke, he could technically marry Luna and become a king with her a Queen, than Chrysalis as a foreign leader marrying it... Would make things weird but different, also he has far more potential than just writing stories like Luna said, but how is Twilight and her friends taking this business? Because she's likely heard from Shining and Cadence being in Canterlot for the meeting, also being ever faithful student to Celestia she'd likely want to help though her experience with Chrysalis and Changelings are negative like Cadence...
Also wouldn't Luna want the original castle rebuilt? The one that held both sisters as equal on the land, that could quite alter how events transpire.
6862421
The Alchemists Heart, but it's part of a series. It's also quite grim and dark at times, pulling no punches (you have been warned). Still, the quality is top shelf and I recommend it for the mature reader.
6861813 I do believe that story already exists
Love's Derelictions
I found it hilarious, especially the second part. One of the first stories on the site I fav'ed
6861813
Or Shinning is task to join is, therefore he became the king of hearts AND changelings, and problem solve, just one clusterfuck of a royal family ruling over the country
And if things go south Page can always pull the Judas solution
'Let the empire be cut in half, each princess will be address one half of the empire and will rule it as she please it'
And so another crack-ship fic is born...
6862997
6863267
No what I meant is that he's DOOOOMMMEEDD!!!! in fact that he probably already tires in pleasing Cadence in bed. She's Alicorn! Her AND Chrysalis? He won't be able to get out of bed......
hum this code be interesting I wonder way the fast meeting.
6865387
According to one of IDW artists Hasbro considering comics part of canon as long it don't clash with actual show.
But some time after this redactor of IDW write a post on IDW forum that could be interpreted in a way that comics are non canon. And Jim Miller, supervisor and co-director of MLP, at some point say that it waste of time and energy to argue if comics are canon or not... "Be happy with it" and all that.
I'm kinda at loss here. And write a e-mail to Hasbro with question about comics :).
6862581
Thanks :)
6862147
Which could get interesting in other ways if the Mare of Shadows is not a myth, but a piece of Nightmare for Page to encounter...
6863828
That line......was amazing....
6863828
I love this line.
8207599
... It's the alcohol, but at very least the blackmail material would help solve the problem...
6868488
i'm all for Nyx becoming a part of this.
6863828
reminds me of several fan-stories where Celestia and Chrysalis became a couple...
and "tainted love", a collection of shorts where Twilight Sparkle and Chrysalis were together.
Now wouldn't that be funny
Is it me, or am I seeing the bug booty in front of Page in near future?
6863271
Umm... That would be the Solomon solution.
The Judas solution would be to kiss them on the cheek and let the Romans nail them onto a tree.
10379858
The changelings already have holes on their limbs tho
Cadance would be
foodLove.Chrysalis would be lust.
Shining... Fertility?
10956291
That fluffer managed to make a baby alicorn, a feat only achieved in... Never
Fertility suits him alright
He’s not wrong 😑
10956291
Shining would be protection or guardians
Dwarven Politics, always a good option for when everything else falls through
Maybe Chrysalis can play concubine and get a larve or 200 out of the negotiation ♡
11023509
That the idea.
11118114
That to 👍
Both are very entertaining outcomes!
Yoooooo!! Guess what character uses this as a catchphrase
Would Changelings be the perfect concubines for Cadance?
They love her for many reasons