“Page!”
I looked up from where I was relaxing on the park bench, a copy of Daring Do floating before me. The latest book had just been released… or rather, would be released sometime next week.
Despite what I talked to Twilight about a couple of days ago, having a lot of money and connections with printers did have a couple of advantages.
“Thunder Cloud,” I said with a grin as I jumped off the bench, “Been ages!”
The Pegasus dropped down from the air and folded his wings, his coat white and his light blue mane wind swept. He was out of armour of course or he would be fully white like most of the other pegasi in the guard.
He grinned, “Things have been crazy busy,” he said and shrugged his wings, “Between training, patrols, messenger duty and everything else… besides, you were out of town!”
“True,” I agreed and shouldered him with a grin, “how have you been?”
Thunder grinned, “Good enough. Like I said, hard work. The Princess is putting together a new unit and they needed a scout. Besides, came with a promotion!”
That was news to me. I think I’ll ask about it next time we have tea.
“Sergeant?” I asked with raised eyebrows, “Congratulations!”
“Thanks,” he said and smirked, “Not all of us can be lazy civilians and lounge around all day.”
I just snorted at that, “Dude, I practice as much as you do!”
“You would have to with all that fancy food,” he answered with a grin, “Have to keep in shape for the Princess," before he frowned, “Speaking of… how is it going with the… you know?” he asked and shrugged his wings.
Thunder was one of the few ponies that knew what I was now. One of my closest friends, how could I not tell him?
I glanced back at my sides beneath the illusion, “Okay? I can mostly go in the right direction and I have mostly stopped breaking things when I arrive?”
He grinned and tapped his hoof on my shoulder, “You need more practice.”
“How? Not like I could just take off,” I answered and rolled my eyes, “Would make it a bit difficult to hide then.”
“True. But you do have the entire magic thing, pretend to be a Pegasus.”
“…Thought about it,” I admitted, “Flying again would be nice. Even if it makes my wings ache after a while.”
Thunder rolled his eyes, “Dude, you have to practice! Don’t use your muscles and they get weak, like any others. Including wings!”
I knew he was right. Even earth pony sturdiness only went so far, if you didn’t train it didn’t help much.
“I’ll try.”
“Do or do not.”
I rolled my eyes at him, “Screw you. Fine, I’ll make sure to fly a couple of hours a week.”
Should be possible to pull off, especially at night. Sneak out, put an illusion over myself to make me look like a Pegasus and then get some flying in.
Yeah, I could do that.
“Well, come on then!”
I looked at him, “What, now!?”
“Now! Or you are going to continue putting it off!”
I just groaned, “Cloud, you are such a pain in the flank!” before I grinned, “Fine, sure. Let’s just stop by the castle first so I can drop off my book. We get something to eat and then we go flying. Sounds good?”
He nodded, “Yeah. Where is Swift anyway? Wasn’t his new job following you around?”
“His day off,” I answered and picked my book up in my magic, closing it around the bookmark, “I’m Amber's problem today.”
Cloud glanced around, “Not seeing her.”
“You won’t unless she wants you too,” I said and smirked, “Amber?”
“Yes, sir?”
Cloud twitched and looked to the other side to see the smiling changeling, “How do you do that!?”
She tilted her head, “Do what?”
“She is worse than Skitter!”
“Thank you!”
Thunder Cloud just sighed and rubbed his forehead, “…I’m getting a headache. Let’s go, Page.”
I winked at Amber and got a bright smile in response before I followed him, next time I looked behind us she was gone again.
“Page, I’ll be honest,” Cloud said with a sigh, “Changelings give me the creeps.”
I frowned at him, “Why?”
He stared at me, “Page, they eat Love. They have fangs! No offense.”
“None taken,” Amber said cheerfully.
“Eh, you get used to them.”
Cloud sighed, “Not sure I ever will, allies or not. Come on, let’s go.”
Hiver, take me you magnificent bastard.
But changelings are like... MADE to cuddly and adorable!
Some down time fluff before any actual story development, you're lucky I enjoy cotton candy. Though I hope something with more substance comes out next time.
Ok I love the story and everything about it.
That said your kinda killing me slowly with such short chapters man..... please please I beg you...... I need more please!!!!!
It'll be funny if Cloud falls for a changeling, there's the subtle benefits he has yet to factor in.
Though on another note it would be funny if there was art of a stealthy Amber popping up when called.
I'll offer up a Lord Soul if you post more...
I feel like something is going to happen regarding Page pretending to be a Pegasus? Guess I'll find out soon enough. Great work so far.
I got up early for work for THIS?! I...you....!
Okay you win this time.
8023478 If my patreon pulled in fifteen to twenty times as much, then i could write full time. Until then, i need to work and i have limited time to write. Sorry.
8023331
I have never read a story by Hiver where 'fluff' was just fluff. This chapter serves as a character re-introduction and sets up several ideas that can be used in the future. (Getting books early, Amber popping up, Cloud's anti-changeling tendencies, Page's new training regimen...)
I, personally, find the changelings to be super "cyoot".
*cough*http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cyoot *unconvincing cough*
8023846
Plus, the fluff is the best part of these stories. With this series I would almost say that all the action stuff is more the 'fluff', its all the little things that happen in between that make the story and build the characters and their relationships.
8023838
What is the link to your Patreon? You should probably put it up somewhere on your main page so people would know. I didn't even know you had one.
8024267 Here you go. https://www.patreon.com/Hiver
I love how Cloud uses Page's "own writing" against him. Sure, that line was copied, but he doesn't know that.
Anyway, cute chapters, I just would like them to be longer.
Selfish, yes. But as a reader, why wouldn't I be?
(Seriously, though. I would be fine with less frequent updating if that meant longer chapters. I know you're famous for your quick chapter turnout, but obviously this is starting to degrade, as the chapters are becoming shorter and the uploads less frequently. A lot of readers will feel disappointed and/or unfulfilled with such a short length. Better to keep them waiting a bit more, and be satisfied. At least in my opinion.)
Mmmmm, nice and bite sized~
8023308 you're drunk... Time to hit the hay!
That won't end well.
Would now be a good time to remind new readers to update this series' TVTropes page at http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Fanfic/NewBeginnings ?
8023838
I'll kick in a few bucks if you tell me your patreon.
8026093 Here you go. https://www.patreon.com/Hiver
8026111
There we go, and now Hiver took my patreon cherry.
8026937 was that an innuendo?
So, its a) invisiblity, b) active camo, c) perception filter, or d) She's a NINJA!
Have I mentioned that I love these changelings? Because I do.
8210037
Yeah, I think they're even better than Carapace's changelings.
8733065
Carapace?
8798226
Lavender Carapace it be a great story.
*Three Months Later*
Cloud: *wakes up with a hangover* "Ugh, how much did I drink last.... is that a hoof?" *rolls over to a fang filled mouth* "Waagh!" *falls off bed*
Changeling Mare: *snore*
9064512
Then there's "Of the Hive", which I thought was an interesting twist
https://www.fimfiction.net/story/133544/of-the-hive
Bet she changes into a stick or something
;)
10724625
Of The Hive is probably my favourite Twilight Changeling story series
To feed on emotions they need to be seeded and grown carefully. Idealy they never stop growing
The fangs are half the fun
I wonder who has mastered stealth better. The changeling bodyguards or the ninja maids…
11589621
Who said they weren’t both?
Snuggelbugs are awesome, they are great at snuggeling and a very handy to have in general.
Can they feed away bad emotions i wonder...
Did page forget je learned the wing spell?
Like he can give wings to anyone, including himself, so he already has an excuse to why he has a wing from time to time...
Twilight in canon also forgot about it but I put it more to bad writting with how they rarely used very useful spell after the episode they wete presented, also multiple writers with multiple episodes being written at the same time.... it is in fact a miracle MLP has any continuation at all actually.
11639736
From what we have seen so far changelling don't take away the emotion when they feed and they can feed of other emotion with love just tasting the best.