I brought the stick around in my magic quickly before letting go, flinging it towards the other end of the small park.
Fern took off after it with a wruff, wooden paws hitting the grassy grounds loudly as he charged after it.
“He’s getting big,” a voice commented and I looked back towards Celestia as she landed close to me, folding her wings.
“Still a puppy,” I said as Fern returned with the small branch. He dropped it a couple of meters back before making his way over to Celestia, sniffing at her coat.
Celestia ignored him and turned to looked to me, “Page, he’s larger than you are.”
“Timberwolves grow to be as large as you are, larger even,” I said with a smile, “That’s in the wild without proper nutrition. I bet he’ll get a bit bigger.”
Celestia gave the walking houseplant a bit of a wary look, “Possibly,” she answered and scraped her hoof against the grass, “But I have never even heard about a tame one before. I just worry about him.”
I whistled and Fern perked up and quickly returned to my side, looking to me.
“Lay down,” I said and he dropped down. I reached over to scratch behind his closest wooden branch ear, “Stay,” I ordered and moved over to Celestia.
“I know you worry, Sunshine,” I told her, “But he’s trained and socialized. He hasn’t as much as growled at a pony. So what’s up?”
She shifted her wings, “A message just arrived from the Storm King,” she explained, “In two days a deligation will be at a position at our closest border to negotiate a peace treaty.”
I snorted and flicked my ears, scraping my hoof against the grass as I raised my wings high, “I have a treaty for them. They surrender and get nothing and then they pay reparations for any damage they did.”
Celestia smiled and nodded, “Which is why my sister and I are going to be handling the negotiations. We do have some experience in the matter. You are good at many things, Page. That’s not one of them.”
Fair enough.
“Could be a trap.”
“Which is why you stay here,” she said with a nod.
I shot her a look at that but she ignored it,
“We also need somepony to remain in Canterlot. Princess Midnight will also be remaining here,” Celestia said and stretched her wings, “I don’t know how long to expect things to take, it greatly differs each time.”
I sighed and shook my head, “I don’t like this, Sunshine. They were after the Alicorns in the first place and now there will be three of them in one predetermined and exposed position.”
Celestia nodded, “Something that occurred to us as well,” she agreed and smiled, leaning in to give my ear a nuzzle, “Which is why we are attending with a full four guard regiments and in full battle armor.”
I flicked my ear and grinned up at her, “Now that does make me feel better.”
Besides, Luna looked so hot in that thing. It may be covering, but it was also form fitting and very ‘Xena, warrior goddess’.
Celestias on the other hand was very ‘Goddess of the Sun’ mixed with wonderwoman.
“Mruff!”
I looked over towards Fern and picked the stick up in my magic, spinning it around before flinging it towards the other side of the park, “Fetch!”
He tore off after it in a spray of grass.
“So when are you leaving?” I asked as I turned back to Celestia.
“As soon as everything is organized,” she said, “Tonight most likely. I’m going to tell Luna in a little bit.”
“You haven’t told her yet?” I asked with a frown, turning away from Fern to look up at her.
Celestia hesitated for a split second, “I… I wanted to let her sleep for as long as she could. She’s nocturnal, I know how difficult it is for her to keep switching between them, especially this often.”
“Yeah, doing that sucks,” I agreed and took the stick when Fern returned. I held a brief tug of war with my magic with him before I flung the stick away across the park again, “So… how do you think things are going to go?”
“I don’t know,” Celestia admitted as she looked after Fern, “But I do hope everything will end up well. It did with the Minotaurs. It did with the griffins.”
“Some just needed a bigger stick,” I said as I threw it for Fern again.
Celestia looked towards me in question and I smiled at her,
“A saying from earth,” I clarified, “Speak softly and carry a big stick. The meaning is something along the lines of ‘negotiate and talk the best you can, but always be ready to back your words up by being willing to beat the other fucker about the head until he stops being a threat’."
Celestia frowned slightly, “...That explains so much.”
Page has many sticks
Most of them just so happen to be walking around while barking
9949411
I love this.
9949411
That was awesome.
Only the classiest of presidential quotes from our blank page.
In the time of wedding crashing, Thire came a time when a hero was needed, luna, warrior princess, Forged in the heat of battle.
BTW if you have not watched xena warrior princess or Hercules the legend journey you are UNCULTURED
https://youtu.be/o-pa_BlXNcw
https://youtu.be/1BTScx4nV0E
God I cant wait for more. I LOVE this series. I wonder...what will Blank Page and Luna's foal look like and the names? Lunar Page? Polaris? Sirius? Satellite? Apollo? Sorry coming up with names from NASH's rocket programs and name of famous stars. here is a wiki page of a large list of them if anyone else can think of good names for Luna and Page's kids. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_proper_names_of_stars
It does? Huh and here I thought you would have guessed by now the nature of Page's original species! Your getting a little slow there Celestia!
Its definitely a trap.
9949487
If it is, we will see Page on the warpath.
That forest fire will be glorious.
Admiral Ackbar is missing his cue.
Well, if Big-Stick Diplomacy doesn't work, there's also the MAD Doctrine where if all else fails, we'll take the bastard down with us!
We, humans, come up with some really messed up strategies where victory takes precedence over survival, counter-intuitively enough.
I always did like this quote, and he explains it so well.
That's a third or fourth time Celestia worries about Fern. I'm afraid it's a Chekhov's gun waiting...
I think Celestia forgot, or maybe never realized, what exactly she’s been talking to. Human Page is best Page, and I get the feeling that, as soon as things go south at the negotiations, we’re gonna be seeing a very human reaction. Page Burner here we come!
9949578
I’m expecting said gun to be fire in a battle with yetis, probably defending Celestia in some way.
9949529
What forest? thought that was always a desert.
Now when Luna gets captured or injured in the negotiations we have to come up with a good name for Page when he goes nightmare. HorrorStory perhaps? Or maybe MindPlague.
9949661
Someone else commented "Page Burner" IIRC.
EDIT: I submit "Last Page".
“Well if all else fails, Sunshine, I find comfort in another quote from my world. ‘When the devil whispers in your ear: ‘you are not strong enough to withstand the storm.’ Whisper back ‘I am the storm.”
9949735
Nice one! ^w^ or just 'The End' basicly what one get messing up badly!
Its pretty distracting having to change chapter so fast... Could you compress all so far into 5.000 - 10.000 word chapters? Devided by Chapter Name/Number? Blank Page Nightmare Prince and Xenoside should have a special Chapter name for there epic importance
This is the most trapped trap that has ever trapped. More trap then anime traps. But it needs to be done so that page has a reason to kill the storm king. Because he will die by pages hooves
9949772
I want it to be a trap that fails utterly.
I'm reminded of this clip. Probably how the Storm King would reply if he was there.
Everyone be like fern be a chekovs gun. I be like, fern going to be a front line unit.
Celestia frowned slightly, “...That explains so much.”
but did sun but really hear Page?
Sounds about right.
The Storm King doesn't deserve a peace treaty, the only thing he deserves is an execution for war crimes, and the terms of even having a discussion would be the unconditional surrender.
Hell ya it does! Secure peace through superior firepower, that’s the American way!
9949411
I believe we can all fern from this experience.
Welp, the yetis are gonna burn I say..three days from now ? It's time to hide in bunker as last page/page burner is let out of his cage..are those napalm and gunshots I hear ?
They should have Starlight Glimmer go, too--invisibly--with orders to instantly report back if things go south so that Page can mobilize the army/airforce/navy/marines/dragons/griffons/hippogriffs/kirin/changelings & if they do, stay hidden until she can effect a rescue of the inevitably stoned alicorns.
I'm really iffy about any of the princesses being at that meeting. They should send changelings instead.
9949623
I think the term I was trying to apply was a metaphor to the situation that I suspect is coming.
Of course, having the Storm King indeed surrendering after imagining a pony capable of visiting his entire race the same mind-bending nightmares would be a pleasant surprise.
Not that it would stop Equestria from taking possession of his gods' forsaken island and technology, as part of the reparations.
9950288
I was just being silly but I do think their tech would be worth taking a look at.
When your friend withouth a dog sees a great dane for the first time.
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/Great_dane.jpg
Indeed.
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i.pinimg.com/originals/50/5c/0d/505c0d277e8c1181ae562af9f6f0ff65.jpg
9951903
Thank the fine posters on YouTube
The Price of Peace give your input!
Naaaaaw, really? In all honesty though, we as a race have experienced more warfare than anything. We know a thing or two about negotiating.
9950230
I like the idea to be careful like that but this Drones would have to think and act like Celestia & Luna. Diplomatic and tough , flexibel mind but unyielding resolve
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Pretty one sided But we all are in agreement in the comment section
9950708
In my Harry potter crossover, I did a bit where Luna got ahold of Mini Guns with Hollywood magazines. Hollywood magazines never run out unless the director needs more drama.
I love this interpretation of this quote. it explains it really well
9969781
Honestly I read it and immediately thought of the Force Commander from the Warhammer games. “Walk softly... and carry a big gun”
She's not wrong!
So he actually knows the saying.
How about Nuclear Deterrence, or threat of nuclear, or... well, solar annihilation?
The whole war thing could be ended with a single flex of Sunbutts magics, just a small 'nuclear test'.
10019290
Yeah but sometimes spare the rod and spoil the child applies to adults too. And the fact that it has been forever since the last war has spoiled folks in terms of what darkness can bring.
We're such a warm and welcoming race aren't we Tia~?
11330984
Oh yeah. We're so welcoming. Roll out the red carpet, and the big "Weapons'R'Us" banner... :D