The snowstorm howled outside the narrow glass-less window at the wall, gusts of icy wind sneaking in through the opening from time to time, sending shudders of cold running up my spine.
This was the dream realm so I could easily have ignored it or changed it. But that would have removed the necessity of the fireplace on one side of me and the sungoddess on my other. It was much better not to break the illusion.
Celestia looked different from in reality. She was smaller, actually a bit smaller than Luna in reality, barely a head taller than me, her mane and tail a pink rather than rainbow. Instead of her usual regalia, she wore a gold circlet as a crown.
Which was currently sitting to the side on a table along with my own silver one.
I glanced up at her before refocusing on the book laying before us, scooting a bit closer to her side to keep warm.
Celestia didn’t react other than to settle her warm wing across my back to ward the cold away.
I frowned at the book, turning back a page before I checked the other page again. Then I picked up a pen in my magic, dipped it in the ink before slowly drawing a design on the parchment by my side.
I double checked before I nodded, “Done.”
“That took longer than I thought,” Celestia said with a small smile as her horn lit and she took the offered parchment.
“I’m not very bright,” I said with a smile, “And considering the distractions, I think I did alright.”
“Distractions?” Sunshine asked, her sun warm wing brushing along my back.
“Well, you know the cold and such,” I said, looking up at her, “So how did I do? Okay or do I need to practice some more with you?”
Celestia passed the parchment back to me, “These calculations are correct. But I don’t think you are at quite Twilights level yet.”
“Oh well,” I said, “I suppose we just have to continue my lessons then.”
“I suppose we do,” Celestia agreed as she looked at me, “You are coming for Hearths Warming this year?”
I nodded, “We are. Sparks wants to spend it with her parents this year and… well, we are everypony getting pulled along into it. Not that I mind. But there is quite a while until then.”
Almost half a year, but we had to plan these sorts of things well in advance. We couldn’t just leave whenever we wanted to.
“And Shining Armor and Cadance?” Celestia asked.
“They’re coming too,” I said and then looked up at her, “You’re invited as well, Sunshine.”
Celestia hesitated, “I’m not sure I should, it’s a family event.”
I looked at her, “Sunshine, you’re being dumb. You are part of our family.”
She flicked one ear, shifting slightly, “...I know,” she admitted quietly, “But I’m not part of their family. Me being there would be a distraction.”
“And me and Luna wouldn’t be?” I asked, eyeing her as I poked her side with my wing, “Sunshine, if you want ponies to see you as anything but a perfect pretty pony princess, you need to actually act like a normal pony sometimes.”
Celestia sighed softly, “Page, you know they need me to be a ‘perfect pretty pony princess’ as you call it. Same as they need you to be their prince.”
“Buck that,” I said, “You also deserve to live as much as any of them. Duty and responsibility is all well and good, but you need to be able to take time off too, especially among family.”
She looked at me, raising one eyebrow.
I groaned, “Yes, I’m aware I’m the one saying it. But that doesn’t make it any less true. You need to be able to relax as much as anypony else.”
“I do try to,” she admitted, “But it’s different when there are other ponies involved. Ponies act differently around us.”
“...Yeah, they do,” I agreed with a small sigh before I shook my head, “But this is a family thing. If there are any ponies that should be used to hanging out with alicorns, it would be Night Light and Twilight Velvet.”
Celestia hesitated before she nodded, “I suppose you are right.”
“So?” I asked with a smile, brushing her side with my wing, “Want me to check with Sparks?”
“...I would like that.”
I nodded, “Good.”
“Though,” Celestia continued and smiled at me, “I don’t want you to think I think our lessons are work. I enjoy teaching and spending time with you, Page. I am ever so thankful for these moments.”
“Want to pick up an actual student again?” I asked and shifted closer to her warm side as a gust of icy wind brushed past my ears.
Celestia nodded, “I have considered it,” she said quietly, her nose touching the mane between my ears for a second, “Have even looked at the foals at my school. There are some definite possibilities. There is one filly, First Frost. Her ability to handle cold magic is great even for an adult pony. I wish I could teach her, but I am completely incapable of cold magic.”
“That would make it difficult to teach her,” I admitted.
Celestia nodded in agreement, “It would not be fair to her. I passed her details on to a master of elemental magic however. But there is another filly. Star Bright. She just started this year, but she has promise I think.”
“Bookworm?”
Ceelestia laughed, “She blew up the magic lab!”
“Wow, rea-” I started to answer before I frowned, “Wait, Sparks has talked about that place. It’s specially warded to resist magic. How in the world did a filly blow it up?”
Celestia grinned, “Because she was playing around with alchemy, not straight magic,” she said and shook her head in wonder, “Melted a hole straight through the wall.”
“Wow.”
That’s impressive. Terrifying but impressive.
Nice
Well, looks like someone was to focused on Magic to even consider that there are other things that could cause significant damage
11589587
Heck, the right summoned beastie could just punch through the wall with their entirely physical appendages.
I wonder what Lunas or Candace protégé would look like. Luna could need a Dream guard, Cadance would probably start a huge dating service
Snuggeling for the Sun, that sounds like a lot of fun 👍
I wonder if Griffons, Diamond Dogs and other non pony races want to join Nocturnis.
There is mutch for them to do and earn a living and probably become Nobels for helping the foundation of the Village to City along:
Diamond Dogs:
Mining of precious metals and helping stone collection for foundation and wall building, noone wants a predator to tunnel below the earth to get to the juicy ponies etc.
Griffons:
Perfect for Guards and building Griffon-Pony relationships. Further would they make for good trading partners. Further as pest control.
Abesinian:
Because... Em... They are cute?
Also pest control.
Zebra:
Alchemy and Spiritual guidance would be of great help. The plants for Alchemy use and the occasional funeral needs to be explored.
Where go dead ponies etc get layed to rest?!
Sphinx:
They are long lived and would make for great co-rulers. Perhaps they could build a Thesteal-Sphinx Pyramid at some point?
Twilight:
"We need schools and pre-schools for Nocturnis!"
Sparks:
"We need medical facilities and research of the Jungle herbs and plans as well the wildlife!"
Starlight Glimmer:
"We need Sewer systems to keep trash and shit away and at bay."
Angel Bunny translated by Fluttershy the cutest batpone:
"We need a dedicated scout force,the Alicorn statue might be only the top of the iceberg. What if a lost City is somewhere below the Jungle?
No... I don't read to many Daring Do storys when I don't try tame predators to ride or date my Dwarf Raptor girlfriend!"
Discord:
"We need a Colloseum, perfect training grounds for Guards and Soldiers and some Roman style entertainment.'
Great chapter, as usual. Though, this sentence, particularly the part in red, is quite awkwardly phrased, which makes it a tad difficult (for me at least) to understand what is being said properly.
...And that was the Origin story of how Star Bright became the FullMetal Alchemist!!!
Chancellor Neighsay: That blast almost hit me! This is unforgivable!
Star Bright: I didn't mean to! I must have added too many silicon with the phosphorus!
Chancellor Neighsay: It damaged the water main system! No excuses! Using such blasphemous arts within the walls of proper magical high education. You disgraceful little witc--
Celestia: ENOUGH. I'll be dealing with this matter personally. We will reschedule with you Chancellor. GOOD DAY SIR.
Chancellor Neighsay: *snort* See that you do!
Star Bright: I'msorryI'msorryI'msorryI'msorryI'msor--
Celestia: Miss Bright...We are rewarding ourselves with tea and donuts!
Star Bright: --rryI'msorryI'msorry WAIT WHAT!
Celestia: You just got me out of a budget meeting with Neighsay AND gave the perfect situation to finally put funds to the side for the aging pipes. You're worthy of knighthood if I was allowed. Now come on! DONUTS!
(Windy here! I'm sorry I was late. Work was brutal and I slept immediately after I came home...now my sleep cycle is screwed up! Woe is me! )
three words. Magic Hydrofluric Acid, its like regular HF, but magic
rather rude of her to just break into others dreams like that.
*slowly banging my head on a wall* i agree with Cadance, theses two are driving me nuts
Shocking
How terrible
Wait, Cadance when did you get here?
I am Celestia in this scene
*eye-twitch intensifying*
Nice between-the-lines banter this chapter, I very much appreciate your portrayal of Celestia. The balance of puckish humour and serious maturity is a tricky balance.
A few jackbooted grammar corrections for this chapter:
But I don’t think you are quite at Twilight's level yet.”
everypony's getting pulled along into it.
Celestia laughed
Celestia
Oh, shit! Where did that one story get to??? The one with the pyromaniac changeling??? He'd be the perfect companion to ship with
Star BrightSuperNovaWe could really, REALLY use a search function on this site for our old peanut gallery posts! I only need to find any of my old posts that contain the word "FOOF"
Found it! Honedew and/or Flambé from My Life As A Royal Changeling.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, let's keep our expectations realistic, shall we?
I'm starting to notice the same discussion points being brought up in nearly the same wording between the same ponies in multiple chapters.
Isn't this the third time Page has brought up Celestia relaxing and Celestia's rebuttal and Page's response to said rebuttal? I'm getting a serious case of deja vu.