“Of course, Darling!” Rarity said with a smile. “I'll have your order done as soon as possible.”
I couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. “No hurries, I won't need it until I go back to Canterlot at the earliest anyway,” before I scraped my hoof on the floor, “And... well...”
“Don't worry, I can keep a secret!” Rarity said with a grin before she winked. “You would be shocked over some of the things I created for whom. Not that I would ever tell.”
I eyed the glamorous white unicorn, “...Well, now 'I' am curious.”
“Too bad, Darling. It would be highly unprofessional of me,” she answered and flicked her mane with a smile.
“Well, that is a good thing. I really don't want the papers to get news of this. Wouldn't really bother me, but I don't want to make things more difficult for Luna,” I admitted.
“I'm sure Princess Luna will adore it. It should fit her perfectly and I know just the colors to use.”
“Thank you, Rarity,” I said as we moved towards the door and her magic reached out to open it for me.
“You are so welcome, Lord Page.”
I waved to her as I left. Of course, I wasn't overly worried about the papers finding out, it wasn't anything too outrageous. But it involved a lot of silk and wasn't anything Luna would wear in public so I would much rather keep it all quiet.
I really hoped that she would like it.
“Got everything, sir?” Amber asked as she fell in next to me from where she had been waiting outside.
“I think so,” I agreed and looked at my guard. “Any ideas on where to go now?”
Amber looked around and shook her head, “Not really, sir. Perhaps simply following the road and seeing where it goes?”
“As good an idea as any other.”
It lunchtime yet for a couple of hours anyway and a long walk sounded rather nice. I shifted my wings slightly under the illusion, wishing I could stretch them properly, but I simply was not good enough to hide them if I spread them. Still, a good walk would get the worst of the stiffness out of my muscles and I would bet we could duck into the Everfree Forest for a quick glide or something later.
Or simply put a illusion over myself again to look like a pegasus, I'd likely go with that one.
“So, what do you think of Ponyville, Amber?” I asked the changeling as we walked.
She tilted her head, fluttering her wings slightly, “It's nice, sir. But I'm not certain the inhabitants are comfortable around me. A lot of them stare, more than in Canterlot.”
“Not many changelings here, not as many as in Canterlot at least,” I said and frowned to myself. “Maybe that's something that needs to change. Get ponies used to seeing changelings, both in your semi-disguises and in your natural forms.”
If they were ever to be accepted as just another pony, ponies needed to get used to them. Ironically enough, our main problem was that there weren’t enough changelings to go around and most were gathered around the hive so they could have regular contact with other changelings and more importantly... their Queen or Princess. They needed that contact to feel good which meant they couldn't spread out much.
With some exceptions like my guard here, I would bet the majority of changelings away from Canterlot were the ones harvesting love in the Crystal Empire.
“Howdy!”
We paused and glanced back at the orange earth pony approaching from behind, pulling a wooden cart at an easy trot and a smile.
“Hello. Uhm...” Damn it, I knew her name! “Applejack, right?”
“Got it in one!” she agreed with a smile. “Lord Page,” she said with a nod and a tip of her hat. “I heard you and Sunset Shimmer were staying with Twilight.”
I nodded. “Twilight was kind enough to help me practice my magic,” I confirmed and then paused. “Oh, my apologies. This is my bodyguard and assistant, Amber. Princess Skitter assigned her to me because... well, she thinks I'll forget to eat or something. Amber, this is Applejack of the Apple-family.”
Amber bowed slightly and Applejack nodded. “Pleased to meet you,” she said, giving the changeling a bit of a wary look but not commenting otherwise. “So where are you off too?”
I shrugged. “Just taking a walk,” I said and walked along next to her. "Twilight and Sunset are still out from their astronomy expedition last night. They likely stayed up all night and then fell asleep, so I have a day off to just take in the sights.”
“Doubt that will take all day in Ponyville. Pretty much what you see is what you get.”
“I like Ponyville,” I admitted. “It somehow feels more real than Canterlot.”
Maybe that was because I grew up in the countryside, it just felt more like home, despite the very different architecture style than back on Earth. Ponyville looked like something from a fantasy story. Which was a kind of funny thing to think when you could do magic.
“Lived here all my life. There is no better place in all of Equestria.”
“Not going to argue with you.” I sighed and looked up at the tree we passed by starting to get close to the 'Sweet Apple Acres' sign. “If Luna didn't need to be in Canterlot, I think I would look to move to Ponyville.”
Some distance from those nobles would be really nice. I really understood why Twilight strongly resisted any suggestion from that direction that she should move to Canterlot. Yes, her friends were here, but I suspect the general court stuff had a non-zero effect on the decision.
Perfect chapter, I can't wait to see the gift that Page is getting for Luna, also how are you planning on giving Twilight her Crystal Castle anyway, the Cutie Map will be needed and soon, after all it would be cool to see Blank Page to go against Starlight Glimmer in a battle or something.
Page and Applejack in the same chapter... it is a good day!
Wonder if Page is going to get to know the rest of the main 6 any better. Eager to see the gift he has in mind too.
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Ah yes, Starlight Glimmer. I do wonder if we will see her any time soon.
7913275 Socks...
Sexy ass socks...
Maybe some PJs
Bitches love PJs
This may seem innocuous, but if your track record is anything to go by, this is leading to something...
Perhaps....
These scenes will be relevant when Page goes through the multiverse? Seeing these guys befo and after?
Still, I say, give me some intrigue!!
7913496 I'm fairly certain those are socks.
Could be wrong, though.
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It's a good assumption that I can agree with.
I swear this shit is like a drug. You give me just enough in the chapter to make me beg for more.
. I really want to see what it looks like. Does that make me a pervert?
Re-reading some of these and I can’t believe I missed this opportunity.
*tips stetson* M’Lord
Wait princess skitter?
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last book skitter became a princess cuz page overfeed her!
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And Chrysalis revealed that while changeling queens are long lived, they do die of old age, and she is very old, so she planned the whole invasion in order for Skitter to get close as a guard to someone who would see her as who not what. Blank Page kept her full of love, citing the need for her to be in top notch condition as his guard. He unknowingly fell into both of their traps/plan. This is how a changeling queen is replaced should there not be one alive to lead the hive, that being all the changlings in the hive will choose one and focus the love on them. One month later and hippity boppity there is a changeling princess! Skitter apologizes to him for not telling him after she spent a month in a cacoon changing. Unbeknownst to her though, he had also changed. *insert prequel events here*
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It's two years later, but anyway. Actually no, she haven't planned "the whole invasion" for this particular scenario. She were going for a win and totally different scenario even though with the same result for a hive (as in new princess) somewhen later on. She haven't expected to lose, but she adapted her plan to the new reality and succeeded. She probably pushed princess thing forward as well since she do realize that she's an anachronism and her ways to rule changeling have to go in this new reality of changelings and ponies living together.
Twilight was always a busy mare. As Princess that probably got worse... How did she keep contact with friends i wonder...
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Hiding, or Luna forbid delegating them to spike?
I don't know. Other towns don't have monster attacks every week.
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Or chaos ever other Sunday
Ruling a nation seriously macro or in detail is a respectable but time consuming thing.
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Sounds surprisingly Twilight Sparkle.
Always wondered how Celestia has so few friends, I guess tome constraints would be part of the answer.
"...She sells apples and apple accessories."
King of the Hill. Couldn't resist.
Maybe socialize other Hives and let them live under the same rules as Chrysalis Hive. More feed snuggelbugs to get around