Three tribes · 8:38pm Dec 20th, 2017
“…the due deference to you both as the rulers and representatives of the three pony tribes,” he eventually finished.
Celestia and Luna both regarded the ambassaor for an uncomfortably long moment.
“Did he say three?” asked Luna of her sister.
“He did,” replied Celestia thoughtfully.
“Surely he meant to say four. Unless he remains unaware of our nocturne?”
“Nocturne? Oh, you mean the thestrals?”
“Please do not call them that, sister,” said Luna coldly. “The popular epithet of ‘bat ponies’ is bad enough without bringing insults into it.”
“Even so, that would be five. Do not forget, they have returned now.”
“I could barely forget, though I think you’ll find that both crystal pegasi and unicorns exist as well, rare though they may be, making the total seven.”
“I cannot deny that, sister. May I suggest that regional pride of the Saddle Arabians would require us increase the number to eight.”
“And the Maretonians as well, unless that tedious negotiation was for nought.”
“Nine, then.” Celestia paused. “Ten, in fact.”
“Ten? Oh yes, I suppose it is. Are they still around?”
“I believe so,” said Celestia, “though I haven’t heard from their ambassador in some decades. I wonder where I put the poor fellow?”
The two of them thought seriously for a few moments. Luna brightened up, saying, “Aha! Eleven.”
Celestia shook her head. “No, sister, they are one and the same, for one was for a time disguised as the other.”
Luna was surprised. “They are? Which of them is real then?”
“The hippogriffs are their true form, as you would know had you not slept through our meeting with Queen Novo.”
The sisters both fell silent again, each with thoughtful expressions. The poor ambassador dared not speak for fear they would take offence, or worse, start talking again, so he continued to kneel before the throne. This lasted a few minutes until Luna started to smirk. “Sister, have we not forgotten ourselves?”
Celestia raised a hoof to her face. “You are quite right, Luna. Eleven.”
"Do the changelings count now?"
"An intriguing question. We must discuss it with Thorax when next we meet. Call it eleven and a half in the meantime?"
Down with thestrals. :D
Very important to keep the numbers right. n_n
What about Breezies? I mean, they're just tiny ponies with antenna, right?
4754669
"Thou meanst to tell me that some of those foul vermin still survive, even today? It appears I was insufficiently thorough in our last encounter. Come, sister, don thy barding and hoofboots for we have hunting to do!"
"Luna..."
4754669
Breezies are extra-dimensional tourists who are not represented in Equestrian government by the Royal Alicorns.
4754747
4754745 Well if they have to be large and in Equestria for a long period of time, does Discord count? He's part pony, that's gotta be at least 11 & 1/6th tribes then.
4754762
Discord outranks the Royal Alicorns, technically, Discord is the political representive for Alicorns et. al. in the governmental system of Equestria, and the Alicorns do not represent him politically.
4754772 I dunno about outranks. Certainly he's a lot more powerful than they are magically. He's a "Lord," which is a band of nobility from baron to duke, but all are below the rank of a Princess. I don't know think he represent the alicorns, though you could argue he has his own kingdom in the chaos dimension. Then there's the time he turned himself into an alicorn princess...
4754778 4754772
I'm fairly certain Discord would reject any part in an orderly feudal hierarchy.
4754780 Or really, just being counted in a list at all. I heard he was invited to the Friendship Festival as the Official Representative of Chaos and boycotted Equestria for months in a fit of pique.
4754810
Would Discord be the sort to sue for defamation of character?
4754515
Down Under with thestrals!
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