//------------------------------//
// Chapter 15 
// Story: Other Duties As Required 
// by Hiver 
//------------------------------//

My head hit the not-ground and I sighed, letting my wings relax against it.

Starstuff and lights shimmered around me in the ethereal not-air of the dream realm. I didn't see any of it as I kept my eyes closed, but I had seen it more than enough.

I just stayed still. Didn't want to move, didn't want to think.

A soft wing settled across my back, a warm side against mine and a muzzle touched my ear, "What troubles you, My Page?" Luna asked gently, "How does your investigation go?"

I raised my head, leaning it against her neck, "...I don't know what to do," I admitted quietly.

"What have you uncovered?"

I smiled wryly, "Oh, only that almost everypony I talk to trusts the rest of Equestria as far as they can throw them and like them even less. It's not even contained to just bats, it has spread to some of the dayponies too. Buck, some of them are even worse!"

Luna sighed softly, "Page, some distrust is to be expected."

"I guess," I admitted, "But it's not what I wanted at all."

"I know, My Page," she said gently and nosed at my ear, "My sister and I have discussed matters, but no plan has formed yet."

I nodded, "I'm trying to come up with one too," I said before rolling onto my back to look up at her with a small smirk, "Starting to think I should have asked Midnight for a disguise that made me look like a mare instead."

Luna looked amused, "Getting some attention?" she teased.

"Like you wouldn't believe," I admitted, raising a hoof to brush her mane, "Seriously, I think every single mare I meet tries to flirt with me and I'm average looking at best."

"Let me see?"

I nodded and changed, allowing the dream image of myself to match my current one in reality before I opened my eyes again to look up at her, "Well?"

Luna looked me over before she smiled, "...Pretty average," she admitted, "If on the cute side of it. Keep in mind that there are less stallions in Nocturnis than the average in Equestria."

I shivered, changing back, "Last census had us at... four point seven to one, I think," I agreed, "But I guess an unattached stallion gains attention everywhere."

"That is true. Even in this time."

I smirked up at her, "So... best behave. Because I clearly have options."

Luna smiled down at me, "Is that so?" she asked, her wings shifting before she took on a thoughtful look, "Hmmm."

"...What?"

"Perhaps that isn't a bad idea," she mused, "We're married and you are romantically involved with my sister, Twilight and Sunset. Adding a batpony to that would send a very good message."

"H-hey now, none of that," I protested, "That's not how things are done in modern Equestria."

Luna flicked one ear, "Worth considering in any case," she said, "Perhaps Lady Flutt-"

That's how far she got before I rolled onto my hooves and pounced.

She laughed and rolled onto her back, allowing me to pin her down.

"Behave, wench," I told her with a grin, "Are you trying to kill me? I barely have time to keep you four happy and you want to find me somepony new too?"

Luna smiled up at me, "It's a time honored tradition,"she said with a small sigh, "And say what you want about it, it did work very well for a long time."

"...I guess it did," I admitted and rested my head against her chest, "Not sure how it would be relevant in this case though. My bats already know I stand for them, there are no noble houses to ally with."

"...Unless you do marry one of the daughters of one of the noble houses in Canterlot?"

I lifted my head, looking at her with a raised eyebrow.

"It's how things worked in past times," Luna said with a smile, "Of course, rarely nowadays."

I shook my head, "Wouldn't work."

"No, wouldn't work." Luna admitted, putting her forelegs around me and nosed at my ear, "So what have you uncovered?"

I shrugged my wings slightly, "...Most ponies seem to be doing alright," I admitted, "They're poor, but... everypony has food to eat and a roof over their heads. if it wasn't for our non-bat population, we could survive on local foods, but we still have to import something such as metals and other non-local goods."

"That's better than some ponies."

"I guess," I admitted, "But I wanted... I wanted them to do better. But I suppose I have only visited the cheapest bar so far. I know there are richer ponies even in Nocturnis, but it's often at the bottom where the real problems are found."

Luna regarded me for a moment before she sighed softly and gave me a small kiss on the forehead, "My Page, that is not what bothers you the most. You are bothered because you live better than they do."

"They work hard every night for what they have," I said quietly, "And what do I do? I sit on a fancy chair, get the best food and decide over their lives. And why? Because I have wings and a horn."

Luna sighed softly, hooves stroking my back, "What would happen if you tried to step down? Live like any other pony?"

"...They wouldn't let me..." I admitted against her coat, "But that doesn't make it feel right. I know I'm an alicorn. Ponies will always see me as different, somepony to look up to. But that does not make me a good ruler, a good Prince."

Luna's lips brushed against mine as I met her eyes, "No. It does not. Being you is what makes you a good Prince."

"Luna, everything I do just seems to have bucked things up worse than before."

The look she gave me was one I recognized and I quickly pressed my ears back against my head and ducked out of easy biting range.

She eyed me, "So I suppose it's somepony else that lifted the fear of discovery from thousands of ponies, allowing them to live their lives without hiding who they are?"

"Yes, but hauling everpony out to build a village in the middle of a jungle?" I asked, "Brilliant idea!"

"Somewhere bats can feel comfortable, in a climate they enjoy," she pointed out.

I scowled at her, "That does not stop the fact that there is problem after problem and each is the result of a previo-"

Luna scowled right back at me, "Oh grow up!"

I blinked in surprise, "Excuse me!?"

She rolled onto her hooves and pushed herself up to sit, wings flaring,  "Page, you're their Prince. They look up to you, that does not mean that every single issue that ever happens to them or even the village is your fault. The universe does not revolve around you!"

I blinked again, "Bu-"

"But nothing. Alicorn or not, Prince or not, you are still one pony," Luna said and crossed over to me, "Things happen. Ponies have opinions and thoughts and make mistakes. You, me, my sister, the average pony. Everypony bucks up. If you want to play the blame game, why not blame me and my sister for allowing them to be forced to hide in the first place?"

"I-"

"Or why not blame that ancient alicorn that turned them into blood drinkers all those years ago? Or the unicorns causing the curse? Or the bats that originally accepted that alicorn?" she asked, interrupting me, "Not everything is your fault, Page."

I looked down at my hooves.

Her muzzle nosed at my ear, "You take too much responsibility on yourself, My Page," she said gently, "You have some, yes. But ponies have minds of their own, things, feelings, dreams and expectations. History and the future. They make their own choices. Their mistakes are not yours."

I sighed and nodded, "I-I'll try."

"Trying is all anypony can ever expect of you," My Page," Luna said softly and lifted my chin with a hoof to give me a small kiss, "Give it time. We'll figure out a way to help."