//------------------------------// // Chapter 51 // Story: Consequences // by Hiver //------------------------------// I frowned at Celestia, “Promise?” I asked her again and held my wings tight to my side beneath my cloak, the illusion wrapped firmly in place. I also cheated and wore a belt around the wings, holding them to my sides. I didn't have complete control of them and there was no way I was going to risk walking before a crowd and accidentally have them fomp open at a stupid time. It was about as far from comfortable as you could get, but it worked. Celestia smiled, “I promise, Page. No window.” “And no titles.” “No titles,” She agreed with a smile and a nod, “You have my word.” “...Okay, then.” The door opened and Sunset walked inside, wearing a kind of white dress. Was that silk? She paused as she spotted Celestia and hesitated in place before she slowly approached the larger Alicorn, her eyes glued at the floor. I made myself scarce to give them time to talk. Since I brought Sunset back, things had been tense between them. Sunset left for a reason after all. Closing the door behind myself, I took a slow deep breath. I knew what I was coming and I was not looking forward to it. Walking up on stage before thousands of ponies for the award ceremony. I was really, really not looking forward to it. Quite frankly, that was one of the reasons I really didn't want the crown. I didn't like crowds and especially not crowds paying attention to me. I suppose I better get used to it though. I wouldn't be able to hide it forever, even I knew that. Even if I somehow manage to learn that entire shapeshifting spell and keep from growing, sooner or later somepony would start to notice the little things. Like not aging. I couldn't help but smile slightly at that thought. I wouldn't hurt Luna like that, I wouldn't leave her alone! I can handle being stared at for that... and at least I'll have at least a couple of decades until I'll have to face that. And I'll have a couple of decades getting used to being in public next to Luna. It had already started to get easier to handle. Not that I enjoyed large spectacles like this, but at least I managed to talk Celestia down to a medal, at least for me. “Ready, Page?” Twilight asked with a smile as she trotted up next to me, wearing a purple dress, a bit darker than her coat and left her wings free. Swallowing, I quickly nodded, “Y-yeah.” “Relax,” Twilight said with a smile, “do this,” she said and raised her hoof to her chest as she sucked in a breath, before lowering her hoof again as she slowly let it out. Closing my eyes, I copied her. In and out. I felt a bit calmer. Huh. “...Thanks.” “Cadence taught me,” Twilight said with a smile before she grimaced slightly, “When I remember to use it, it works pretty well.” I nodded before Twilight poked my side with her wing, “Come on, you need to get in position. We start in five minutes.” “Thanks Twilight.” You would think that if they actually wanted to reward me, they would let me skip this entire thing. But then again, Celestia liked that entire thing... and I suspected Luna agreed with her to discourage me from being a idiot in the future. Okay, let's do this. XXXXXXXXXX “Blank Page. Sunset Shimmer. Step forward,” Celestia said, her wings spread with a smile on her face. She and the other Princesses were standing facing us on the balcony overseeing the major square just outside the castle. Normally this kind of thing was in the throneroom, but it was still... kinda wrecked. So not paying for that by the way. I rose from my bow next to Sunset to look up at Celestia. She smiled down at me and then turned her gaze to Sunset. “Sunset Shimmer,” she said with a smile. “You assisted Lord Page in the defeat of Tirek. While you did not engage him directly, your support and skills were instrumental in stopping him and saving Equestria.” Sunset swallowed and looked up at Celestia before she bowed slightly again. “Your bravery shall not go unrewarded... Lady Sunset Shimmer,” Celestia continued, taking a medal with the sun and moon on it, settling the band around Sunset's neck, “I hereby bestow the Key of the Heavens to you as well as the title of Lady of Canterlot.” One of the higher medals they give out. Specifically to civilians that have done a great service to the crown. I 'just' managed to dodge it last time. Lady of Canterlot was the classical 'Nobility with no lands' title that was given out for similar actions. Real nobility and hereditary. Just no actual lands attached to it. It did have the entire legal protections and features attached to it though. I had the male version of it. Lord of Canterlot. Sunset swallowed again and blinked before she bowed deeply, “Thank you, your Highness.” Celestia smiled and then broke protocol to give her ear a small nuzzle, her lips moving in a whisper before Celestia rightened up and turned to me instead with a smile. “Lord Page. Warmage,” she said and I bowed my head for her. “You have once more delivered a great service for Equestria. You defeated the powerful Lord Tirek in single combat, keeping not only Equestria, but also your Princesses from harm at great risk of your own. I bestow upon you the Feather of the Sun,” she said, lifting the second medal on its band and slipping it around my neck. I bowed to her, glancing down at the shining white gold and silver feather. That was distinctly not a civilian medal, one that the Guard had not handed out for... a long time. “I have already made you a Lord of Canterlot, Blank Page. So to my regret, I can not do it a second time,” Celestia continued, her lips shifting in a wider smile from her normal polite one, “Luckily, that is not all that's in my power to do.” Blinking, I looked up at her. That's not the plan. Her eyes almost sparkled. Oh shit, she is up to something. Luna was looking amused in the background. Celestia smiled, her wings spreading as she turned to look out across the square, “The victory shall also be memorialized for all to see. I have commissioned a Statue of Lord Page to join my own in the middle of the Royal Canterlot Square.” I stared up at her, feeling my wings tug beneath the belt holding them to my side as my eyebrow twitched. She smiled wider down at me and spoke a bit quieter, “It has been standing there alone long enough.” Celestia, you bitch! Damn it! Now I can't even be properly pissed at you over it!