I followed Luna to our private chambers as she paused by the door to address the guard. She had returned to her old self already, and the dress she had been wearing had already been teleported... wherever she got it from in the first place.
“Has Captain Armor returned yet?”
“No, your highness.” the guard answered with a salute.
She gave him a nod. “Make sure he knows to see us when he does. It regards the general state of his city guard.” she ordered and then moved past him and inside, leaving me to bring up the rear and close the door.
“Well, that was a bit more interesting than I had planned.” I said and used my magic to remove my suit jacket. Damn, I hated those things.
Luna turned with a smile and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “You did wonderfully, my Page. You kept calm and readied a shield, exactly like you have been taught.”
Fighting down a blush, I grinned. “Seemed like the best idea. I was a bit surprised you didn't deal with the situation.”
“You had it well in hoof.” She answered with a smile and a nuzzle before she grinned as well. “Besides, it would have been rude to the guards. It is so rare that they get to protect their Princess.”
I chuckled at that and nodded. “They did seem rather enthusiastic about hauling him away. I hope he doesn't... fall down the stairs or anything.”
Luna frowned at that and looked at the door. “Our guards are more disciplined than that. Or at the very least, I would expect them to be. I will look into the issue... tomorrow.”
“Oh? Have something planned for tonight?” I teased and eyed her.
“Perhaps.” she answered with a small blush, flicking her ears. “But right now, I was thinking tea and stargazing on the balcony.”
I paused, one fronthoof lifted off the floor before I nodded. “...That does sound like a rather good end of the evening.”
“And perhaps more than stargazing.” She whispered teasingly into my ear on her way to ring the bell to get some tea brought to us as I fought down a blush. Damn it, Luna!
XXXXXXX
The cup of spicy tea hovered before me in the golden glow of my magic as I took a sip of the hot liquid. I actually had two spells going at once. One of hold it and one to keep it from cooling down.
Not that I needed it for the warmth, Luna's wing across my back helped a lot for that. The air might be chilly, but an alicorn wing was nice and warm.
“Is it just me or did you make the sky extra beautiful tonight?” I asked, looking up at the stars. “I could have sworn there are deeper blacks and sharper stars.”
Luna shifted a bit closer and her wing moved slightly. “I may have put some more work into it.” she admitted. “I wanted tonight to be... perfect.”
“Well, in my opinion it was. Good food, excellent company and I got to show how manly I was by defending my date.”
“Speaking of which...” Luna said and turned her head, her horn lighting up in its dark blue aura. Seconds later, her target flashed into reality in the air next to her in a flash of the same blue magic.
Man, I have to learn teleporting. So cool.
Also practical.
“What is it?” I asked as I eyed the simple but well crafted wooden box.
“A gift for you.” She answered with a smile as she settled it by my frontlegs. “Open it. I believe you will like it.”
It was pretty flat, maybe ten centimeters thick and forty times forty wide, made from dark, polished wood. What in the world... ah.
I smirked at her, “It's a book, isn't it.”
Luna grinned at me. “Open it.”
Reaching out with my hoof I flicked the latch open. “You know you didn't need to get me anything.”
“I know. I wanted to.”
Using my magic, I folded the lid up before blinking in surprise at the content. It was a flat metal ring sitting on the silk lining of the box. Thirty centimeters in diameter, made from what seemed to be polished steel, the inside of the ring and about halfway out covered in gold engravings.
Giving Luna a curious look, I lifted it out of the box, noticing the razor sharp outer edge. “Luna?”
“Remember how I said you've reached the level of Apprentice if you had been a War Mage?” She explained quietly. “This is the traditional gift from Master to Apprentice. A Chakram, the weapon of a Unicorn War Mage. Sometimes spells are not sufficient and you need steel.”
“It's beautiful.” I said softly, turning it over in my magic.
Luna nodded. “It's old. Enchanted to protect it from age, they are not made anymore. I ordered it pulled from the royal collection this morning.” she explained. “It once belonged to Master Spell Blade. He was a loyal friend and Protector of Equestria.”
“...Thank you, Luna.” I whispered and set it gently back in it's box. “It is a beautiful gift. I will keep it safe.”
Luna snorted in amusement. “Perish the thought! Spell Blade would have had your hide for that idea! And mine for giving it to you!”
I looked at her in surprise. “What?”
“A weapon is meant to be wielded. I will teach you how it's used and how it's cared for.” She explained.
Slowly nodding, I eyed the steel circle. “A sword would be a lot more practical as a weapon.” I finally observed.
Luna nodded. “Indeed. There is a reason as to why the guard uses spears and swords and not these. I also have to admit to preferring a sword when magic is not practical in combat. I will be able to teach you the basics, however, and it is part of the tradition I have been teaching you.”
I stared at her for a long moment before I sighed and put the Chakram back its box. “This is coming with brand new set of bruises, isn't it?”
That got a giggle from her and she nuzzled at my neck. “But I always kiss them better, don't I?”
“You know, we could always skip the bruises part...” I teased and shifted closer.
“On the balcony? Could you imagine the rumors?” She teased right back before getting up to stretch and turning to head inside.
Grabbing the box, I quickly followed with a grin.
Noice
Page, get a room already! At least you don't need to worry about a child yet. If that somehow happens, you better start running.
6794782
But a balcony can be so much fun! Under the sky and stars and with wonderful company to...keep you warm
Just need a mattress and pillows for softness
6794792 ha. Ha. Ha.
6794792
but...um...isn't that what she's for?
6794782 But he has a room... with a balcony.
6794860
Yeah, but you can't expect the royal self to lie on hard stone or marble or w/e the balcony floor is made of. She's a princess!
6794865 True. But that's her problem. Not his
Luna: "Kevin Lee....GET THOUST TO MY MOOOOOOON!"
Kevin Lee: "Ahshit"
For someone who can't toss the thing around telekinetically from any angle and direction he damn well pleases? It would be. For a wizard, though, this is probably actually more useful.
Interesting choice in weapon. Non traditional, compact, difficult to block. I am picturing a cross between the weapon from Krull and the disc blade from Predator.
I've got another doodle in me yet!
6795011 Well, considering it it supposed to be the reserve weapon for when magic isn't enough, I guess a sword would be better. Afterall when mid/long range isn't working, you switch to short range. And if you are somehow unable to use magic, well, telekinesis is magic, your reserve weapon is useless...
But a well used Chakram with a skilled mage is indeed a fearsome weapon
Nice chapter, good work.
6795032
Chakrams are pretty much just ring frisbees made of metal that sharp all around the outer edge (like a shuriken without points and alot more mass, they would twirl them around a stick or finger then 'cast' them at the target I think), typically pretty simple in basic form and function but most were decorated with inlays and etching in the surfaces of the ring, I think they originated in India or thereabouts? Almost definitely Eastern.
(I am remembering this all from an exotic weapon wiki binge I went on years ago but I think it's roughly correct and can't be arsed to google it.)
Oh thank god, that's a much better thought than what i had! I'm really happy about the chakram though, easily made to look like a moon and it wouldn't warp it's natural shape to do it.
Swords are actually amazingly impractical for ponies, unless they're using magic, or unless you allow them the same grip strength, flexibility, and dexterity while holding it in a hoof that humans have with hands. (Trying to hold it in the mouth Pipsqueak-style is right out-- to get the proper range of motion, you'd need to be able to twist your head completely upside down. So, no one but Pinkie Pie.) A chakram, at least, could be thrown (carefully) by mouth.
A spear seems more practical. A pony could wrap most of a front leg around it, which would compensate for the weaker grip, and then they could put their whole weight behind an attack, especially if they can manage a three-legged trot.
For short range, I suspect their hooves would generally be more useful than any kind of weapon. Just give them something like cleated metal horseshoes.
And of course, if you allow magic, you're probably better off with a bunch of small, sharp pieces of metal, like shuriken, caltrops, throwing knives, or even nails.
I just started re-reading this, and I realize this might be a couple chapters back by now, but...
If page got the nice stuff, why does the whiskey burn, and taste like it would melt through the floor.
Admittedly I'm a bit of a whiskey snob, but the good stuff is mostly characterized by being incredibly smooth.
The real peaty scotches will have a taste reminiscent of leather and old factories, but they are still incredibly smooth. I realize that doesn't sound very appetizing, but that stuff is really good if you enjoy a good scotch.
7308379 That's more or less accurate, although you are a bit off on the telekinetic weapons. A very small blade would have trouble penetrating and dealing serious damage, so you need something with a bit more size and weight than that. What I would expect is something that looks more or less like a pair of rondel dagger blades stuck end to end. That produces a very stiff, thick blade roughly one to two feet long by one to two inches wide with a continuous edge around the entire weapon and a highly effective piercing point on each end. You don't want a handle or anything else that can really be grabbed since the unicorn doesn't need it and an enemy grabbing it would be a problem, so a foot or two of sharp steel is ideal. You might go a bit wider for more cutting ability, but thrusting is generally more effective so there really isn't any need for more than the basic cutting edge of the rondel.
i've read several stories where Pegasi used weapons called "wing blades"...never fully explained, but they apparently attach to the top or end of their wings, and are used to slash at an enemy, usually while flying past.
and there's a violent fan-comic on Deviantart called "tale of Twilight", where Shining Armor is holding a sword, and says that only a Unicorn could use one effectively, and that Earth ponies would be better off with spears.
and of course, "chakram" makes me think of "Xena warrior princess"...
7996251
You know what, you're right; they never go into detail as to how the blades are fastened. Just that they are attached to the wing and lie on the underside.
6794862
Is it really a room that comes with a balcony? Or is it a balcony that comes with a room? :D
6795032
i always think of Xena or Rinnoa when i think chakram.
Hey, I did a google search I am an expert now.
Wanted to write up something about Chakrams but its essentially meaningless since (excluding horses) there's only one medieval weapon to rule them all and its a shield.
And if you don't even need to hold it, in hand to hand combat - telekinesis will outmatch anything by a mile.
A sharp round medium-sized plate of reasonably light alloy, which fills any role (including medium reach ranged weapon) would be a way to go.
Anything else is a Knight or a nonmilitary thing. And sorry but Guards aren't military.
But I guess a sharp frisbee isn't very fun to write about.
10273270
Too wide an edge really. In a lot of fictions and settings, telekinesis doesn't have the mechanical force of physical contact, so while it has more manual dexterity and flexibility in it's weilding, it wouldn't be able to effectively block or cut. Which is why most of the time.telekenetic dependant weapons run the gauntlet between small stilleto/needle like daggers to (still small) spinning razers, or sometimes glaves. In the first case, the small light needle and tiny point allows it to tarket and slip through most any defense and Pierce with little required force, while the second takes advantage of the frictionless environment of a telekinetic field to build insane rotational velocities, which makes up for the force lost in mass when you move from something like an arming sword or a spear to a small thrown weapon. A shield has too large a cutting surface, with nothing to take advantage of torque to apply force, and is far too heavy if it retains enough mass to effectively block an attack to be an effective weapon in combat where it's not being used to fend off another telekineticly weilded weapon. And even then, any of the velocity force multiplier weapons will easily knock it aside, unless you apply yet more force to counter that push, which could have been better used either locking the enemy blade, or sending one of your own at them.
Though 7475094 makes a good point if they have a larger ability to apply force through telekinesis
A Chakram....
I can understand why this would be a favoured weapon of Unicorn Battle Mages.
Create a telekinetic rod, spin that sucker up to speeds that would be impossible for any biological means, and then release to decapitate/amputate.
And for the exceptionally skilled Mages, use Telekinetic Barriers or Shields to redirect the Chakram as needed.
Less effective against magical foes that could counter, or block, but nonmagical would be turned into cheese slices in seconds.
10431442
You wouldn’t even need to let it fly off the rod, in theory- it would be an oversized angle grinder capable of turning armor into ribbon.
All hail His Glorious Pizza Cutter.
10442734
The Glorious Pizza Cutter...
This is the best description of something I've ever heard.
First time i read it i was like:
O my ! A ring... Now im... A ring of death! ♡
I'd pay to see that
10431442
So basically the katana of magical weapons
There are rings that unites ♡
This one devide a single enemy into two ♤
Xena the warrior princess comes to mind!
Hooray, another pop culture reference that I get!
i.chzbgr.com/full/5605103104/h35BE649E/i-cant-fit-through-this