I stretched out on the soft blanket and yawned.
The fire was roaring in the fireplace, lighting the outer chamber up. Outside a snowstorm was whirling in the night, the wind strong.
The last scheduled snowstorm of the winter.
Opening my eyes I looked over at Luna where she was digging through the drawers of her work desk.
“What are you doing?” I asked as I relaxed again, resting my head on my front legs, rolling onto my side to watch her.
Luna smiled and glanced back at me, “Going to attempt to see if I still possess an old skill.”
I raised my head with a smile, “Should I be worried?”
She winked and returned with a stack of papers, a clipboard and several pieces of pencil like sticks of charcoal, “Stay like that.”
I blinked in surprise, “Luna, I didn't know you could draw.”
She smiled and settled down on the couch, watching me as she floated the clipboard and her drawing tool in front of her, “I have not done so for... a long time. Several hundred years since before even my exile. Hobbies come and go.”
“Mm. I suppose they would,” I said with a nod, relaxing to watch her, “Artistic ability of that sort is way beyond me.”
“But your dreams are beautifully crafted.”
I nodded, “Something happen between my brain and the paper. Might just be the the lack of interest in getting better at it.”
Luna bit her lower lip and the coal floated over the paper, “Can you adjust the cape?”
Grinning I got up and shook myself, my horn lighting up as I adjusted the cloak hanging across my back and left side before I got an idea and headed into the bedroom for a moment to get some stuff.
When I returned, I had three daggers in the main weapon belt and the chakram riding on my side. I settled down in front of the fire again, laying down and crossing my front legs on the carpet in front of me before I shook my hair, sweeping my mane back, “How's that?”
Luna stared at me with her wings raised high before she bit her lower lip again, “...That's perfect. Think you can stay like that for a while?”
I grinned, “Of course.”
I knew exactly the style Luna liked.
But it was really a costume, nothing else. Okay, technically Luna made it officially my formal wear as it was still on the books as the Warmage formal uniform. And I was technically a member when she gave me the rank of Apprentice.
...And she had taught me to use the weapons it currently held. But none of that made me any more of an actual Warmage.
I had to admit that it was hell of a lot more comfortable than the monkey suit or what I seen of the Guards formal non armor wear though.
I was not above ruthlessly taking advantage of the fact that she liked it to make her happy though. It was hardly a great burden to carry. Besides, I did look rather great.
There was a knock on the door and Luna looked over towards it, “Enter.”
The door opened and a day guard in a messenger uniform entered and bowed briefly. I really have to compliment whoever handled the training. He didn't even glance in my direction and there was not even a twitch in his expression. He just handed the scroll over to Luna with an 'Your Highness', before he turned and left, closing the door behind him.
“What's up?” I asked as I turned my head to look at Luna.
“Not sure yet.” Luna answered and put the coal and paper down before sliding the band off the scroll and breaking the seal before unrolling it to read through it.
It took her a moment before she frowned, “...I'm sorry, Page, but I need to go handle this matter now.”
“Something wrong?” I asked and got up, crossing the room.
Luna sighed and shook her head, “Lord Tumble Grass has been arrested.”
“Arrested?”
“For murder.”
That brought me to a halt, one hoof lifted from the floor. Murder? In Equestria? I suppose that can happen anywhere.
“Who did he allegedly kill?” I finally asked, putting my hoof back down, “Have I met him?”
Luna nodded, “I would guess you have at some of Fancy Pants parties,” before she frowned at the scroll, “His wife.”
“Oh.”
“He is being brought directly to the castle. As one of the Nobility, he has the right to be heard by one of the Princesses directly,” Luna explained and let out a slow breath, “Which because it happened during the night... it falls to me.”
I slowly nodded, “Do you want me there?”
She hesitated for a split second and then shook her head, “It's my duty, not yours, My Page,” she said softly and nuzzled at my ear before shifting to steal a quick kiss, “While I would like you by my side, I need you here. Would you handle the dreams tonight? This will take up most of the rest of the night with the preliminary hearing and I won't be able to spend much on covering the dreams of Equestria.”
That had never happened before. Time went faster in dreams, she usually took ten to fifteen minutes from time to time during the night and ducked into the dream world, fluttering across it and helping those that needed it, taking down the Night Terrors that she could find before returning to the waking world.
Frowning softly I nodded, “Of course, I'll do what I can. But I can't do as much as you, I don't have enough magic.”
Luna smiled, “Equestria managed without it for a thousand years, it should be fine even if some ponies have some nightmares tonight. But I don't feel right leaving the dreams completely unguarded.”
I nodded again, “I'll keep them safe.”
“I know you will, Love.”
That got super real super quick.
Amusing how fast he went from "This costume ridiculous" to "God I love this shirt!"
This smell fishy....
7370617 I still think he missed quite the opportunity to say "Draw me like your prench stallions." (lulu would have those, after all...)
7370634 yeah, that would be cool reference.
Wow murder. Hmm well that is an interesting thing going on. Luckily Luna trained Page as a Dream walker. On a side note it would be really cool to be able to dream walk. Forget Superhuman powers give me dream walking any day.
-BFBL
Happens would be more correct I think?
Capitalization.
Falls? Or am I more tired than I thought?
You killed off Fler deLis...
why?
7587411 I think it was tumble whatever's wife
7587411 luna was talking on how page as meet the "killer"
At one of fancy pant's partys not the fancies wife was killed and i think its often the fandom the add fler with fancy not the show
7370627
I love how we literally know nothing about either the accused noble or his wife, yet our first response to murder in a story like this is, "He was probably framed!". I had the same reaction, but then I realized that I only felt that way because it fits the cliche. Too early to say anything about the murder; it could just be a regular domestic dispute.
If it DOES fit the cliche, then Page would find crucial evidence in the dream realm. And that wouldn't fit the 'kind of realistic' feel of this slice of life cake.
You could say that he is The Last Apprentice, and they fight the things that go bump in the night. And I have a good hole for Discord to be held. Don't read page 245 after dark.
7942222
Makes me wonder if Page, while patrolling for Night Terrors, is going to find a Nightmare on Elm Street. Perhaps he'll get lost in The Mist? Or maybe someone will be attacked by Aliens. Or... what if people are abducted by The Thing.
*crickets chirp*
I'll show myself out now.
7684586
yeah, Fleur is actually a rough and tumble ex-guard who is Fancy's bodyguard. the fact she acts as eyecandy is just a bonus.
7587411
That wasn't Fancy's wife he murdered. It was his own wife. Alledgedly.
Oh gods, this just got grimdark for a sec
9969043
Grimdark is much worse, I would say it just got a little darker for a second
9976691
Yea grim dark is like total hopelessness and unrealistic amounts of death. Like early SCP. There's no way you could realistically kill hundreds of people a day without bringing atention to yourself
10223223
It is not necesarily unrealistic, but rather everything went to shit, so everyone is doing badly, and from a crappy life comes crappy people. I think you can count Fallout as Grimdark, maybe something like Kenshi, and Batman with Gotham city, that place is really screwed up.
FUCKING ME IN A MASSIVE NUTSHELL.
Tho I think I have a better idea why. Something about deficiency in spatial awareness and some fine motor skills as well as probably some adhd.
Quite a surprising fact the Nightmares dont evolve into a serious treat in 1000 years... Than again evolution takes time...
10957578
they just haven't discovered how dangerous the Dreamlands have become at this point...this is still pre-Tirek...
10957578
Evolution takes hundred thousand years not a measly 1000
11030328
Not necessarily.
11030328
Not necessarily - it wholly depends on the lifespan of the being in question. Bacteria and viruses evolve pretty rapidly. Some water organisms as well, I think. Generally - the faster you reach reproductive age, the more often you get the chance to pass on mutations.
10957578
Night Terrors don't evolve, or rather - don't evolve in the normal way, as they don't actually have offspring. They spontaneously form in the dream realm, as I understand - maybe out of the dream energies, maybe from outside influence... So they don't pass their makeup on, and thus "survival of the fittest" doesn't hold true for their case (there's no actual selection of features happening).
If they do evolve, their evolution is likely tied to the dreamscape itself - or to creatures' dreams outright.
Murder in Equestria, some extreamly well made Ace Attorney via in Equestria are to be seen in YOUTUBE!
MLP X Ace Attorney ♡
11065890
I made them in oneof my stories a threat, makes Lunas duty even more important.