“Claws,” Novo said, catching Celestia’s glance and answering the unspoken question. She raised one for a showy finger wave. “Ponies listen for hooves, but not clawtips.”

"You still have hooves."
"I never said it was easy."

“Hippogriffs are nearly the only decent creatures outside Equestria that don’t practice slavery or a form of cannibalism.”

As opposed to the decent creatures who are cannibal slavers. (Also, what!?)

“Might you make some with the pearl?”

"It transmutes, Sweet Flanks. How much of your mane do you want me to turn into gold?"

In any case, I've wanted to see a Celestia/Novo reconciliation fic since the movie aired, and I love what you've done thus far. I can't guarantee I'll stick around for the third chapter, but I'm eagerly looking forward to seeing what ekse you do with these two.

It's a good story it's already in my favorites,

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Thank you so much for commenting, faving and liking! It really means a lot!

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As opposed to the decent creatures who are cannibal slavers. (Also, what!?)

Heh! I’ll have to check again but that line came about from seeing one of the fish-people in kludgetown being a fishmonger. It’s actually quite fascinating to think that outside the idyllic, managed garden of a country of Equestria there are people who haven’t even heard of ponies and were quite ready to treat them like objects. I wonder if that is meta commentary by Hasbro.

How much of your mane do you want me to turn into gold?

And damn! That line is golden. I am really tempted to go back and edit it in.

I can't guarantee I'll stick around for the third chapter, but I'm eagerly looking forward....

Hey, I really appreciate you giving it a chance and reading it even if it might not end up being something you are into, a chance is enough to make me happy!

I had a heart attack when I first put it up and got downvotes within the first five minutes. Like, oof, I know clop and kink divide folk... but... but it’s not even in the story yet. I did my best to warn and let people know what to expect. I hope all of it will appeal but even skipping over Chapter 3 will still hopefully give you a good story.

Also, it makes me smile that it was you who commented first. Can I get a MTG card when it's finished?

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I'll be sure to provide one for the next chapter. And feel free to borrow the gold line. I do love inspiring people.

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No problem when can you update

Okay I officially super ship these two cause holy shit this was adorable and funny

“A courtesy to the revelers. If I announce that I am retiring for the night, then the party is over. You of all creatures should know that social currents follow the biggest fish.”

Princess Celestia practices the Irish Goodbye? Good to see!

“Since your last letter? I married a prince. Had a daughter. Had a divorce.”

“Oh, I am so sorry.”

“Don’t be. Happy couples don’t divorce. Skystar is the only good that came of that.”

“It sounds like it was a messy separation.”

“It started a civil war.”

This was a really great exchange. Both here and elsewhere, there's a lot of worldbuilding for hippogriffs here, worked in quite subtly. And I don't think it's just lifted from season 8, either, but invented for this story?

Celestia checked herself and saw that like Novo she now sported a large heart on her flanks. Though inside the heart wasn’t a sun it was…

“A CAKE?!” she cried. “You gave me a cake?!” She turned on Novo, but they were already flapping off. “Get back here and change it this instant!” Celestia shouted.

“They’re some very sweet flanks!” Novo called and cackled like a madmare when Celestia chased after her.

Okay I loved that banter back and forth between Novo and Celestia here, but this, this really made me laugh.

“If they were in distress, they just had to signal ess oh esssss,” Novo sang with a slurring to her words. She raised her cup and blew bubbles into it. “Shoop bee doooo.”

That is still one of my favorite MLP songs to this day. Call upon the sea ponies indeed.