“Look, I’m sorry,” I said as Luna and Sunset both glared at me, “But Fluttershy showed that it was safe and I had to do it too. I needed to know how it worked and how it felt. And how it was after.”
“So how do you feel?” Sunset asked after a second, “I would have expected the fangs to go away.”
I shook my head, “Sparks has some theories about that, but in short, she thinks batponies were originally either omnivorous or that the primary food source fruits made fangs a good one to open them with. Personally, I suspect the first one. I’m feeling a bit more… humanish than before.”
Luna nodded and looked me over, “Any other effects?”
I sighed, “Yeah. It seems like thestrals ability to illusion themselves to look like pegasi was part of the bloodmagic. So anypony that goes through this can no longer easily hide. My hearing and such is more back to normal, but I think it might actually be sharper than before they removed the curse. It was really messing with things. I can even echolocate still!”
I shrieked slightly and listened to the sound of the shape of the room. That’ll never get old, that’s so cool!
Sunset pressed her ears against her head at the short sharp sound before glaring at me.
“...Sorry…” I said and then sighed, “So… yeah. Sparks and Midnight plan to process the volunteers during the next week and give them all a ‘pegasus’ necklace, but that won’t work at scale. It will be very difficult to convince ponies to go through that only to have to suffer through ponies knowing who they really are. If they didn’t have somewhere safe to go afterwards.”
Luna shifted her wings and crossed over to me, rounding the small table by the couch to nuzzle at my ear, “You’re really going to do it?”
I nodded, “Have to,” I said softly and sighed, nuzzling back before I looked to Sunset, “Plan to meet with Celestia tomorrow.”
Luna jumped onto the couch, facing me, “I have looked at the budget,” she admitted as Sunset moved to join us two, jumping up next to me.
“Oh, you have?”
She smiled a bit and nodded, “When you first mentioned the idea, after I talked to my sister about it. I think you’ll like the answer.”
“How much can the Crown supply?” I asked with a frown.
Luna smiled, “Oh, not much with all the money spent on rebuilding. Only just over two million Bits.”
I blinked at her, “Two million?”
“Two million,” Luna agreed, “That sounds like much, but we’re talking about a village for thousands of ponies.”
I nodded and frowned in thought, “That might be enough,” I said and shifted my wings, stretching them before settling one across Sunsets back, “We’re not going to be low on raw materials, plenty of trees down there. Most of it would be for tools and supplies. And possibly hiring some unicorns to assist in cutting wood because that’s much faster. But I’m going to need to check with some experts.”
Sunset nodded and sighed, “Well, we better get houses up quickly because I’m not living in a tent for months on end.”
“Yes, love,” I agreed and gave her a small nuzzle.
Luna looked down and then sighed, “How soon…”
I looked at her and then moved closer, nuzzling against her neck for a second, “It will take time to prepare everything, get the message out and get everypony that wants to go in the first wave together. Weeks at least.”
She nodded and nuzzled at the top of my head, “I wish I could come with you. But I can’t leave my sister here alone.”
“I know,” I said and then looked up at her, “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” she answered gently and bumped her nose against mine, “You’re doing what’s right to save hundreds and thousands of ponies.”
I frowned, “We could make the village closer…”
“But that wouldn’t be as good for the thestrals,” Luna said softly, “You said it yourself, don’t like cold or winters.”
“Yeah.”
This sucks, this sucks so fucking bad. Why did I have to end up with this kind of responsibility! All I want to do is spend time with my girls and work with my books!
I never asked to have to deal with all of this!
“But it’s not like we will be out of range,” Sunset said and moved up next to me, giving Luna a small nuzzle, “You two can always meet in the dreams or visit me in mine. It will be a lot easier for us than for some other ponies that’s going.”
“...The legion,” I said and sighed, rubbing my eyes with my hoof, “I didn’t even think of that, they’re going to insist on going along. Do they bring their families or leave them behind? What of everypony else? Not every bat is going to be able to bring his or her family, either from ability or want. Not everypony is going to want to move to some jungle colony. Buuuuu-”
Sunset nipped at the side of my neck, “Page! Relax.”
I sighed and leaned against her, “...Why must everything always be so difficult?”
“Because you try to do it all on your own,” Luna said softly and nuzzled at my mane, “Let us help.”
“...Yes please.”
Nice. I hope the twilights knew which bit of magic makes with the 'live forever'. I guess just not mess with the bits not found in the other ponies.
Have? Have!? no one is making you do anything. This one trait is your most consistent. People ask you to jump and you don't ask how high; you just jump. Quite the virtue.
he really doesn't need to move to the jungle just yet, I'd absolutely focus on rebuilding numbers before moving all the way to a remote area. its not exactly clear how the dice roll works for tribes but I don't think its as simple as put bat pony into bat pony as earthponies have been shown to have unicorns and pegasi offspring. Find a suburb and build an enclave but starting fresh literally at the edge of equestria is not going to be a great idea unless you bring lots of other ponies out as well.
Easy fix for complicated problems
Removing the cures is 100% right but the bloodmagic needs to stay.
They literally go into a predator infested jungle area for crying out loud
Anyway... Page better snu-snu Luna hard to make up for all the missed time Perhaps Skitter needs to join to em... Double the snu-snus ... ... ...
Plus Sunshine better nuzzle her little cuddly colt as long he is in range
10513724
Innovative but i am not sure it is enough or even a workable solution. Fluttershy is/was just below average earth pony levels. Is that enough? Maybe. The heightened senses will be valuable. Are we sure dino blood is plateable? If not then bloodmagic will just add another hurtle. Then society will need to revolve around getting blood. Good for making warriors of the lot but integration back into Equestria will be harder.
And so it was, that Prince Blank Page began a colony for Thestrals. Within the shade of the tall jungle trees the Bat Ponies and those who understood them came to live and work.
Sunset Shimmer became a school teacher. Her experience and kindness alighting her to the children. Plus the bun and glasses were Page’s fetish.
Skitter, wanting to branch out on her own, established her own symbiotic colony beneath the Thestral colony. Protecting the thestrals while also thriving off the love and support her subjects above and below.
Fluttershy, even though being unable to change back, decided to remain in Ponyville. Her commitment to her animals trumping her fears of being ostracized. The town took a little adjusting, but nopony could bring themselves to be cruel to her.
Iron Shine, remained big and strong, eventually becoming a Major in the Legion. Her children are the biggest Batponies you have ever seen.
Amber remained by Page’s side, because that’s what she wanted most.
Tempest and Midnight, salvaged the
Storm King’s Mistake and took a worldwide tour of Equis, that continues to this day.
Twilight and the Elements remained in Ponyville. Going on further adventures and helped turned the small Hamlet into a bustling city. Twilight didn’t take over in Canterlot, because thats dumb.
As for Page; He went on to rule as governor of the small town he created. Watching it take root and bloom. Forming his own family with Sunset and Luna. Their children becoming champions within their own right for all creatures. Threats came and went, and with the help of his friends, they weathered many storms.
In the colony of Thestralia.
10513770
Agreed but i count at least 100-200 years until there population starts to grow, they are a established community by than that is supported by all three leaders of Equestria or should Twilight join em even four.
10513842
Amen
Nice story. But to light on the details for me
No one like EVAAA cares to remember Spike... Poor lad
You forget to add all his Waifus he impregnated in the same years. Just imaged 1-2 foals from his Waifus
( Chrysalis and Skitter have 30 eatch because Changelings are best broodmothers )
and all of em swarming Blank Page in a swarm of Cuteness ♡♡♡♡
Cadance: Congrats Discord...Fluttershy's waifu chance has skyrocketed!
Discord: HOORAY! *fist pump*
Cadance: And due to future negotiations with other hives, status of all the changeling candidates remains the same but...Celestia's chances are gonna drop to low tier when Page leaves for the jungle.
Discord: ...oh that sucks...Sunbutt has been trying so hard lately...
Cadance: Yep. If Celestia doesn't seal the deal with Page soon, she won't be able to pull away from her duties long enough to try again within this decade. I think we need to pull a Midnight and give Celestia a Plan B option...
Discord: She tried that already with that pegasus remember? It failed MISERABLY.
Cadance: Well she did once have an interest for Rainbow Da---
Discord: The comment section will RIOT if we bring THAT back from the grave!
Cadance: *scoff* Fine! We'll go the outdated scandalous option then...Celestia needs to have an affair with her secretary.
Discord: Now that's the chaos I'm talking about!
Cadance: Sigh...I hope I don't have to resort to this...
Silly Page. Eeee time is after Sunset, not while it's still there.
What would he do if only too few Thestrals volunteer to go to the south?
And why would a Thestral do it if he or she already has a family and non thestral or mixed offspring?
I legit think the better solution would of been to write vampony/batpony books (But with a self respecting writer, who gives characters personality). Depiction them as tragic, misunderstood, lonely, etc. (above all HIGHLY ROMANTIC), would do more for population than anything else I think.
For one a lot of whats in the book would be the truth, It also would drive ponies to get the curse removed, because it transfers from a bad thing, to a highly desirable trait.
The Alicorn of Stories, aka The pony who is(should be) buying ink by the barrel, instead chooses to throw money and manpower, at the problem. Very NOBLE of you Prince Page!
Heck, depicting the story ponies "cannon" as universally being the decedent of nobility who survived in Equestria, would probably get some support just on principal. THey wouldn't bother to read the "this is fiction" blurb.
Also it wouldn't place Blank Page in the middle of nowhere for X years, from a meta-literary stance.
Edit: Hilarity ensues when Cadence goes crazy for romance novels as well.
10514033
Well, I could definitely see Thestrals bringing their non-thestral families with them.
10514076
You know one easy way he can boost the fertility rate of Thestrals with minimal effort?
A series of erotic novellas compiled into one big book, with Thestral main characters in every one.
Hardly the smoothest way to go about it, but given time I'm sure the population will increase eventually. Page and Cadence could collaborate.
I don't know how others will take this but I personally, think page should make some kind of human weapon for the legion, I mean crossbows and spears can only do so much in that monster filled place even with the bat ponies, and no Im not saying guns (even Tho a blunderbuss or musket would help) I mean it doesn't need to be military item or object, like electrified fence kinda like ones in Jurassic Park but down scaled with bits of magic, literally anything that's known to help keep large deadly animals at bay from earth, something inspired by something human or otherwise, imagine it
PS: no, while Im saying something human would be good, there are limits so think something realistic that page would agree to not flamethrowers or something like that
10514124
I can't stand it when "bring guns" is mentioned. It's like "bring computers!" and no one thinks about how to make it. I know you specifically said you didn't want it but it applies to any suggestions others might make. Making a musket is the easiest part of the equation; we understand the physics well enough to get it right after a few weeks of trial and error unless you're a gunsmith. The gun powder will require an actual chemist. Even if Page (an author) knows the formula by some chance he still needs to know how to put it together.
Unfortunately Equestria already has fireworks. The hard work is already done, even if there are slight differences between fireworks powder and typical modern gunpowder the principles are the same. Page only has to survive the trial and error needed to build a crude working musket.
I'm thinking a cannon. Some tribes in Africa, through trade, managed to get powder or the (remaining) ingredients. They would take a tree trunk, a coconut (or similar sized object) and shoot it at enemies. Typically those were European Empires. Due to thickness they had a reputation for being indestructible from a misfire. Most objects when flung that fast tend to do serious damage to flesh and blood. Fortunately the dinos, while magic resistant, are made of normal materials.
Though, being an author, Page is more likely to go Jerrassic Park. So far everything has been on the ground and some trees were described as being thick. A treehouse village(s) might actually work.
10514219
Yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking, big fences with power hooked up is most likely (with or without power, magic can help in many ways)
10514124
Good point. A electric fence is a nice idea but the literally constant rainfall will make that more trouble than its worth...
10514219
Canon vs T-Rex... Yep, solid solution. Until than ballista will do.
10514380
Huh... If magic is involved perhaps there are different effects besides electricity. Fire, paralysis etc.
10515083
What about the monsters that are resistant to magic? Some might be immune, they didn't explore half as much as they planed and I doubt they encountered even half the predators of that place.
disappointing that the blood curse comes off so easily on him, he doesn't mention the loss of the strength and speed boost, but I think he lost that too, which is sad since that would be of great help in a forest like that, and for face enemies ahead. not to mention that it would be an interesting development for him to be the cursed blood king of the thestrals.
Blank Page better would have keep the blood magic, now his Waifus will outdo him in stamina.
O well... Back to death by snu-snu ♤