I looked at the message Emerald Sky had delivered before she retreated away, the door closing behind her before I sighed and returned to the couch.
Two days.
“That’s thirteen that have arrived,” I said and made my way over to Luna, “Thirteen bat ponies, not including the ones already in Canterlot which has already confirmed they are going. Eighteen total.”
She shifted on the thick blanket by the fireplace as I settled down next to her, “They will show.”
“It’s only two days left,” I said and sank down heavily next to her, leaning my head against her shoulder, “Thirteen and there are only two days left. We’re going to fail.”
Luna didn’t say anything, she just brushed her wing softly across my back and turned her head to nuzzle, “Even if nopony more shows up, we’ll think of something else.”
I sighed and nuzzled at her shoulder, “I just…. I just messed this up so badly,” I said, “Such a short time… we should have planned this for like six months, not two! I should have committees to figure things out, not just try to do it with Sunny, Midnight and Sparks.”
Shaking my head, I looked up at her, “And I wasted two million Bits on stuff now sitting in a warehouse doing nothing useful,” I said and then frowned, “Maybe we can do something good with the food at least, maybe do-eeep!”
Luna let grow of my ear and glared down at me, “Stop that! There are still two days left and nopony but you say you can’t extend the deadline!”
I flicked my ear and then nodded, “I guess,” I admitted and rolled onto my back, looking up at her, “Just… looking back, I can just see so many mistakes, things I could have done better. Should we have reached out to them more than once? Done it some other way? Sent out letters, a new message in the papers…”
Luna shook her head and scooted a bit closer, slipping her wing across me as she put a hoof gently on my chest, looking down into my eyes, “Page… I don’t think you did anything directly wrong. Yes, more time would have helped, but I have seen larger projects managed way worse. You delegated work to experts, got everypony pulling in the same direction.”
“None of which means a thing if we don’t get things to work,” I said and reached up to run my hoof along her mane, “Well… it’s not all bad,” I admitted.
“How do you mean?”
“Well… nopony died this time,” I said and frowned, “And… At least we fail at this stage and not when everypony is in the middle of the jungle and busy building. Maybe… maybe that’s a better idea,” I admitted and sighed softly, “Sell most of the food and use it to buy materials, license foresting right in the edge of the jungle for more income and then just start building a village closer to Canterlot. I suppose moving to the middle of nowhere would be a big ask for anypony. Won’t be as nice climate for us, but… there is something to be said for being close by.”
Luna smiled down at me, bumping her nose against mine, “Whatever happens, we’ll help you figure it out.”
“At least there is another good thing that comes from this,” I admitted and reached up to pull her close, nuzzling at her mane, “I get to stay with you.”
“Selfishly, I’m not unhappy about that,” Luna admitted and nuzzled at my coat.
I nodded and held her close for a long moment before she shifted and look into my eyes as she spoke up again,
“But I don’t think you should give up yet, My Page,” she said softly, “It’s still two days left and bat ponies are used to hiding. I don’t think they will just reveal themselves to the first guard they spot.”
“We have signs up at several spots and every entry to the city,” I said with a frown, “To talk to a guard or to come to the west royal square in two days.”
Luna nodded, “Some have talked to the guards and signed in, but I think many simply keep hidden like usual and then just show up. I think more will show up than you think.”
I nodded, “I suppose that’s true,” I admitted and looked up at her, putting a hoof against her chest, “I talked with Sparks and Midnight and the absolute minimum ponies we need to cover all roles, assuming the right ponies show up… we could squeak by as few as fifty ponies to start with. Mostly with the construction and forester ponies. The unicorns we hire to cut the trees handle that and the Legion handle guard duty.”
She slowly nodded, “You should be able to get to fifty.”
“If they are all carpenter and forestry ponies,” I sighed and shook my head, “Which is unlikely. Well… it’s not all bad, with the backup plan I worked out with Sparks.”
“Which is?”
“Below two hundred ponies,” I said and pulled her close into a cuddle again, “If we have the right mix of professions to make it possible, we’ll consider to move the planned landing spot to the temple. There are still equipment we left behind there, the defenses should still be intact and there is always the possibility of retreating inside if there is a danger. Use it as a scouting base for a perfect place to build.”
“Why not always have that be the plan?” Luna asked, resting her head against my chest.
“Too small,” I said and shrugged my wings, “Can’t squeeze more than two hundred in there in an emergency. Would help, but unless everypony can get inside when there is a danger, the place is just too far into the jungle to be worth it in terms of hauling supplies in,” I explained and nuzzled at her ear, “...Besides, that far in there are big things with teeth. Sparks and Midnight are certain they stay away from the edge of the jungle. But hey, with half as many ponies, supplies will last twice as long. With more ponies, we’d scout from the railroad for a place.”
Luna nodded and then shifted up to kiss me and we were done with the talking for the night.
It almost managed to distract me enough to get me to sleep.
Almost.
Soooo.... On that final day, there's gonna be like 500 bat ponies that show up, right?
Or there's not going to be enough and Page will make the town within the borders, not in the middle of East-Bumblefuck.
I hope things work out.
I'm gonna assume the rest show up at each stop along the train tracks
This is a much more reasonable plan. Right now he's pretty much trying to jump in at the deep end and doesn't even know if it's a pool or a flooded quarry.
This, on the other hand, is not such a great plan. I'm all for them doing some scouting (and just pushing things back a year or two), but going right into the middle of that absolute hell hole they just left? The one filled with pony-eating monsters and who knows what else? If they're dead set on making a scouting base, they should do it at the place they were planning to build (I'm assuming it's at the edge of the jungle since I can't remember off hand if they said anything specific) so that it's not as deep in the wilderness. They can scout from there and if it turns out they can't find anything else, then they at least have something to start from and a good idea of what the surroundings are like. Do they not have anyone they can call on to help plan something like this? Twilight and Midnight seem to have just been doing logistical work (which is fair, since it's unlikely they'd know anything practical about starting a colony).
Why do I get the feeling, that this is what is going to end up happening?
10525792
That would actually fit with how thestrals behave.
It's outside the big crowded city and they get to scout out whether they are the only ones who showed up.
10525726
its not like governments even monarchies ever particularly had to worry about exactly how much something is worth, that's why there's bonds and levies and all sorts of other things to raise funds
10525850
I know, right?
"We don't have enough colonists! So what we are going to do is travel a week's worth of airship time farther into the jungle. That way it is many times more costly to send food and equipment down and they might not ever arrive. You know why; this is the area that has all of the big pony eating monster! Who's with me!?"
It's almost like he doesn't want to succeed.
AND NOW...ANOTHER DRAMATIZATION OF HIVER'S WRITING PROCESS...
*cut to spooky castle with lightning striking in the background*
Hiver: *evil giggle* Those fools thinks I don't read the criticisms of my past stories! "Too many plot points are brought up and forgotten"?
*pours strange green liquid into a boiling cauldron*
Hiver: "Everything always works out for Page in the end"?
*picks up strange herbs and adds them into the concoction*
Hiver: You guys want me focused? You guys want me to make Page struggle and suffer? So be it! My "Repercussions" brew is exactly what you all deserve! BWHAHAHA!
Discord: *pops his head out of random wormhole* ...So you're going to make some progress on the romance department as well right?
Hiver: *stops laugh mid-way* Curses! I knew I forgot to pick up some waifus at the store! BE RIGHT BACK!
*Hiver drives away*
Discord: Hmmm...time to put in my OWN ingredients~! *dumps ALL the bat ponies into the story stew*
10525767
Please be the second option.
The day came and only a few showed up... Page was very dissapointed, but accepted this turn of events with sunken head posture he turn around and was about to leave when...
*Discord pops up with Fluttershy under his Lion arm*
Fluttershy spoke with a soft but confident voice:
"Hello Prince Page, we are ready to go ".
Page turned around and prepared soothing words to calm the soon to be heart broken mare. As he was about to speak Discord cut him of right as he was inhaling.
Discord spoke: "They are ready, 2/3 of them are camping in my house dimension keeping busy with history lessons of pre Equestria and some Canterlot satire.
1/3 of em waits outside Canterlot and enjoy my personaly made cucumber sandwitches that get served by Changelings from Chrysalis personaly guided.
Apparently she comes with you to show her ties to Equestria and its most endangered Pony tribe to cemement her ties or something boring seriouse... That mare better Waifu you hard inside your tent.
Not to forget that you don't set a time of day, so i take it into my own paw to hand them a time of nighttime to meet us in the Castle instead of your grouping places.
The ones not enjoying my hospitality of course... This boring Thestrals can walk to the Village grounds if there to good taking my offered alternative."
*Steam came from his nose and ears*. The Lord of Chaos inspected his chicken claws and polished them for a moment with his tail that was suddenly twice as puffy as normal.
"It negeate this pettys Nobel Ponys plans to interfere, you should instruct your Soldiers to talk less with nobels by the way...
And shoves this Village start right in there faces."
Discords grins like the cessar cat and adds: "This delices desruption of this stuck up wanne be Nobility plans will be glorious!
I even trow in a few house designs out of my favorit movies without additional material requirements."
Discord pulls out a lit zigar that sparked like a wonder candle. After taking a deep breath exhaling Butterflys he had a smug smile on his face.
He continued:
"Imagen that, a plan to kill of all interessting ponys that keep the night entertaining and thinking i let them have there boring herbivores only ponys race..."
Discord sit Fluttershy down and shake like a earthquake hit him mid air. Page just stand there with mouth wide open and in total disbelive. Discord snickered viewing Pages face trough red shaded glasses that poped into existance just a moment ago.
Fluttershy started to speak and get Page out of his stupor:
"All Thestral you contacted are ready to go soon and when we meet at the castle with the remaining Thestral that are not in Dissys home, arrive in the Castle in 3-4 hours in disguise."
Page was in shock. Discord helping Equestria Thestral population?
What price could Fluttershy have payed for his help?
Before Page could ask for a answer to this events Discord ones more intercept Page in a Alucard costume and a deep dark voice:
"Let me make this clear Page. You will create this village, you will successful pull this Impossible rescue attempt of this Batponys and you will end this prissy pony Unicorn plot to create a herbivores only race and when you succeded i will have my fun with this idiots.
No one messes with my Friends plans and happyness...".
In a snap of a claw his costume was gone and he was in a hawai shirt and pink sunglasses right beside page.
Giddy he proclaimed:
"Time for a vaccation from Sunbutt and lets start this so my future delices chaos seeds can grow and bloom!"
Page cocked a eyebrown and ask:
"Chaos seeds?!".
Discord answered calmy:
"Thestrals reclaim of there place in Equestria".
Dissy take Page like bond villain cat in his arms and petted him while continue his speech:
"Give them a few centuries, i can wait and enjoy this Canterlot snoobs running around while they try to undo it.
I really love to see them try mess with my plans
[Hope this edit is easyer on the eyes]
10525986
What you think of that outcome
10526165
Are we talking normal Alucard or Abridged Alucard?
10525986
In a way, I feel bad about this.
The last few chapters, I and others, have gotten into a sort of discussion about the logistics and feasibility of a colony. And while I wasn't against the idea, looking back on those comments I realize I did seem a bit... critical; and not really optimistic. And now, in this chapter, it mentions a few of the problems brought up previously, and I can't help but feel we beat down the author into second guessing themselves.
It is entirely possible Hiver had planned this all-along, but to me it still feels like we pushed 'em to the edge of a cliff with a knife to their back.
10526334
Original Alucard
10526334
I have done minor edits, but mostly in the way in reading it over, changing a word or two, reading it again a few days later, adding a sentence. The same way as I go over everything I write multiple times.
To quote : "This isn't my first rodeo."
me thinks Page is in for a bit of a surprise.
10526433
but that would also imply that batponies would have died out millions of years ago due to being very greatly recessive
also you're tossing evolution into a world of magical talking ponies, dragons, bugponies, yaks, and a million other creatures
10526165
Okay I'm going to be completely honest with you. I don't know whether or not I like that outcome...because I can't read what you wrote.
Black--Soul...you're one of my buddies here and I love ya but you REALLY need to properly space out your paragraphs! On both my phone and my computer, your post hurt my eyes trying to read it.
I feel bad saying that but I also felt you needed to know because I care for you as a friend. (Please don't be mad!)
Omg loving it! Spotted a couple of typos so far but not many love the story love the way it flows.
10526633
And now you are phamilir with such parlance. Glad to help.
10526889
Agreed. It wasn't a matter of tl;dr, it was that it was a wall of text in dire need of some formatting.
10526889
Thanks. So i guess after 3-4 line one space is in order?
10527222
Seems like it.
10525986
*Celestia falls out of the shaker and into the pot*
Celestia: "uh--Trixie? Twilight? What am I doing here?"
Discord: "Whoops! Wrong spice!"
Celestia: "DISCORD!? THE THE FUCK, OVER!?"
Discord: "Whoa--! That's a spicier spice in that one!"
Celestia: "Discord--So help me--I'm going to stomp your shit!"
*Discord sees Celestia's cutie mark when she stands up*
Discord: "ooohhh--not only the wrong spice, but the wrong pot. Sorry about this, Mark. My bad."
We need way more Discord, as in his help and become the Village mascot or something.
10528979
Ha-ha! Year later but the comments are as entertaining as from the day they got typed