Chapter 55
I relaxed on the bench, a sandwich sitting in a small bag next to me along with a bottle of cider. The sun was bright above so I kept those goggles Midnight made for me, but it was nice and warm against my wings.
I was wrapped in an illusion, but only to hide my horn and cutiemark and change my features slightly.
Might make me tall for a unicorn, yet alone a thestral, but size was a lot less easy to hide than a horn without outright transformation magic.
Luna and Celestia may be able to pull them off, me, not so much. Not yet anyway, but it’s something I should work towards with time.
The experience so far had been interesting.
Not bad exactly, nopony had called the guard on me this time around and nopony had been hesitant to sell me anything.
The earth pony I bought the meal of had smiled at me and everything, she seemed glad to have a customer at her stand.
I was still getting stares, but nopony said anything I could hear and several guard patrols had passed by without saying anything or even giving me overly long glances either.
Which was not perfect but was better at least. I suppose having gotten used to changelings across Canterlot, thestrals weren't so strange anymore.
Unpacking the sandwich, I unwrapped it and sniffed. Tomatoes, daffodils and apple slices. Yum.
“Excuse me?”
I paused mid bite and glanced up to see a unicorn mare watching me, a pair of saddle bags across her back. She had a blonde mane, blue eyes and a white coat, her cutiemark was of a… notebook?
“Yes?” I said and put the sandwich down, “How can I help you?”
“Sorry to bother you, “ she said, “I’m Quiet Scoop, a reporter for the Canterlot Chronicle. May I ask if you are from Nocturnis?”
I nodded, “Yes actually. I’m Dark Star.”
She nodded, “Would you mind if I asked you for an interview?”
Regarding her for a second I then nodded, “Sure, why not. Have a seat.”
She jumped onto the bench and pulled out a pen and a notebook from her saddlebags, “Dark Star, so you are from Nocturnis?”
“Yes, but not originally. Moved there when the town formed.”
Scoop nodded and scribbled something down, “Is it true Nocturnis is built in the trees?”
“It is,” I said, “Too dangerous to build on the ground until now. A month or so ago a magical barrier was brought up to make it secure. They plan to set up farms along the river now.”
She nodded, “I see. And what do you do in Nocturnis?”
“I work in the castle. Mostly paperwork. Not the most exciting, but important I think.”
Scoop scribbled on her notebook, “Why move to Nocturnis? It’s in the middle of the jungle and you said it was dangerous.”
“Hope,” I said and smiled faintly at her, “Same reason as for most ponies that’s moved there. You’re not wrong in that it's a dangerous area, but that was only on the ground. We moved into the trees and built the village there. Up there, it’s a lot safer. I wouldn’t say it’s more dangerous than… say any village set up next to the Everfree forest like, for example, Ponyville.”
She wrote it down and then looked at me, “And what about Prince Page?”
I sighed softly, “He’s a very busy pony. I work in the castle so if he does a good job or not, you have to ask somepony else, I’m a bit biased I think. But the village is growing, there are at least some immigrants every month and things seems to be going well.”
“I understand,” Scoop said and nodded, “That’s a fair opinion. What about non-thestrals? Any live in Nocturnis?”
“Oh yes,” I said and smiled, “I don’t have the exact numbers in my head, but I think there is about a twenty percent non-thestral population. About half of which don’t have wings, so while we may be set up in the trees, there are a lot of bridges. Only one lift though close to the river,” I said before I grinned, “Nopony really want to go down to the ground. Or wanted to until the barrier was brought up anyway.”
She nodded, “So what are you doing in Canterlot if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Vacation. It’s been a long couple of years so I’m taking a moment to just clear my head for a bit. But if you really want to know about Nocturnis, why not visit? It’s only a week away.”
Scoop hesitated, “I’m not sure my editor would agree,” she said and then smiled a bit nervously, “I’m new, just got to the job a week ago. Doesn't exactly have a lot of leeway yet.”
“Ah, fair,” I said and nodded, “Well, if you were to, now would be a good time. Prince Page is visiting Canterlot right now and is leaving for Nocturnis on an airship tomorrow. I’m sure they would be willing to bring you along if you asked.”
“I see,” she said thoughtfully before she nodded before she smiled at me, “Last question and one we ask on every interview. Who’s best princess?”
I grinned, “Now that's a dangerous question. I think each princess has good and bad points.”
“But if you had to pick?”
“...Princess Luna.”
Scoop nodded, “Makes sense. Princess of the Night and all that,” she said and scribbled it down.
Yes. Absolutely that. Not at all because I was married to her and her flanks looked amazing when she… well, did anything. Or the way she squeaked when I-
“Well,” I said and picked up my bottle of cider for a sip, “If there was ever a time to visit Nocturnis, it would be now. You could interview a lot more ponies.”
Scoop nodded and closed her notebook, “if I can get permission, that would be nice,” she admitted, “And I suppose it never hurts to ask. Thanks for the chat, I better get going.”
“Good luck.”
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Best princess is Celestia, your favorite is Luna. Heh, again no Sunshine. There is some time before departure, I hope we'll see her and some progression.
Dawww... No random Changeling Nymph sneaking attack to bury Bat-Pone in Cuddlebugs?
Page says about ponies in Canterlot adjusting to changelings. Would be nice to see an example of that before Page goes back to Nocturnis and resuming his post as prince.
Best princess is princess derpy. I will not be taking questions
11369999
Wrong. Best Princess is PRINCESS MUFFINS!!!
Very good chapter and a great opportunity. It is must likely that asmall group of Journalists will ask. That is literally a once in a career chance:
-How is Nocturnis progressing? What needs still to be done?
-Do the Treetops City use toilets or is there a Don't fly below rule, like in Cloudsdail the Pegasus City.
-How is the general weather and how mutch demand is for Pegasus there to work as weather-pone?
-Changeling life free in between Bat-pone City? Are the rumors true that there is a weekly Cuddlebug orgy?
Everypone is every buggy cuddle partner. All the snuggels and... Hoove holding
-Is it true that Prince Page plans to start the expansion if the Alicorn race? One foal at a time ♡
-The well known short time model Fluttershy is a bat now... Are there cute bat-pone-foals on all ceilings by now?
-This and the kast two questions are totaly not from Flutterbat-pone sooo... Are there plans to expand the Cuddlebug bug population from Canterlot to help lonely ponys to find Cuddlebug Waifus?
-Discord is rumored to life in Nocturnis... Is everyone still sane?
-Prince Page makes the Twilight and Night brighter every other day. When will he brighten the day?
-Cadance is rumored to have plans to rule the world with the help of Nocturnis Cuddlebug population. Is it true she will make Equestria take over the singel world my storm? One Cuddlebug & Snuggelbug at a time? Will there be a Ling got to Ling dating service?
-Is it true that Flurryheart of the Crystal Empire is taming predators with your pet Timberwolve to create a petting zoo filled with tamed predators?
-
Can we feed some Canterlot nobles to them by any chance?Great chapter
Changelings population: "We are promised King-Bat-pone Clutch service! We demand him provide now! We wait for years now! The Companion-Ling should no longer be on hold!
Chrysalis: "Shall we
foalnappinginside our Zazzikz zrkzikzz zirrkzz to a visit for the Canterlot Hive?Changelings female Ling population:
*The Hive is cheering*
When you do what Page? What is it that you are doing, hmm?
MEANWHILE IN THE CANTERLOT ROYAL BEDROOM...
Luna:
*snore* My Page *snore* He super smart stallion. *snore and opens her wings* Brain thiiiiiiiiis BIG! *snort*
MEANWHILE IN THE THRONE ROOM...
Grey Velvet:
Princess! NO! There wasn't even a trigger this time!
Celestia:
Something did happen. I felt it! I need my pillow. Thank you pillow! *continues to crush Grey Velvet's lungs*
Grey Velvet:
MEANWHILE IN NOCTURNIS..
Twilight:
...Amber. Fetch the baseball bats. I sense Page did something unwise.
Amber:
Right away my Lady. Maple or Aluminum?
Twilight:
Both.
MEANWHILE IN CRYSTAL EMPIRE...
Cadance:
I don't care which princess is your favorite, Page! Pick one & make Flurryheart a playmate!
Shining:
WAIT! Did you just include yourself as an option?!
Cadance:
I'm desperate now for ANY WIN!
BACK TO PRINCE PAGE..
Page:
I feel dread..and a headache..oh noooo.
11370018
Didn't you see the Twilight brighten in occasion?
Or the Moon rise and lower in the middle of the Night?
Very telling~♡ Especially if you keep in mind:
11370034
*Random Bat-Pone-Foal swarm bury Cadance*
*Shining Armor hooves over 15 Bucks to Discord in discretion*
Why do I have the feeling that having a reporter on the airship might turn out like the one episode of “The Crown” let’s see if pages vanity got the best of him.
and the ponies invented the internet right there and then to have a princess-off
Bagrat: Celestia is best princess!
Pages_of_Facts: Luna #1 Fite me 1v1
XxVoid_PoneboyxX: You're all basic simps, Princess of love is best princess, how can you not love the love!?!
Ponevillian: Twilight(Midnight, damn you portal shenanigans, stop confusing me) is/are the best!
Drone276: Chrysalis #1
XxVoid_PoneboyxX: she's a queen that's a whole other category!
Best part about this amazing story updating is seeing the comments after it and the shenanigans that ensue.
After scrolling through some of them, it has come to my attention that Derpy (muffins, whatever) is indeed worthy of being a princess and Page is overdue for changeling snuggles.
Page is an ass
manbat confirmed.11369998
👍
Very good point. Maybe a Ling Snuggel service for lonely ponys? (This and more exist in Japan by the way)
11370005
Muffins mmm
11370034
Is death by Alicorn snuggels a possible danger?
11370079
So - mutch - f-u-n
11370117
I think you win this chapter comedy comment price
11370314
11370187
Agreed! Ling got to snuggel and the Cuddlebug pile on Blank Page Bat-Pone is way overdo!
11370459
Yes. Iirc, Japan has pseudo-legal prostitution (outright hooking is illegal, but the nice massage lady gives you a handie in addition to a regular massage, okay)
11370461
Officialy
11370035
And be careful about Solar Flares every now and there from now on.
11370550
Ha-HAAA That will give a sweet sunburn on Blank Page
Interesting comparison to before. Let's just hope the increasing acceptance of Thestrals isn't made for nought by increasing hostility from them.
Grammar jackboot of the evening:
“Nopony really wants to go down to the ground.
And every word was the truth, how sneaky
11371137
The truth is the best lie.
I have to wonder if the interview is going to evolve into some sort of hit piece on Nocturnis and Prince Page from her boss....
11371143
Indeed.
11371137
Pony Lawyer: He told the truth!? I never suspected! *gestures to Quiet Scoop.* And the mare fell for it!!
You're all wrong. Dinky is best princess.
- MLP: FiM
- Adventure
- Comedy
Dinky melts ponies' hearts and pouts to get anything she wants: sweets, special treatment, good grades at school, but it's only a matter of time before she achieves her true destiny: enslaving Equestria to fulfill her every desire.