I slowly drifted back to the land of the awake ponies and for once I didn't regret it for a second as I opened my eyes, looking into Lunas star filled form. The night sky, brought into the shape of a pony.
A most beautiful pony.
Just staying like that for a long while, star gazing before I yawned and slowly stretched and scooted out from beneath her starfield wing. I pushed myself up to sit, glancing around.
Well, the lack of light was a clear indicator that Sunshine had left. Last night had been amazing, a lot of which had actually been talking, but amazing. Perhaps more so because of it.
I snuck another glance at Luna.
Yep, I still felt a strong urge to build a temple in her honor. Then again, that had nothing to do with her looking like the night sky made manifest. I always felt like worshiping her.
Maybe tonight, I'll have another chance to.
Grinning at that thought, I slipped out of the bubble of dark silence covering the bed before recoiling at the burning midday sunlight that filled the room.
Gak!
I quickly shaded my eyes with a hoof. Damn it, Sunshine, I love you but would it hurt you to at least have Canterlot be cloudy whenever I visit?
...Then again, then it would either be chilly or muggy. You know what, I can live with the horrible sunshine.
Reaching back onto the bed, I found my day goggles and hung them around my neck before I exited into the living room, finding a pile of small sandwiches as well as a steaming cup of tea waiting for me.
Speaking of ponies that should be worshiped... Maid, I demand you marry me at once!
Grinning to myself, I trotted over and jumped onto the couch, getting into my meal.
Life was good.
What to do today, Luna's going to be out until this evening. Maybe a bit earlier. Celestia I knew was going to be busy until the afternoon at least. She was still getting caught up on things.
Didn't envy her that task. At least I only had a village worth of events when I got back home, she had all of Equestria. Then again, she also had a much higher level view of things.
That still left me with most of the day to entertain myself.
I glanced towards the bedroom door.
...I had some ideas about that as well, but Luna would not thank me about waking her this early.
Maybe I could go help Midnight pack? No, I mean how much stuff could she have anyway? She was just going for a visit, she likely just brought a single bag. It would be very interesting to see what her expeditions found.
Were there really more hidden tribes other than thestrals?
You would have fought Luna and I would have run into them so far, but despite thousands of years she barely noticed the thestrals existed, so I suppose it was possible we just missed them.
They would all be welcome in Nocturnis of course, but I highly doubt many would come if they existed still. The reason we were in Nocturnis was primarily because we liked the climate in general.
If we had been... say an especially hardy earth pony tribe, I'd likely asked for land up by the Crystal Empire or something.
So I doubt Fire unicorns and water ponies would enjoy the middle of a jungle.
But they were welcome if they wanted to come.
Oh! I can visit Silver! I needed to set up some tea orders anyway and see if she wanted some samples of that locally grown not-tea stuff. It wasn't bad actually so who knows, maybe it'll sell in Canterlot.
...And I should likely visit my accountant as well...
I groaned at that thought as I finished my tea. A nice warm day was the last time I would like to spend looking at numbers, but I needed to know how my investments were doing and what bits I had that I could transfer to Nocturnis. They didn't do any good sitting around in accounts here when they could help feed my ponies.
...I really miss Flower. Making my own schedule sucks, it was so much better when she did it for me. Maybe I should stop by Raritys’ as well and pick something up. She more than deserved it and I was more than happy to keep up the bribes if it kept her happy and wanting to keep the job.
Because Nocturnis would turn into anarchy and chaos in a week without her efforts.
And at the same time, I should buy something for Sparks and Sunny. Something small and see through.
I glanced at the bedroom door again.
Let's do Raritys first. In case they had to do some rush alterations on something.
With a plan firmly in mind, I slipped off the couch and stretched before heading towards the door while putting my day goggles firmly in place.
Half walking, half gliding down the stairs, I stepped out into the sunlight, finding the two Night Guards I didn't recognize flanking the door alongside Shade and Leaf.
"Ready for a small excursion?" I asked them with a smile, "I need to meet some ponies and do some shopping."
Leaf and Shade saluted smartly and fell into formation behind me without a word.
I gave the Nightguards a friendly nod and then headed towards the Castle gates. About halfway there, I realized I didn't bring my satchel. I hesitated for a second before I shrugged and continued on.
Silver never let me pay anyway and I had an account set up at Rarity’s. And I could always visit the bank if I needed bits.
Exiting through the castle gates onto the square that held my statue next to celestias, I looked up at them for a moment. Wonder if I could hire three more made of Luna, Sunset and Twilight and how much that would cost.
One more reason to visit the accountant, damn it. Wonder how much a statue cost? Even just the marble can't be cheap.
Making a mental note to find out, I headed out onto the streets towards the district that held Raritys’ store. Today really was a bustling day, a lot of ponies out and about.
Yes, we got looks, but it was more 'oh, an alicorn' rather than 'ah, monsters!'
Which felt rather nice to be hone-
I stumbled to the side, missing a step as something slapped against my side. What the- I looked at what hit me, finding a wooden shaft with feathers sticking out of my barrel at the shoulder.
That's not right. Why would I have a crossbow bolt there? And red is definitely not my colour, I really should not be wearing that much of it.
Ponies were screaming and I felt my hooves starting to wobble. I had just enough time to see Leaf throw herself into the air before I sank down to the cobblestones.
My vision started to narrow towards a tunnel, quickly darkening.
I'm pretty tired actually, I think I'll have a bit of a na-
Someone's feeling very bold to attempt assassination in broad daylight.
Well, that escalated quickly
Probably poisoned, I know he's dense but he's not that dense.
Wait what?
Wasnt expecting THAT!!
Great chapter also beware assassin(s) of love
Thanks for the chapter!
If this is the nobles way of trying to secure their positions and/ or power…
Regardless if they were to succeed or not it would ultimately have the opposite effect once the guilty party is found.
Have a great day!
Well.... That's not good
Imagine you posted this and set the story as completed.
That'd be devastating.
Well Fuck
11631942
And a very stupid move cause it could turn into a race war. The other ponies are best at night and they had to live in secret so long that now that things are changing they think things will go back well tensions will be high.
11631929
im kinda worried if he ends up having a magic surge in that state. i mean its theoraticly possible that this could cause him to accidenty cause a overlap between dreams and reality.
11631929
Or blood loss, since he's evidently got a lot of red on him, though admittedly that would be awfully quick for a reaction to blood loss.
Geeze, our guy cannot catch a break can he?
11631929
It's called shock and bloodloss my dude, assuming 'POISON' when it's simply a well aimed arrow that caused rapid bleeding would be much more likely.
Don't dare to end this part with a cliffhanger like the last ones! Btw nice chapter, thank you
11631961
Its Page we're talking about of course he cant
Would be the perfect time to go on a break for a couple weeks, eh?
Finally all caught up after reading the whole series again and it's a damn assassination attempt!? Sunshine is going to be "You won't like me when I"m angry. Things tend to melt and or turn to plasma when I'm angry." 'I pity the fool.'
Here come the radicals or assassins of the nobles that think they can monopolize on nocturnis
Wonder who gets that assassin first. Sunshine, who will only leave a pile of ash behind, Luna who will terrorize him in his sleep, or the ponies of nocturnis, who demand retribution.
If this matter isn't handled extremly carefully, the consequences could be devastating.
Not nice?
11631923
It’s not like every would-be assassin actually is a highly trained professional.
And while broad daylight obviously makes it much easier to be noticed by witnesses, if your target is half blinded by that exact same light the moment they step outside while you can still see them normally and line up your shot, then that’s an advantage in its own right. Just requires you to be either very confident in your ability to get away afterwards or else not care all that much.
And on this day, two alicorns went on a hunting trip to find the creature that hurt their stallion!
AND NOW...A DRAMATIZATION (not really) OF WINDY PRANCE'S WRITING PROCESS...
Windy: Oh another day! Another Hiver chapter! Lets read and see what wacky silliness I can add for fun in the comment section lore.
*starting reading while writing down notes*
Windy: Hmm..maybe something on the sandwich maid? Nah too soon after a herd addition. A joke of Future Page buying statues? Ugh once again would have been perfect if it wasn't for the fact I made a similar post in an earlier chapter! Uhhh..Rarity and her critique on Page's fashion? I shouldn't rely on Page's fashion sense so much for laughs but people do love this running jok--
*Windy gets to the end of the chapter*
Windy: ...*throws notes out the window* NEVERMIND. I volunteer myself instead. I will be the joke this time.
Gah, these kinds of cliffhangers should be outlawed!
11632025
I wouldn't put the Ponies of Nocturnis, or even Luna or Celestia at being the ones to catch the would be Assassin.
Nope, to quote the Ghost,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A64JGvJDd90
I expect there will be a VERY VERY ANGRY Horde of Changelings descending on Canterlot in a moment.
Edit: In fact, I'm surprised the dozen invisible guards that Skitter would have tasked on Page the moment he was remotely in Hive Airspace didn't intercept the Assassin before hand.
Edit Edit: And if he doesn't ALREADY have a dozen Ninja Changeling Guards, he won't be able to walk five paces without bumping into one after this recent event.
Unless Hiver kills him, so that he can end this series in the most awful way possible?
the scary part was last chapter i thought of how interesting of a story idea would it be if page died in the real world and then suddenly woke up inside the dream reality, and that he would only ever be alive in the dream world, forever separated from the waking world. the dream world would become his new kingdom, and ponies who were asleep would be his subjects.
and now the very next chapter this happens O.O....
11632196
I was thinking something along the same lines, only not him dying, but ending up like Kirito is Sword Art Online Season whateveritis.
The one where he gets stabbed or something, so they put his brain in a computer until his body heals.
11632025
yeah, i could imagine scenarios where Daybreaker comes out to play, and scenarios where the bat ponies blame Equerstria for this and Rebel
well... shit, i have a feeling that there is about to be five angry horse gods.... someone is about to have a bad case of "found out."
This seems like a wonderful point in time for Hiver to take a sabbatical for a month.
11632277
DON"T SAY IT
I get the feeling that this might be Razorwing. He did, after all, get his ass handed to him by page, disgraced by the Griffon empire, and probably has nothing left to lose. Other manor threats would either not be that bold as to attack in broad daylight, or at the very least have a more effective method of attack than a crossbow. It also feels like it was an attack of opportunity a la the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand. Page didn't plan a route, there was no real schedule.
More importantly, WHAT THE HELL, HIVER
Can we go one book without Page racking up a hospital bill?
11631929
I think it's more of the shock then outright poison.
There were two unknown nightguard when Page left.... Assassins for Luna?
If this is a decapitation attack on Equestria, what happens when the Changelings come into play?.....
Uhh… this is going to go really bad.
Either the series ends here, or there be tensions in Nocturnis.
And regardless of how Page is, I guess somepony is going to receive the chance to define 5th degree sunburns for the medical textbooks.
Somehow the Bolt scene reminds me of my favorite non JA Wizard that still is named Harry.
It was Skitter or Chrysalis all along
♡
The Knife or Crossbowbolt out of nowhere landed do to neglected security cuts deep.
For this head will roll!
Stallion got attacked!
Alicorn, one of a kind stallion got attacked!
The Moon & Sun princess lover and Moon husband got attacked!
They forget the wrath of Moon and Sun, they will get a very brutal awakening.
Lets hope the Canterlot guard catches the assassin, neglected duty to do so will otherwise cost them their respect and trust of their leadership.
Suspects:
- Yeti Storm King or his underlings - Revenge for the bad dream attack.
- Pony nobel who is very short sighted and get his entire bloodline owned - Jealousy and probably wounded pride.
- Unicorn / Pegasus / Earthpony supremacy group - Proving their stupidity is worth going to war with all Alicorn kind.
Lets face it:
- Defeated and killed Tirek
- Lover of multible Alicorns
- Savior of a entire subrace of ponies
- Stopped two Changeling invasions
- Befriended the Griffons and compliments their food and cooking
- Savior of the Chrysalis Swarm
- Chrysalis and Skitter most special pony future Larve daddy!
There will be blood! No i don't mean Blank Pages...
How did Skitter/Chrysalis Ling guard failed in their biggest Harvesting grounds keeping duty?!
Keeping him healthy and secure is their future!
Skitter and Chrysalis are on the case!
Skitter & Chrysalis:
"Somecreature signed his death warrant, noone threatening our food source and our future Larve daddy!
We will get a few hundred Larve out of his seed maker the moment he recovers!"
Luna & Celestias and pretty mutch all Alicorns with exception of Flurryheart because she is to young and innocent:
"Somecreature signed his death warrant, noone threatening our most beloved eternal lover and mate!
We will get a foal out of him the moment he recovers!"
Naysay:
"Ok... Seriously, I am hoping noone involved in the Prince Blank Page assassination attempt has any association with me!
I can't stand that stallion, but i am not retarded enough to even think for a 'hole minute' anyone trying will get away with his head.
What will it be? Public execution via burning alive or being frozen and than shattered to million of pieces?"
Oof. At least he didn't try to go out without his guards.
11632025
You forgot about his secret Changeling security detail. He's right beside Chrysalis' Hive, and she always keeps close watch on him. Having the attacker delivered to Celestia's court in a ball of changeling resin seems like a distinct possibility here.
Assasinating celly’s new boyfriend. That’s gonna get messy
Fun fact, i have a commission i work with a crimson red Thestral stallion. I think crimson looks good on them! But only as natural fur coat color, otherwise it is to messy and the pretty coat is all messed up once it dries!
11632526
Air holes optional.
Welp, someone just fucked around, and is about to have a nasty case of finding out.
Pretty sure that should be thought.
Other than that, good chapter.
Damn the cliffhanger though
Okay, someone is being very bold right now.
Because let's face it, Page is out on an open street, in broad daylight, in Canterlot, with two Nocturnis guards, two Night guards, one Amber, and however many other changelings Skitter and Chrysalis has assigned to keeping an eye on him... so yeah, this was a bold move
11632314
Those doctors needs to get payed somehow
11632915
With that much oversight, you’d think the assassins would have been spotted. I’m thinking Amber might just be his only active invisible shadow at the moment.
11633027
They are in Canterlot, home of the main hive, so I doubt that
Or....
You can bloody well learn how to close the drapes BEFORE you go to bed, dipshit.
Oh, and here's the breakfast you ordered: y.yarn.co/d87b428c-f27c-455e-9377-348f2c9265b1_text.gif