Chapter 39
"Press please," Steady Beat said, putting his hoof against mine.
I winced and did so, my shoulder screaming at me as I sat on the bed.
The unicorn doctor nodded and pulled his hoof away, making a note at his clipboard, "Well, you seem to have full motion still," he said, "I was worried you may have damaged some tendons we didn't discover, but it seems alright. Once the muscle heals, you should have full capability back," before he put the clipboard down and started to unwind my bandaged shoulder and side.
"You've done amazing work as usual, doctor."
Steady Beat looked a bit amused and shook his head, "I'm afraid I can't take too much of the credit. If you were any other kind of pony, I'd say you have a long road of healing ahead of you. But I’ve seen you recover fully from burns that would have left a pony scared for life, so I have no doubt you will have full use of your foreleg back by this time next month."
Removing the last of the bandage, he revealed the injury. Didn't look like much to me to be honest. It had hit me at the rear part of my shoulder, passing through it into my barrel. They had shaved my coat from the area and sewn the injury closed.
"Good color," Steady Beat said, feeling it with his magic, "No sign of infection. Good," he agreed and uncorked a small glass bottle, pouring something that felt minty cold onto the wound.
I winced at the feeling, "...And somepony is a pretty good shot too," I agreed, "That's almost a perfect shot at a moving target."
Steady hesitated for a second before he nodded, glancing at me before starting to put a fresh compress and bandage back on, "Missed your heart by a horn's width."
Bucking hell.
I swallowed at that. Tough and long lived didn't mean immortal. Even alicorns needed their hearts.
There was a knock on the door and I looked up, "Enter."
Moon Glow pushed the door open and slipped inside, "Your majesty," she said and bowed deeply.
"Up, Glow," I said and motioned for her, "No need for that."
Steady tied the bandage off and handed me a pair of pills which I gladly swallowed with some water. He gave Glow a nod before leaving the room.
"Your majesty, I would like to tender my resignation," Glow said, standing at attention, "I have completely failed in my duties an-"
"Buck that," I snorted and then winced as I slowly laid down again, "Nopony could have seen that coming unless they could see the future. Can you see the future, Glow?"
"No, bu-"
"Then please don't make me get a new chief of security, I rather like the one I have. I don’t want to train up a new one."
She shifted slightly, shaking her head, "I should have been there."
"And I should learn how to duck," I told her firmly, "How's Shade and Leaf taking it?"
Glow shook her head, "By refusing to leave your door. I'm not sure if either has slept more than a couple of hours since the attack."
"What about you, Amber?"
A stream of ancient changeling floated out from beneath my bed. I didn't get all of it, but it sounded like she planned violence.
Okay then, I'll deal with that later.
Glow didn't even startle, apparently fully used to it by now, "Send them in here and then try to get some rest yourself."
"When it's time, your majesty," Moon Glow said, "We are conducting an investigation into the attack."
"I thought the solar guard was doing that."
She scowled, "The crossbow used was guard issue. The majority of unicorns capable of casting teleport are in the guard. I don't trust them, it is likely we'll find the suspect in their ranks."
Awesome, that won't make me paranoid or anything.
I nodded, "Thank you, Glow. And no more ideas about resigning over this. You are doing an awesome job. Now send those two bats out there in so I can yell at them for not sleeping."
"No sir," Glow said, standing up straight to attention again, "They are my ponies. If there is yelling to be done, it's to be done by me. If you feel yelling is necessary, yell at me."
I smiled at her, "And you wonder why I won't accept your resignation. Just make sure they know I am thankful and approve of their job. And that they have to take care of themselves."
Glow nodded with a small smile, "I will, your majesty," before she saluted and left, closing the door behind her. There was muffled talking through it, but I turned my attention downwards instead,
"Amber, get up here."
The 'ling scooted out from beneath the bed and climbed up to lay next to me. I brushed her back with my wing across her back, "You know it's not your fault either, right?" I told her gently but firmly, "Nopony can be everywhere at once and I don't think even Rainbow Dash would be able to intercept or tackle me out of the way of a bolt in flight. Not your fault."
"...Never my fault," she said quietly, "You always get hurt, sir, and there's never anything I can do about it."
I sighed softly and gave her a very careful hug against my uninjured side, "I know, Amber. And I'm sorry. It's not like I'm trying to get hurt."
"The Princess is mad at me."
"Skitter?" I asked and at the nod, I sighed, "I'll talk to her. Don't worry about it, let me handle it. Try to get some sleep, I can tell you're exhausted."
She looked at me in surprise, "How?"
I smiled at her, "Because I know you and I know 'lings. You always overdo it," I said before I glanced upwards, "...That lamp looks pretty strong. Help me up there so I can reach it with my tail, it'll take pressure off my shoulder."
Amber stared at me for several seconds before she slipped off the bed, "I'll get the doctor, sir. You are not hanging from a lamp, we'll get a perch installed or something similar."
Excellent. An Amber with something to do isn't an Amber feeling sorry for herself.
One thing solved, I settled down to try to get some rest.
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Nice
There is blood to be payed for the blood spilled!
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And
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Time to deliver justice with a lightsaber ♤
An assassination attempted with guard issue equipment. That is, bluntly put, really fucking bad.
That quite the unique recovery position after a assassination. Hopefully none raises the alarm because the Alicorn is hanging from the ceiling and noone looked up.
Surprisingly few ever look up at all. Guard should do it more often!
I wonder who would be stupid enough to hire and even suicidal enough to accept being hired for it.
There is blood to be spilled for the one hiring and the one accepting!
11635407
Not nice enough, only his shoulder is injured!
Amber should cuddle his rear end. We get way to few cuddlebug action!
11635421
Unless it's old guard equipment. Since often.old equipment is sold of to private military and security of rich people. It's more profitable than melting in old equipment.
I Believe that calls for returning back to the Homefront back to Nocturnis, for page being nearly getting killed by a bolt I think he needs to practice really hard on that shield spell maybe twilight can teach him and maybe bolster up the noctunis guard around him maybe add a few more changelings too but blood has been spilled alicorn blood. Some pony shot a royal whoever shot him that's a death sentence for striking the husband of probably of three alicorns maybe four if sunset gets turned into one in the future. An assassination attempted with guard issue equipment. I agree but unless it's old guard equipment. which I agree with black--soul. often old equipment is sold off to private military and security of rich ponies or mercenaries. But it could be a pony, but other creatures can use crossbows too ones with apposable thumbs like maybe a griffon, minotaur or diamond dog there's plenty of races that could use a crossbow but yes, I can see some pony with a lot of bits hiring a merc to attempt to kill the prince must have been a lot of money and page has made a few nobles mad in the past perhaps one of them or a select few are gunning to get rid of him.
Thanks for the chapter!
Have a great day!
My bet is on a Royal Guard that always has been against the thestrals and just saw an opportunity he couldn't pass off.
I'm wondering if the perp was from Nocturnis.
Frame Equestria, get more bats pissed at the princesses, maybe force a breakaway.
11635507
I didn't want to believe that a guard no matter their personal feelings would try kill a princess husband.
11635515
They might if they feel he’s just not “good enough” for their princess. Heck, I could see a hypothetical guard who didn’t mind the weird bat alicorn hooking up with the shady new night princess (because crazy oddball pretend royals obviously belong together) promptly proceeding to lose their shit upon finding out that he’s now putting moves on Celestia as well easily enough. And yeah, we as readers know that that relationship has actually been going on for years and is entirely wholesome, but who knows who might have gotten what rumors stuck in which ear only recently -- say, for example, as a direct result of the two spending a whole month together away from Canterlot...
Skitter:
How did our security not prevent this?!
Thorax:
Because we were all still drunk from 3 chapters ago. Amber had to do everything without backup that day.
Skitter:
...curses. Of course Windy_Prance would make the perfect excuse for these types of events occurring.
Windy:
I didn't predict this! I SWEAR!
Thorax:
You kinda did in chapter 33.
Windy:
HUSH!
Any wagers on this being a changeling-orchestrated attack? It's already been established that other hives don't like Page of Chrysalis and Skitter's hive because they're doing the whole "cooperation" thing, so there's a motive, plus it'd be easy to take the shot, dark down some alleyways and change into something inconspicuous like a cat or a bird to slip away unnoticed.
Great chapter
had it in one
11635515
But what of a noble in the guard? Somepony more loyal to their noble Investments than the distant (and new) royal family. One who would see no problem killing a "false prince." A "false prince" who, from the nobles' perspective, is more loyal to the changelings and thestrals than to Equestria and it's noble interests.
Page lifted the floorboards to expose the rot and the cockroaches did not like that.
11635599
Considering the nobles are so stuck up if their noses got any higher they touch the moon I find hard to believe that they could do the work to get in.
11635548
I doubt not only would queen hive notice any non hive members in the area but they would be going after them the minute they entered their territory. Changelings are very territorial and although they will go temporarily peace for talking although rare they would notice a non hive Changeling around.
Pretty sure most of the Hive is planning violence
Maybe, but it's more likely that the shooter intentionally left the crossbow behind instead of just teleporting away with it and then destroying it.
It's very possible that this assassination attempt was meant to increase the tension between Nocturnis and the rest of Equestria, if not outright break their already tense relationship
11635610
Two words: prestige and Power. In times of peace, that is all the guards represent to the nobles. It also is another way that a noble/guard can order other ponies around. The nobles are not lazy, just entitled.
IRL a noble who is also a knight will always hold more prestige and power than a noble, of the same rank, who is not a knight. Same idea.
From what I've seen so far there is no vetting process for loyalty in the guard. Meaning loyalty is just assumed and not a requirement. And why wouldn't it, it worked for a thousand years. They could have also greased a few palms to get in or get promoted to cushiony desk jobs.
Noble plottings. Guard assassin. The royal family has grown complacent
11635623
Yes but even a noble version of a Karen won't actually do more work than they have to and why should they work when they can make others do it. Let's not argue about this. In the end the author decides what happens not us.
11635630
You think a noble could stay on top with that kind of ideology
I apologize if it appears that we are arguing. I thought we were having a rather decent debate. I find it fun to speculate and discuss and use the comments as a springboard for ideas. You've managed make me doubt the validity of my original assumption. The guard posting might be a red herring. Like the culprit was discharged or retired from the guard and not currently serving. The only other option at this point is a severe security breach
EDIT: if the culprit could teleport, why leave the weapon at the scene of the crime? Maybe to point suspicion at the guard?
Oh, wonderful. Now we get an argument over "no guard outpost, the bats will bucking kill them in their sleep" vs "this just proves we need to force them to learn to live together peacefully, by force".
11635639
Well Truthfully I wouldn't be surprised if a breach happened considering a certain queen got in and only twilight sense anything wrong. Maybe the way she handled that wasn't great but everyone else was worse. Considering an assassin would have many skills to be good including the ability to get in places they're not supposed to be.
11635663
The idea of an assassin with the skills of Amber or Skitter is terrifying.
Most stories trying to accuse Chrysalis' behavior at that time try to make Cadence look like a bridezilla. Which is believable. I've seen the nicest people become downright evil in the pursuit of a perfect wedding.
11635741
While that is possible it's the part before twilight learned the truth that makes me considering the guy holding a big old shield around the city is being put under what appears a evil spell and nobody cares to make sure he is alright considering the princesses could take over the shield until he gets checked out. I sure a doctor for the guard would have found the spell.
11635748
At that point of the show, I think cutie mark magic trumped all, even alicorn magic. That made Shining Armor the only pony capable of generating a shield around an entire city like Canterlot. I know they retconned it later with Cadence holding up a similarly sized shield around the Crystal Empire but at the time cutie mark magic held more importance in the show.
I think we can all agree that relying on a single pony for the defense of an entire city is a stupid idea, magic or no magic. It's one of the reasons why I like this story as Page is never faced an enemy alone. Page & Celestia vs Chrysalis; Page & Sunset vs Tirek; Page & Luna vs Storm King
11635764
Well surely the princesses could make a shield considering their years of experience and powerful magic it would hard to believe they couldn't make one for a while to take the place of shining amour one until he gets checked out. All those headaches were not healthy and if too much using magic then he needed to talk with a doctor about it considering you wouldn't want him getting a headache that keeps him from preforming his duty.
11635769
At that point of the show, Celestia's "powerful magic" was to raise and lower the sun as was her cutie mark. She was not godly powerful as evidenced by her defeat by Chrysalis. It was stated that a pony whose Cutie Mark was magic and was the element of magic could not generate a shield like her brother because that was his cutie mark. Again, cutie mark trumps all. (At least in the early seasons)
Power scaling was never the show's strong point. I mean, a unicorn managed to beat the Alicorn of magic.
I fully agree with you on the headaches. it was an early sign of Shining Armor being the punching bag of jokes. The self-evident strain was concerning. The lack of concern from the surrounding ponies was even more concerning.
A lot of speculation about the perpetrator so I guess I'll add mine.
I think its going to be the guard/s that lost their job after giving Page a hard time back when he first tried going out as a Thestral.
11635782
Yeah but twilight style of fighting has always been blast it. Starlight was creative and was able to get the upper hand easily. If she had used the same move over and over twilight might have won but she didn't.
Good chapter. Not gonna lie, was expecting there to be more changelings under the bed >.>
11635782
True but they were trained by starswirl and I doubt he wouldn't teach them how to protect themselves and others as much as possible and considering their power has only grown since they were children as shown by their size and manes I believe they could do besides ponies main talent may be the cutie mark but ponies can be very good at lots of stuff. Applejack had shown that she was a cook and had talent there or she wouldn't have chosen to serve food for the summer sun celebration and plus pinkie asked her help too once. So Celestia could have done exactly that and gotten a doctor to look at him.
11635793 Boast Busters, Bats!, Sawm of the Century, and Magical Duel would say otherwise. But all of those are in the early seasons of the show. I would agree with you in the later seasons of the show. This is the reason why I have to make the distinction of the importance of cutie marks in the earlier seasons. Most things (cutie marks, the elements of harmony, alicorns, etc...) lose their importance in the later seasons of the show.
11635803
How does bats come in? Fluttershy might not speak to a lot of bats considering most are nocturnal and aj has always been stubborn about changing anything about how the farm works. Twilight might have talent but her thinking skills are lacking considering when aj poison a bunch of ponies she should have stopped her anyway she could. Boats busters show the girls being hypocrites while using the things they are better than rainbow at to show her up . Nopony is good at everything but you can good at lot of stuff. And duel the amulet was raising Trixie skill and power level beyond twilight level and she wasn't an alicorn then. The spells Trixie was doing were extremely hard for all but the highest level ponies and twilight might have gotten there in time but she was trying to learn everything about everything so she didn't really focus on magic alone.
11635643
All page has to do is pull the very obvious point of "We don't know who did it, what if you accidentally assign the assassin to the guard outpost in Nocturnis and tries again", and the guard tower plan goes flying out the window, torn to shreds, and also on fire.
11635796
There probably is, you just don’t see or hear them.
11635820
In the episode Bats!, Twilight tried to alter the feeding habits of the vampire fruit bats instead of utilizing her magic to chase them all off.
In the episode Swarm of the Century, Twilight again tries to use her magic to alter the feeding habits of the parasprites instead of using her magic to blast them.
In the episode Boast Busters, Twilight utilizes her magic creatively, as at that time she didn't have that many useful combat spells, to put an Ursa Minor to sleep
In the episode Magical Duel, Trixie was too powerful for Twilight to "blast it" so she had to use her magic to creatively trick Trixie into removing the amulet
In the earlier Seasons, despite being the elements of magic and having a cutie mark in magic, making her more powerful than the average unicorn in all magic, she had to find creative solutions to her problems instead of relying on raw magical power. Starlight is what Twilight was. Cutie Remap is Boast Busters on its head. It's power creep.
11635840
Yeah but twilight although powerful and smart she has no sense whatsoever. And if twilight had quit using the same move over and over she might have won. But when fighting that is her only move. Considering in wedding that exactly how she fought. She doesn't have any other fighting moves.
11635850
Hence the criticism of magic creating its own problems in the case of Bats! and Swarm of the Century
Canonically, other than Magical Duel, in a direct confrontation Starlight is the only one who doesn't "blast it." She is truly the element of magic. Even Celestia's first solution was to "blast" Chrysalis.
11635853
Well I can forgive Celestia considering queen was only a few feet away she never imagined being overpowered by the enemy. Twilight on the hand was not right next to her and had only the goal to give her an idea about where she would show.
In some stories Equestria has dedicated spy/assassination squads, maybe the Changelings can take that branch for themself?
I made the Changelings basically the spy/assassin central of the world in one of my stories.
If a assassination is for the global good it is executed, if not than the assassination is unfortunately a failed attempt and informations are leaked.
11635821
Unless this was the very reason for the assassination attempt. Knowledge breeds understanding, perhaps a nobel fearing growing peasants sympathy and they needed to give Page a reason to stop Celestias and Lunas plan to unite Thestral Legion serving Page, Solar Guard serving Celestia and Night Guard serving Luna.
Has Cadance her own Guard force? Or is the Crystal Guard hers? Not sure if this was one of Hiver stories or not, but there was 'The Heartguard/Heartbreakers' Guards helping shipping someone.
The problem of reading countless stories on Fimfiction is mixing some of them up on occasion.
Especially with the comment section fun and random light hearted insanity we enjoy here
Hivers story 'Consequences'
Chapter 7
Where is that now a days?
Hivers story 'Consequences'
Chapter 8
To finally have it used this story... Damn!
11635410
Nice art :)
I think you mean, scarred for life.
I think invulnerable or invincible would work better here, Immortal usually means a person can't die of old age, but can still be killed, while invulnerable or invincible means that a person can't be harmed by anything.
Other people are speculating about the assassin, so I may as well throw in my two bits. It would be cool if somepony was trying to start a war between Nocturnis and Equestria, but that would go against the "slice of life" tag. My money is on rogue griffins, or an unallied changeling hive, or another of Page's enemies. Maybe a disgruntled noble, or one of the yetis from the Griffona storyline. I wouldn't count out Neighsay, either.