Eclipse

by Hiver

Chapter 46

The fire happily crackled away in the middle of the small clearing just next to the lakeshore. The moons shone among the shimmering stars above, making the calm lake look like liquid silver when it hit it just right.

After today, using my dark and evil devil powers of looking tired and like my side ached to convince everypony that we should take a nap was rather easy. Mostly because I was tired and my side had hurt.

This was Midnight's first time in Sanctuary and she had a million questions. Luckily, mostly those Twilight had already asked which allowed Sparks to fill her in for me.

"Corrupting the pure Princesses, huh?" I asked Celestia quietly with a smirk as I looked up at her from my spot more or less wedged in between her and Luna with Sunset, Twilight and Midnight facing us across the fire, "Hiding so much of your personal life from your ponies? Bad Princess."

Celestia raised an eyebrow at me as she smiled, "The power of good public relations, Page."

"And the fact that you hide it when you find somepony you love has nothing to do with it?" Luna asked and looked at her with an eyebrow raised as well, "When was the last time the public knew you were married? Or had a lover, sister?"

Sunshine smiled and her wing resting on my back fluffed up slightly, "That would be... oh It has been a while since I had a public marriage," she admitted with a small fond smile, "That would be Silver Dream."

Luna looked at her in amusement, "Silver Dream, unicorn, lithe with white coat and platinum mane?"

Celestia nodded.

"I knew Silver Dream," Luna told me, "She lived fifty years before my exile."

"More has been known by the castle staff since," Celestia said in protest, "And by some other ponies. I don't sneak around in the dead of night and hide it. I just don't... announce it from the rooftops. It's better for everypony involved. They can have some semblance of normal life and I get to keep at least part of mine private."

"I'm not sure anything can be fully private anymore," Midnight pointed out from across the fire, "If an alicorn does something, everypony pays attention. Usually front page news."

I nodded, "Which is one reason why I made this place," I said and leaned against Luna's side, "Somewhere we can be away from such things, somewhere for just us, our families, our friends. It's not done yet, I need to keep adding new animals and plants, but it is good enough to be used."

Sunset stretched at the other side of the fireplace, looking at me, "Would it have killed you to add some buildings?"

I smiled at her, "Why? The weather, at least in this valley, is pleasantly warm. It may rain, but even that's not cold, especially at this time of the year. We don't need protection from the elements, we don't need to store food or hide from predators. Even the fire we have going is mostly because it's cozy."

Sunset frowned, "Rain might not be cold, wingboy, but it's still wet. I don't like being rained on."

I shrugged my wings beneath Celestias, "So do like ponies do. Build something. I made a place to allow us to just be normal ponies for a bit."

"I believe I still remember how to make a tent," Celestia said thoughtfully before looking at Luna with a small smile, "It has been a while though."

Luna nodded, "It has. And I'm not sure the plants we wove the canvas from even exist here."

"Not sure what you used," I said, "But I did make sure there are trees that have bark that can be used for something similar."

It was a pretty brilliant idea in my opinion. If you removed it from the tree, you could split the bark into thinner pieces, flexible and pretty similar to leather in material.

Celestia raised an eyebrow at me and I smiled, "What, I knew there were ponies that wanted to build once they got here just to have something familiar that wasn't just a forest. Just because I'm not providing anything already built doesn't mean I will stop anypony from building for themselves."

"So if we want a house..." Sparks said, "We have to build it here?"

"How are you with a hammer?" I asked her with a smile.

"Not the best," she admitted, "But Applejack is pretty good. Could I invite her?"

I smiled at her, "You can invite anypony you like, Sparks. In fact, inviting your friends is one of the things this place is for. I'm sure Fluttershy would love to see the rest more often even if there isn't a lot of schedule overlap."

Sparks got up and rounded the fire, "Luna, scoot over," she said and slipped in between us. Luna smiled and did so, allowing Sparks to cuddle close, kissing my cheek, "Thank you.”

Smiling, I pulled her closer and gave her a real kiss, causing Sunset to laugh and Midnight to look away.

Finally Sparks got comfortable, resting her head against my neck, watching the fire.

"You did good, I think," Celestia whispered into my ear.

I smiled at her before resting my head against Sparks mane. Sunset got up from next to Midnight and settled down next to Luna instead who put her wing around the unicorn.

We stayed like that, just watching the fire for a long time before I spoke up, "We should do something."

"And that's me leaving," Midnight said, getting up.

"Not that," I said and rolled my eyes. Well, maybe that. But not now.

"Actually," Sunset said leaning a bit forward to look at me from across Luna, "I kinda want to explore this place more. You put a lot of thought into it."

"I do like world building," I agreed, ignoring the fact that most were fairly normal animals with glowing bits on them, "And I may have hidden secrets away for ponies to find."

"What do you say, Twi? Wanna come?"

Sparks looked torn for a second, hesitating before she nodded, "Sure," she finally said and pushed herself onto her hooves, "Midnight?"

Midnight nodded, "Sounds fun," she agreed with a smile before she frowned, "We have been here for a while though, we should wake up pretty soon."

"Another hour should be fine," Celestia told her reassuringly, "I think everypony here needs some time to relax."

"And we get as much rest being here as sleeping normally," I said with a smile.

Midnight nodded, "Well, in that case," she said with a smile, looking around, "How about those hills over there?"

"Race you there!" Sunset said and disappeared in a flash of teleport. Two identical flashes later and Sparks and Midnight were gone as well.

I looked at the spots they had been in before settling down again, "Maybe I should disable teleportation magic," I mused, "Makes things too easy."

I did put in some puzzles that would make it way too easy too. Hmm, maybe I should. Or maybe just in those areas. Oh, a mineral that stopped teleportation in an area around it, that could work!

"You say that, but what if you need to go somewhere quickly?" Luna asked, looking amused, "And I thought you tried to keep this realistic."

"Realistic just means internally consistent," I said, "not a copy of the real world."

Celestia slowly stood up, wings stretched before she glanced back over her shoulder, "I for one find that lake interesting. I think I will go for a swim. It's been... so long since I bathed in a lake."

With that, she pulled back and vaded into the cool water until it reached halfway up her barrel.

"You know, I always thought she looked a bit like a swan when she did that," Luna confided with a whisper in my ear, "I never had the heart to tell her. One of the propaganda things one of our early enemies used was to depict her as a swan with a carrot on its head. She still does not like swans."

I suppressed a smile as I watched. A bit like a swan. But with her mane and tail glittering against the silvery water in the light of the moons, I thought she looked more like a sunrise.

"Let's join her, My Page," Luna said and got up, "It has been a while since I bathed in a lake as well."

That really did sound like a nice idea. In fact, that might be the best idea ever suggested in the history of ideas.

Perfect to get my mind off the speeches I held in Canterlot after the trial. I thought I was going a bit heavy on the acceptance and the importance of mental health, but Celestia thought it was good, so what do I know.

But now, I just wanted to put it all out of my mind.

Comments

[44burn]

She still does not like swans."

Evil creatures. They look pretty but they can get mean.

[Cyana Flame]

HONK!

[Armorer]

"And I may have hidden secrets away for ponies to find."

"Romanes eunt domus"
Or remains of ancient civilizations?

[midnight arrow]

great chapter

[Black--Soul]

Now I can't unsee it...
Swan Tia, Swan Lulu, Swan Cadi, Swan Boop Page, Swan Twi, Swan Spark, Swan Pink pfffttth, Swan Bugwaifu.
Changeling in their impersonation of Pegasus swim 10 hours a day for the foals around.
Perfect to teach the foals responsibilities!
- Don't feed the Swanlings by throwing bread at them, the water gets dirty!
Use the food boals that are provided.
- Don't feed them molty breed, it will make them sick!
- Petting is allowed on land when they sun or moon themselves on shore of the royal pond.
- Don't pet them while swimming, they don't like that.
- They like hugs and pettings on shore!
- You can play catch with them, with water safe and self floating treats for them.

[Black--Soul]

Fluttershy... Nature is fascinating
11644942

11644919

[IRrebel]

Thanks for the chapter!
Have a great day!

[shadow wolf1573]

Nice

[Black--Soul]

Pony nobels coming next weekend to Court to lay rest to Naysays accusations.

Noble ponies:
"We like to lay to rest any lingering doubts about Naysay having any leg to stand on in court."

*The Alicorns and two Changeling Queens in attendance nod towards the group of nobels in confirmation*

Nobels group speaker quote:
“That thing is not an alicorn!*

*Blank Page processed to make a Rose bloom from a way to young stage to usually do so, flies with effort a great pain one round of the throne room and levitated his tea to his mouth to take a sip*

*All nobels nod in confirmation*

Nobels group speaker quotes:
"Since it insulated itself into the court, Equestria has been heading towards ruin! Changeling infestations."

Cadance answered:
"Racism of non ponies and a slander of a ally the Equestrian nation
Even if i like to buck Chrysalis on occasion. "
*Cadance give a pout at the smirking Chrysalis*

Skitter:
"Hives with other Queens don't do peaceful coexistence in general, I had to assimilate two lesser Hives. One from the jungle that Blank Page liberated before Nocturnis inception and one after.
Didn't thing we would have a rap battle for superiority, but apperently that is a thing now..."

Nobels group shakes their heads in bewilderment and the speaker continued Naysay quotes:
"Attacks by chaos spirts."

Discord voice echoing through the room:
"Attack? If I had been attacking instead of pranking, every nation would be complaining! Also there is me and no 'spirits' as in multible Draconequus."

Nobels group speaker quotes with haste to change topic:
"Centaurs."

Blank Page:
"There was only one, was as big as a house... Still only one, also I am sure I just killed one."

*Luna nods her confirmation*

Nobels group speaker quotes:
"Griffons."

*Everypony and Ling no matter who shrugged their shoulders, noone recalling a incident*

Nobels group speaker quotes:
"Yetis."

Blank Page:
"How am I responsible for a enemy nation invading on my wedding day?!"

Luna:
"We didn't even invited them, they be laughing at it at best, Yeti don't do weddings in a similar fashion."

Celestia:
"I think they marry with a club, the one unconscious is 'the bottom bitch', no matter if male or female."

Nobels group speaker quotes:
"Monstrous vamponies.”

Blank Page:
"Vamppony curse was old and the Magic Alicorn purple smart and purple smart version 2.0 have undone it.
Fruitbatponies only."

*Both purple Alicorn mares of magic wingpalm at that statement *

Nobels group speaker quotes:
"With every minute passing, the very values of our society is crumbling away."

Discord:
"Change is constant, stagnation leads to one nation like the Yetis to attack one that has stopped developing like Equestria suffered."

*At that some nobels looked thoughtful*

Nobels group speaker quotes:
"Corrupting our alicorns."

*Everyone shrugged at this vage and Misty concept, even some of the nobels*

Nobels group speaker quotes:
"Has there not been solar events never before recorded in our history!?”

*Celestia flushed red at that*

Cadance:
"He must be quite the stud to make you pop a sunflare Aunty Celestia~♡"

*Blank Page was grinning ear to ear at that*

Nobels group speaker quotes:
"It’s a devil! A devil made pony flesh... nevermind that quote."

*Everycreature hoovefalmed at that one*

Nobels group speaker continues quotes:
"It whispers secrets."

*Everyone wonder what secret is a secret that is known, for a secret that is known is no longer a secret*

Nobels group speaker continues quotes but gets visible tired at the raving of a mad pony:
"Corrupting the minds of our pure Princesses and leading us to ruin!"

Celestia:
"He knows I am a mare that had over millions of years countless lovers? I literally have a Royal lover book. Everyone that stayed in my mind at this point has its own chapter. Actually it has 47 volumes so far..."

Luna:
"I bearly had lovers, but both mares and stallions, if he is referring to gender pure love."

*Cadance just double wingpalmed*

Nobels group speaker last time making a Naysay quote:
We must destroy it before it’s too late! We must cast the monstrous creatures out and return to our solid traditions before the very fabric of our society is sundered!"

Twilight Sparkle:
"Monsterous creatures... Probably the Thestrals and after that probably the Pegasus, but don't forget the Earthponys!

Midnight Sparkle:
"Since we should destroy the United Pony races we should also wage war to non ponies. Even if he have to fight all other races on the planet to do so.
No matter what, he wants a unicorn only pure existance. Insane indeed."

*Flurryheart was drawing in foal like fashion laughing Alicorns around a picture of herself, that or a pink blue bloob. Also non ponies hugging ponies*

Everyone agreed that Neighsay was nothing but a racism fueld mad pony.

[Hooper_Canson]

I can see that Page's personal Minecraft server is still going well

[windy_prance]

"Not the best," she admitted, "But Applejack is pretty good. Could I invite her?"

IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE IN SANCTUARY...

Twilight: Page..why are you hanging off one of the moons?

Page: Because if I hang off a tree instead, Applejack can kick me off it!

Twilight: Well you DID create a pear orchard instead of an apple orchard in this world...

*Twilight looks down at the tiny angry orange dot below*

Page: I thought it would be funny!

Twilight: Well you should accept your fate now.

*Twilight places a paralysis spell on Page's wings and pushes him off Luna the Moon*

Page: TRAITOR! TRRRRAAAAIIIITOOOR!

Twilight: I love you too!

[Clopicus Vile]

"You know, I always thought she looked a bit like a swan when she did that," Luna confided with a whisper in my ear,

...anyone else reminded of this scene from Fantasia?
1.bp.blogspot.com/-aUPnmyQFjuo/Vk_4W7lD_bI/AAAAAAAAEKM/z0J2H5QjZQw/s1600/fantasia-disneyscreencaps.com-8407.jpg

[FoxyLove]

So Page should never tell Celestia that the name of the lake is called Swan Lake then?

[Klamnei]

derpicdn.net/img/view/2014/3/29/587644.png

[Asolem2]

"More has been known by the castle staff since," Celestia said in protest, "And by some other ponies. I don't sneak around in the dead of night and hide it. I just don't... announce it from the rooftops.

It'd be pretty hilarious if you did though

[Mr Good Guy]

11645072
I think Granny Smith is the one that hates pears, until Applejack and the others helped her get over her prejudices. Applejack just tries to make sure there aren't any pears or pear products around Sweet Apple Acres so Granny Smith doesn't get triggered.

[Kevin Lee]

"You know, I always thought she looked a bit like a swan when she did that," Luna confided with a whisper in my ear, "I never had the heart to tell her. One of the propaganda things one of our early enemies used was to depict her as a swan with a carrot on its head. She still does not like swans."

20 bits that it was Luna who started that association by leaking it to the press....

[Thor447]

11645072
If you die in the dream do you die for real?

[Okie Brony]

With that, she pulled back and vaded into the cool water until it reached halfway up her barrel.

She vaded into the vater vhile searching for nuclear wessles.

🖖🖖🖖

I'm so glad that I found that before someone used it to make a "Star Wars" joke.