Dinner had finished and everyone had their beverage of choice.
It had been held at the roof of the so-called palace with everyone invited. The Griffon envoy, the Kirin, Midnight, Tempest.
I sipped my tea and glanced up towards the moon, wishing Luna was here for a second. Twilight and Midnight was off to one side, talking with Rain Shine and the griffon Envoy, Silverstreak.
Sunset was over by the railing, laughing at something Tempest had said.
The second Kirin, Autumn Blaze was standing alone by the opposite railing, looking out over the lights of the town and the river glittering in the moonlight.
Picking my tea up in my magic, I walked up to stand next to her, looking out over the village below. She had a glass of sky melon juice sitting on the railing.
I glanced at her with a small smile, "What do you think?"
"...I don't know," she answered before she looked at me, adding, "Your highness."
I smiled a bit, "Not tonight," I told her, "It gets a bit old eventually."
"Really?"
Sipping my tea, I smiled a bit wider, "Like you wouldn't believe," I admitted and then motioned slightly with one hoof, "Over five thousand ponies. Bats, Pegasi, Earth ponies, Unicorns. Couple of Griffons and as of a couple of months ago, I think we have a pair of donkeys. All in the most dangerous environment inside Equestrias borders."
"It's impressive I guess."
"Could be," I mused, "Could also be stupid. Climate is pleasant for bats, but that's... alright," I said and sighed, "It's not quite all it has for it. These lands... they're historically thestral lands. We're from here. You can... call it a connection? That's part of why I chose to build it down here."
"Connection?"
I nodded, "There's so few bats. So little is known about thestral history, we... I thought it might help forge bonds. Give us a link to a lost history."
Autumn Blaze looked out over the village and I could see her mind clicking into the connections I meant for her to make.
"Did it work?"
"I don't know," I said, shrugging my wings slightly, sipping my tea, "I'm not sure we'll find out for quite a while. At the same time, we're studying what little there is to find our thestral ancestry. But so much have been lost in the mists of time, overgrown, destroyed..."
She slowly nodded, "I was at the market."
I smiled, "How did you find it?"
She scraped a hoof against the wooden deck with a small frown, "Everypony looked at me," she said, "I get why, but that wasn't the strangest thing."
"We did announce that you were visiting with us, explained what Kirin were," I said with a smile, "I hope they treated you alright."
Autumn Blaze looked out over the village before she turned to look up at me, "More than. They gave me things. Food, even a necklace. For free!"
"So?"
She shook her head, "No, I mean..." she said and frowned, "Prince Page, these ponies don't have any money."
I studied my cup of tea before I sighed, "Nocturnis is a poor village," I agreed, "Everypony just tries their best."
Autumn Blaze shook her head, "We didn't use much in the way of money, we make everything we need but... they barely have anything, why would they..."
"Because they know how it is to be isolated," I told her gently, "To have nothing. When we introduced you, we said there were even less Kirin than bats. I think some like you all have had the same difficulties they did."
She shook her head again, mane swaying as she stomped one hoof firmly, "We're not here for charity!"
"I know that," I said and then shook my head as I met her eyes, "It's not about you."
That seemed to make her mental track derail a bit, "Huh?" she asked.
I nodded to the side towards the village below, "Nocturnis is a poor village. There's houses in Canterlot worth more than the entire village can scrape up," I said and chuckled, "I'm an alicorn prince, yet I doubt I could scrape up more than a thousand bits right now."
"A thousand bits is quite a lot."
I smiled sadly, "You'd think so," I mused, looking out over the village, "But I know how much it costs to import grain here. It's really not."
She looked thoughtful, "So what did you mean?"
"We get a lot of aid from the rest of Equestria," I explained to her, "Many bats here... did not have good lives before they moved here. The thought of depending on Equestrian aid sits very badly with them, even if they know it's necessary. Helping somepony else, giving you food and gifts... it's not really about you. It's a symbol, a way to ease the burden. A way to… pay back."
"Oh."
I smiled at her and reached up to touch my silver circlet, "See this? It was a gift from the village. I didn't know about it until it was delivered to me. It must have cost them many thousands to have made by a master craftspony in Canterlot. If they asked, I would have refused. But they did it because they wanted their Prince, their thestral alicorn to have a crown."
Autumn Blaze stared up at me, eyes flicking up to the silver circle and then back to my face again, "...It's not about you."
I smiled and gave her a small nod, "Now you’re getting it," I said and motioned out over the village with a hoof, "It's about them," I said and then looked to her again with a small smile, "My idea of a good life is a small cabin with my mares, a small field to grow what we need and a warm fireplace. A quill and a lot of paper to write on. But for them, I will stand here. I will wear a crown. I will face the politics and challenges of ruling. They look to me for answers, Autumn Blaze. And I will always be here, and do my best to give them."
"Because it's not about you."
"Because it's not about me," I agreed with a smaller smile, "if it was, I would be in Canterlot with my wife."
Autumn frowned, "That sounds lonely."
"It's not," I said with a smile, "Twilight and Sunset are here. I have friends here. I meet Luna and Celestia as often as I can."
"But it's not easy."
I laughed softly, "It's never easy. Very little worth doing is easy."
"...Like leaving the village."
I sighed softly and nodded, "Like leaving your village. Your people have lived there for generations. It's the land of your ancestors."
Autumn Blaze picked up her glass in her magic, looking out over the lights of the village before she closed her eyes, sipping her sky melon juice before she shook her head, "We can't stay," she finally said, "Our children... not if we want them to have children of their own. There's so few of us."
I stayed quiet for a long time before I asked quietly, "What does Rain Shine think?"
She shook her head, "She knows it as well as I do," she admitted with a sigh, "She just doesn't want to admit it yet."
"It's no hurry. You have time to make your decisions."
Autumn Blaze looked up at me, "Not a lot of time, your majesty," she said softly before she smiled a bit with an expression I couldn’t quite place on her face, "I get it now."
"What?"
"Why the locals call you that," she said before walking off towards Rain Shine, to join her leader.
I glanced after her before turning back towards the village below and then to look up towards the moon shining in the skies.
I didn't like manipulating ponies like that.
But it's not about me.
That was so powerful and sad at the same time. Even if he used it like a knife he wants the best for others.
dam it Page. That's not manipulation, that's called presenting an argument. Manipulation isn't an act, it's an intent.
Kirin need more planning and a strict breeding regiment than Thestral. Moral and comforts are a luxury, survival comes always first. I doubt the Kirin will make it, when they realize it, it might be to late already...
At least the Thestral have a little wiggle room.
I guess we can't send out the Changelings to make sure the long lived Kirin are being happy and productive in offspring?
After all:
Changelings are like farmers, with its livestock needing to be happy and productive to keep the food quantity and quality running not just sustainable, but profitable. Expanding needs population growth.
The Kirin will have a lot in Nocturnis:
Royal support, literally as neighbors to ask in times of dire need.
Royal guidance if they wish for it, only Alicorn are longer lived than Kirin.
Organisation with the purple twins, not to forget their number 1 assistants.
Did we know if Dragon can breed with Kirin?
Though would be interesting if Blade and Spike offspring with their fillyfriends will result in Kirin.
Perhaps after all Garble and other Dragon will be ask to help with the Kirin population problems, if they are capable to make Kirin offspring.
Do you know the game:
Spellforce 2
In it a dragon helps continue with a blood ritual to strengthen a faction since 'breeding' wasn't a option.
But if breeding is a option, than 20 or more Dragon would do a lot of good helping with repopulation.
With the 400-500 still existing Kirin I could imagen they still making it.
Heh... Spike & Blade, the blood fathers of the Kirin race.
I always see Spike underused in general, would be quite fitting if one or both become the leaders of the Kirin, not just to keep the race going, but spreading its population out, keeping the lore existing running strong and helping on expanding not just the bloodline but the knowledge of Dragon, Kirin and ponies alike.
Autumn:
"Rain Shine we have followed your guidance for a long time, but this will end if we don't change things now!
It is overdue for a long time!"
Rain Shine:
"Any suggestions? I am all ears."
Autumn:
"Spike and Blade, come out with the notes!"
*Blade & Spike with many schools come around the connor and hold a presentation ready*
Rain Shine:
"Well... that is more organized than I expected..."
Spike:
"We have made a list of all stallion and mare Kirin, a breeding roaster has been established and with math reduced to the least likely problematic solution."
Autumn:
"Nice, though that a lot more stallions and foals on my name than even I expected. I will need more than a little help raising 10 foals..."
Blade:
"Don't worry, we have that covered!
Because while Spike a Twilight made the population planning and me with Midnight doubled checking it in the end, we made a support system and a economical system that Spike and Twilight doubled checked."
Spike & Blade:
"We look forward helping you out further!"
*Somewhere the Film & Flam Brothers are jealous instinctively to pull of a mutual benefishal deal better than any scam they ever came up with*
Rain Shine:
"Wait a second... that can't be... he-you two are breeding 1 third of the Kirin mare population eatch?
How are we to raise so many foals and financial keep it viable?"
Blade&Spike:
"Trading services and goods!"
Chrysalis in her own glorious self,
that isn't Skitter because Chrysalis is drunk on love again, sleeping the love overdose hangover off:"Changelings to the rescue! We will help you raise the foals alongside our Nymphs. Further will we get first and last word in how your love will be distributed towards others.
You Kirins are a rare exquisite love variation that will made many Hives drooling for the chance to get a singel jar of your Love and passion.
I already spread some around and many volunteers come forward for a chance to get some passiv feeding done by helping raising you inter a proper civilisation."
Spike:
"As you see, raising the foals will not be a problem.
As to financially keep you galloping...-"
Blade:
"The dragon we invited to help breeding and increasing genetic variation, will pay occational foal support, a pretty hard commitment for any dragon... ANYWAY!
We already tested Kirin for production of rare materials and it looks like your lion like mane alone will be making a lot of money."
Spike:
"That plus the Changelings later exchanging Kirin love for money from other Hives for your rare tasting love will beside the occational dragonsire foal support be enough to finance everything already!"
Queen Chrysalis
Skitter:"But only for about a century in about 10 years from today, but we have to get the ball rolling before we start planning its route to go up the mountain."
Rain Shine:
"Trading, foraging and raising, OK... I clearly never get that organized, looking forward with the leadership position to get help.
You would not belive how hard it is to do alone."
Autumn:
"Exactly why I ask them for help!"
*Discord appered out of nowhere*
Discord:
"So it wasn't so you have a herd of stallion all to yourself at one point or another?"
Autumn:
"Things can be for many reasons, can't fault a mare for wanting her dreams fulfilled..."
Discord:
"Not just your dreams..."
Spike:
"Discord also offered to change some other pony stallions into Kirins, with a reasonable price..."
*Fluttershy with Eris appered out of nowhere*
Eris:
"I want more players in my games! Also I want to learn Kirin games!"
Autumn:
"OK that new, but with the help of Alicorns, Dragons, Thestrals, chaos God small and big and Changelings... there isn't a reasonable person who would not accept!"
Rain Shine:
"Fine, but I get first dibs on Spike and Blade!"
Blade and Spike:
*Meep*!
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Amazing comment story, it fit right into the story to give Neighsay more depth! Magnificent work ♡
'The hero of Canton the colt they call page!'
Tempest: ...it wasn't funny.
Sunset: YES it is. You fell in the Stream of Silence and Midnight didn't notice something was wrong for TWO days!
Midnight: T-T-the plants in the area were very interesting. And Tempest doesn't usually interrupt me when I'm that excited... I didn't know it was because she COULDN'T!
Sunset: Two days tho! TWO DAYS!
Tempest&Midnight:
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it could also be possible that with the help of midnight and the changlings they could pull off some genetic stuff and have all the kirin able to breed with eachother with no drawbacks. a bit weird but when looking down the end of the race it could work to allow more breathing room
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*Sgt Murphy just rubs his paws with excitement.*
Sgt Murphy: Here is where the fun begins!
*Uses a Speak & See Crystal to record Rain Shine having fun with the dragons and makes a mint on the Kirin mares after they saw how efficient the Spike Duo were with their Leader that they were wanting a turn with them.*
Fluttershy: Isn't Nature Interesting.
Eris: Dragon ponies be Super Horny!!!
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You two are awesome 👍
Nice. It's never about you
And finally, someone points it out to him in-story that "your majesty" is technically incorrect.
Another nice chapter. Too bad this weekend's storms mucked up the local cell network, and my internet has been out since Saturday evening. (I'm also lucky if I can get 1 or 2 bars on my phone itself.) Until it comes back, I'm stuck using my local library's wifi, & they close at 5pm. Grr.
😭💩
Edit: When I got home, I was delighted to see that my internet was back. It's bouncing between "5G" and "4G LTE," and it's slower than a slug in molasses, and it may go back out at any time, but God Bless the Internet.
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Nice Firefly reference!
i.pinimg.com/736x/ad/1c/0f/ad1c0f1a79c86e46f598f029fac7e0ad--firefly-serenity-the-heroes.jpg
That was an incredibly dense series of lines and conversation between two characters. Nice work
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i.pinimg.com/originals/d0/a5/9d/d0a59d2c91a48abf37d146e7d14260e9.png
camo.fimfiction.net/-Ez7a6Qvh9vxj0WyrLyKO3oCPMg2spHxuqyMNkn-l6I?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com%2Ff%2F6a5fc3f1-ab9d-43e9-a423-cb758d9b817c%2Fd6zcj8u-1c8c3870-7428-4a2a-8304-bd2082adff98.jpg%3Ftoken%3DeyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJpc3MiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwic3ViIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsImF1ZCI6WyJ1cm46c2VydmljZTpmaWxlLmRvd25sb2FkIl0sIm9iaiI6W1t7InBhdGgiOiIvZi82YTVmYzNmMS1hYjlkLTQzZTktYTQyMy1jYjc1OGQ5YjgxN2MvZDZ6Y2o4dS0xYzhjMzg3MC03NDI4LTRhMmEtODMwNC1iZDIwODJhZGZmOTguanBnIn1dXX0.Q3MW0e-mzO_uDWrmZZybK0D2SndibVpgoKixrjOpfks
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The first picture is meh...
The second is definitely ♡
Fluffle Puff for
cdn-img.fimfiction.net/story/f5am-1471735357-343231-medium
cdn-img.fimfiction.net/story/jqkz-1488992506-366119-medium
Especially in cold times it be awesome, summer though might be a dread.
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Indeed!
Manipulation is what folks like Nick Fury do as for a living.
He can manipulate folks to destroy their own nation if he needs them to self-destruct.
But even Fury knows when it's time to manipulate, and when it's time to not!
Sometimes, you just need to give someone a little push, to encourage them to be better than what they are, to be the best at what they can be, or even just to get them to wake up and save themselves.
Right now, Nocturnis needs Nick Fury to dig out those external manipulating forces trying to wipe the city off the map. But unfortunately, Nick's not available. They're stuck with Blank Page.
Boy had better get his tail into the game!