I rested on my throne as the door opened and I looked up.
"Envoy Silverstreak and escort," Iron Shine announced and stepped to the side, allowing the three griffons past her.
The lead griffon was of an owl type, brown feathers starting to gain streaks of grey at places, the other two more taking after different kinds of eagles if I'm any judge.
"Prince Page," Silverstreak said and bowed, "Please, accept my gratitude at receiving us and the well wishes from our king."
I smiled and nodded to him, "You are most welcome. And give my own well wishes in return to King Darkfeathers. It has been too long since we talked."
He straightened again, wings shifting slightly as he smiled, "Nocturnis is a beautiful city."
I nodded, "It is," I agreed, "I hope you find your accommodations satisfactory?" I then asked, completely ignoring that calling somewhere with just over five thousand inhabitants a city a bit of an exaggeration.
It was a town at best.
"Absolutely, your highness," he agreed, "Most comfortable. We have been quite enjoying trying the local food, quite different from what we have run into in our previous journeys to Equestria."
"More to the griffon taste?" I asked.
"Much more," he said with a smile.
I nodded, "So what can the ponies of Nocturnis do for you, Silverstreak?" I asked, "I doubt you traveled all the way to our remote corner of Equestria to sample our local cuisine?"
That got a smile from him, "To business," he agreed, "And as a matter of fact, that is part of why I'm here. King Darkfeathers would like to open official channels between Nocturnis and the Griffon people."
I flicked one ear, "Such as?"
"We would like to establish an embassy as well as an official trading station at Nocturnis," He said with a smile, "To facilitate communications between us and set up direct trade."
Considering that for a moment I then slowly nodded, "While Equestria already has an embassy from the Griffon Kingdom, we could certainly use a consulate," I agreed, "As for a trade station, are you considering shipping along the river directly to your lands across the ocean?"
Silverstreak smiled, "In fact, that is exactly what we are hoping for. It would cut weeks off the journey instead of having it travel to harbors in Equestria by train first. It may even make shipments of perishables possible, such as fruit."
I slowly nodded, "That may be more difficult than you think," I said and looked to Flower, "Flower, do you have the report of the survey we did of the river?"
"Yes, your majesty," she said, "Would you like a summary or the full report?"
"A summary would be sufficient, but I think we can give a copy of the full report to the envoys delegation if they wish."
She nodded, "In short, while the river does flow all the way to the ocean, at places there are significant sandbars and other obstructions beneath the surface. It was decided that the effort to map and clear the ones necessary was not economical. Then there is the significant danger of the local wildlife to long travels along the river to take into account."
I nodded and motioned towards Silverstreak with my hoof, "You will be given the full report of course, but I don't think it will be possible."
He looked thoughtful, "Perhaps, perhaps not. We have quite skilled dredgers and craftsgriffs. Perhaps we may accomplish something."
"If you manage to get a ship or even a boat here," I told him seriously, "We'll build a port matching it. That's an agreement you can have from me right now."
Silverstreak nodded confidently, "Our people will study the findings and see what can be done. As for the consulate?"
I smiled, "I have no problem with that, closer ties with the griffon people is only a good thing in my mind. However, whomever is assigned here should likely be warned that there is a rain period. Our weather is not always this pleasant," I said and motioned towards the clear sky and Luna's moon in the sky outside.
He smiled, "Considering I am hoping for that posting myself, I'll take it under advisement, your highness."
"In which case, I suppose it's a good thing you enjoy our food," I said with a smile, "And on that note, perhaps you would like to join my family and myself for dinner this morning?"
"I would be delighted, your highness."
"Excellent," I said with a nod and motioned to Flower, "Flower will arrange it with your people."
Silverstreak bowed, "In that case, by your leave, Prince Page."
"I will see you at dinner," I agreed and the griffons filtered out of the throne room, the doors closing behind them.
I stretched and then jumped off the throne, walking over to look out the open side of the throne room and towards Lunas moon for several long moments. Their suggestion sure was an interesting one.
If they could get ships here, or even large enough boats to be worth it, it would significantly increase our possible trade throughput. Wouldn't make the Equestrian traders happy as the competition would drive prices up, but that would make my ponies very happy, especially as it would also drive prices of what we imported down in turn.
Assuming of course that it could be done.
We did discard it as an option before for a very good reason, even after the railroad went down and we gave it a second and much harder look. The river was fine for good parts of it, but parts were impassable for anything larger than a rowboat, especially as it got close to the sea and entered what could only be described as mangrove territory.
Even with magic it did not seem like a valid option.
But if they could pull it off...
I turned to glance back, "What do you think, Flower? Think they can pull it off?"
She looked doubtful, a quill held in her muzzle between a pair of fangs and she considered it before answering, "...I don't know," she finally said, "The griffons are very good builders and craftsponies. It's possible."
"I hope they are as good as they think they are," I said as I nodded, "That's an amazing opportunity if we are able to open up that trade route."
"Especially if they cover the cost of it," Flower said with a grin.
"Really?" I asked innocently, "I had not even considered that."
Seriously, we could also clear a way through that river. Of course we could, it was just a matter of the number of ponies and the amount of bits to do it. That was a multi million bit project and made running the railway look outright affordable.
But if the griffons were willing to hoof the bill for it...
It could even be used for Equestrian shipping. That would be win-win-win, at least for Nocturnis. Holding up our part of the bargain and building a port matching whatever they managed to get here was the cheap part of it.
Buck, if they pulled it off, we'd have to increase production of everything they were interested in just to keep up with demand.
We might need more pylons as well, to expand the shield. But that was far in the future, even if they cleared the river and the first ship arrived tomorrow, we were good for decades with the area we had now.
Nodding to myself, I returned to the throne, "What's next, Flower?"
"Next is a meeting in twenty minutes with Tight Bit, discussing our next month's budget and possible repayments of our loans to Equestria," she said without even looking at her papers.
Oh, joy.
Those griffons are gonna have to be hella competent to get a ship of all things into Nocturnis. The wildlife alone is incredibly problematic even without the river itself being an issue.
I guess a shield generator of some kind would have to be considered for the ship. At least it should less expensive and easier to set up than Nocturnis' shield since it only has to cover a ship.
This is where to fun continues ♡👍
Comment section...
Here...
WEEE...
Gooo-♡♡♡!!!
O my god... Hiver pulled a Starcraft classic joke!
♡ ♡ ♡
You Must Construct Additional Pylons!
Really hoping chapter 69 will be sex jokes all over:
- Flurry Heart: "Hey mom, What are the ponies in this book do?"
Cadance checks 'Ponysutra'/'Kamasutra'.
Cadance: "Making Changeling food."
- Flurry Heart: "Hey mom, look Changeling and Griffons like to snuggeling just like we do!"
Cadance checks 'Play Colt',
*borrow it for study purposes*
- Flurry Heart: "Hey mom, what is that?"
Cadance checks 'Magazine with a Cover':
'Changelings, why are they not Bugwaifus yet? Being snugglebugs already.'
Cadance: "Now there is a good question! Subscribed!"
- Flurry Heart: "Hey mom, what is that librarian (Midnight) doing to that book?"
Cadance checks... "Marking it..."
- Flurry Heart: "Hey mom, what is that librarian (Twilight) doing to the other librarian (Midnight)?
Cadance checks "In depth studies of Anatomy..."
- Flurry Heart: "Hey mom, mom,mom,mom, hey moooom?
Cadance:" What?"
Flurry Heart: "Hiiii"
Cadance:
*6 month ago*
Alicorn statue in the Jungle suddenly shudders and has glowing eyes.
In Griffonia a Changeling Hive of a antic city see their Thestral Alicorn stallion statue glow in its eyes and vibrate, like a stallion looking at his mares in heat.
Changeling Queen of Griffonia:
"The time has come... Execute order 66..."
Changeling Queen advisory Griffon checks order book:
"Wasn't that the one where we prepare for order 69? As in we are to travel to the jungle Tempel of the twin of our statue, open the secret passageway, use the stashed coins worth millions today that are only worth thousands in the past? Like the fourth last plan of the time traveling Alicorn stud of legend rumored to be Blank Page?"
Changeling Queen of Griffonia:
*Nods sagely*
Changeling Queen advisory Griffon:
"It will be done, Queen of the Sunstone Hive..."
Changeling Queen of Griffonia:
"Soon... My son will be standing ready to become part of the herd, as promised thousands of years ago to our founding Queen... Skitter"
https://ttsreader.com if you want to spare yourself the reading and rather listen to it text to speech.
Blank Page and Skitter Travel to the past via [
restricted] by [redacted].When Queen Skitter stand behind to create the past so the present has a future friendly hive, with a last present from Blank Page to start the Sunstone Hive with his seed... to thousands of years later join Nocturnis as its spy, military and work force.
With the son of the current Sunstone Hive Queen currently working under Page as a friendly liason, become ambassador, become herd mate...
So Chrysalis got a glorious future... in the past, coming to in the present...
THE END♡
Skitter last letter to Blank Page perhaps? ...
“Blood, sweat, and tears made Equestria what it is in past and future, and I mean it both literally and figuratively.
"We carry the consequences of all actions, good or bad, and we do not forget our past. We do not shy away from the atrocities our ancestors committed. However, what they have done does not make us evil. Just like we cannot be judged by the actions not committed by us, all creatures cannot be judged for what those who hurt you and hurt others have done.
That does not excuse their actions, not at all.
Everyone parents should take care of their children, that is true, as such is their duty. However, this duty is not binding no matter if the law demands it or not. Blood ties, as important as many believe they are, in truth, are not any stronger than ties of any friendship.
There had been many parents who did not love their children, and to this day there are plenty who, for one reason or another, do not care for who they brought into this world. The existence of orphanage proves it, does it not? We need to care for one another, no matter if of same blood or even species!
I understand that you are afraid of my beloved Blank Page.
You are scared that those you care about will face the same fate that other having suffered have to endure all over again, experience the same hurts that many other of years, decades have brought, again and again... i have experienced many species, ponies included do the same. Something we need help remind mortals and immortals time and time again, and eventually things change, for the better.
I understand that it is a bitter reality that changes sometimes take decades or even centuries, but Alicorns and other immortals are good in one thing no matter your belive, remember the past for a better future, that is their present, to other and themself.
Should you wish for it, you will never be asked to do anything at all with us, fighting one another in wars, something that should never ever happen again. However, I cannot abandon those I can help, and my hive would not stand behind it either.
We will listen to mortals in need, but we will not obey their wishes without consideration. Your experience is, without a doubt, helpful towards understanding others, but we cannot rely on your knowledge alone.
Because it is very biased at the moment towards the Thestral of the past... war slashes wounds that bleed for years, scars for decades and only heals over lifetimes.
If you want to tell me of your past, I will stand by you, but not exclusively.
If you wish to help us navigate the complexities of life when we, I believe, inevitably make contact even with your current enemies, my hive will stand by you.
If you want to have nothing to do with undesirable elements of the world ever again, I will stand by you as long it do not hurt others.
But to prevent others like your enemies appearing in other places to seeking harm, we need to help.
We can not and i will not close that connection to everyone you consider your enemies today, because if you befriend your enemies, don't the enemies stop exist as a threat and become assets?!
I cannot and will not do them harm, to harm them is to harm you all.
I am very grateful for your child that created my hive, but what if you had not impregnated me to form it? What if it was your enemies?
Would it not be unfair to you, if i assusted them exclusively?!
I queen Skitter, current queen on the Sunstone Hive of Griffonia, shepard of the past for your future, protector of Thestral kind, ruler of the night raiders of this age... will not heard your voice again, but you me a child and i gave you all a fair chance to say your words to my hives descendants... and then they will tell you our own thoughts on the matter.
Times are very harsh now, will be for decades or even centuries. But in a thousand years we will have prepared a gift given to you in a few thousand years..
Plainly and honestly, not hiding the truth for you or your enemies, for the sake of not upsetting the balance this world is seeking.
Peace is not to force others to submit, peace is the willing co-existance and co-operation with one another.
Even the Yeti deserve redemption eventually...
Perhaps that was what we needed to hear before we traveld back in time, to be reminded before. It falls to me to give you this lesson... even if it was not what i would have liked to say... now that i am older, wiser and about to leave this world with my descendants to pass this letter to you.
Because the harsh and difficult truth is always harder to accept than the easy lie.
On the surface, we all want peace, but go and look into yourself, are you willing to work towards it?
Even if you and your children don't see it, your childrens children will life it!
Goodbye Blank Page, do me a favor and give the current Queen descendants a chance, they are after all, our spawns fruits.
With love... Queen Skitter, Queen of the Sunstone Hive ♡
...
...
...
To be continued next chapter ♡
First thing I thought when they mentioned the difficulty of getting a ship or boat up the river was what if they used flat-bottomed barges instead.
Barge everything up and down the river, and have a port at each end.
Of course, then you have a port at the river mouth that needs support industries, security, food production, and housing, which someone will have to maintain.
I wonder how economical it would be to promise free river commerce (no tolls or fees) to the griffons in exchange for their clearing a water path.
Nocturnis could reserve the sole right to impose river tolls (on others), in case any rent-seeking griffon sees the agreement as free real estate.
I'm here before Windy Prance the Tartarus?
...THREE HUNDRED YEARS LATER...
River Boat Tour Guide Pony: ...and thanks to that historical collaboration between the Thestral's Prince Page and the Griffon's King Darkfeathers, the river is what we see today. Wide and calm for daily trade that allowed the City of Nocturnis to grow to a home for a hundred thousand ponies!
Tourists: *various oohs and ahhs and camera flashes*
River Boat Tour Guide Pony: Now if you look to your left, you'll see the ancient Thestral pyramid. Not to be confused with the Great Prince Page, the pyramid worshiped an older lesser known Thestral royalty whose name has been lost to time. Rumors suggest the forgotten royal's ghost still haunts the pyramid, waiting to be seen and noticed as anything remotely important.
Statue: ...BUCK YOU. Buck every single one of you!
Nice
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*Sgt Murphy grins evily and then sings with glee to the Threstal Statue*
https://youtu.be/UaVqtG-NvzY?si=r1_gK6n9v74OFoKO
Yo love the update just got through rereading the previous stories for the 6th time. Only took 4 days this time. Not counting the 2nd since that was my birthday. Can't wait to see what Page gets up to this time. I'm also super excited to see what all Midnight has found regarding the Kirin and Kelpie.
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I recommend reading the comment section, at some point it becomes its own filler for in between chapters ♡
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Ah there you are I was wondering when you would grace us with your side story
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OMG THE STATUE
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Indeed
But I think I had the beat solution this chapter ✌