This is a continuation of the New Beginnings. (MLP) series. Massive thanks to @Arratra for betaing this one!
Looking Glass (MLP)
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AN// This is a continuation of the New Beginnings. (MLP) series. Massive thanks to @Arratra for betaing this one!
Now, on with the story!
###########
The insects chirped in the night, the jungle lit by nothing but the moon and the stars far above.
I spread my wings and jumped towards the next thick branch on the next tree with a single silent beat of my wings.
Landing on silent hooves, I stretched before peering down into the darkness. A couple of trees had been cleared away and a crystal spire had been placed.
"You don't have to check each yourself," Flower Rain said as she landed next to me.
"No," I answered, ""But I want to see at least a few of them before we pull the lever."
Flower sat down and started to adjust her braided mane, "Last one?"
I smiled and looked at her, "Date morning?" I asked.
Flower shifted slightly and put her hoof back down, "...Yes."
"Well," I said, "We better get back then. Sorry for dragging you along with me in the first place. This isn't really your job."
That got a smile from the small thestral, "No, but I wanted to see them too, your majesty."
"Let's head back," I said and spread my wings, jumping into the air and climbing upwards past the crowns of the forest and the stars above.
And the dozen of thestral guards circling above the trees, two of them pulling a sky carriage.
Pulling up higher, I banked around before going down to land on the sky carriage. Moments later, Flower landed next to me.
"All ready, sir?" Moon Glow asked from where she was sitting in the carriage. The pegasus was wearing a pair of night seeing goggles.
"All ready," I told her, "Thank you for indulging me, Moon Glow. I know you don't like when I do excursions into the forest."
"All part of the job, sir," she said with a smile, "Alright everypony!" she added, raising her voice, "Back to Nocturnis!"
The ponies pulling the carriage shifted course and everypony else fell into formation around us.
I took a deep breath, taking in the clear night air, looking up towards the moon shining far above.
My Luna. My Moon. My Sky.
She'll be here in a few nights. In time for the ceremony to turn the shield bubble on. It was as good of an excuse for her to be able to visit as any.
Cadence, Shining Armor, Sunburst and Flurry Heart were on the way as well.
It was only right to invite them. They did pay for most of this in any case, every single of the obelisks making up the shield domes were imported from the Crystal Empire.
If they had not given them to us, we would not have been able to do this for decades more.
Nocturnis was starting to come into view. Shining sparkles of light in the darkness of the forest, like stars moved down from the skies to the treetops.
It was beautiful.
Some thought the most beautiful city in Equestria was Canterlot. They were wrong, so very wrong. Dead wrong.
But I couldn't blame them, most had never been to Nocturnis.
But this project, this shield…
…It would change everything. We'd be able to clear some land along the river for farming. Keep the large predators away from the city.
Make day ponies feel safe to visit. We could have tourists! Make things safe enough to attract investors!
A way for us to grow, to become independent from the support of the rest of Equestria. I hate that we have to keep having to loan money.
I know Sunshine didn't mind at all and they could afford it, but…
I wanted to show we could do this.
But tourists and becoming more independent from the support required greater safety, such like the dome shield.
Of course, all of this assumed they could stand being around the dangerous thestrals. I glanced to the side to see Flower nibble on a slice of apple from her bag, the tiny bat pony looking up towards the stars.
Yes.
Dangerous scary bat ponies.
The village approached into the distance and we swept in across the outskirts, passing above the school. One of the buildings that were always kept brightly lit on the inside. While most students were thestrals, a significant percentage were day ponies and even the unicorns weren't really old enough to keep a light spell going for that long.
I glanced down the side as we passed the market square. Stands were set up and ponies were milling around. Food stands set up, the scents of grilled meat rising up against us.
Well, if anything good came of this in the end, it was ready access to barbecue. Even if most recipes were Griffin so far from natural reasons. Still, we were getting better at it. Some of the spices we found so far were really great.
Damn, now I'm hungry. Well, it is getting to be lunchtime, maybe I'll head down to the market after we land.
We started to head down towards the palace's landing platform. We circled the throne room once on the way down before landing.
I jumped off the carriage, "Thanks everypony," I said, looking around, "I just wanted to see some for myself. This is a big step forward for our entire town. Thanks for escorting me."
"All in a night's work, sir!" Moon Glow said, saluting.
I smiled at them and nodded before I headed inside, Flower moving to follow and I paused to look at her, giving her a side motion with my head, "What are you still doing here, go have fun."
Flower smiled before she bowed, "Thank you, your majesty. See you tonight?"
"Tonight," I agreed, "Now go have fun!"
She smiled and took to the air, jumping off the platform. She worked hard, she deserved to enjoy life whenever possible.
Wish she had told me she had plans, I would have insisted she didn't come.
Entering, I headed up the ramp towards the throneroom where I was promptly ambushed. For a split second I suspected treachery, but it was even worse.
Starlight Glimmer and a stack of paperwork.
I seriously have to talk with Cadance about her when she's visits. Maybe if Starlight found somepony, she'd relax a bit and I might as well get an expert on the job.
Besides, that'll distract her from me, Sparks and Sunny.
Now, on with the story!
###########
The insects chirped in the night, the jungle lit by nothing but the moon and the stars far above.
I spread my wings and jumped towards the next thick branch on the next tree with a single silent beat of my wings.
Landing on silent hooves, I stretched before peering down into the darkness. A couple of trees had been cleared away and a crystal spire had been placed.
"You don't have to check each yourself," Flower Rain said as she landed next to me.
"No," I answered, ""But I want to see at least a few of them before we pull the lever."
Flower sat down and started to adjust her braided mane, "Last one?"
I smiled and looked at her, "Date morning?" I asked.
Flower shifted slightly and put her hoof back down, "...Yes."
"Well," I said, "We better get back then. Sorry for dragging you along with me in the first place. This isn't really your job."
That got a smile from the small thestral, "No, but I wanted to see them too, your majesty."
"Let's head back," I said and spread my wings, jumping into the air and climbing upwards past the crowns of the forest and the stars above.
And the dozen of thestral guards circling above the trees, two of them pulling a sky carriage.
Pulling up higher, I banked around before going down to land on the sky carriage. Moments later, Flower landed next to me.
"All ready, sir?" Moon Glow asked from where she was sitting in the carriage. The pegasus was wearing a pair of night seeing goggles.
"All ready," I told her, "Thank you for indulging me, Moon Glow. I know you don't like when I do excursions into the forest."
"All part of the job, sir," she said with a smile, "Alright everypony!" she added, raising her voice, "Back to Nocturnis!"
The ponies pulling the carriage shifted course and everypony else fell into formation around us.
I took a deep breath, taking in the clear night air, looking up towards the moon shining far above.
My Luna. My Moon. My Sky.
She'll be here in a few nights. In time for the ceremony to turn the shield bubble on. It was as good of an excuse for her to be able to visit as any.
Cadence, Shining Armor, Sunburst and Flurry Heart were on the way as well.
It was only right to invite them. They did pay for most of this in any case, every single of the obelisks making up the shield domes were imported from the Crystal Empire.
If they had not given them to us, we would not have been able to do this for decades more.
Nocturnis was starting to come into view. Shining sparkles of light in the darkness of the forest, like stars moved down from the skies to the treetops.
It was beautiful.
Some thought the most beautiful city in Equestria was Canterlot. They were wrong, so very wrong. Dead wrong.
But I couldn't blame them, most had never been to Nocturnis.
But this project, this shield…
…It would change everything. We'd be able to clear some land along the river for farming. Keep the large predators away from the city.
Make day ponies feel safe to visit. We could have tourists! Make things safe enough to attract investors!
A way for us to grow, to become independent from the support of the rest of Equestria. I hate that we have to keep having to loan money.
I know Sunshine didn't mind at all and they could afford it, but…
I wanted to show we could do this.
But tourists and becoming more independent from the support required greater safety, such like the dome shield.
Of course, all of this assumed they could stand being around the dangerous thestrals. I glanced to the side to see Flower nibble on a slice of apple from her bag, the tiny bat pony looking up towards the stars.
Yes.
Dangerous scary bat ponies.
The village approached into the distance and we swept in across the outskirts, passing above the school. One of the buildings that were always kept brightly lit on the inside. While most students were thestrals, a significant percentage were day ponies and even the unicorns weren't really old enough to keep a light spell going for that long.
I glanced down the side as we passed the market square. Stands were set up and ponies were milling around. Food stands set up, the scents of grilled meat rising up against us.
Well, if anything good came of this in the end, it was ready access to barbecue. Even if most recipes were Griffin so far from natural reasons. Still, we were getting better at it. Some of the spices we found so far were really great.
Damn, now I'm hungry. Well, it is getting to be lunchtime, maybe I'll head down to the market after we land.
We started to head down towards the palace's landing platform. We circled the throne room once on the way down before landing.
I jumped off the carriage, "Thanks everypony," I said, looking around, "I just wanted to see some for myself. This is a big step forward for our entire town. Thanks for escorting me."
"All in a night's work, sir!" Moon Glow said, saluting.
I smiled at them and nodded before I headed inside, Flower moving to follow and I paused to look at her, giving her a side motion with my head, "What are you still doing here, go have fun."
Flower smiled before she bowed, "Thank you, your majesty. See you tonight?"
"Tonight," I agreed, "Now go have fun!"
She smiled and took to the air, jumping off the platform. She worked hard, she deserved to enjoy life whenever possible.
Wish she had told me she had plans, I would have insisted she didn't come.
Entering, I headed up the ramp towards the throneroom where I was promptly ambushed. For a split second I suspected treachery, but it was even worse.
Starlight Glimmer and a stack of paperwork.
I seriously have to talk with Cadance about her when she's visits. Maybe if Starlight found somepony, she'd relax a bit and I might as well get an expert on the job.
Besides, that'll distract her from me, Sparks and Sunny.
First to read! First to post!
- Location
- Error 505: pending move
Bah second post is always best!
Noticed a few typos, but otherwise we'll written! Though I have a sinking feeling that Discord is afoot!
No seriously, his foot is right over there and it's tapping in laughter!
But more seriously, I think this dome is going to do something unexpected like time travel or some other such shenanigans!
Noticed a few typos, but otherwise we'll written! Though I have a sinking feeling that Discord is afoot!
No seriously, his foot is right over there and it's tapping in laughter!
But more seriously, I think this dome is going to do something unexpected like time travel or some other such shenanigans!
Finagle007
[Verified Great Old One]
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
Really happy to see this again. Here's hoping nothing goes catastrophically wrong with the shield...
girador
There are only four circles in this picture
- Location
- behind a screen
They've already done an arc like that.
Hestia&theCourt
Turns out we're plural too.
- Location
- In transition
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Might be the cloning pool arc, maybe? It'd be a bit of a metaphorical looking glass, but it's close enough to be a possibility, I think.
Finagle007
[Verified Great Old One]
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
You mean other than the initial arc with Sunset? When was this?
The sky was clear above, the stars shining brightly as we waited by the train station.
I looked to Twilight as she shifted her wings, looking towards the tracks.
"You look nervous," I told her quietly, moving close to put my side against hers.
Twilight sighed softly, "...Sorry," she said and took a slow deep breath, letting it back out, "Tonight we'll turn it on and I've been working on it for so long."
I smiled at her, "It'll work, don't worry. The small one did work nicely," I said and glanced up towards the very slight shimmer in the night sky. You could just barely make it out across the stars, making them glimmer.
The absolutely first place we had put beneath a test dome had been the train station. Because this was the one place we absolutely had to keep on the ground so it had been a good place to drop the first dozen obelisks at and see if it worked at close to full size.
Sparks shifted, leaning softly against me, "I know. But I also haven't seen my brother for a year and a half."
"I know," I said quietly and nosed at her ear, "Too bad your parents couldn't come too."
They had not been in Canterlot, both of them off to conferences. We should have sent the invitations earlier.
My fault.
"And Princess Celestia," Twilight agreed, "But somepony needs to stay and run the rest of Equestria."
I nodded.
I missed her. Still saw her for lessons every couple of nights, but even so. Dreams were just not the same.
My ears perked up at the sound of the incoming train and I looked towards it, seeing a light far into the darkness.
"They're here," Sparks said and gave me a quick hug with her wing before she pulled back and shook her head, her magic running across her and adjusting her hair and tail before she glanced at me and I felt her magic across me as well.
I smiled, raising my wings and posing a bit for her.
Sparks quickly blushed slightly and poked my side with her wing.
I winked at her again and then took a step back as the train came into the station, folding my ears against my head to keep the worst of the metal against metal break sounds as it started to slow down.
Moon Glow whistled and ponies quickly moved to form an honor guard on each side of the door.
It only took a couple of moments after the train stopped before the door opened and a full squad of Night Guard exited. They smoothly moved out and slipped into the holes in formation left by the Nocturnis guard.
Then…
Luna stepped out onto the platform. As beautiful as the night sky, her long mane moving in an ethereal wind.
I slowly walked closer, "Luna," I said softly with a small smile.
"Page," she answered with a small smile of her own, taking another step closer, her nose touching mine softly.
I looked up into her eyes.
"Oh just kiss already, you're not fooling anypony," Cadence said as she walked past to give Twilight a hug.
Well, when she's right, she's right and I moved closer, kissing Luna deeply. Luna made a small happy sound, her large strong wing slipping around me and pulling me closer.
When I finally paid attention to the rest of the universe again, everypony else had already disembarked the train and I smiled up at Luna, "You know, at some point we should actually try to do a normal royal welcome."
Luna smiled and moved up next to me, slipping a wing across my back, "What is the fun in that, My Page," she said and nosed at my ear, brushing past the feathers attached to my mane there..
Twilight stepped up to hug Luna as well, "Welcome to Nocturnis."
"Thank you, Twilight," Luna said with a smile.
I looked at Shining Armor and Sunburst, raising my hoof, "Hey guys, how was the trip?"
Shining smiled and tapped his hoof against mine, "Long."
"But not unpleasant," Sunburst added and tapped his hoof against mine in turn, "I'm looking forward to seeing the dome."
"Me too," I agreed, "The dome for the train station worked nicely. Getting the large one up will be such a game changer."
"Uncle Page!"
I ducked down and caught the little bundle of energy into a hug before she could tackle me off my hooves, "Hi Flurry," I said with a grin.
Damn, what do they feed her! I swear, she's growing like a weed!
I looked to Twilight as she shifted her wings, looking towards the tracks.
"You look nervous," I told her quietly, moving close to put my side against hers.
Twilight sighed softly, "...Sorry," she said and took a slow deep breath, letting it back out, "Tonight we'll turn it on and I've been working on it for so long."
I smiled at her, "It'll work, don't worry. The small one did work nicely," I said and glanced up towards the very slight shimmer in the night sky. You could just barely make it out across the stars, making them glimmer.
The absolutely first place we had put beneath a test dome had been the train station. Because this was the one place we absolutely had to keep on the ground so it had been a good place to drop the first dozen obelisks at and see if it worked at close to full size.
Sparks shifted, leaning softly against me, "I know. But I also haven't seen my brother for a year and a half."
"I know," I said quietly and nosed at her ear, "Too bad your parents couldn't come too."
They had not been in Canterlot, both of them off to conferences. We should have sent the invitations earlier.
My fault.
"And Princess Celestia," Twilight agreed, "But somepony needs to stay and run the rest of Equestria."
I nodded.
I missed her. Still saw her for lessons every couple of nights, but even so. Dreams were just not the same.
My ears perked up at the sound of the incoming train and I looked towards it, seeing a light far into the darkness.
"They're here," Sparks said and gave me a quick hug with her wing before she pulled back and shook her head, her magic running across her and adjusting her hair and tail before she glanced at me and I felt her magic across me as well.
I smiled, raising my wings and posing a bit for her.
Sparks quickly blushed slightly and poked my side with her wing.
I winked at her again and then took a step back as the train came into the station, folding my ears against my head to keep the worst of the metal against metal break sounds as it started to slow down.
Moon Glow whistled and ponies quickly moved to form an honor guard on each side of the door.
It only took a couple of moments after the train stopped before the door opened and a full squad of Night Guard exited. They smoothly moved out and slipped into the holes in formation left by the Nocturnis guard.
Then…
Luna stepped out onto the platform. As beautiful as the night sky, her long mane moving in an ethereal wind.
I slowly walked closer, "Luna," I said softly with a small smile.
"Page," she answered with a small smile of her own, taking another step closer, her nose touching mine softly.
I looked up into her eyes.
"Oh just kiss already, you're not fooling anypony," Cadence said as she walked past to give Twilight a hug.
Well, when she's right, she's right and I moved closer, kissing Luna deeply. Luna made a small happy sound, her large strong wing slipping around me and pulling me closer.
When I finally paid attention to the rest of the universe again, everypony else had already disembarked the train and I smiled up at Luna, "You know, at some point we should actually try to do a normal royal welcome."
Luna smiled and moved up next to me, slipping a wing across my back, "What is the fun in that, My Page," she said and nosed at my ear, brushing past the feathers attached to my mane there..
Twilight stepped up to hug Luna as well, "Welcome to Nocturnis."
"Thank you, Twilight," Luna said with a smile.
I looked at Shining Armor and Sunburst, raising my hoof, "Hey guys, how was the trip?"
Shining smiled and tapped his hoof against mine, "Long."
"But not unpleasant," Sunburst added and tapped his hoof against mine in turn, "I'm looking forward to seeing the dome."
"Me too," I agreed, "The dome for the train station worked nicely. Getting the large one up will be such a game changer."
"Uncle Page!"
I ducked down and caught the little bundle of energy into a hug before she could tackle me off my hooves, "Hi Flurry," I said with a grin.
Damn, what do they feed her! I swear, she's growing like a weed!
- Location
- Error 505: pending move
And my feeling of impending doom gets worse, Joy.
So bets on the thestral Alicorn statue coming to life once the dome is up?
Looking Glass, in the context of this story, might be the opposite of what is expected to happen.
So three things:
1) The dome will nullifie magic on a large scale and break the Thestral Alicorn out.
2) it will attract the larger beasts of the forest instead of repell them.
3) it will break time and space, sending the entire domed area sideways in time/space/deminson for a period of time.
So bets on the thestral Alicorn statue coming to life once the dome is up?
Looking Glass, in the context of this story, might be the opposite of what is expected to happen.
So three things:
1) The dome will nullifie magic on a large scale and break the Thestral Alicorn out.
2) it will attract the larger beasts of the forest instead of repell them.
3) it will break time and space, sending the entire domed area sideways in time/space/deminson for a period of time.
Last edited:
Sunset walked into the room, floating her helmet from her head and shaking her mane back. Her magic ran through her mane, releasing it from its braid.
I leaned forward to watch from my spot next to Luna, looking past her as I did. I always found the view of Sunset doing that fascinating for some reason.
Which from the way she kept doing it after getting back home told me that she realized that.
Sunset crossed the room and jumped onto the bed, sinking down next to us before leaning against Luna with a small sigh, "Hey... how was the trip?" she asked.
"It was fine, Sunset," Luna answered and slipped a wing across her back, "Page said you were with the guard."
Sunset nodded, "We have been on high alert, doing sweeps of the inside perimeter. We need to make sure nothing big is inside the dome or wanders inside before the shield goes up tonight. Wouldn't be good if we brought the dome up, ponies dared to go down onto the surface and got eaten by something that stayed hidden inside."
I rolled onto my back, looking up at them, "You know, you could very easily leave that to the regular guard. You have the very good excuse of... you know, not having wings!"
Sunset smiled tiredly, looking at me, "Would you have? Besides, I can hold my own by teleporting."
Luna lit her horn and started to help Sunset off with her armor, "Even so," Luna said quietly, "I would have told you the same thing about that as I would have said to Page. Stop being dumb."
Sunset grinned, "Too late for that," and let Luna remove the armor to float it over to hang it over a stand by the wall, "But we're almost done."
Groaning softly, Sunset stretched out, "Mmm... Twi with her brother's family?"
I nodded, "Making sure they get settled in okay."
"Train went okay?" Sunset asked, looking up at Luna, raising her head and giving her a small nuzzle, "The work the train ponies did to get it working again was amazing."
"Didn't notice anything," Luna said and nosed, "I understand a Pegasus flies ahead while in the jungle?"
"Nocturnis guard, a team of five that rotates," Sunset agreed and relaxed again, "Make the train ride a day longer because it has to slow down a little, but makes things a lot safer. The train running again made a massive difference."
The year it took to get it up had been a difficult one.
A very difficult one. It has been tough for all of us and we had a lot of shortages.
Some of the most urgent and low volume items had been able to be shipped in via airship, such as medicine.
But a lot of things had run out or gotten really low.
But the ponies of Nocturnis had come together. Everypony had worked together, found alternatives, and gathered what food we needed.
We had refused special treatment too. We ate the same as everypony else, our grain supplies were limited to non-thestrals as they needed it a lot more than us. Well, more than me anyway, Twilight and Sunset got the same rations as everypony.
It had been an eight month period where I had run out of tea.
At least for the first three months, then an enterprising earth pony had discovered a plant you could make something approaching tea from. I mean, it wasn't tea, tea. But it was still pretty decent.
Even now when we have real tea, I still prefer the local blend in the mornings. There wasn't any caffeine in it that I could detect and it was very mild which was nice.
But we got through it.
Even now when things were up and running, our imports were way down compared to before. Sure, tools, metals and such, but our food imports? Something like twenty percent of before.
Most of which was grain for the non-thestral ponies and spices. Some fruits that didn't grow here yet such as apples.
But when it came to what we had to have in the food department, we were fairly self-sufficient already, at least when it came to pure calories.
In a few days the dome was up and we could clear some ground for rice along the river and...
We would be self-sufficient. At least when it came to food. Maybe we could even start farming animals for meat.
We were actually doing this.
Luna nodded, "In any case, it seems to be working," she said before she smiled at me, "I should prepare to lower the moon."
"We'll be here when you return."
Smiling, she gave me a small kiss before slipping off the bed and heading to the balcony.
As she did, Sunset scooted into the spot Luna had vacated and rested her head against my chest. I pulled her softly closer as I looked towards Luna, "You're exhausted," I told her quietly.
"Mmm," Sunset mumbled, "...Need to be up at sunset again."
"Sunny," I said and nosed at her ear, "You work too hard."
That got a small snort from her and a sleepy look, "Says you."
"I learned, so can you."
She made a small sleepy sound, "Mmm... only another night. Then we're done."
I stroked her mane as she fell asleep.
I leaned forward to watch from my spot next to Luna, looking past her as I did. I always found the view of Sunset doing that fascinating for some reason.
Which from the way she kept doing it after getting back home told me that she realized that.
Sunset crossed the room and jumped onto the bed, sinking down next to us before leaning against Luna with a small sigh, "Hey... how was the trip?" she asked.
"It was fine, Sunset," Luna answered and slipped a wing across her back, "Page said you were with the guard."
Sunset nodded, "We have been on high alert, doing sweeps of the inside perimeter. We need to make sure nothing big is inside the dome or wanders inside before the shield goes up tonight. Wouldn't be good if we brought the dome up, ponies dared to go down onto the surface and got eaten by something that stayed hidden inside."
I rolled onto my back, looking up at them, "You know, you could very easily leave that to the regular guard. You have the very good excuse of... you know, not having wings!"
Sunset smiled tiredly, looking at me, "Would you have? Besides, I can hold my own by teleporting."
Luna lit her horn and started to help Sunset off with her armor, "Even so," Luna said quietly, "I would have told you the same thing about that as I would have said to Page. Stop being dumb."
Sunset grinned, "Too late for that," and let Luna remove the armor to float it over to hang it over a stand by the wall, "But we're almost done."
Groaning softly, Sunset stretched out, "Mmm... Twi with her brother's family?"
I nodded, "Making sure they get settled in okay."
"Train went okay?" Sunset asked, looking up at Luna, raising her head and giving her a small nuzzle, "The work the train ponies did to get it working again was amazing."
"Didn't notice anything," Luna said and nosed, "I understand a Pegasus flies ahead while in the jungle?"
"Nocturnis guard, a team of five that rotates," Sunset agreed and relaxed again, "Make the train ride a day longer because it has to slow down a little, but makes things a lot safer. The train running again made a massive difference."
The year it took to get it up had been a difficult one.
A very difficult one. It has been tough for all of us and we had a lot of shortages.
Some of the most urgent and low volume items had been able to be shipped in via airship, such as medicine.
But a lot of things had run out or gotten really low.
But the ponies of Nocturnis had come together. Everypony had worked together, found alternatives, and gathered what food we needed.
We had refused special treatment too. We ate the same as everypony else, our grain supplies were limited to non-thestrals as they needed it a lot more than us. Well, more than me anyway, Twilight and Sunset got the same rations as everypony.
It had been an eight month period where I had run out of tea.
At least for the first three months, then an enterprising earth pony had discovered a plant you could make something approaching tea from. I mean, it wasn't tea, tea. But it was still pretty decent.
Even now when we have real tea, I still prefer the local blend in the mornings. There wasn't any caffeine in it that I could detect and it was very mild which was nice.
But we got through it.
Even now when things were up and running, our imports were way down compared to before. Sure, tools, metals and such, but our food imports? Something like twenty percent of before.
Most of which was grain for the non-thestral ponies and spices. Some fruits that didn't grow here yet such as apples.
But when it came to what we had to have in the food department, we were fairly self-sufficient already, at least when it came to pure calories.
In a few days the dome was up and we could clear some ground for rice along the river and...
We would be self-sufficient. At least when it came to food. Maybe we could even start farming animals for meat.
We were actually doing this.
Luna nodded, "In any case, it seems to be working," she said before she smiled at me, "I should prepare to lower the moon."
"We'll be here when you return."
Smiling, she gave me a small kiss before slipping off the bed and heading to the balcony.
As she did, Sunset scooted into the spot Luna had vacated and rested her head against my chest. I pulled her softly closer as I looked towards Luna, "You're exhausted," I told her quietly.
"Mmm," Sunset mumbled, "...Need to be up at sunset again."
"Sunny," I said and nosed at her ear, "You work too hard."
That got a small snort from her and a sleepy look, "Says you."
"I learned, so can you."
She made a small sleepy sound, "Mmm... only another night. Then we're done."
I stroked her mane as she fell asleep.
- Location
- Error 505: pending move
My Doom Meter is Screaming like a Geiger counter near a radiation source!
Things are about to get SPICY!
Things are about to get SPICY!
I slowly slipped out of the peace of sleep at the movement next to me. I grumbled and tightened the hold with my wing.
"Page... need to go..." Sunset said softly and stirred again.
"...Stay. Early..."
She sighed softly against my neck before she carefully untangled herself and slipped out of the bed. I forced an eye open to look after her. Just in time for Sparks to scoot into the place Sunny had evacuated and my entire vision was filled with mane.
I closed my eye again, relaxing. It was early. Luna was deep asleep behind me still.
Twilight sleepily rolled over with a small groan of protest, shifting until her nose was beneath my chin before she settled down again, already back asleep.
But I couldn't fall asleep again. Tonight was the night.
The night we change Nocturnis.
But the sun was still well above the horizon, light filtering in through the bubble of darkness over the bed. Enough to keep it from waking Sunset or Twilight, but I could still see it.
Hours until Luna would get up. Way too early.
Slipping my wing across Twilight's, I held her tighter, pressed my nose against her mane and slowly started to return to the dream realm.
Sparkles shimmered through the dream realm and Luna smiled at me as I returned to it, "What happened?" she asked.
I smiled and stretched my wings, "Sunny got out of bed, woke me up," I said, "She works too hard."
Luna raised an eyebrow at me.
"I know, I know. But things are about to get better for everypony. And I may just ban Sunny from her position leading the guard to get her to slow down."
Luna smiled and shook her head, "Sunset would not appreciate that."
"...No," I admitted and sighed, "And I wouldn't do that. And admittedly it has been crazy with all the preparations for the activation of the shield. I may have been the least busy pony actually, all I did was write a speech."
That got a wider smile from her and she bumped her nose against mine, "Welcome to politics."
"Poly-Tics. Multiple bloodsucking insects," I said, "Yeah, that seems about right."
Luna laughed and moved up next to me, slipping her wing across my back in a hug, "I see you are familiar with the noble and venerable houses of Equestria."
I sighed and leaned against her, "Indeed. How are things on that front anyway? Your sister says everything is fine, but..."
"In reality, it is," Luna admitted, "Nothing they find overly upsetting has been happening lately so matters have calmed down to the usual simmer."
"That's good I suppose," I said with a small frown.
Luna nodded, "Especially after they started to calm down from the second changeling invasion."
I grinned at that, "They actually call it that? Overdramatic much?"
"Very," Luna agreed, "But it did calm down fairly quickly."
Changelings joining the Canterlot workforce.
I had spent special time squashing nightmares. Or if I had the time, turning them around to be nice ones during the first couple of weeks of the Canterlot hive 'invading' canterlot. It had definitely been an adaptation period for everypony involved. Ponies or Changelings.
But apparently it was difficult to keep being nervous around beings that make you coffee.
"I was glad to hear that," I said and rested my head against her neck, "But I suspect we may stir things up a little soon."
Luna shifted her head to look down at me, "What do you have planned?" she asked suspiciously.
I smiled at her innocently, "What? Me?"
Luna tickled a feather along my side and I grinned,
"Nothing planned, just natural consequences," I admitted, "With the shield up, we will be able to stop just surviving down here. We'll start farming for real. Exporting exotic fruits, wines. We found some spices similar to pepper that some of us think may become popular. It is going to mess with the market in the rest of Equestria. Some ponies won't be happy."
"That always happens," Luna admitted, "Markets are always shifting and ponies are always unhappy about it."
I nodded, "I know, and I'm mostly worried about the villages close to the edge of the jungle. They have traditionally been the source of these kinds of things. We're about to be in a position to outcompete them with both quality and quantity. That will cause resentment and that will spread."
Luna flicked one ear and then touched her nose against mine, "Work with them."
"I plan to try."
If nothing else, having a bunch of friendly ponies to help interface with the rest of Equestria would be very useful. Even if they only did it from greed.
"Page... need to go..." Sunset said softly and stirred again.
"...Stay. Early..."
She sighed softly against my neck before she carefully untangled herself and slipped out of the bed. I forced an eye open to look after her. Just in time for Sparks to scoot into the place Sunny had evacuated and my entire vision was filled with mane.
I closed my eye again, relaxing. It was early. Luna was deep asleep behind me still.
Twilight sleepily rolled over with a small groan of protest, shifting until her nose was beneath my chin before she settled down again, already back asleep.
But I couldn't fall asleep again. Tonight was the night.
The night we change Nocturnis.
But the sun was still well above the horizon, light filtering in through the bubble of darkness over the bed. Enough to keep it from waking Sunset or Twilight, but I could still see it.
Hours until Luna would get up. Way too early.
Slipping my wing across Twilight's, I held her tighter, pressed my nose against her mane and slowly started to return to the dream realm.
Sparkles shimmered through the dream realm and Luna smiled at me as I returned to it, "What happened?" she asked.
I smiled and stretched my wings, "Sunny got out of bed, woke me up," I said, "She works too hard."
Luna raised an eyebrow at me.
"I know, I know. But things are about to get better for everypony. And I may just ban Sunny from her position leading the guard to get her to slow down."
Luna smiled and shook her head, "Sunset would not appreciate that."
"...No," I admitted and sighed, "And I wouldn't do that. And admittedly it has been crazy with all the preparations for the activation of the shield. I may have been the least busy pony actually, all I did was write a speech."
That got a wider smile from her and she bumped her nose against mine, "Welcome to politics."
"Poly-Tics. Multiple bloodsucking insects," I said, "Yeah, that seems about right."
Luna laughed and moved up next to me, slipping her wing across my back in a hug, "I see you are familiar with the noble and venerable houses of Equestria."
I sighed and leaned against her, "Indeed. How are things on that front anyway? Your sister says everything is fine, but..."
"In reality, it is," Luna admitted, "Nothing they find overly upsetting has been happening lately so matters have calmed down to the usual simmer."
"That's good I suppose," I said with a small frown.
Luna nodded, "Especially after they started to calm down from the second changeling invasion."
I grinned at that, "They actually call it that? Overdramatic much?"
"Very," Luna agreed, "But it did calm down fairly quickly."
Changelings joining the Canterlot workforce.
I had spent special time squashing nightmares. Or if I had the time, turning them around to be nice ones during the first couple of weeks of the Canterlot hive 'invading' canterlot. It had definitely been an adaptation period for everypony involved. Ponies or Changelings.
But apparently it was difficult to keep being nervous around beings that make you coffee.
"I was glad to hear that," I said and rested my head against her neck, "But I suspect we may stir things up a little soon."
Luna shifted her head to look down at me, "What do you have planned?" she asked suspiciously.
I smiled at her innocently, "What? Me?"
Luna tickled a feather along my side and I grinned,
"Nothing planned, just natural consequences," I admitted, "With the shield up, we will be able to stop just surviving down here. We'll start farming for real. Exporting exotic fruits, wines. We found some spices similar to pepper that some of us think may become popular. It is going to mess with the market in the rest of Equestria. Some ponies won't be happy."
"That always happens," Luna admitted, "Markets are always shifting and ponies are always unhappy about it."
I nodded, "I know, and I'm mostly worried about the villages close to the edge of the jungle. They have traditionally been the source of these kinds of things. We're about to be in a position to outcompete them with both quality and quantity. That will cause resentment and that will spread."
Luna flicked one ear and then touched her nose against mine, "Work with them."
"I plan to try."
If nothing else, having a bunch of friendly ponies to help interface with the rest of Equestria would be very useful. Even if they only did it from greed.
No not greed. Enlightened self-interest, it's Moore Public Relations friendly.
- Location
- Error 505: pending move
I am now in my Doom Bunker, awaiting the Doom Shoe to drop.
Seriously, Discords foot is tapping frantically in Morse code in the corner, it's saying "Not deep enough" on repeat!
I can not wait for the next chapter!
Seriously, Discords foot is tapping frantically in Morse code in the corner, it's saying "Not deep enough" on repeat!
I can not wait for the next chapter!
Everypony was gathering.
I could see them gathering outside the balcony of the throne room in the small square there. I took a slow and deep breath, trying out Sparks usual technique to calm down.
Funnily enough? Actually worked a little.
"I don't like speeches," I admitted quietly. Luna smiled and stretched her wings before folding them again,
"You are good at them."
I glowered at her, "You just say that because you don't need to do it."
Luna smiled, "That as well," and moved closer, sitting down and leaning against my side, "I'll stay to the side. This is your, Twilight's and Midnight's moment. I don't want to take any attention away from you three."
I slipped a wing around her, resting my head against hers, "You wouldn't. Right?" I asked, looking at Twilight as she entered, "You and Midnight got this entire thing done. None of us could have done this without all your hard work."
Twilight blushed softly, "Page, that-"
"Is completely accurate," I told her softly but firmly and pulled her close to my other side, "Seriously Twilight. Without you and Midnight… no decursing, no Nocturnis and now no magic barrier. Celestia, Luna, Cadance, myself… none of us could have done anything you two have done. Without you two, Nocturnis would not exist."
"And neither would it without you!"
"So can be said about everypony in Nocturnis," I said and gave her a quick hug before glancing towards the balcony, "...Getting to be time."
Midnight entered through the door and looked at us, "We're all ready to go."
"Well, let's get this done then," I said and got up, "Let's not let ponies wait."
Twilight nodded firmly and got up as well. Luna smiled and nosed at my ear before pulling back and getting to her hooves, "Indeed."
I took a deep breath, "Let's go," I said and walked out onto the balcony, Twilight quickly moved to walk next to me and Midnight joined up next to her, shaking her mane back quickly before we walked out into public view.
The stars and moon shone above, the crowd and square lit only with the heavenly lights and softly glowing crystals.
The conversations died out and everypony turned in our direction.
The majority were thestrals, but I could see pegasi, unicorns, earth ponies. Two griffins even towards the back up on the roof of one of the buildings, they moved in a month after the train started to run again. That had been a welcome surprise.
I glanced down at the speech I had written, floating in my magic before I looked out across the crowd again.
I had spent hours writing this. Hours more poking, editing, perfecting.
"You know," I said and looked out across the crowd, letting my voice carry, "I had this entire speech all planned and ready," before I tossed the stack of papers over my shoulder, "Well, that was a waste of time. I should just stop doing that."
That got slight chuckles.
I smiled and continued, "Because when I look at all of you and remember all you have done, all you have accomplished, any words I may have put together seems feeble against all that," I said and put a hoof on the railing, "Building this place. The dangers of the forest. The lack of supplies after the train accident. Everything we've all gone through and you have met every challenge you have faced with an energy and determination I found very humbling."
Silence.
"And now we enter a new chapter in the story of Nocturnis," I continued after a deep breath, "In a few moments, Princess' Midnight and Twilight will activate the barrier that will cover the entire village with a barrier to keep the large predators away from our village. For the last few days our brave guards have patrolled the area to make sure none enter and now it is almost time," I said and then smiled at Twilight, "Princess' Twilight and Midnight… each and every one of you have them to thank from being released of the curse. And now they have given us all a chance to become more than we are. A way to safely touch the ground."
It started as a soft rumble.
The sound of hooves against wood. Ponies were stomping their approval. It crashed down over us and I took a deep breath, turning to look out over the gathered ponies.
Midnight shifted a bit uncomfortably.
I gave them a firm nod, "Go."
Twilight shared a look with Midnight and they nodded. They turned to face each other, their horns glowing bright, lighting up the entire square up with a blinding light in the otherwise dark light.
Their horn tips touched before they threw their heads back, horns towards the sky and beams of light shot from their horns towards the clear sky.
There was a flash of light high in the sky and a shimmering field spread across the sky out of view from the village towards the horizons.
The glowing sheath of energy shimmered, fading away to just a slight shimmer in the stars.
Twilight and Midnight breathed heavily, Twilight shooting me a smile, "It's done," she said then looked out over the crowd and raised her voice, "It's done!"
Now it was more than stomps in approval.
Cheers.
The cheers got louder, the platform rumbled with the stomping of hooves. I grinned and reared up, spreading my wings, lighting up my horn to amplify my voice over the celebrations, "So tonight we celebrate the second of Nocturnis new holidays!" I yelled loudly, "The NIGHT OF THE TWINS!"
Twilight and Midnight both gaped at me as the cheering redoubled.
I could see them gathering outside the balcony of the throne room in the small square there. I took a slow and deep breath, trying out Sparks usual technique to calm down.
Funnily enough? Actually worked a little.
"I don't like speeches," I admitted quietly. Luna smiled and stretched her wings before folding them again,
"You are good at them."
I glowered at her, "You just say that because you don't need to do it."
Luna smiled, "That as well," and moved closer, sitting down and leaning against my side, "I'll stay to the side. This is your, Twilight's and Midnight's moment. I don't want to take any attention away from you three."
I slipped a wing around her, resting my head against hers, "You wouldn't. Right?" I asked, looking at Twilight as she entered, "You and Midnight got this entire thing done. None of us could have done this without all your hard work."
Twilight blushed softly, "Page, that-"
"Is completely accurate," I told her softly but firmly and pulled her close to my other side, "Seriously Twilight. Without you and Midnight… no decursing, no Nocturnis and now no magic barrier. Celestia, Luna, Cadance, myself… none of us could have done anything you two have done. Without you two, Nocturnis would not exist."
"And neither would it without you!"
"So can be said about everypony in Nocturnis," I said and gave her a quick hug before glancing towards the balcony, "...Getting to be time."
Midnight entered through the door and looked at us, "We're all ready to go."
"Well, let's get this done then," I said and got up, "Let's not let ponies wait."
Twilight nodded firmly and got up as well. Luna smiled and nosed at my ear before pulling back and getting to her hooves, "Indeed."
I took a deep breath, "Let's go," I said and walked out onto the balcony, Twilight quickly moved to walk next to me and Midnight joined up next to her, shaking her mane back quickly before we walked out into public view.
The stars and moon shone above, the crowd and square lit only with the heavenly lights and softly glowing crystals.
The conversations died out and everypony turned in our direction.
The majority were thestrals, but I could see pegasi, unicorns, earth ponies. Two griffins even towards the back up on the roof of one of the buildings, they moved in a month after the train started to run again. That had been a welcome surprise.
I glanced down at the speech I had written, floating in my magic before I looked out across the crowd again.
I had spent hours writing this. Hours more poking, editing, perfecting.
"You know," I said and looked out across the crowd, letting my voice carry, "I had this entire speech all planned and ready," before I tossed the stack of papers over my shoulder, "Well, that was a waste of time. I should just stop doing that."
That got slight chuckles.
I smiled and continued, "Because when I look at all of you and remember all you have done, all you have accomplished, any words I may have put together seems feeble against all that," I said and put a hoof on the railing, "Building this place. The dangers of the forest. The lack of supplies after the train accident. Everything we've all gone through and you have met every challenge you have faced with an energy and determination I found very humbling."
Silence.
"And now we enter a new chapter in the story of Nocturnis," I continued after a deep breath, "In a few moments, Princess' Midnight and Twilight will activate the barrier that will cover the entire village with a barrier to keep the large predators away from our village. For the last few days our brave guards have patrolled the area to make sure none enter and now it is almost time," I said and then smiled at Twilight, "Princess' Twilight and Midnight… each and every one of you have them to thank from being released of the curse. And now they have given us all a chance to become more than we are. A way to safely touch the ground."
It started as a soft rumble.
The sound of hooves against wood. Ponies were stomping their approval. It crashed down over us and I took a deep breath, turning to look out over the gathered ponies.
Midnight shifted a bit uncomfortably.
I gave them a firm nod, "Go."
Twilight shared a look with Midnight and they nodded. They turned to face each other, their horns glowing bright, lighting up the entire square up with a blinding light in the otherwise dark light.
Their horn tips touched before they threw their heads back, horns towards the sky and beams of light shot from their horns towards the clear sky.
There was a flash of light high in the sky and a shimmering field spread across the sky out of view from the village towards the horizons.
The glowing sheath of energy shimmered, fading away to just a slight shimmer in the stars.
Twilight and Midnight breathed heavily, Twilight shooting me a smile, "It's done," she said then looked out over the crowd and raised her voice, "It's done!"
Now it was more than stomps in approval.
Cheers.
The cheers got louder, the platform rumbled with the stomping of hooves. I grinned and reared up, spreading my wings, lighting up my horn to amplify my voice over the celebrations, "So tonight we celebrate the second of Nocturnis new holidays!" I yelled loudly, "The NIGHT OF THE TWINS!"
Twilight and Midnight both gaped at me as the cheering redoubled.
- Location
- USA
I wonder if he'll riff off of Celestia's shtick and introduce murals, or statues or something?
Also, because it has to be said, "Huzzah, the fun had doubled!"
Also, because it has to be said, "Huzzah, the fun had doubled!"
Murals would be a good form of visual story telling.
Plays might be another interesting option. Live retellings and rememberance of past events.
So~, how long before every pony finds out that they just traveled a goodly chunk into the past because of some mystical mumbo jumbo about planetary alignments, and temporal shenanigan twins? And the prediction that past Bat Pony Alicorn is/was Page time traveled to the past, are proven true?