//------------------------------// // Chapter Six // Story: Rats In The Belfry // by Beegirl Scribbler //------------------------------//                                     “...which brings me to my seventeenth complaint." Blueblood sniffed. "Where is my proper aunt?” He cast a dismissive glance on the alicorn sitting before him. “After all, I am a highly sensitive prince, and I require to be seen to by the correct ponies. I mean no offense to the alicorn who sees to the night, of course, but I expected to speak to Princess Celestia rather than somepony who sought to darken my sky permanently.” Luna glared. She sat on her throne, and Fluttershy sat on the floor beside her. “I acknowledge that the alicorn who sees to the night is a princess, of course, and that she is my aunt as well, but I do not acknowledge her authority over my living conditions, as I do not know her.” Luna kept glaring. She remembered a day it had been seen as permissible for a princess to smite down unruly nobles with the magical energies of pure hatred. Unfortunately, Canterlot had outgrown such pleasant standards in favor of much stricter ones. “Which, at last, brings me to today's grievance.” Prince Blueblood took a deep breath. “Why is the commoner pegasus allowed to walk with royalty? I have gone over the files, and I am not aware that she possesses any sort of rank. The princesses generally abjure contact with myself, claiming to have no time, so why should this peasant be given such an honor?” The unicorn royal raised an eyebrow. “It makes little sense to myself, of course.” Luna maintained her glare. “That is not a bad question, princess.” Luna turned her glare on Grogar. The ram sat on what was generally Celestia's throne, wearing a great, wide smile. “Why should you 'abjure contact' with your own blood? Please, explain. We are very curious.” “Yes.” Blueblood tapped the floor, scowling. “As the sheep said.” Grogar's eyes flashed. “What did you just refer to me as?” “Hm?” Blueblood glanced up, blinking. “Oh, I referred to you as a—” “Blueblood!” Luna snapped. Blueblood and Grogar both turned to her. “We have heard your complaints. I will now give you a list of points to address them.” “Well, I was not finished.” Blueblood waved his hoof dismissively. “Wait a short time longer. Aunt Celestia would have patience with my royal protestations, and you may as well.” “Uh-oh,” Luna heard Fluttershy say. Luna clenched her teeth. “Pro...ceed.” Pleasing images flashed into her head of fire and mayhem. She tried to let them comfort her, and tried to resist the urge to make them reality. “I shall.” Blueblood's horn flashed, and a can of phenol throat spray materialized. He sprayed a bit into his mouth, then cleared his throat. A colorful clown wig appeared on his head. He blinked. A moment later, a large red nose appeared at the end of his snout. He stared blankly. He was suddenly wearing four massive, ridiculous shoes. “What?” He looked up at Luna, eyes narrowing. Luna looked back at him, confused. Blueblood looked at Grogar, who smirked and shrugged. “I require a mirror,” Blueblood said shakily. Grogar's bell rang, and a mirror promptly appeared in front of the prince. Blueblood let out a shrill scream and ran away. His horn glowed brightly as he appeared to be struggling (unsuccessfully) to detach the clown paraphernalia. He bolted out of the throne room, still screaming. Luna stared after him. She looked at Grogar, frowning, but Grogar shook his head. He gestured to the corner of the room. Luna cocked her head, seeing nothing but plain gray stone. After a moment, though, something shifted. An alicorn the same color as the walls emerged, trotting up to the thrones. Her horn glowed, and her coat and mane returned to their ordinary colors. Luna blinked. “Cadance?” Cadance grinned, giving a guilty shrug. “Hi, Auntie.” “You dressed Prince Blueblood in clownish devices.” Cadance rolled her eyes. “What's he going to do, declare war? The Crystal 'Empire' is a mostly independent territory. That silly fop can't touch us.” “Quite right!” Grogar said, stepping forward. He cocked his head, eying Cadance with a look Luna didn't like. “But Princess Luna can.” “What are you saying, Grogar?” Luna asked. Grogar turned, chuckling. “Princess Cadance's state is in the control of the Equestrian government. Discipline her for that disrespect shown towards one of your nobility.” Luna's eyes widened. “What? But—Blueblood angered you, as well!” “You have your duty.” Grogar cocked his head the other way. “Unless you are not prepared to see to it?” Cadance looked nervous. Luna looked at her, then back at Grogar. This inspection was crucial. She couldn't afford to bungle it, and Cadance had misbehaved. But...her eyes narrowed to slits. “This is my kingdom, Grogar. Do not presume to tell me how to govern it.” Grogar didn't hesitate. “Very well!” he said with unsettling cheer. His bell rang, and the red-robed figure appeared out of nowhere—already making a note. “Luna, you have defied me in a most unseemly manner, but I will acknowledge that that is how you wish to govern.” He raised an eyebrow. “For now.” Luna stared at him. “What are you saying, Lord Grogar?” Grogar beamed. “I am saying...why don't we find a place to eat?” His eyes glittered. “I am famished.” Luna, Fluttershy and Grogar approached the small establishment known as Donut Joe's. The night was a bit brighter than usual, thanks to Grogar's practical placing of the stars, but it was still the only shop open at this hour. Which was unfortunate. It was Luna's favorite café, being the only one she could easily frequent, and Luna had a feeling Grogar was not Joe's ideal patron. She eyed the shop warily. Perhaps it will not be so bad, she thought. Grogar would not dare truly harass an ordinary Canterlot citizen. The shop's front door burst into flames. Luna watched the fire rise around the entrance, though it never spread to the walls around it. It burned unnaturally bright for several seconds, and Luna could feel the heat even from the other side of the street. After a few moments, the fire began to simmer down. The door was disintegrating to ash. The smoke was forming into a slowly growing sphere, completely containing any effects of the blaze. Soon, the door was gone. The sphere moved, flying high into the air and out of sight. Grogar's bell stopped ringing. The ram smiled at Luna, then trotted through the ash-covered archway. After a moment, there was a horrified squawk from within the shop. Donut Joe's reactions appeared to have finally caught up to the present. “Um...” Fluttershy trotted ahead of Luna, eyes cast to the ground, “...maybe he just...really doesn't like doors.”