//------------------------------//
// Chapter 12 
// Story: The Blueblood Chronicles 
// by No One and Nobody 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 12: Celly and Blueblood Make Amends and Blueblood Makes Some Friends.


Celestia whistled nonchalantly as she awaited her nephew's return. Inside she worried about what had happened at the rock farm.

I hope he's changed at least a little.

"Your highness," said a guard, coming into the room, "Your nephew has returned."

Celestia swallowed. Time to see if she had been right.

"Thank you Bivouac. Please ask him to meet me in my study."

Bivouac nodded and left.

Celestia rose from her throne and walked through the hall of stained glass windows, the setting sun sending fiery light through. Luna walked past her, still in her pajamas, preparing to raise the moon.

"Good evening Tia,"

"Goodnight Lulu."

Luna rolled her eyes and kept walking.

Smiling, Celestia turned down a hall to her study. Pausing for a moment outside the door, she closed her eyes and said a little prayer that Blueblood had learned something on the rock farm.

"Blueblood?" she said, peeking around the door.

"Yes?" came a voice from behind her.

Celestia jumped up and turned around to find her nephew smirking.

"How was your, uh, trip?"

Blueblood raised an eyebrow.

"Oh you mean how was my punishment?"

Celestia braced for a tirade. She had been afraid of this.

Silence.

Celestia opened her eyes to see Blueblood still smirking, but not in a snooty way.

Could it be?

Blueblood laughed, something Celestia hadn't seen him do in years.

"Gotcha Auntie."

Celestia cried and grabbed Blueblood in a tight embrace.

"Um Auntie? I can't breathe."

"Sorry," said Celestia, letting go and smiling, "I'm just glad the real you is back."

"So am I."

"You know what this calls for..." said Celestia, "Some celebratory cake!"

You'd have celebratory cake for a funeral Auntie, thought Blueblood, grinning and rolling his eyes.

"Now come, we have much to discuss," said Celestia, skipping happily towards the palace kitchens with her nephew in tow.





"Well, that was a fantastic story Blueblood," said Celestia, spraying her nephew's face with cake crumbs, "I would like to meet this Maud at some point. Maybe after the rock-growing season."

Blueblood bit his lip. He'd told his aunt everything except Maud's advice about his cutie mark. That was personal and he didn't want the Sun Princess to give him the answer to who he was. He had to find that out on his own.

"And that was some fabulous cake," said Celestia, wiping her mouth with a napkin.

"I suppose, thought next time, could we have apple fritters, do ya think?"

Celestia stared at him.

"Why, yes. Yes we could."

Blueblood smiled.

"Well, anyway," said Celestia, changing the subject, "I was thinking you should get to know Fancypants. He's-"

"I kinda want to stay away from the high society ponies from now on Auntie."

"Oh but Fancypants is very down to Equus and I think he'd be a good role model as well as a good friend."

"Okay."

"Splendid," said Celestia, rising from chair, "I'll invite him over for dinner tonight."

"Auntie, it's nighttime already," Blueblood said, nodding his head out the window to the moon.

Celestia frowned.

"Oh, right. Well, he can come over tomorrow."

"Okay," said Blueblood, also rising, "I'm gonna go get some sleep. See you tomorrow."

Celestia skipped to her room, whistling happily, and when she finally fell asleep she dreamed, for the first time, of cake, sunny rays, quality time with Luna and most of all, Blueblood being his old self again.

On a balcony high above Canterlot, Luna smiled.

"I see thou hast learned to dream, Sister. May they always be this sweet."





Blueblood shuffled uneasily at the dinner table. The dinner jacket he had been so comfortable in for so long, seemed stifling.

"So sorry to be late Your Highness's," said Fancypants, entering with a pink and white unicorn at his side.

Fashionably late, thought Blueblood, Just like Silver Dollar.

"I understand," said Celestia, "Was it a long book?"

What?

"Why yes," said Fancypants, "You wouldn't think a picture book would be long, but it was. And once I started reading, the orphans wouldn't let me stop."

"Fancypants does a lot of work at Canterlot orphanage," explained Celestia to Blueblood.

"You should come around someday my boy- eh, Your Highness," said Fancypants, "I'm sure the orphans would love to meet a prince."

"That's sounds fun," said Blueblood, "And you can call me Blueblood."

"Wonderful," said Fancypants.

The unicorn prodded him in the side.

"Oh, where are my manners tonight?" said Fancypants, indicating to his friend, "I would like you to meet Fleur De Lis,"

Ah, different mare every night. Just like Silver Dollar.

"My adopted daughter."

What?

"Fancypants met me at the orphanage," Fleur said, "And we became the best of friends. So much that he adopted me."

"She was the most spirited filly there," said Fancypants, hugging her, "Even if she can be a bit of a show-off."

Fleur smiled sheepishly.

Blueblood was smiling wide-eyed at this point. He hadn't expected Fancypants to be so... Nice.

"What are you and Fleur doing tomorrow Fancypants?" asked Celestia, "Perhaps Blueblood would like to join you."

Blueblood nodded vigorously.

"Well," said Fancypants, rubbing his muzzle, "Let's see now. Fleur, myself and my wife were going to have a family picnic but then we are going to go to the Canterlot soup kitchen if you'd like to come. I'd invite you to the picnic but it's sort of a family thing."

"Why didn't you bring your wife tonight?" asked Blueblood.

"Oh she wanted to stay and sing the orphans to sleep," said Fleur, "But she should be along shortly."

If Silver Dollar could see these ponies, thought Blueblood with a grin.

"Well," asked Fancypants, "Would you like to join us at the soup kitchen tomorrow?"

"I'd love to," said Blueblood.

"Dinner is served!" announced a waiter.





"Here is your meal sir," said Blueblood, passing an elderly stallion a bowl of steaming stew.

The stallion grinned.

"Shanks, shonny," he said through his toothless muzzle.

Blueblood looked over to Fleur de Lis, who was bringing food to a family seated in a booth.

Though she was covered in food stains and wearing a greasy apron, Blueblood thought at that moment she was the loveliest mare in all of Canterlot.


***


"WHAT!?!?" screamed Rarity, "You and Fleur de Lis? I simply can't imagine-"

"You don't need to Rarity," said Blueblood, "She already had a stallionfriend. But she did become like my adopted sister."

"Aww, that's sweet," said Applejack, "What did ya'll do together?"

"We would often serve at the shelter and after I told her about what Maud had taught me she helped me in my quest to discover myself."

"Ooh, were you lost?" said Pinkie.

"In a way Ms. Pie."

"But I thought you didn't want anypony to know about that," said Twilight, "I mean, you didn't tell Princess Celestia."

"But Fleur wasn't a princess. Princess Celestia could've just told me what my special talent was. Fleur just helped me in my quest."

"You should've called mah sister and her friends," said Applejack, "They probably would've admitted you to their club."

Blueblood smiled.

"Soooooooo," said Rarity, "Did you find out who you were with Fleur's help?"

"No," said Blueblood, "We just couldn't figure out who I was and what my cutiemark meant. I probably would've given up had it not been for Fleur's persistence."


***


"ARGH!" growled Blueblood, throwing the compass at a wall, "I'll never get the hang of directions!!"

Fleur picked up the compass and magically fixed the dent.

"Well I'm running out of ideas."

"That's because it's hopeless," said Blueblood, pouting, "Maybe I just don't have a talent."

"I'm sure we'll find-"

"NO! We tried navigation, politics, math, art, science. I fail at all of them. My mark is just a status symbol."

He hung his head.

"I always liked to think I was somepony."

"You are Blueblood," said Fleur, rubbing his shoulder, "You're generous, you're kind, you're loyal, brave and honest."

"That's only me in the past six months," said Blueblood, "I used to be-"

"Forget who you used to be. That Blueblood has been replaced by another Blueblood, a better one. In my opinion, the True one."

"You really think so?"

"I know so," said Fleur, picking up a list, "Now, what should we try next?"

"How about... Magic?"


***


"Fleur sounds absolutely lovely!" said Rarity, "You simply must introduce me to her before we leave!"

"Of course."

"Splendid!" said Rarity, "What happened next?"

"Well, Fleur and Fancypants introduced me to the nicest ponies in Canterlot, including one particular stallion who answered some real questions I had."


***


"Didn't your friend say he'd be here at noon?" asked Blueblood.

Fleur de Lis and Blueblood sat at a table at a Parisian cafe, awaiting the arrival of one of Fleur's friends.

"He's on a weird schedule," said Fleur, "But he should be here soon."

A pegasus guard landed in front of them and sat down.

"Sorry Fleur," he said, ordering an iced tea, "They called a special formation of the guards so I couldn't get away."

The pegasus noticed Blueblood.

"Oh, sorry," he said bowing, "Your majesty."

"Blueblood, please."

"What's with this Fleur? You didn't tell me that you knew the prince."

"Sorry Stormy."

"Wait a second," said Blueblood, "Stormy? Your name wouldn't happen to be..."

"Stormwing," said the pegasus, "Well technically Stormwing VIII. I was named after my great-great-great, well you get the idea, granduncle, Corporal Stormwing."

"I knew him," said Blueblood.

"Wow, I knew you were old, but that's just crazy."

Blueblood stared at the stallion's face. Despite being Stormwing's great-great-great (etc. etc.) grandnephew, he looked exactly like him.

"Who were you related to? Aneighdeus or Lily?"

"Lily was my great-great-great and so on grandmother."

"Aww, little Lily got married?" said Blueblood, "I would've never guessed it. She was just too cute."

"What was she like when you knew her?"

"She was still a foal when I knew her but she was so adorable and sweet. She wanted to be a botanist."

"She was," said Stormwing VIII, "She ended up with a lily for a cutie mark and grew up to become the best botanist Equestria ever knew. She even opened the Blueblood hall of botany."

"I went to its opening!" exclaimed Blueblood, "But, that was Lily?"

"Yes."

"Well that explains the name."

"She probably named it after you because of all the fond memories she had of you as a foal."

"You know," said Blueblood, "I do remember the curator of the hall talking to me."

"What did she say?"

"I didn't listen," said Blueblood frowning, "I must have hurt her so bad, ignoring her like that."

"That may explain why she never returned to Canterlot again after that," said Stormwing VIII.

"How could I have been so mean and careless to her? I disgust myself."

"I'm sure she forgave you," said Stormwing VIII, "She never wrote anything nasty about you in her diary."

"Her diary?!"

"Yeah, I got a trunk of her possessions when my grandfather died. In it was her diary. Really a fascinating read."

"May I see it?" asked Blueblood.

"Yeah sure. It's at my place. Come with me."

Fleur nodded.

"I'll take care of the check. You two go on."

Blueblood followed Stormwing VIII out of the restaurant to his apartment.





"Here ya go," said Stormwing VIII, passing Blueblood a small, pink journal, "This was her one from when she was young. And this," he said taking out a leather-bound book, "Is from around when she opened the hall."

Blueblood took the pink diary and leafed through it.

"Dekember 12 (or 13 I don't really know),

We're leaving Cantelot toonite after we 8 eat at de catsle. Stormwing's frend Blublod tryd to kep us tere but mommy and daddy ex eca eskaped. Blublod iss nice but he sure does eat a ton. I tink hel get fat if he dudn't wach wut he ates."

Blueblood laughed and turned some pages.

"Aprl 15 (I know what tody is cuse its a bad day),

Stormy isn't aliev anymore died tooday. I cryd a lot, almost more dan Blublod, but he cryd more. Wel, not mor dan mommy. She cryd the mostest. I told Stormwing to not dye, but he didn't lissen. I cant tell wheter Im angry or sad. Mommy says Im bot. I tink Im mor sad thou. I luv Stormwing and I mis him."

Blueblood felt a tear roll down his face. He'd forgotten about poor Lily.

"You okay?" asked Stormwing VIII.

"Yeah," said Blueblood, sniffling, "Hey Stormwing, you wouldn't mind if I borrowed these, would you?"

"Not at all," said Stormwing, "I never had much of a use for 'em."

"Thanks," said Blueblood, flipping open the other journal and found the entry he had been looking for.

"June 23,

I saw Prince Blueblood at the opening ceremony of Blueblood hall. I tried to talk to him but he seemed to have all but forgotten me. He didn't even recognize me when I told him my name. I mean, I haven't seen him since Stormwing died but I expected him to at least remember me. I get the feeling that he doesn't have any good friends though. I hope he finds a way past this attitude he has.

Professor Lily Stormwing Blossom."

"Stormwing?"

"What?" asked Stormwing VIII.

"Her middle name was Stormwing?"

"She took that name shortly after her brother died," said Stormwing VIII.

"How could I have just forgotten her?" asked Blueblood, "She even introduced herself to me. I can't believe myself."

"Hey, don't worry, it's in the past," said Stormwing VIII.

Stormwing whacked Blueblood on the head with his forehoof.

"HEY!" exclaimed Blueblood, rubbing his noggin, "What did you do that for?"

"It doesn't matter," Stormwing said, "It is in the past."

Blueblood smiled.

"Did I say something funny?"

"No, you just reminded me of somepony."

"Well, happy reading," said Stormwing VIII.

He wrapped up all the journals and put them in a saddlebag for Blueblood.

"I'll have them back soon."

"Take your time!" yelled Stormwing VIII as Blueblood vanished off into the streets of Canterlot.





Blueblood finished the pink journal and placed it back into the bag and reached for a blue one. This one was during Lily's college days.

Throughout the course of the night, Blueblood laughed, cried and smiled as he read through Lily's life.

He got to the last entry in the last journal and read on.

"May 15,

I went to see my doctor today. He said my heart's getting weaker and I'm in real danger of heart failure. I told him not to worry because I'd finally be with both my brothers and my parents again. My only regret would be leaving my husband and my children. But I do wish that I could see Prince Blueblood again. He's never left my mind ever since my last trip to Canterlot. He seemed so empty when I saw him on the balcony. So lonely. I really wished I could go hug him but these old bones don't hug like they used to. I just hope one day he discovers friendship again.

Lily Stormwing Blossom."

Blueblood noticed an inscription on the next page.

"Lily Stormwing Blossom died at 7:30 a.m. on May 16 of heart failure. She was survived by her husband, two daughters and son.
Signed, Oak Leaf, Lily's husband."

Blueblood put the journal down and cried till he fell asleep.

Luna looked in his room and tucked him into bed.

"Goodnight nephew."