What if there was a reason that Blueblood was a jerk? Sometimes things aren't always what they seem you know. This logic applies to ponies as well.
Blueblood is one of the most hated antagonists in the show MLP. But perhaps there is more to his story than meets the eye. This is my take on Blueblood's early life. So read on to hear of how that snooty, arrogant stallion we saw in the first season might have more to him than you might know. Who knows? You might even grow to like him. Maybe. Any constructive criticism is most welcome. My brother and I are still rather new to writing story lines. About the cover art: I am not an artist. If anyone knows of a better picture, please, let me know. I rated it teen to be safe. Please keep the comments clean. I do not own My Little Pony.
“What’s the matter Darling?” Rarity asked as she and Fluttershy burst into the castle, where the screams were coming from. Today was their spa day and Fluttershy still had dabs of green facial cream on her face. Rarity had curlers in her hair.
“Do you have an assignment that’s overdue to the princess?” Fluttershy queried.
“Or did my little Spikey-Wikey get himself into trouble again?” Rarity asked.
Before Twilight, surrounded by a purple-ish glow, was a letter marked with the royal seal.
“No girls,” Twilight answered, “It’s much, much worse. You know with my newfound role as a princess I have many new responsibilities. Well, in light of our recent defeat of Tryek, Princess Celestia has requested not only for me, but all of us to attend the Grand Galloping Gala at Canterlot… Again!”
Fluttershy’s mouth dropped open and Rarity fainted in shock.
“WHAT?!?!?!” came a voice out of nowhere.
Twilight looked out of her window to find Rainbow Dash spying on them. Applejack stood guiltily beside her.
“You could have come right in, you know that right?” Twilight asked as she opened the door to let them in.
“We didn’t think about that,” Applejack said.
“Do we have to go to the Gala?” said Pinkie as she repelled off of the side of Twilight’s castle.
“Yes,” Twilight said, “Princess Celestia writes that all the ponies in Canterlot high society want to meet the ponies who beat Tyrek.”
“I can’t really blame them,” Rainbow Dash said, “After all, we ARE awesome. Mostly me though.”
“Well,” Rarity said as Fluttershy helped her up onto her hooves, “The high society part sounds exciting but will he be there?”
“He is a prince Rarity,” Twilight answered.
“I don’t want to go,” Pinkie said with a groan, “None of those ponies know how to party Pinkie style!”
“And the animals aren’t the most friendly of cute woodland creatures I’ve met. Plus, the last time I went, I wasn’t a very nice pony.”
“The Wonderbolts are too crowded to even notice my awesomeness!”
“And them high and mighty Canterlot snobs all ruined their appetites on them fancy treats they had last time. I only made one sale.”
“And might I mention that Prince Blueblood is an absolute JERK! I mean I know he’s a prince and all but he was downright rude!”
“I know, I know ponies,” Twilight interrupted, “And the Princess had no time to talk to me. But this is just something we need to do.”
The ponies all let out a huge groan.
“Look,” Twilight said, looking on the bright side, “We can all spend the evening together.”
“Well I suppose that is true,” Rarity said, “But if he comes anywhere near me I’ll scream.”
“Hey,” Applejack said, “Did Spike get an invite? I only see six tickets.”
“He did get one. But he sent it back because he didn’t want any part of this, ‘girly froo-froo nonsense’, and since he’s not an element bearer, his presence isn’t required.”
“Well,” Applejack said, “That’s sticking by your friends through thick and thin. But I probably would have done the same thing if I had had the chance.”
“Wait until he finds out that they have a partial jewel buffet this year. It said so in the invite.”
“Well, I best get started,” Rarity said, “Designing I mean. Just because we are being forced to go doesn’t mean we should look unfashionable. I’ll tell you all when you can come try on your new gowns.”
“Uh, Rarity,” Applejack queried, “Why can’t we just wear our duds from last year?”
“Applejack!” Rarity exclaimed, horror flashing across her face, “We can’t wear the same thing to the Grand Galloping Gala! Those dresses are out of style and old!”
“Yeah old,” Applejack muttered under her breath, “After all, they’ve only been worn twice!”
“You all can be over at my boutique tomorrow to try on your splendid new outfits correct?”
“I suppose,” Applejack said, rolling her eyes, “But are you sure you can do that all in one day?”
“Darling, this is what I do. I can design an ensemble in no time flat! See you girls tomorrow.”
Rarity turned and headed for her home, already designing in her mind her friend’s new outfits.
“Why don’t we, instead of all going, do this,” Pinkie said, “One of us will attend the gala with five costumes that each resemble one of us. Then they can just do a whole lot of quick costume changes and pretend to be all of us at once!”
The ponies stared at her with looks of skepticism.
“And just exactly who is goin’ to do this? You?” Applejack asked the over-excited pink mare.
“I was thinking Twilight could do it,” Pinkie said, smiling.
“No Pinkie,” Twilight said, “We all have to go. But at least we won’t waste half our evening trying to live out our dream like last time. We can all just spend the night together.”
“Fine,” said Pinkie with a pouty expression, “But can I still dress up as you girls?”
Two months later and it was the night of The Grand Galloping Gala. All of the friends had gathered at Rarity’s house to prepare for the party. They were all ready but none of them were happy.
“You know it’s not too late for my plan,” Pinkie said as she fiddled with Rarity’s lipstick, “I know an all-night costume shop.”
“I’m afraid it won’t work,” Twilight Sparkle said, “We need to get to the train station to catch the train to Canterlot. Come on everypony!”
The ponies headed off to the train station and boarded the train.
“Welcome Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Rarity. I’m very pleased you could come,” Celestia said to the ponies who had just arrived.
“Hello Princess Celestia,” Twilight Sparkle said to her beloved teacher, “We’re here.”
“Well I hope you enjoy you enjoy yourselves,” Celestia said.
“We won’t,” Rarity mumbled to Twilight Sparkle as they walked away.
“Well what do we do now?!?!” Pinkie bawled to her friends, observing the ponies standing around listening to the quartet in the front of the room, “Nopony here likes to party. This is going to be SO BORING!!!”
“Boring?” A pony said in a fancy outfit, “I should hope not Ms. Pie,”
“HUH???” Pinkie asked, bewildered.
“Why we even hired a DJ to uh… drop the beat for you,” The pony said.
“HUH?????” Pinkie reiterated, even more bewildered.
“Umm… Drop the beat DJ PON-3!” The pony yelled.
Vinyl Scratch began pumping a heavy down beat through her DJ booth. Laser lights shot around the room in intricate designs. Ponies stood around for a moment, then, began bopping their heads and dancing.
“What happened to everypony?” Pinkie asked, feeling more bewildered than ever before, “Where are all the boring ponies from last year?”
“I don’t know,” Octavia said as she, Lyra and the rest of the band walked past them, leaving the castle, “But I wish they would return.They said it would be a short engagement but I didn’t think it would be this short! I barely had time to unpack my cello. If things like this continue, I won’t have enough bits to pay my room rent.”
“Well I’m glad it’s over,” Lyra said, “Now I can escape before Princess Celestia finds out I’m here,” She ran out of the castle, her lyre encased in a magical glow, “This would be so much easier with hands.”
“Conspiracy theorists,” Octavia said, rolling her eyes.
Octavia picked up her cello and left, the other musicians following close behind.
“That’s such a shame,” Rarity said, watching Octavia leave.
“WHHHEEEEEEEE!” Pinkie hollered, jumping into the fray of dancing ponies.
“Hey Rainbow Dash,” Spitfire said, flying over from where she and the Wonderbolts were, “We were wondering if you wanted to hang out with us.”
“The ‘squeak’ WONDERBOLTS?!?!” Rainbow Dash said, jumping into the air. Then, landing and regaining her cool she said, “Yeah, sure.”
“Great,” Spitfire said, “Follow me.”
Spitfire flew back over to her team with Rainbow Dash in hot pursuit.
“It’s quite odd don’t you think?” Rarity asked, watching Rainbow and Pinkie, “Everypony is being a lot friendlier this year.”
“I don’t understand it either,” Twilight said.
“Hello,” said a green unicorn with a leaf for a cutie mark as he and a group of ponies approached Fluttershy, “You must be Fluttershy,”
“Ummm… yes,” Fluttershy murmured, shying away.
“Swell,” said a purple Pegasus, “We were wondering if, like, you’d like to join us. We were going to, like, go out into the gardens. Wanna, like, come?”
“I don’t know,” Fluttershy said, hiding her face behind her mane, “I tried that last year. The animals aren’t very friendly out there.”
“Oh but of course they're friendly,” said the green stallion, “You just probably didn’t approach them correctly… Uh not that you’re incompetent when it comes to animals, I’m sure you’re very competent. We just wanted to invite you.”
“I guess so,” Fluttershy said, following her new friends.
“I’m Leif,” said the green stallion, “And this is Orchid.”
“A pleasure,” Fluttershy said, “I’m Fluttershy.”
“We already, like, know that Dudette,” said Orchid, rolling her eyes.
Leif prodded his friend and she spluttered, “But, uh… we don’t mind, like, at all.”
“Thank you,” Fluttershy said, “That’s very kind of you.”
Fluttershy, Leif, Orchid and the rest of the group left the hall, headed for the garden.
“Well,” Rarity said, “Can they get any more obvious?”
“Hi Applejack,” another pony said, “Did you bring those delectable goodies again?”
“Uh… No,” Applejack said, confused.
“Awwwww,” said the pony, “I was hoping to buy from you again this year.”
“Hate to disappoint you Sugarcube,” Applejack said, “But I only made two sales last year and they were to Soarin’ from the Wonderbolts and Rarity.”
“Well you must have forgotten me then,” said the pony, “For I distinctly remember buying a blueberry cobbler from you last year. It was the most amazing thing I had ever tasted in my life! I wanted the recipe but I couldn’t find you. I was so hoping you would bring them again this year.”
“Uh, I don’t sell blueberry cobbler,” Applejack said, “Applejack. Apples. Get the meanin'?”
“Blueberry? Who said blueberry?” the stallion said, “I remember I said apple. You must have misheard me.”
He led Applejack away talking about apples and farm stuff.
“They can,” Rarity said.
“Can what?” Twilight asked.
“Get more obvious,” Rarity said.
“Yeah,” Twilight said.
“Hey Twilight,” Pinkie said, bounding over from the dance floor with a lampshade on her head, “You should go find Princess Celestia and Rarity should go find Prince Blueblood.”
“Why in heavens name would I do something like that, Pinkie?” Rarity asked, her head bopping up and down as she attempted to watch her hyper pink friend jump up and down.
“Yeah Pinkie?” Twilight said.
“Because if I know story plots like I do, this is going to be the ACTUAL best night ever!!!!!!!!! You should know that better than anypony Twilight. Being how much you read.”
Pinkie hopped back to the dance floor and Rarity and Twilight stared at each other for a moment.
“I’m going to go find Princess Celestia,” Twilight said, “Just to prove that Pinkie’s wrong.”
“She never is,” Rarity said sighing, “So I think I’ll go hide.”
“Why?”
“Because unless there is another Prince Blueblood I don’t want him to find me!”
Rarity then proceeded to duck under a table.
Twilight just smiled and walked out of the ball room to find Princess Celestia.
“Where is the Princess?” Twilight asked a guard as she entered the hall where Celestia had been minutes before.
“Which one?” the guard asked, bowing low, “You know we have quite a few now you know. Including you, you Highness,”
“Celestia,” Twilight said.
“She’s in the throne room with her nephew,” The guard said.
“Thank you,” Twilight said.
She left the entrance hall and hurried down the hall towards the throne room. As she approached the door, she heard muffled voices. She opened the door to find Celestia standing next to her nephew.
“That will be all Blueblood,” Celestia said to her nephew.
He nodded and turned to leave. Twilight glanced at him as he passed her by. His face looked different from last time. He looked older and more mature than last time. His face wasn’t so stuck up either.
“Hello Twilight,” said Celestia to her fellow Princess, “How can I help you?”
“Well I was wondering if we could talk,”
“About what?”
“Well… Magic, books, friendship, what I learned, anything really.”
“I’m afraid I am a little busy tonight Twilight.”
“I knew it.”
“Knew what?”
“Pinkie said it would be different this time, something about story plots.”
“Well I did ask you all to attend with a hidden intention. Come along.”
Celestia walked out of the hall with Twilight following her, confused.
“Ms. Rarity,” Blueblood said, searching the room for the lovely unicorn who hid under the table he stood next to, “Are you around here?”
Rarity then made the mistake and dashed to the door.
“Ms. Rarity!” Blueblood yelled, “Please wait!”
Rarity ran out of the room into the entrance hall, passing Celestia and Twilight.
“Rarity!” Twilight said, grabbing her friend with a spell, “What are you running from?”
“HIM!” Rarity shrieked.
“WHO?” asked Twilight.
“That’s Whooves,” said a brown pony in a huge hat walking past with a gray mare, “And that’s Doctor please.”
“Who are you hiding from Rarity?” Twilight asked again.
“I already told you… HIM!” Rarity yelled, this time pointing a hoof at the door where Blueblood stood.
With a glum look, he turned to leave.
“Blueblood, no,” Celestia called to her fleeing nephew, “Please stay,” Then, turning to Twilight and Rarity she said, “You see Rarity and Twilight, I asked you and your friends here to prove a point. About how ponies can change,” she nodded to Blueblood, “And how some will change to get what they want.”
She glanced into the ball room at the ponies.
“Oh look at the cockatoo,” Fluttershy said, pointing a hoof at the graceful bird perched on a branch overhead, “And ‘Gasp!’ is that a buzzard that really buzzes?”
They all followed the buzzing sound to find the gardener pony pushing a lawnmower.
“Hello again Ms. Fluttershy,” he said, “Haven’t seen you since last time.”
“Hello,” Fluttershy said.
“Oh look Fluttershy,” Flora said, pointing to her twin sister, Fauna, “Isn’t that a red-crested sparrow?”
“Yes,” Fluttershy said, “But isn’t Fauna holding it down against its will?”
“Hello little guy,” Fluttershy said to the sparrow Fauna had in her grip.
“Cheep cheep!” the bird squawked frantically.
“GASP! Flora, Mr. Red-crest told me Fauna IS holding him down against his will. How could you hold down a helpless little animal?” Fluttershy said, getting more and more annoyed.
“We just wanted you to be happy Fluttershy,” Leif said.
“How am I supposed to be happy that your harming these cute, little, furry animals?!?!” Fluttershy yelled as loudly as she could, which wasn’t very loud.
“Well…” Leif said, unable to answer.
“Goodbye,” Fluttershy said, flying out of the castle gardens.
“So Rainbow Dash,” Spitfire said, sipping her punch, “Have you learned any new tricks lately?”
“A few,” Rainbow said, “But mostly just perfecting my old moves. I could outrace you any day of the week now, Ma’am.”
“Oh please Rainbow, there’s no need to be so formal. Call me Spitfire.”
“Sure thing Ma- Spitfire.”
“So Rainbow, are you planning to come to Wonderbolts boot camp again this year?” Soarin’ asked.
“Maybe,” Rainbow said, “If I get in.”
“Oh there’s no doubt that you’ll get in,” Spitfire said, patting her on the back, “You’re the best flier to ever come out of Cloudsdale. Am I wrong?”
“No,” Rainbow said, removing Spitfire’s hoof from her back, “I am the best. But why are you mentioning it so much?”
“We haven’t mentioned it hardly at all,” Fleetfoot said.
“Seventeen times since you invited me over,” Rainbow said, one eyebrow raised, “You don’t need to keep telling me. I already know I’m awesome!”
“We just want to make sure your happy,” Spitfire said.
“Why?”
“Well…”
“This isn’t about hanging out is it?”
“Of course it is.”
“No it’s not. You want something. Well, what is it?”
Spitfire sighed.
“It’s nothing.”
“Tryek?”
“Yes,” Spitfire said, a little surprised, “Ever since you ponies beat Tyrek, anypony who knows you is automatically on the top of Canterlot high society.”
“So you used me?” Rainbow said with a glare.
Spitfire sighed again.
“Yes.”
“Well this friendship is officially over. This is three times I’ve found you not caring about any other ponies except yourselves. At training for the Equestria games, Flight camp and now here. Do you ever learn?”
Rainbow Dash darted away, leaving the Wonderbolts ashamed of their behavior.
“Look here Sugarcube,” Applejack said to the stallion who held a death grip on her hoof, “I think we’ve talked all there is to talk about apples, farming and such. I best be going.”
“Oh no Applejack,” the stallion said, “I have so much more to discuss with you. There are ponies I’d like you to meet. But here’s another question. How do you know when the apples are ripe?”
“When they’re red,” Applejack answered, staring sarcastically at the stallion.
“Why, when there red,” said the stallion, laughing, "That is so amazing. What will they think of next?”
“Listen here Sugarcube,” Applejack started.
“Orville,” the stallion said.
“Orville,” Applejack corrected herself, “Well looke here Orville, I don’t think that you really care all that much about apples. If you did, I’d expect you to know more about ‘em.”
“Well maybe I don’t know that much about apples,” Orville said, “But I’m sure there are other things we have in common. Do you enjoy derby’s? Waterskiing? Oh, how about polo?”
“Uh, no.” Applejack said, “And I think I’d best be goin’. It was nice meetin’ ya’.”
Applejack turned and ran.
“Blast,” Orville said, watching Applejack flee.
“WHEEEEEEEEEEEE!” screamed Pinkie as she hopped up and down on the dance floor, “THIS IS SO MUCH FUN!!!!!! DO YOU WANNA JOIN ME STUFFY?”
“Please Ms. Pie,” Stuffy said, “I prefer the title Countess Stephanie Von Stuffyhoof. But uhh… that doesn’t matter, whatever you want to call me is fine.”
“OH YEAH!!!!!!!!” Pinkie hollered, “WELL DO YOU WANNA DANCE COUNTESS STEPHANIE VON STUFFYHOOF?”
“Quite, Ms. Pie, quite.”
Stephanie stepped out onto the dance floor and began swaying delicately.
“Awww come on Stuffanie,” Pinkie said, bopping Stephanie’s head up and down, “Feel the beat,”
“I’m feeling it Ms. Pie. Now if you will kindly remove your hoof from the back of my head.”
“Sorry,” Pinkie said, letting go of Stephanie and resuming the party.
Pinkie’s attention was drawn to Fluttershy, who ran crying into the entrance hall.
“Oh I gotta go Stephanie,” she said to her newfound friend, “My friend Fluttershy needs me.”
“Oh no she doesn’t Ms. Pie,” Stephanie said, grabbing Pinkie’s hoof.
Pinkie noticed Rainbow Dash leave the room in a huff soon followed by Applejack who ran through looking very concerned.
“Sorry Stephanie,” she said, “But it looks like my friends need me and I feel like I need to enter the next room for the story to continue.”
Pinkie hopped away from a very confused Countess Stephanie Von Stuffyhoof.
“Anyway,” Princess Celestia said drawing her attention away from the ballroom door, “I asked Rarity to stay because Prince Blueblood has something to ask you.”
At that moment, Fluttershy ran in sobbing. She was followed closely by Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Pinkie Pie.
“Are you girls alright?” Twilight asked.
“NO!” Applejack, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash said in unison.
“Yes,” Pinkie said, “This was very fun.”
“Ms. Rarity,” Blueblood said, looking into Rarity’s eyes, “I wanted to apologize for my behavior the last time you were here. It was very rude and inexcusable but I was hoping you would find it in your heart to forgive me and possibly, except my friendship.”
The ponies held their breath and leaned in to hear Rarity’s response.
“Prince Blueblood,” Rarity said, “There is no way I could possibly forgive you for last year! You were absolutely beastly! You shielded yourself from that falling cake with me! You threw my shawl into the puddle and you made me open all the doors for YOU! Why you’re nothing but a… a…”
Rarity bit her lip as she searched for the right word.
“Snob?” Rainbow offered.
“Jerk?” Applejack said.
“Ooh, ooh, ooh, how about a Snerk?” Pinkie said, hopping up and down, “That’s a combination of snob and jerk!”
“She’s right,” Rarity said, “YOU, Blueblood, are nothing but a SNERK!”
Blueblood stared at her for a moment and then ran from the room, dejected and defeated.
“Good fer you, Rarity,” Applejack said, patting her friend on the back.
Rarity drew her piercing gaze away from where Blueblood had just been to come muzzle-to-muzzle with Princess Celestia. She didn’t look very pleased.
“Come with me,” she said.
Then she turned and walked out of the entrance hall and headed back to the throne room. Rarity looked quizzically at her friends before they all followed her.
Walking down the hall outlined by stained glass windows depicting important points in pony history, Celestia began.
“Let me tell you ponies a tale that begins many years ago. Before the reign of Sombra and Nightmare Moon. This story begins with the birth of a colt. A colt named Blueblood.”
“Nopony ever knew who Blueblood’s mother was; Nopony but his father. You see many thousands of years ago, Equestria was ruled by three alicorns, Luna, our brother and myself. The prince was named Lucifer. Luna controlled the moon, I controlled the sun and Lucifer controlled the earth. Blueblood was the son of Prince Lucifer. When Blueblood was around four years of age, Lucifer’s heart became corrupted. Luna and I tried to make peace with him but he was adamant not to rule with his two sisters. I can still recall our failed attempt to reason with him…”
***
“Lucifer!” Celestia yelled as they entered their beloved brother’s room, “Where are you?”
The alicorn princesses stared around the room. Lucifer had cast a spell to destroy any and all light cast in the room. The atmosphere was like a wet blanket and both Celestia and Luna practically glowed as absences from the spell. The heart of the spell sat on the hearth at the other end of the room, an anti-flame, absorbing light and heat and radiating darkness.
A gentle voice came from the shadows; Celestia and Luna couldn't tell from where exactly.
“Ahhhh, Celesssssstia, Luna, My two sisssssters,”
“Luke, brother!” Luna yelled, “I beg thee, do not carry out your present course. We can govern the skies together as a family, just as before.”
Lucifer cackled.
“Little sissssster. Do you think I would ssssshhhare the power? Power desscccendssss only to the worthy. I will rule Equesssssstria by myself, as sssoon as I take care of you two!”
The darkness seemed to gather in a corner of the room and then suddenly a bolt of magic emerged, flying straight at the two sisters. Celestia dodged the bolt of shimmering dark magic but Luna was less fortunate. She was flung into the wall and Celestia ran over to her little sister and examined her while keeping an eye on where the blast had originated.
A dark, stocky alicorn emerged almost hesitantly from the shadows. He stared at Luna's limp body lying in the corner and his eyes flashed briefly with grief and remorse.
“Lucifer!” Celestia yelled at him, “Look at what you did!”
“I almost killed her…” said Lucifer, with terror in his eyes. Then, the terror seemed to catch fire and he let out a maniacal laugh, “Ha Ha Ha Ha, I ALMOSSST KILLED HER! If I can defeat my sissster who governss the moon, I am invincccible!”
“Not as long as I am around!” said Celestia, stepping away from her sister and lowering her horn.
A glowing orb of light took shape at the tip of her horn, diffusing into the shadow of the room and illuminating her brother further. She cast the sphere of burning light at her brother but he dodged back into the shadows, his cackling echoing through the room.
“Celessssssstia, you are growing weak. Besides you cannot possssibly win here. You are in my element. It will not be long before I rule Equesssssssssstria.”
“NEVER!”
Celestia conjured another bright blast of magic. This time she managed to hit him as he darted quickly between the shadows. It hit, but made no impact. The magic cascaded around his body, like water against a bolder in a river.
“You sympathetic foal! Darknessssssssssss is stronger that light!”
Lucifer stepped from the shadows and hurled a bolt of dark magic at the shocked Celestia. The magical blast knocked her to the ground and she lay there, dazed.
“Yesssss Celessssssstia. Bow before your new ruler. Luccccifer.”
“I will not bow before you brother. We are equals! I am sorry, but I must stop you before you hurt anypony else. Forgive me mother.”
She spread her wings and with one might downbeat she rose into the air another spell charging on her horn. However instead of aiming this one she let go of it and exploded into the air around her, sending a wave of energy across the entire room, burning away all the shadows and snuffing out the dark fire in the mantle. Lucifer stood, vulnerable without his shadows, on the other side of the room. His sister, obviously drained from the spell, jerked her head and let loose another blast which hit Lucifer and sent him corkscrewing through the air into the stone wall near the hearth with a sickening CRUNCH! He landed on the ground with with a pained grunt lay there, breathing heavily.
Celestia readied another blast as half a dozen unicorn guards rushed into the room and surrounded Lucifer.
Lucifer looked at the guards who held swords to his neck and laughed.
“You think you have won Celesssstia? Only the strong shall prevail, and you are weak... I shall return.”
A wisp of shadowy smoke darted from a corner of the room and flurried around him. Celestia let loose her spell but the shadow had already claimed her prisoner. He was gone and all that was left was the smoking crater in the floor from her spell where he had been standing.
Celestia swore under her breath and descended to be with her sister.
“LUNA!” she implored, cradling her sister’s limp head in her hooves, “Speak to me. Are you alright?”
Luna remained motionless and Celestia buried her head in her sister's mane and sobbed.
The guards removed their helmets and bowed their heads quietly.
Celestia drew back in surprise and then embraced her sister, tears of joy mingling with tears of sadness.
“He got away,” Luna said, growing stronger by the moment.
“Yes.”
“And there was no reasoning with him?”
“No. Our brother is dead to reason. He is convinced that he is superior to us that and that only the strong should rule.”
“I had hoped his eyes would be opened to the truth. Where has he gone?”
“I do not know. I am certain that I broke his wing before he escaped, but of us three he was the weakest of wing and the strongest of hoof. We must prepare for another strike. He will no doubt attack again. We are the only ones who can stop him and he knows it.”
“Tia, are you quite sure that he will hurt us? We must be certain... After all, this is Luke, our brother.”
“No sister. He is no longer our brother. He is a stranger to us, a worshiper of power, a danger to Equestria and now... our enemy.”
***
“Wait a moment,” Twilight interrupted, “There is something I don’t understand. I’ve read a multitude of books on pony history and I’ve never came across the name of Prince Lucifer.”
“As you will remember," Luna said, gliding into the room, “The story you found of Nightmare Moon was thought to be nor but an old pony’s tale. This was long before then. Lucifer’s tale was all but forgotten.”
“What happened to the citizens of Equestria while this Lucifer fella was loose?” Applejack asked.
“Panic reigned for years,” Celestia said.
“Then I take it he didn’t attack again very soon.”
“You are correct. He ran off with Blueblood and began to gain power while avoiding us. He knew we were more powerful than him at the moment, but he deluded himself into believe he had the right to rule.”
"Why did it take years ta beat this Lucifer fella?" Applejack asked.
"Because it wasn't your average war," Celestia said, "Are you aware of the term, Guerrilla warfare?"
"Gorillas?" Applejack asked, "Of course I know what they are. Why, I took Applebloom and her friends to the zoo once and we saw some gorillas."
"Different kind of gorillas AJ," Twilight explained, "Guerrilla Warfare is a war fought by raiding civilizations unexpectedly in a hostile environment and because of its unpredictability, guerrilla wars can last many years."
AJ looked at Rainbow Dash who shrugged.
"In contrast to regular warfare," Twilight finished, "Neighponyonic warfare, which has two sides meet on a battlefield and duke it out till one gives up."
"Oh," Rainbow said sarcastically, "I get it."
She then mumbled under her breath, "Egghead."
Twilight turned back to Celestia and continued.
“Why didn’t you use the Elements of Harmony?” Twilight asked.
Celestia shook her head.
“It was foalish of me I know, but... I had hoped to still reason with him. To bring him back to friendship. He was my brother after all. We had been close as children and we were still new to ruling. I have made mistakes even after Lucifer," She lowered her head and Luna put a hoof on her shoulder in comfort. She took a breath and continued, "However that is not the focus right now. Lucifer ran off, taking his son with him. Blueblood told me about it many years later, when he had come to terms with his childhood.”
***
“Ssssssson,” Lucifer said, storming into his son’s living quarters, “We mussssssst leave, immediately.”
Blueblood stared at his father’s wings, or at least where they used to be.
“What happened to your wings Dad?”
“Wingsssssss are a sign of corrupt power my ssssssson. Your Aunts spread their magic through their entire body to be in harmony with all their subjects. However I have removed my wings to concentrate more power in my horn and hooves. The pegasi are pathetic pigeons that I shall bring to earth and render no better than the rest of us. Now come, we mussssssst go.”
“Why are we leaving father?” Blueblood asked as some of his clothes were thrown into a set of saddlebags by his dad, “What’s wrong?”
“Your auntsssssss have betrayed me. We musssssst flee.”
“What did they do?”
“We do not have time to talk about it. Let’sssssssss go.”
Blueblood found himself ripped away from his life to be pulled off into the unknown.
***
“He never had a chance to say no,” Celestia said with a tear in her eye, “Lucifer tore him away from his life of goodness and happiness to a life on the run from his aunts who he was told were evil.”
“How horrid!” Rarity said in shock, “Why, if I had known-“
“You wouldn’t have yelled at him?” Celestia asked, giving Rarity with a hard stare, “Why does it matter to you? This is ancient history, and do you really think that you should forgive a pony because he had a tragic life? Shouldn’t you forgive a pony simply because?”
“I suppose so,” Rarity said, looking at her hooves, ashamed, “I just… never knew.”
“I understand,” Celestia said, placing a hoof on Rarity’s shoulder, “We all must learn these lessons. Best to learn than to repeat the same actions later.”
“One thing that bothers me Princess,” Twilight inquired, “Blueblood is the son of royalty, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Then why isn’t he an alicorn.”
“Because,” Luna said, “One must earn thine wings. They are a sign of pure devotion to one’s subjects. Blueblood was never given the chance to earn those wings. Luke never gave him that chance, and constantly indoctrinated him with the might and majesty of the unicorn and earth-pony race.”
“Luke?” Twilight asked, her head cocked to one side in bewilderment.
“That was Lucifer’s nickname, like I call Celestia, Tia.” said Luna, “We shared good times as well before he lost sight of the true purpose of royalty.”
“Do YOU have a nickname Princess?” Pinkie asked, staring right into Luna’s face.
“Umm, perhaps,” Luna answered, uneasy.
“She does,” Celestia said with a coy smile.
“Oooh... What is it?” Pinkie interrogated.
“It hardly matters,” Luna said, staring at her hooves.
“That bad, huh?” Rainbow Dash asked, with a smirk.
“I called her Lulu,” Celestia said, holding back a laugh.
“TIA!” Luna yelled.
The five ponies, Twilight and Celestia collapsed on the floor, laughing uncontrollably.
“Glad to see thou art amused,” Luna said, rolling her eyes, “At my expense. Perhaps though sister, you should continue thine tale?”
“I suppose… Lulu!” Celestia said, wiping a tear from her eye.
“That accursed name!” Luna muttered under her breath.
“What happened to Blueblood and Lucifer after they left Canterlot?” Rarity asked with baited breath.
“I do not know everything,” Celestia said, “Perhaps it would be better if Blueblood himself told you.”
“Oh no your Highness,” Rarity said, grabbing Celestia’s hoof, “I couldn’t face him. Not after what I said.”
“Perhaps you could take the opportunity to amend thy wrongdoings,” Luna suggested.
“Yes,” Rarity said, “I suppose so.”
“Captain BraveWing!” Celestia called.
“Yes your Highness,” said a Pegasus guard from outside the room where he had been positioned.
“Please tell my nephew that I wish to see him immediately.”
“Right away your Highness.”
“While we wait I can tell you that while Lucifer and Blueblood ran over Equestria hiding from our guards, we tried to set up a course of action,” Celestia said, “Lucifer began taking hold of different cities and towns, forcing the inhabitants to join the army he was creating. He even made mares and foals fight. Some of the ponies our guards fought didn’t even have their cutie marks.”
“So your sayin’ kids as young as Apple Bloom?” Apple Jack asked in horror.
“Younger,” Luna said, a grave look on her muzzle.
“How awful!” Rarity said, “Did the guards have to… kill them?”
The room fell silent at the idea.
"Never,” said Celestia firmly, “The royal soldiers laid down their own lives before they would take those of Lucifer's hapless soldiers. Fortunately most of the time they would just subdue them. They had numbers but lacked skill.”
“Why did they fight if they didn’t want to?” Rarity asked.
“Lucifer cast a spell on them taking away their free will,” Celestia said, "It gave them one all-consuming purpose to live by and relegated all other desires to importance. They ignored sleep and food to do the jobs that were required of them. Luckily this usually made their bodies too weak to put up much of a battle against our forces. It was mostly our job to keep Lucifer from using them to death.
“Auntie,” Blueblood said, walking in the door, “You wanted to see me?”
Then, seeing Rarity and her friends, he turned and said,
“Never mind. I’ll come back later.”
“NO!” Rarity yelled as she ran in front of him, blocking his way, “I must now apologize to YOU, Prince Blueblood. It was I who was a… umm… Snerk, not you. I offer up my sincerest of apologies and hope you shall forgive me for my actions. And if you do, I would be most honored to call you my friend.”
Blueblood stared at Rarity for a moment and then turned to his two aunts and asked, “Who is this and what did you do with Ms. Rarity?”
“She has experienced a change of heart Blueblood,” Celestia said, “Am I correct, Rarity?”
“Yes, I have.”
“Then…” Blueblood said, pausing slightly, “Then yes, I do forgive you and am happy to call you a friend.”
“Thank you,” Rarity said.
“GROUP HUG!!!!” Pinkie yelled, embracing everypony in a tight hug.
“Does she do this whenever there is a tender moment?” Luna asked through the tight grip of Pinkie’s hoof.
“Pretty much,” Twilight answered.
Pinkie released the ponies from her embrace.
“Now,” Celestia said, brushing off her coat, “Blueblood, please tell the ponies about your younger life. You know, with your father.”
“You mean when we were on the run?” Blueblood asked.
“Yes.”
“Well…”
***
“When my father took me away from Canterlot I had no idea what was going on and where we were going. He didn’t tell me anything. I was only told my aunts had betrayed us and were dangerous. The guards that followed us convinced me of that. They would storm into where we were hiding and my father would have to fight them off. He instructed me in dark magic and soon we were fighting them off together…”
“Prince Lucifer!” screamed a colonel as he and his battalion stormed into a hidden encampment, “You and your son Prince Blueblood are under arrest for your crimes against Equestria!”
“FOALSSSSSSSS!” Lucifer screamed as he shot a bolt of magic at the unit.
The blast knocked half a dozen guards into the air. The lucky ones landed in the brush. The not-so-lucky ones trajectories were obstructed by trees.
“Blueblood,” Lucifer screamed to his son, “Attack them!”
Blueblood shot a bolt of magic at the colonel, knocking him into his aids while Lucifer conjured a magical wind that knocked the guards to the ground. He then flung a second bolt of dark magic at a Pegasus who was charging at his father. The guard jumped onto Lucifer and tried desperately to immobilize him but Lucifer shot the guard up into the sky with a bolt of shimmering, dark magic. The guard corrected himself in the air and charged back at Lucifer. Blueblood shot him out of the way with a bolt of dark magic and the Pegasus slid across the forest floor.
“Retreat!” the colonel yelled as he observed his soldiers being thrashed.
The battalion ran off, many severely injured and most unconscious. The Pegasus guard lay in the dirt immobilized.
“Yessssssss,” Lucifer said, “Run. Tell Celesssssstia and Luna that Luccccccifer says hello.”
“We shall return,” the colonel yelled.
The battalion faded from sight.
“Let’sssssss move on,” Lucifer said to his son.
“Very well.”
Lucifer began to pack their saddlebags with their supplies.
Blueblood walked over to the Pegasus who lay in pain.
The Pegasus stared at Blueblood and braced himself for another blast of magic.
“I won’t hurt you,” Blueblood said.
“Yeah,” the guard said looking at his mangled wing that Blueblood had caused.
Blueblood filled up a leather pouch with water and gave it to the guard. He tilted the water pouch, allowing the water to flow down the Pegasus’s throat.
“Thanks,” the Pegasus said, drinking slowly, “But… if I may ask, why are you helping me?”
“I… I don’t know,” Blueblood said, slightly shocked by the Pegasus’s question, “You just… needed help.”
“But YOU are the one who hurt me.”
“I was only protecting my father.”
“How well do you actually know him?”
“Well enough.”
“So you actually know WHY he took you away from Canterlot, right?”
“You don’t know,” said the guard, “But of course he wouldn’t tell you.”
“Look if you don’t want my help, I’ll leave.”
“NO,” said the guard, “I’m sorry. My name is Stormwing.”
“Blueblood.”
“I know.”
“BLUEBLOOD!” Lucifer yelled, “Who are you talking to?”
“Nopony at all, father,” Blueblood said, turning away from Stormwing.
“Ahhh, a sssssssurvivor. We can always use another servant. Blueblood, cast the sssssssspell upon him while I check for any others.”
Lucifer picked up their saddlebags and headed into some bushes behind them as Blueblood stared at his new-found friend.
Stormwing sighed.
“Go ahead.”
“No,” Blueblood said, “Listen, if you don’t try anything, I’ll nurse you back to health and then you can escape.”
“Deal.”
Blueblood helped Stormwing up and turned as his father came back.
“I checked to make sure we were not being followed. Is his will ssssssapped?”
“Yes father.”
“Good, let’sssss go.”
Lucifer, Blueblood and Stormwing walked away from the clearing.
***
“That’s what happened to Corporal Stormwing?” Celestia asked.
“Yes,” Blueblood said, “For the longest time, he was my only friend. I never cast a spell upon him and when he was healed I told him he could escape but he refused to leave me. We became fast friends. My father never discovered that he wasn’t under our spell. At night, when my father slept, we talked for hours. He introduced me to kindness and friendship. He had something that I wanted but I couldn’t figure it out.”
***
“And the traveling salespony said, “But I wanted all three!” Stormwing said.
Blueblood chuckled softly at his friend’s joke.
“How is it you know so many funny stories Stormwing?”
“My father loves to laugh and tell jokes. He used to tell my all the new jokes he had learned.”
“What is it about you?” Blueblood asked, staring at his friend, “Why are you so full of life?”
“I’ve lived a little differently than you,” Stormwing said, “But we aren't that different.”
“Why don’t you leave?” Blueblood asked, “This place, I mean. You could leave at any time. Why don’t you?”
“I’m not going to abandon you. You’re my best friend. I’m not going to leave you with your dad.”
“He’s my father. He won't hurt me.”
“How can you trust a murderer and a traitor so easily?”
“We’ll never agree on my father, will we?”
“I’ll never stop trying to help you see the light though.”
“Sssssson,” Lucifer said, appearing in front of Blueblood and Stormwing, “What is thissssss?”
“Father,” Blueblood said, shocked at his father awake, “I was just, uh… reinforcing the enchantment on him.”
Stormwing stared vacantly ahead.
“Your caution is exxxemplary, however we must travel far tomorrow. Go to ssleep.”
Lucifer turned and entered the cave where he had been sleeping.
Blueblood and Stormwing looked at each other and yawned.
"He's right," Blueblood said, standing up, "We've got a lot of ground to cover tomorrow."
Stormwing nodded his head and they walked into the cave.
Lucifer, Blueblood and Stormwing trudged along a mountain path. Stormwing was weighed down by loads of bags strapped to his side while Blueblood and Lucifer carried nothing. Blueblood and Stormwing slipped a short ways behind Lucifer so they could talk.
"Do you want some help?" Blueblood asked.
"No thank you 'master', I can handle it," Stormwing said bowing low in a mocking manner.
"Good to hear servant," Blueblood said, playing along.
They laughed softly so as not to be heard by Lucifer.
"So, where do you think we're heading?" Stormwing whispered.
"Father only knows," Blueblood answered.
"We sssshall cross here," Lucifer said, stopping.
Blueblood and Stormwing stared across a long, ragged rope bridge that swayed unevenly over a thousand-foot chasm.
Blueblood gulped.
"Don't tell me you're afraid of heights," Stormwing jibbed.
"You would be too if you didn't have wings," Blueblood said through clenched teeth.
"Well I'm as good as grounded anyway," Stormwing said, nodding towards the pile of saddlebags he carried on his back. They were strapped in such a manner that his wings were virtually useless.
"Come on scardy-pony," Stormwing said as he trotted onto the bridge, following Lucifer.
"Okay," Blueblood said, stepping gingerly on the the wobbly bridge, "just be careful."
"Careful isn't even in my vocabulary," Stormwing bragged.
Lucifer and Stormwing had crossed over the bridge when Blueblood noticed a frayed rope on the end of the bridge. It was almost worn clear through and because of Blueblood's uneasiness at crossing the bridge, he was only halfway across.
Foolishly, Blueblood broke into a mad run. The jarring action caused by his stride snapped the wire.
Blueblood felt the bridge give way and he prepared to plummet a thousand feet into the abyss.
All of a sudden, the rope pulled taut again. Blueblood looked up to see Stormwing with the rope in his teeth. His left hoof was wrapped tightly around the post which had secured the rope bridge to the mountainside.
"Et 'oin!" Stormwing shouted around the rope.
Blueblood walked quickly to the other side of the rope bridge and stepped back onto solid ground.
Stormwing let go of the rope and tried to get a grip on the post with both hooves, but supporting Blueblood's weight had dragged him to the edge of the cliff. The ground gave way beneath him and he grabbed at the ground trying to find a purchase.
"Blueblood, help me!" he cried.
As Stormwing lost his grip and began to fall, he was surrounded by a light blue glow. He looked up to see Blueblood straining to lift him up and back to safety.
"Thanks Blueblood," Stormwing said as he landed softly on the ground.
"Good," Lucifer said, "Let'sss move on."
"Father," Blueblood said, "Can you let us rest a moment?"
Lucifer stared up at the setting sun.
"Very well, we sssshall make camp and continue at ssssssunrise."
Blueblood and Lucifer sat around a makeshift rock table. Next to them stood a hypnotized Pegasus messenger from the front lines. Stormwing sat at the fire pit boiling water for tea.
"Our troops have secured Trottingham and Hoovesdale as well as Baltimare and they are advancing towards Manehattan," said the mesmerized messenger.
"Good," said Lucifer, "With the populusssss of Manehattan in our hoovessss we might as well have Canterlot."
"Yes," Blueblood said, "With those many troops I'm sure we can take Canterlot."
Lucifer shook his head.
"There isss no need for that. Once we have all the poniesssss in Manehattan, Celestia and Luna will surrender. They wouldn't rissssk their precioussss subjects lives. Ha, sssssimpeltons."
"Yes Father."
"Sssssend this messsssage to the leader of the troops," Lucifer said, handing a parchment to the messenger.
The Pegasus took to the air.
"I sshall retire for the evening," Lucifer said, standing.
He walked into his tent.
Blueblood turned to Stormwing who offered him a cup of tea. His hoof trembled as Blueblood took it.
"What's the matter my friend?" Blueblood asked.
"My family lives in Manehattan," Stormwing said, the color drained from his muzzle.
"Oh don't worry," Blueblood said, "It won't come to that."
"How do you know?" Stormwing asked, "Would you be that calm if it were your family?"
Blueblood looked at his hooves.
"Tell me about your family."
"Well," Stormwing said, his eyes staring into the distance as he envisioned his family, "I've told you about my father. He's always making ponies laugh, but he's also kind and loving. He's a shoe salespony in Manehattan. My mother is a teacher. She's super smart pony and she's also the most generous pony in the whole of Equestria. My little brother is the most musically talented in his class. Once, for Hearthwarming Eve, he asked for tickets for the Manehattan sympony. After leaving, he bought some sheet music and wrote down every note for every instrument for every piece that he'd heard. As for my little sister, she's just the cutest thing you'll ever meet. Whenever I used to come home on leave she'd charge at me and hug me for almost forever. She'd always make me a card too, saying, "Welcome home best big brother in the world!"
Stormwing looked over to see Blueblood staring at the ground with tears in his eyes.
"Hey," Stormwing said, placing a hoof on Blueblood's shoulder, "It's okay."
“You have to run away, Stormwing,” Blueblood said, looking up, “While father’s asleep.”
“Why?”
"To save your family from the coming armies. Take them to Canterlot. They'll be safe there."
"Blueblood, I've said before I wouldn't run away and I'm serious. You need somepony to be your friend."
"Your family needs you more than me. If you fly swiftly, you can pass the armies."
"I'll come back after they are safe in Canterlot," Stormwing said.
"No," Blueblood replied, "My father won't let you simply return after you run away."
“Then come with me Blueblood. Don’t you trust me that you’ll be safe?”
“I am safe. We have different allegiances my friend. We must remain loyal to our respective commanders. Go Stormwing, while you still can.”
Stormwing stared at Blueblood a moment, then, grabbed a saddlebag with some food and departed.
***
“He arrived safely in Canterlot with his family,” Celestia said, “He wouldn’t tell us what happened though.”
“Well,” Twilight asked, leaning forward, “What happened after that?”
“Well…” Blueblood continued.
***
“Father,” Blueblood said to his father as they walked through dense underbrush, “Why are we always running. Couldn’t we reason with Aunt Celestia and Aunt Luna?”
“You do not understand my sssssssson,” Lucifer said, turning around to look Blueblood in the face, “They will never lissssssssten to reasssssssssson. They are simpleminded and think the throne should be shared with the weak.”
“Very well,”
They resumed their walking.
***
“And you just believed him?!?!” Twilight said, dumbstruck, “Didn’t you know Celestia and Luna from when you lived in Canterlot.”
“I met them every so often,” Blueblood said, “But before my mother died, I stayed with her. After that, I moved in with my father.”
“So then you know who your mother was?” Twilight queried, “Celestia said nopony knows.”
“Including myself,” Blueblood said, “I always just called her mother and I don’t recall what she looked like. I was only about one year old when she died.”
“That must have been so hard for you,” Rarity said, putting a hoof on Blueblood’s shoulder, “To lose your mother like that.”
Blueblood nodded his head and continued with his story.
"Our forces had grown and were advancing towards Manehattan. The campaign was so important that even my father and I joined the front lines. But when we arrived, the barricade was too great to overcome. So we pushed farther north and put out sights on the Crystal Empire."
"How did Celestia and Luna know of your plans to overtake Manehattan?" Twilight queried.
"Do you remember the pegasus messenger Blueblood told you about?" Celestia asked.
The ponies nodded.
"He was a spy placed by us," Celestia said, "We had cast a spell on him so Lucifer couldn't control his mind and he would report to us."
"What happened to him after the Manehattan campaign?" Rarity asked, "Was he... you know... killed?"
"No," Celestia said, "Luckily he was able to escape the night before the attack. By the time the attack failed he was safe in Canterlot."
"So what happened on the Crystal Empire campaign?" Twilight asked, leaning in.
"We were successful and had the Empire in no time," Blueblood said, "And my father enslaved all of the crystal ponies."
"Wait a second," Twilight said, looking up from her notebook in which she had taken down every word spoken in the room, even the joke about Luna's name, "This sounds very similar to a previous villain we've defeated."
"Long before this point," Blueblood said, "My father had begun to call himself King Sombra."
"SOMBRA!?!?!?!?" the mane six cried.
"Sombra is your... BROTHER??" Twilight screeched at Celestia and Luna.
Celestia and Luna nodded.
"Man," Rainbow Dash said, "Does going crazy run in the family? First Lucifer, then Luna. When are you gonna lose it Celestia?"
Celestia looked at Rainbow Dash with a raised eyebrow.
"Ha ha," Twilight said, grabbing Rainbow Dash out of the air and putting a hoof around her, "Rainbow's such a kidder."
Twilight then glared at Rainbow Dash and whispered, "What's the matter with you? Do you want Celestia to banish you? Or throw you in a dungeon? Or throw you in a dungeon in the place that she banishes you?"
"Why in Celestia's name would he give up the name Lucifer?" Rarity asked, "It's a name fit for a prince."
"He didn't believe himself to be a prince any longer," Blueblood said, "He believed himself to be better than Celestia and Luna and therefore made his title greater. And as for the name change, he no longer wished to be a servant to all the ponies of Equestria but rather the king of shadows."
"Of course," Twilight said, "Sombra is Sponyish for shadow."
"Any way," Celestia said, "Now we had him trapped in the North. We began to move in."
***
"He's got no way out," Celestia said, "He can't escape North with winter approaching. Even he's not that crazy. There are no towns around him and the railways have been shut down. It's only a matter of time till we starve him out."
The royal pony sisters stood around a table with a map of all known Equestria. Red and blue markers representing Sombra's army and the royal guard were scattered around the Crystal Empire.
"Alas sister," Luna said, "If he starves, as do the Crystal ponies and all the innocents in his armies."
"Exactly Lulu," Celestia said, "Which is why we must gather our forces and strike."
Luna rolled her eyes.
"Agreed," Luna said, "I shall mobilize the troops at once with myself leading them. You sister should stay here."
"I'll do no such thing Lulu," Celestia said.
Luna moaned softly.
Why must she treat me as a filly who needs constant watching?
"But if something were to happen to the both of us, what would happen to the kingdom?" Luna said, "If something happens to me, I know you would be able to carry on and raise the moon. I could never raise the sun."
"Yes you could sister," Celestia said, "You're just as powerful as I. I shall go mount the attack on the Empire."
"NO!" Luna said, striking the ground with her front hooves. Her eyes turned white and the ground beneath her cracked.
"Luna?"
Luna shook her head as if she was waking up.
"Apologies sister," she said, resting a hoof on her forehead, "I do not know what came over me. Please stay in Canterlot while I lead the troops."
Celestia put a hoof on her sister's shoulder, "I realize that you wouldn't want anything to happen to me, but I feel the same for you sister."
"No sister," Luna said, "My intentions are purely for the citizens for Equestria. You are more talented than I and could carry on. I could never govern both the sun and moon."
"Very well," Celestia said, hugging her sister, "my thoughts will be with you."
"And mine with you," Luna said, "I shall depart tomorrow. Thank you for understanding why I need to go alone."
Luna left the room to prepare for the journey.
Celestia left the room and walked down a long hallway.
"Commander Moondust! I have an errand for you to run."
A silvery unicorn approached Celestia.
Thank you for understanding why I need to go alone.
"We'll see about that little sister," Celestia said, turning to the guard with instructions.
***
"Why did Luna's eyes go all?" Twilight asked, waving her hooves around her head and rolling her eyes.
"Ooh ooh ooh," Pinkie said, jumping up, "Did she eat too much cake? (No wait that would be Celestia) Did she have a cold? 'Gasp' Did she have a bellyache?!"
"That was the beginning of my transformation into Nightmare Moon," Luna said, "Shortly after we vanquished Luke, uh... Sombra was when I became evil and tried to take over Equestria."
"HEY," Pinkie yelled, "Don't give away the end of the story. I love suspense."
"Apologies," Luna said, rolling her eyes.
"GASP!!!! LOOK AT HER EYES!!!!" Pinkie yelled, "SHE'S BECOMING NIGHTMARE MOON AGAIN!!!!"
Pinkie made a bolt for the door but Rainbow Dash grabbed her tail in her teeth.
"No she's not Pinkie," said Rainbow, around a mouthful of tail.
"Oh whew," Pinkie said, returning to her jovial self.
"Why do you not continue the story, Princess Luna?" Rarity asked.
"Very well,"
***
"Your Highness," said a unicorn guard, bowing low before Princess Luna, "The troops have broken through the barrier and are headed towards the castle. What are your orders?"
"Don't enter the castle," Luna said, "Lucifer is mine."
Luna narrowed her eyes and unsheathed a sword of polished metal that glinted in the sunlight.
The guard swallowed audibly.
"Also, your Highness," the unicorn said, "Your sister arrived to help you take down the enemy."
Celestia landed beside her carrying a box ornamented with gold leaf and countless scintillating gemstones.
Luna eyed the box and could guess the powerful content.
"Sister," Luna said, as Celestia landed, "It was my impression thou stayed in Canterlot."
"I wasn't going to let you face Lucifer alone. So I waited for you to leave and then I retrieved the Elements of Harmony. We may need them to beat him."
Celestia opened the box to show Luna.
Luna shook her head in frustration. This was exactly what she had expected from her over-lord sister, constant baby-sitting.
"Why did you assume that I needed your help?"
"This IS the first time you wanted to go it alone Lulu," Celestia said, ruffling the top of Luna's mane with her hoof, "I don't think you should just go in without a backup plan."
Luna gritted her teeth in anger. She hated when Celestia messed with her mane.
"Besides, I don't know if you can quite... handle it yet."
"I can defeat him without thy interference," Luna shouted, "I am not a filly anymore Celestia, I don't need you!"
Luna's eyes began to glow again. She rose off the ground. Dark electrical sparks began to permeate the air around her.
"I have no doubt that you can defeat him Luna," Celestia said, putting a hoof on Luna's shoulder, pulling her sister down to the ground, "I just don't know if you can handle it... Emotionally. Plus, you can not use the elements without me. Just think of me as... Insurance."
"Very well," Luna said, harrumphing in annoyance.
"What's the situation?" Celestia asked.
"He's barricaded in the castle," Luna said, "He can't escape. All we need do is take him."
"Where is Blueblood?"
"At his father's side. We shall take them both."
"Sister remember, Blueblood did not choose this path. We should not hurt him."
"No harm shall befall the colt, provided he stays out of the way."
"Luna..."
"What? He's my nephew as well."
"I know," Celestia said, then she muttered, "But will you remember that?"
"Let us be off," Luna said, taking to the air.
"Father," Blueblood said, running into the throne room, where his father sat, "The final battalion has been defeated. Celestia and Luna are headed here to defeat us."
The normally brilliant and bedazzling throne room, and the castle for that matter, had been darkened by Sombra's presence. The walls were opaque, letting no light in. The room would have been pitch-black if not for the one window Sombra kept open so Blueblood could see.
"Never," Sombra said, rising from his throne, "For we have dark magic on our ssssside."
"What must we do to stop them?" Blueblood asked.
"I sssshall lure them in here," Sombra explained, "Then you, my sssssson shall fire a blast of your most powerful magic at Celesssssstia. With her out of the way I can reason with Luna. She was always so much more agreeable that Celessssstia. She shall join usssss and together we will rule Equesssstria."
"How do you know she will see things our way?" Blueblood asked.
"I have seen her through my sssspellssss... sssssshe is tired of ruling alongside Celessssssstia. The prospect of governing the ssssun and moon will thrill her."
"You would share the power?" Blueblood asked.
"Not the power, just the responsibility," Sombra said, "For I need an alicorn to raise the ssssssun and moon. The heavensss were never my ssspecialty. Luna will have the ssssssky to play with and I..." Sombra chortled, "... I shall have Equesssssstria and everypony in it."
"How will that stop Celestia from overtaking you both?" Blueblood asked.
"You will make sssssure that never happens," Sombra said, "By killing her the instant sssshe is inside."
"KILL HER!" Blueblood exclaimed.
Sombra nodded.
"But... I've never killed anypony before. Just incapacitated them. To kill my own blood..."
"That is the only way we shall ever be free to rule Equessstria," Sombra said.
"Think about it," he whispered in his son's ear, "You. Free to do whatever you wish. Nopony telling you what to do. You could have whatever you dessssire."
Blueblood's ear twitched as he considered the endless possibilities. Complete freedom, it was a tempting offer to anypony. Plus, he would no longer have to live in the shadows or on the run.
"But..."
"Besidesssssss," Sombra continued, "If you don't we sssshall lose. And I know that Celessssstia will not show the same mercy you wish to besssstow upon her. Do thissssss for me... Your father."
Blueblood felt something inside him change. His father was right of course. Celestia would never return the favor. Blueblood's irises expanded to cover his entire eyes and his pupils narrowed to slits.
"I'll do it," He answered back.
"Exccccellent," Sombra exclaimed, excitement in his voice, "Now, prepare your ambush."
"Yes father," Blueblood said retreating behind the throne, hiding himself from the window facing Celestia and Luna's troops.
Celestia and Luna landed on the balcony of the Crystal Palace. They walked in through the heavy, light-killing drapes. Celestia and Luna glowed like candles in the darkness.
"Careful sister," Luna said, "We know not where he hides."
"Let's try the throne room," Celestia said, "That is where I'd expect him to be. Any place that makes him feel powerful."
The sisters entered the throne room to find Sombra standing in the middle of the room, as if he'd been expecting them.
He stood before them, a mere shadow of what he had used to be. His royal bearing had left him and he looked dead inside and out. He didn't even seem to miss the wings he had removed. His horn glowed with an eerie luminescence, allowing confusing shadows to dance on the walls.
He's attempting to distract us from something. Celestia deduced, The question is, what?
"Welcome to my palaccccce," he said.
"Lucifer-" Celestia started but was cut off by Sombra's sharp reply.
"It's Ssssssombra now, didn't you hear?"
"You are NOT Sombra," Celestia said, "You are Lucifer... You are Luke, my brother."
"You ssssshall never call me that again Celesssstia," Lucifer said, "I have the upper hoof... NOW!"
Blueblood stepped out from behind the throne and shot a blast of the darkest magic he had ever used before at his aunt. Celestia screamed and there was a resounding thud as she collided with the wall. The box containing the Elements of Harmony skidded across the floor now that Celestia wasn't carrying them with her magic.
There was silence as the sound resounded throughout the palace.
"LUCIFER!!!!" Luna screamed, throwing herself at Sombra with a sword in front of her, gleaming.
Blueblood noted that Celestia still seemed to be alive and trudged over to her to finish the deed.
As he stood over her, he observed his aunt. A patch of her coat had been burned black by the intensity of the blast. Her breathing was heavy and labored but a fire still burned in her eyes.
Celestia looked up into Blueblood's eyes with those firey, loving eyes and said two little words,
"Go ahead."
These two, simple words struck Blueblood like a fifty pound sledge hammer.
For he had heard those words before.
From a dear friend.
Suddenly, Blueblood felt a rush of emotion enter his body.
An emotion he had forgotten even existed.
Love.
His thoughts flew to the citizens of Equestria, forced into labor like the Crystal Ponies had been.
I can't let that happen.
What do you care?
Celestia's eyes burnt holes through his shut eyelids. He realized that those eyes shone with love.
He saw visions of Stormwing and his family, all crying over the death of their beloved princess. Then he saw them enslaved by his father. Blueblood saw Stormwing's innocent little sister forced to work, to never go to school again. The images flooded his mind until her thought it would burst.
Go ahead.
Those words spun round in his mind. He saw himself and Stormwing laughing in front of a campfire, he saw Stormwing risking his life to save his and he saw Stormwing's terror when he learned of Sombra's plan.
Go ahead.
Why did he risk his life for me?
Because he was your friend!
I’ve lived a different life from you, We are different.
No, Thought Blueblood, I must do this.
Would you be that calm if it were your family?
No. Blueblood shouted to the figures in his head. But they wouldn't leave him. He squeezed his head between his hooves, trying to force the images and thoughts from his mind.
But Celestia's eyes burnt on in his mind.
Along with those two, little, powerful words.
Go ahead.
"I... I can't," Blueblood said, letting his head fall and the weight of the world slip from his shoulders.
Celestia coughed and stroked his mane.
"I know. You are different, nephew. You are strong."
Blueblood helped her stand and heal her wounds, after which she turned to Sombra who had been speaking to Luna ever since she tried to kill him.
Luna slid across the floor, her horn smoking from the blast that her brother had delivered to her. Her sword had melted from the heat of the spell Lucifer had cast. She would not give up though. She would avenge her sister... No matter the cost.
"How foalisssssh of you Luna," Lucifer said walking over to her, "Coming at me like that. You know I have alwaysssss been better at magic than you. Now if you had been Celessstia..."
"I am just as powerful as Celestia!" Luna hissed, "If not more so."
"And aren't you just sssssick of ponies thinking you are the weaker of the two sissssssters?"
"Nopony thinks such things!" Luna growled, trying as much to convince herself as her brother.
"Oh you would think sssso? Well I know what the ponies really think. They know Celesssstia is ssssstronger than you or even I,"
"How would you know?"
"You live in Canterlot, far away from the realities of life in Equessstria. I have been among the common folk. And they think you are weak Luna."
"Well I shall show them... One day."
"Why not let it be today?"
Luna shook her head to clear her mind.
"Get thou behind me Lucifer."
"But you do ssssseek power, is that not true?"
"My loyalties lie first with my subjects and sister."
"But you would be able to raise the sun AND the moon. You would not have to ssshare the power with anypony. I would oversee Equessstria and you would govern the sssskies."
"Yes but at what cost to the citizens of Equestria?"
"Does all that really matter? Join me and we shall rule."
"No," Luna said, "I am a servant of Equestria..."
But Sombra could feel her resolve diminishing.
"Think about it," Sombra pressed, "You could keep night as long asss you wisssshed without the interference of the sssssun to end your glorious nightsssss."
"Never?"
"Never. We could rule as brother and sisssster."
"But, what of Tia?"
"Ssssshe issss already dead."
"NO!!" Luna screamed, her fiery anger returning.
She lunged at Lucifer, trying to stab him with the only weapon she had left, her horn.
Lucifer blocked her with his horn and tripped Luna.
He stepped on her horn, pinning her to the ground.
"Really Sisssssster, think rationally. Celesssssstia may be dead, but now there issssss nopony in our way Luna. Bessidessss Equesstria still needss a princesss to govern the ssky. Would you really sacrifice your ssubjects jusst to try and sstop me? You ssaid yourself, your ssubjects come first. Think about it."
Luna thought.
"Night everlasting?"
"Yessss."
"The respect I deserve finally granted to me?"
"Yessssss."
"You shall not hurt me or by subjects?"
"Unlike your ssubjects," said Sombra, "I need you, and most important... I know I need you."
Sombra removed his hoof, letting his sister stand to contemplate the offer he had presented her.
Luna struggled with this. She had long felt this nagging feeling of resentment for Celestia. Now, that nagging feeling had turned into a burning desire. A desire to rule.
Listen to him. He understands the glory of night...
No! He cares not for the welfare of the Equestrian citizens. He cares only for his selfish desires...
But he will let you run free, giving your night all the time it deserves...
At the expense of the ponies who are my subjects...
Why should you even care about them? They don't care about you. Besides this world still needs me. I can't risk dying at the hand of my brother. If I die, so does Equestria.
And he will let you use your title to it's fullest...
"I... I..." she stammered.
She felt a hoof on her shoulder and turned to find Celestia.
"TIA!!!" she yelled, throwing her hooves around her sister.
Luna turned to Sombra.
"I would never betray my sister. Not in a thousand years."
"Give it time," Sombra said.
"Unfortunately," said Celestia, opening the golden box with her magic, "You don't have the time."
The elements of Loyalty, Honesty and Laughter levitated in front of Luna while Generosity, Kindness and Magic hovered before Celestia.
"No," Sombra said, his eyes contracting to the size of pins when he recognized the elements, "Blueblood! Stop them!"
A magical aura formed around the alicorn sisters and a rainbow shot from the top of it, heading towards Sombra.
Blueblood found himself moving out of sheer force of habit. He threw himself at his aunts.
The force of Blueblood's collision caused the rainbow to misdirect and shoot out of the castle and up to the highest tower in the empire where the crystal heart was hidden away.
The rainbow blasted into the crystal heart. The heart began to spin violently, faster and faster as the power charged it up. Then, with suddenness that would stun a timber wolf, the power of the Elements shot out of the heart in all directions. A magical aura slowly began to envelop the Crystal Empire.
Celestia grabbed Blueblood and leaped into the air.
Blueblood looked back to his father, who stood stoically on the balcony, awaiting whatever came next. He looked up to his son and their eyes locked.
"I'll be back," Sombra mouthed just as Celestia cast her teleportation spell, saving herself, Luna and Blueblood from the reverberation of the spell.
The empire vanished from sight.
"Father?" Blueblood said, staring in awe at the empty space where his father's empire had stood, now replaced with snow and ice.
Celestia and Luna bowed their heads in silence for the ponies of the Crystal Empire.
"If only," said Celestia, "He had listened to us."
"Goodbye Luke," Luna said.
***
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" bawled Pinkie as two waterfalls erupted from her eyes. Her speech was interrupted by gasping breaths, "That's...huh... so... huh... SAAAAAAAAAADDDDD!"
"Indeed," Luna said, her head hanging in remorse, "The castle was long after a place of mourning. And though Celestia and I were close to Luke, twas Blueblood who felt the most remorse."
Pinkie Pie grabbed onto Applejack and sobbed into her mane.
Fluttershy began weeping and collapsed onto Pinkie. Next to break was Rarity, while Rainbow and Twilight stood by observing.
Applejack fidgeted under the weight of her three friends.
"Would it be best if we stopped the story here?" Celestia asked.
Pinkie stopped crying immediately.
"No way Jose. Which is weird considering your name is Celestia. You can't stop the story there, the readers will be all mad and the authors will get nasty comments. You wouldn't want that, would you?"
"Ummmmm..." Celestia said with wide eyes.
"Just ignore seventy percent of what she says," Twilight said.
"Good for you," Pinkie said, looking off into the distance, "You could have turned that into a cheap twenty percent cooler joke but you restrained yourself."
Chapter 4: Return to Canterlot and a visit with an old friend.
***
A train of tired soldiers rattled along it's tracks on the way to Canterlot.
Blueblood stared out the window as snow passed by his eyes.
"Are you okay?" asked Celestia, sitting down beside him.
"I just feel... Betrayed."
"I understand."
"What was my father... what was he really like?"
"Well. when we were foals, he was the most rambunctious of us all. If you looked for danger, Luke was right there. Then, after we came to power, something began to change with him. At first he was just a bit of a recluse, then he began to drift farther away from Luna and I until we barely ever saw him. We didn't even know of your birth until he brought you to the castle after your mother died."
"Did you ever find out what made him change?"
"No."
"Why did he want to rule Equestria?"
Celestia shook her head.
"Why does anypony want to rule Equestria? Power, Blueblood. It's a sick hunger for power. And they will chase it till their graves... Sometimes it even leads them there."
"But how is that different from you and Luna ruling Equestria."
"We do not rule Equestria, we merely... watch over it. We look out for the welfare of the ponies and in return, they grant us respect. Lucifer wanted to command, not to watch over. He cared only for his own intentions."
"What if I become like him?"
Celestia smiled and stroked her nephew's mane.
"We are not destined to become somepony because of who we are or where we're from. We become who we are by the ponies we meet along the way and the decisions we make. One can start with the most bleak beginnings and end with the happiest of endings."
Blueblood stared out the window and thought about what his aunt had said.
With my aunt as my witness, I shall not become my father!
"'sigh'. If only I could believe that."
Slowly, icy mountains became green grass as the train sped ever-onward to its destination.
Blueblood sat in his gigantic room back in Canterlot. The normally friendly and opening rooms in Canterlot had seemed to him, dark and vast. So huge that he was afraid of getting lost in the seemingly unending hallways. He knew his aunts had tried to make him as comfortable as they could, but he was with strangers. And an unknown restlessness had been bothering him ever since he left the Crystal Empire.
He let out a sigh.
"Blueblood?" said Celestia, poking her head through the door, "There's somepony here to see you."
"Thank you," Blueblood mumbled.
He rose and exited his room.
Celestia looked at him piteously.
"You know Blueblood, we are all going through what you are going through. Lucifer was my brother as well as your father. If you want to talk about it, I am here."
"No, I'm good," Blueblood said, with an emotionless voice.
He was finding it hard to bond with Celestia and Luna who, for some reason or another, was spending more time in seclusion.
"He's right in here," Celestia said, opening a door.
The door swung open and Blueblood found Stormwing standing in the room with what must have been his family. Stormwing's father, a stocky, middle-aged pegasus and his mother, a friendly-looking motherly type unicorn smiled at Blueblood. Stormwing's brother, a lanky unicorn with a messy mane and tail, looked up from his journal of sheet music paper with minimal excitement, bordering on apathy. Stormwing's sister, a small, teal, adorable-looking unicorn, held a card in her mouth which said, in the messy scribble of a foal, Welcom howm Prins Bleublod. The card was ornamented by a glitttery drawing of Blueblood and Stormwing hugging.
"Stormwing!" Blueblood shouted, running over to his friend, embracing him just like on the aforementioned card.
"Blueblood," Stormwing, said, hugging him right back, "It's so good to see you again. May I introduce you to my family?"
"Hewwo," said Stormwing's sister, handing Blueblood the card, "I made dis fow you."
"Why thank you," Blueblood said, opening up the card, "I must say, this is the nicest card I've ever received."
Being the only card I've ever received. Blueblood thought with a smirk.
"This is Lily Blossom," Stormwing said, putting a hoof on his sister's shoulder, "And this," he said, pointing to his father, mother and then his brother, "Is Leather Loafer, Studious and Aneighdeus Mozart."
"Stormwing, quiet down," said a perturbed Aneighdeus, "I am trying to compose a sonnet. I just can't seem to find inspiration. And you are not helping with this whole, loud introduction."
"He's just like I imagined," whispered Blueblood.
"Unfortunately," Stormwing replied, rolling his eyes.
"Hello," Blueblood said to the rest of Stormwing's family, holding out a hoof.
Before he could react, Lily Blossom embraced him in a tight hug, while Leather Loafer pumped his hoof up and down and patted his back.
"Well hi there young fella," he said, "It's nice to finally meet'cha. Stormwing's been talkin' nonstop 'bout you since he came home."
"I,y,y,y,y,y,y,y tho,o,o,o,ught you po,o,o,o,o,o,o,o,nies lived in Ma,a,a,a,a,a,a,nehatta,a,a,a,a,a,a,n," Blueblood said, his whole body jerking up and down as Leather Loafer shook his hoof.
"What's that son?" Leather Loafer asked, "You'll have ta speak up."
"Honey," interrupted Studious, placing a hoof on her husband's.
"Oh yeah," Leather Loafer said, letting go of Blueblood's hoof, "Sorry, didn't mean to be a space invader."
Blueblood tried to cradle his hoof in his other hoof but couldn't because Lily Blossom still had a death grip on him.
"Lily," Stormwing said, prying his little sister off of Blueblood, "Blueblood can't breathe."
"Sowwy," she said.
"I said 'wheeze' I thought you ponies live in Manehattan." Blueblood said, regaining his breath.
"Oh, normally we do," said Studious, "But we've been living in Canterlot ever since Stormwing came home."
"Yeah son," said Leather Loafer, in a thick Manehattan accent, "But we're plannin ta go home tomorroh'. Stormwing wanted ta see ya before we left though."
"Yeah," Stormwing said, "I wanted to give you my address in case you're ever in Manehattan. Also, that way we can write each other."
Stormwing handed Blueblood a note.
"Well ya' gave him da' note," Leather said, "Let's go."
Think Blueblood think! I haven't seen Stormwing in months!
"Great," said Blueblood, "While you guys are here, would you like to have dinner?"
"Oh my," said Studious, "That's very sweet of you, but only if Princess Celestia doesn't mind."
Blueblood and Celestia led Stormwing and his family to the dining room.
"Oh my," said Studious, wiping her mouth with a napkin, "That was simply delicious. My compliments to the chef."
"I'll tell Chateaubriand you enjoyed the meal," said Celestia, "He has a wide array of recipes that will satisfy even the most... picky ponies."
They looked at Lily Blossom licking ketchup off her muzzle and levitating a cookie towards her.
"Ahhhhhhhhh," said Leather Loafer, leaning back in his chair, "Well kids, we bettah be goin' back ta ah hotel."
"But you, uh, just got here," Blueblood said, "You haven't even finished your meal."
"Is there another course afteh dessert?" asked Leather Loafer.
"Umm, yes," Blueblood said, "You must stay for... Cocktails!"
"Wut's tail?" asked Lily Blossom, tilting her head, "I don't eat eggzo... exco... exot... fancy foods."
"Well of course for you it would be a Shetland Temple," Blueblood said.
"Okay," said Leather, as Blueblood levitated a drink to him.
"None for me," Aneighdeus said, "Alcohol dulls the brain and makes it less likely to envision musical pieces."
"That and you're too young to drink," Stormwing said, smirking.
"Thanks for the drink," Leather said as he and his family stood from the table, "But we'd better get going. It's getting awful late."
"Oh but I insist you stay for tea," Blueblood said, passing cups out.
"Well thanks dearie," Studious said, "But we really have to be putting the kids to sleep."
"But we haven't even had snacks yet!" Blueblood said.
"How do you stay so svelte Princess Celestia?" asked Studious, placing a hoof on her already bulging stomach.
"I don't 'groan' know," Celestia said, with an equally enormous gut, "Blueblood, perhaps it is time for them to go. Luna raised the moon hours ago."
"Why you're so right," Blueblood said, looking out the window, "It's much to late for you to be wondering the streets of Canterlot. Well it looks like you'll just have to stay here. I'll tell the servants to prepare you all some rooms."
"Do you think we could escape out the bathroom window?" Leather Loafer whispered to his wife.
"Prince Blueblood," Leather Loafer said, "We're only stayin' a block a' two away and it's well lit and I think we can make it back to our hotel. So thank you for the invite, but I think we should be goin'."
"Oh but the thieves always strike in the light places now," Blueblood said, "That way they can see what their doing better."
"Then we'll walk in the dark alleyways," Leather Loafer said.
"But they like to strike in the shadows too," Blueblood said, "It makes them feel more mysterious."
"Then we'll fly home."
"Only two of you are pegasi."
"We'll find a way."
"I insist," said Blueblood encasing Leather Loafer's tail in an aura of magic and dragging him down the hall, "I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to your family."
"HELP!!!!" screamed Leather Loafer.
"Ah, tragedy!" exclaimed Aneigheus, "A wonderful and often successful subject to compose music about! Lead on my good Blueblood, so that I may be inspired!"
"Blueblood," Stormwing said, peeking his head into his friend's room.
The unicorn bolted up from his seat by the window to meet his pegasus friend.
"Oh Stormwing," Blueblood said, in a half-frantic tone, "How is your room? Comfortable enough? Do you need new sheets? An extra pillow?"
"No thanks, you've already thoroughly smothered us with those."
"How's your family doing?"
"I think mom and dad are tying the bed sheets together to make a rope. But that's not what I wanted to say, what I want is an explanation."
"I didn't want your family to stay in some dingy room at a one star motel."
"Princess Celestia put us up in the Canterlotdorf Astoria. That's far from dingy. Come on, I know you better than that."
"I just..." said Blueblood, searching.
How does one put this into words? He pondered.
"You didn't want to be alone, did you?" Stormwing guessed.
"Yes," Blueblood said, slight shocked at his friend's astuteness, "The castle is nice and all but it's so... big. Celestia and Luna are busy with royal duties so all I do is sit around and think about what happened."
"You needed somepony to talk to?"
"Yes."
"Well," Stormwing said, planting his rear end firmly on the floor, "I'm not going anywhere."
"So I couldn't kill Celestia," Blueblood said, "So I ended up betraying my father. And now he's gone."
"I know this is hard for you," Stormwing said, "And I can't tell you what was right because well... Prince Lucifer never was my father. I can't imagine my father becoming evil."
"I don't think your father has an evil bone in his body," Blueblood said.
"Yeah," said Stormwing, chuckling, "If he took over the world it would be something like, 'MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!! You will all buy my shoes!!!!!!!'."
Blueblood and Stormwing chuckled.
"I thought of you though," said Blueblood, "When I was deciding whether or not to kill Celestia. I saw you and your family. I decided I was going to be like you. Full of life. I guess I haven't done that great a job."
"Even ponies who are full of life go through periods of grief. Life is going to happen and sometimes it's not good. About ten years ago my grandfather died. I was barely out of foalschool. I cried for days. Then one day my mother said, 'When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.' That made me think of all the good times I had with him, which helped me recover from his death."
"Sadly, I didn't have that many tender father-son moments with my dad. You remember him from when you traveled with us. He was gruff and cold. Always business."
"Then why are you mourning his death?"
"Because I wish I could have had a dad more like yours."
"That sounds more like anger then grief to me," Stormwing said, "Your dad wasn't stellar, I agree. But you can't let that keep you down."
"How can I?"
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."
"But the past can still hurt."
"So? Move on Blueblood. Once you forgive your father, you'll feel so much better."
"That may take a while."
"No matter how long it takes... do it. Otherwise the past will just continue to hurt."
"Thanks Stormwing," Blueblood said, "You want me to walk me back to your room?"
"Okay,"
They walked out of the room and down the hall.
Stormwing opened the door to his family's adjoining rooms.
Studious and Leather Loafer looked up from the bedsheets they were tying together. Aneighdeus sat on a chaise lounge writing in a pad of paper.
"We've been discovered!" Leather Loafer screamed.
He and his wife jumped behind the chaise lounge.
"Would you like to hear my composition?" asked Aneighdeus, "I call it, Canterlot Imprisonment."
Stormwing and Blueblood laughed.
"Well," Celestia said, "Are you all packed and ready?"
"Yesyesyes," Leather Loafer said, throwing the last of his family's belongings into the carriage that would take them to the train station, "We'll be goin' now."
He grabbed Studious and the kids and they jumped into the cart.
"Let's go before they try to feed us more," he said to his wife.
Blueblood looked at his hooves in embarrassment.
"Leather Loafer, Studious, I'm sorry about last night. I really wanted to get to know your family and I realize what I was doing was wrong."
"Uhuh, well bye!" Leather Loafer said, waving a hoof frantically.
"That's okay Blueblood," Studious said, putting a hoof on Blueblood's shoulder and elbowing her husband in the ribs, "We all can over react sometimes."
"Uh, that's right," said Leather Loafer, rubbing his ribcage, "It was, uh, nothing. I mean... think nothing of it."
"Thanks," Blueblood said, smiling.
"And you are always welcome at our home," Studious said, "So if you're ever in Manehattan, just look us up."
Leather Loafer shot his wife a look of terror.
"Thank you," Celestia said, "And I would like to extend the same invitation to you."
"And Aneighdeus," Blueblood said, handing him five tickets to the Manehattan Sympony, "These are for you and your family."
"The Barber of Ponyville? Why that is one of my favorite operas. This is most generous of you. Thank you Prince Blueblood."
"And here you go Lily Blossom," said Blueblood, giving her a crystal necklace, "This necklace is from the Crystal Empire."
"Pwetty," she said, putting the jewelry on, "Tank you so much."
She wrapped her hooves around Blueblood and proceeded to choke the ever-loving daylights out of him again.
After an eternity and a half, she finally let go and got into the cart along with Aneighdeus, Studious and Leather Loafer.
Stormwing turned to Blueblood.
"Well I guess this is goodbye," said Blueblood.
"Nah, just until we meet again. Now you remember what I told you."
"Yes sir."
Stormwing hugged Blueblood tight and then got into the wagon.
"Until we meet again," he said as the wagon pulled off.
"Until we meet again."
Blueblood watched as his best friend and the most wonderful family he'd ever known, faded away on the horizon.
"I'm nervous," Blueblood said, as Celestia tied his bow-tie for him, "I've never attended a Canterlot party at the castle."
"You don't need to be nervous Blueblood," Celestia said, "This party is for you. Everypony in Canterlot wants to welcome you home. And now that you have a better disposition on life, I thought it would be wonderful to have a party."
"What if I mess up?"
"You need to understand the way ponies think in Canterlot," Celestia said, "You are at the top of the society pyramid, so nopony is going to contradict what you say."
"Do you have any suggestions on how I should act?"
"Just one thing. Many ponies here don't... well they didn't like your father. If they say anything nasty about him, well you should just ignore it. Canterlot ponies can be nice but they can also be extremely pig-headed with diplomacy."
"I understand," Blueblood said.
Celestia and Blueblood walked into the hallway and headed towards the party hall.
"Will Luna be there?" Blueblood asked.
"No. She didn't seem interested in it when I mentioned it to her. She said she was departing to our vacation castle in the Everfree Forest. I said we'd join her in a couple of days."
"A bit of time in the forest sounds nice," Blueblood said.
"Yes," muttered Celestia, "But I'm worried that Luna shouldn't be there alone. She's already been spending so much time alone. Luke's death hit her pretty hard but she won't talk about what happened when I was knocked down. I'm worried what he might have done to her."
They entered a room filled to bursting with ponies bedecked in resplendent garments and glimmering jewelry.
"Welcome everypony," Celestia said, "I would like to introduce you to my long-missing nephew Prince Blueblood."
There was a substantial amount of applause that lasted a good thirty seconds or so. Blueblood smiled and walked into the fray of ponies.
"Welcome back to Canterlot Prince Blueblood," said a refined looking, middle-aged, grey unicorn with a blonde pegasus standing beside him, "I'm Silver Dollar. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"The pleasure is all mine." Blueblood said nervously.
"My," said the pegasus at Silver Dollar's side, "What a well-mannered pony."
Blueblood found himself the center of attention
"And then I said, 'that isn't a hat dear, that's a natural disaster that somehow landed atop your head!'" Blueblood exclaimed.
The crowd of ponies around him broke into loud laughter
"Oh what a hilarious pony,"
"Yes I must say Prince Blueblood, it's wonderful to have you back but, if I may ask, where have you been? On a leave of military absence leading our troops against that awful Sombra?" Silver Dollar asked.
Blueblood shot a look of confusion at Celestia.
"If you'll pardon me a moment Silver Dollar."
He walked over to Celestia, who dismissed some other ponies she was talking to.
"Why does nopony know where I've been?"
"Everypony knows you are the son of Prince Lucifer, but they do not know Lucifer was Sombra. They will make the connection soon enough but before then I think it best for you to solidify yourself in Canterlot high society."
"What do they think happened to my father?"
"Luke? They don't know he's gone. I took over his royal duties and he'd always been a bit of a recluse."
"But where am I supposed to tell everypony I was?"
"I don't know, Saddle Arabia? Griffon Territory? The Land of the Breezies? You can come up with something."
"But-"
"Look, I sorry to tell you but..." Celestia sighed, "If they knew that you were Sombra's son, they wouldn't accept you back so easily."
"But I'm royalty, you said so yourself."
"Yes, the son of royalty and the son of a traitor. However, I'm afraid that one of them outweighs the other."
Blueblood sighed and turned back to where Silver Dollar stood.
"I understand if where you've been is a military secret," Silver Dollar said, hesitant, "I was just curious."
"Oh no," Blueblood said, "It's no secret. I've been... in Saddle Arabia. On... Diplomatic... Duties."
"Oh my," said Silver Dollar, "How interesting. We all expected you to have been fighting that horrid Sombra."
"He wasn't that bad," muttered Blueblood.
"What was that Your Highness?" asked Silver Dollar.
"Oh uh, I just said, I'm glad your not mad!"
"Alright. But do you know that thanks to that awful Sombra I lost a substantial amount of revenue for this year? I own two factories in Trottingham, one in Hoofington and six in the Crystal Empire! Thanks to him I lost six factories. Do you know how much they cost me? A pretty bit, that's what!"
"I know," said a by-standing pony, "I had two factories in The Crystal Empire as well."
"My workers were forced to fight in his army!"
"My yearly vacation to Hoofington was cancelled!"
The ballroom slowly became one huge conversation about how awful Sombra was.
Blueblood bit his lip in frustration.
It's okay. Aunt Celestia said this would happen. Just play it cool.
"What a horrid beast. I'm glad he's gone."
Blueblood groaned inwardly.
He could stand no more.
My father DID do horrible things but he was still my father. I owe him that much.
"ENOUGH!" he yelled at the top of his lungs.
The ballroom froze.
"My father may not have been the most praiseworthy of ponies, but he was my father and I would appreciate at least some respect for the deceased!"
Silence.
What did I just do? Blueblood said to himself as he looked over to Celestia who was cringing.
"Your father..." asked Silver Dollar quietly.
"WAS SOMBRA!?!?!?!" The ballroom finished.
Pandemonium erupted. Ponies screamed and ran helter-skelter around the ballroom. Bowls of punch were knocked over and tables turned. Mares fainted, Stallions yelled and Silver Dollar shrieked in the most unbecoming manner.
"He's a monster!"
"A demon!"
"A traitor!"
"SILENCE!"
Everypony stopped in their tracks and stared at Princess Celestia.
"Please understand what has happened everypony. Blueblood has-"
"Bewitched you?"
"Threatened you?"
"Hexed you?"
"Really Celestia," said Silver Dollar with his snout in the air, "We all are astounded that you would call such a maleficent villain your relative. I demand to see Prince Lucifer to inform him of his son's behavior."
"I'm afraid I cannot allow that."
"Why in heaven's name not?"
"Lucifer was... um..."
"Lucifer was Sombra, okay?" Blueblood shouted indignantly.
The crowd drew in a simultaneous shocked gasp.
"But you stuck up FOALS seem to have forgotten all that he did for you before he became Sombra!"
"BUT HE TRIED TO TAKE OVER EQUESTRIA!" shouted somepony in the back.
"But you can still show his memory the respect that it deserves."
There were several moments of silence.
Then, with indignant huffs of, 'the boy's insane' and 'possessed, that's what he is', they all started to empty the ballroom.
Celestia shook her head and turned to her nephew.
"I'm sorry Celestia," he said.
Blueblood turned on his hooves and ran towards his room.
"Blueblood!" Celestia yelled.
But he was already gone.
Blueblood paced his bedroom floor. The excitement of this night had drained from his face.
"How are you still influencing me?" he said, looking up, "You're dead. Why can't I move on?"
Celestia rapped a hoof on her nephew's bedroom door.
"Blueblood?"
"Come in."
The door squeaked as Celestia pushed it open.
"Blueblood, are you okay?"
"They had no respect for him. But he doesn't deserve respect. But he's my father. Oh Celestia, what should I do?!"
"I don't know Blueblood. I don't know what I should do. We have to take this a day at a time."
"I hate him so much!" Blueblood yelled, burying his muzzle in Celestia's mane, "But I love him too."
He began to cry.
Not knowing what else to do, Celestia patted him on the back gently saying, "There, there."
"I'm sorry I ruined the party."
"It's okay. To be perfectly honest, that was the most lively party we've had here in a long time."
"What should I do?"
"How about we just go to meet Luna tomorrow and we'll let this ordeal settle down?"
"Okay."
"We'll spend some time in the Everfree. I think we all need a bit of a vacation."
Blueblood was standing in a forest. But not a regular forest. There were no birds in the trees and no small animals around. The entire forest seemed... dead.
"Hello? Anypony around?"
"Why are you so assssssshamed of me?" came a voice from the darkness.
A familiar voice.
A cold shiver ran up Blueblood's spine.
"Who's there?" Blueblood said, looking around frantically.
A soft laugh rattled the forest.
"You know who it isssssss."
Blueblood looked and saw his father slink out of the darkness. He was not scarred, nor bruised, or even weak-looking. If anything, he appeared stronger than ever.
"Y-y-y-y-your d-d-d-de-"
"Dead? Oh no. I'm alive and you know what elsssssse? I'm coming back. It will be a while but I'll return. And there ssssshall be nothing ssssstopping me from taking you back. We ssssshall rule Equesssssstria together."
"I DON'T WANT TO RULE WITH YOU!!!" screamed Blueblood, "I found out what you really did and I shall not follow in your hoofsteps!"
"You have been misssssled by that foal Celesssssstia. Do not misssstake who you are. You are MY sssssson and I will have you back."
"NO!"
Blueblood ran through the dense, dark foliage. Brambles tore at his coat and stones caught in his hooves. He ran as fast as he could but he couldn't outrun his father's cackling.
Blueblood broke out into a clearing with his father following shortly after.
"Run if you like, but you will never be anypony elssssse," yelled Sombra.
"GET BACK FOUL DEMON!!!!!!!!!" came a voice from the sky.
Blueblood looked up to see Luna dive-bombing Sombra.
She delivered a blast of magic to him point blank.
Sombra screamed as he began to fade.
Like a ghost in the daylight, he vanished.
"I shall have you Blueblood," were his last words before he disappeared completely.
"What was that?" Blueblood said, short of breath from the long run.
"You tell me," Luna said, "Our dreams reflect what is in our minds. Nightmares are usually our greatest fears."
"You're right," Blueblood said, "I'm afraid of becoming my father."
"Though rarely our dreams show us glimpses of future events."
"He's really coming back?"
"Yes. It shall take many years, but Luke shall come back."
"What should I do?"
"Prepare," said Princess Luna, "But also I come to warn you of a foe that I fear I can no longer hold back. I have done battle with her in my dreams much as you do with your father. She shall plan to take over Equestria and I need you to warn Celestia."
"Why me?"
"My sister never dreams. She has only visions. I cannot therefore enter her dreams. So I came to you."
"I understand."
"And Blueblood-"
"Yes?"
"Please tell my sister... that I love her."
"Yes."
"Thou wakes," Luna said, as the world began to swirl, "Goodbye Blueblood."
"What do you mean 'goodbye'?" Blueblood yelled after her.
Luna closed her eyes and her horn began to glow.
"Luna?"
"LUNA?!?!" Blueblood yelled, bolting awake in bed.
He glanced around.
"I've got to warn Celestia," he said, leaping from his bed and tearing out the door.
***
"And that was how I came to know of Nightmare Moon," Celestia said, "And of Sombra's eventual return."
Pinkie sobbed holding a soaked box of tissues in her hooves.
"That's HORRIBLE!!!!"
"About Nightmare Moon?" Celestia asked.
"About my dream?" Blueblood asked.
"No silly," PInkie said, brightening up, "It's sad that the party got crashed. If there's anything that makes me sad it's a flopped party."
"Really Pinkie," Rarity said, "Show some decorum."
"Decorations?" Pinkie said, "Why that's a great idea Rarity! I'll throw Prince Blueblood a makeup party. I mean a party that makes up for the horrible one. I mean we can't have a makeup party for Blueblood, how silly would he look in mascara?"
"Uhh, forget it," Rarity said, rolling her eyes.
"No way," Pinkie said, grabbing a parchment and quill out of her hair, "That's way to good of an idea to be forgotten."
With that she began scribbling away furiously.
"Ignore her," Rarity said, "And please continue."
"I see a pattern forming," said Pinkie, looking up towards the ceiling, "I bet you she cuts me off right he-"
Blueblood and Celestia approached the castle of the two sisters with great hesitance. They still didn't know what quite to expect.
"Who is this enemy Luna spoke of?" Blueblood queried in a whisper.
"I do not know everything about my sister. We have always been... different. With my governing the sun and her the moon, we never quite understood each other."
They walked down long, empty hallways, headed towards the throne room.
Blueblood had never been in the castle of the two pony sisters and, despite the gravity of the situation, could not help but admire the architecture.
As they entered the throne room though, his breathing halted.
Two thrones sat across from the entryway on top of two flowing flights of stairs. One of the chairs was golden while the other was a shimmery blue. Above them hung two tapestries of the same colors.
As they approached the thrones, a voice resounded through the empty room.
"Not another step."
Luna emerged from behind the blue throne with a look of severe hatred upon her face.
Blueblood felt something inside him stir. This didn't feel right. He started to back away.
"Did you really expect me to sit idly by while they all basked in your precious light?"
Not again.
Luna walked past the throne and onto the balcony which connected the two thrones.
"There can only be one princess in Equestria, and that princess will be ME!"
Luna slammed her hooves down upon the balcony, which shattered with her forceful blow. The shock wave traveled up the wall, opening up a large crevice through which you could see the sun.
Luna flew into the air and raised the moon until it blocked out the sun completely.
Shafts of darkness shot from the moon and Luna was encased in flurries of dark, sinister magic. The black magic condensed into a glowing, orange ball from which you couldn't even see the pony inside. The orange orb was engulfed in another wave of dark magic and the orb burst to reveal an entirely different pony than Luna.
This pony had sharpened teeth, cat-like eyes, and full armor. Her mane flowed out like a blanket of darkness.
Who is this and where has Princess Luna gone? Thought Blueblood as he stared at the maniacal mare, whose cackling unsettled him.
The mare's diabolical chortling stopped as she cleaved the ceiling in two with a magical spell, causing chunks to fall near Celestia and Blueblood.
Celestia flew into the air as if she was about to attack, but the mare shot a shaft of magic towards her. Celestia barely dodged out of the way before the bolt shot clean through the ceiling.
The mare emerged from the cloud of dust caused by her carnage.
"Luna," Celestia said, folding her wings, "I will not fight you. You MUST lower the moon. It is your duty!"
"Luna?" replied the pony Celestia still considered her sister, "I am... Nightmare Moon."
Blueblood found himself rolling his eyes despite the desperate bind they were in.
Night-MARE Moon? he thought, Really Luna, the puns!
"I have but one royal duty now," said Nightmare Moon, "to destroy you!"
Nightmare Moon let loose with a bolt of blue magic that Celestia just barely dodged. Celestia flew out the hole in the roof.
"And where do you think you're going?" Nightmare asked as she followed close behind.
Blueblood had all to perfect a view for the fight. He saw his aunt dodge blast after blast from the pony they had both loved.
Celestia held out for as long as she could. When Nightmare Moon finally hit her, she was too tired to retaliate. She screamed and plummeted out of the sky.
Celestia hit the ground with a low thud, whilst Nightmare Moon cackled overhead.
Blueblood ran over to his aunt, who lay hurt. As he examined the burn on her flank, he feared her dead.
With much pain Celestia stood, much to the elation of her nephew.
"Oh dear sister, I am sorry. But you have given me no choice, but to use these."
Celestia opened up a hidden vault in the floor and from it rose a strange sculpture with the Elements of Harmony displayed on them.
So this is where they've been kept, thought Blueblood.
Celestia took the Elements from their places of honor and they began to spin around her. They spun so fast that one couldn't even distinguish them from each other. A magical aura encased Celestia and she flew up to meet Nightmare Moon once again in battle.
Nightmare Moon summoned another blast of magic and fired it at Celestia.
Celestia, with tears in her eyes, used the Elements to fire a bolt of magic back at Nightmare Moon.
The two shafts of power met in the middle and jostled for dominance. In the end, the Elements of Harmony were more powerful that Nightmare Moon ever anticipated.
"NO!" she screamed as the wall of magic engulfed her.
It rocketed to the moon where, when magic met moon, two things happened.
Firstly, a sonic rainboom erupted from the moon's surface and secondly, an image of a pony's face appeared.
"What happened?" Blueblood asked when Celestia landed, "Where's Luna? What's that on the moon?"
"She had darkness in her heart Blueblood," Celestia said, with tears streaming down her face, "She is truly the mare of the moon now."
"No..."
Celestia and Blueblood sat forlornly as a glimmering golden carriage pulled them home to Canterlot.
Their moods did not match the chariot's cheerful colors.
Blueblood looked over to his aunt and noticed that she hadn't stopped crying since last night. Her coat was matted and wet from salty tears. Her regal bearing was gone, replaced by a shroud of mourning.
Why would Luna even have done this? He pondered to himself.
"Celestia?" he asked in barely a whisper, "Auntie? Do you want to... talk about what happened?"
Blueblood smiled inwardly about how, in less than a month, their roles had been swapped. Now it was Celestia who needed comforting at the loss of a loved one.
"I,I..." Celestia said, her words catching in her throat, "I don't know what to say. Why did she do this? Why did I have to..."
Her voice trailed off.
Blueblood placed a hoof on his aunt's shoulder and what happened next shocked everypony, even Celestia herself.
Celestia broke down into a fit of sobs in a way that no ruler ever did. She threw her hooves around Blueblood's neck and cried freely into his mane. The facade of being okay was gone.
Blueblood, slightly shocked at his aunt's state, put a hoof around her, trying his very best to comfort the Princess of the Sun.
I guess sometimes all somepony needs to do is cry.
***
"You cried about that?" Luna asked, leaning over to her sister, "What's the matter Tia? Getting soft in your old age?"
She elbowed Celestia in the ribs playfully.
"Make fun all you care to," Celestia said, "I'm just glad you're back to your old self."
She wrapped her hooves around Luna, squeezing the life out of the Princess of the Night.
"Awwwww," Pinkie said, "That's so cute!!!"
"Well anyway," said Luna, escaping her sister's death grip, "Get on with the story."
***
Blueblood sighed as he entered the grand hallway again.
It had been months since the banishment of Nightmare Moon and the citizens of Equestria barely seemed to notice Luna's absence.
Celestia had recovered from her grief enough to announce the Grand Galloping Gala would be on time.
So now Blueblood found himself lost in a sea of ponies on the ballroom floor, with his aunt greeting guests outside.
Blueblood shifted his weight nervously. The last party was still fresh in his mind and, he suspected, everypony else's.
"Ah Prince Blueblood," came a voice from behind him.
He spun about to see Silver Dollar behind him, this time with a different mare at his side.
"Oh, uh, Silver Dollar. Pleasure to meet you... again."
"Yes, look here old boy," said Silver Dollar, "We got off on the wrong hoof last time. And I for one am quite fine to forget it ever happened."
Blueblood was about to inject something about how it had not been his fault but then he remember his warning from Aunt Celestia.
If I want to make friends, I'll have to compromise.
"Thank you Silver Dollar. I'm glad that nasty ordeal is behind us."
"Why yes," said Silver Dollar, "I mean anypony can see there is a great difference between you and that awful Sombra."
Blueblood gritted his teeth and endured it. He had heard how famous Silver Dollar was. If he wanted to get in good standings with everypony in Canterlot, this was the way.
"Yes well, thank you," he said, thinking of a way to divert the conversation, "Would you like a drink Silver Dollar?"
"Why yes," said Silver Dollar.
A pretty, young mare approached them with a tray on her back.
"Champagne?" she said.
"Yes," Silver Dollar said without even looking at her.
Adjust and adapt, Blueblood thought as he copied what he saw.
The mare placed a drink in Blueblood's hoof and passed Silver Dollar another drink.
Being an earth pony and unable to use magic though, she couldn't get a good enough grip and spilled it on Silver Dollar's dinner jacket.
"Oh," she said, backing away in fear.
"You imbecile!" Silver Dollar exclaimed, "Do you have any idea how much a jacket like this costs? More than your yearly salary that's what!"
"I'm so sorry," she said in an diminutive, contrite voice.
"I should think you are," said Silver Dollar, "Well don't just stand there, get a towel and clean this mess up!"
The mare retreated to get a cloth.
"It's so hard to get good help these days," said Silver Dollar, rolling his eyes.
He then began a conversation with Blueblood as if nothing had ever happened.
Why did he treat her that way? thought Blueblood as he observed the mare clean up the puddle.
She was a sweet-looking pony who looked as nice as could be. Blueblood couldn't fathom what would make Silver Dollar treat her as he did.
I'll have to ask Auntie about it, he decided as he chatted with Silver Dollar about stocks and social events.
"Auntie," Blueblood said, walking into Celestia's room, "Can I talk to you about the party?"
"Hmm?" Celestia said, looking out her window through a telescope.
Blueblood shut his mouth when he saw his aunt was raising the moon.
"Approximately seventeen degrees from the zenith," she muttered, "Two degrees west and... perfect!"
She looked up at her night's work and smiled.
"I do believe I'm getting the hang of this."
Blueblood smiled. He sure hoped so.
The last few months had had some... well unusual nights. The first night Celestia forgot to raise the moon entirely and the night-shift ponies bumped into stuff all night. About a week ago, Celestia had started adding the stars back in. That had made for some wacky constellations. Scorpio had had twelve legs and two heads that night.
Celestia yawned.
"I don't think I ever gave Luna enough credit. This raising the moon stuff is hard."
Not to mention the moon should have been up two hours ago, Blueblood thought with a smirk.
"Well Blueblood," said Celestia, "Was there something you wanted to talk to me about?"
She smiled sleepily.
"Yes, but if you want to get some sleep I understand," Blueblood said.
He had been worrying about his aunt lately. She had been burning the candle at both ends and her royal duties during the day made power naps impossible.
Celestia yawned again.
"No no, please, go ahead."
"Well..." Blueblood began.
With that he recounted the entire night's escapade to his aunt. All about the poor mare and a few other instances when he had been confused about what to do.
"So I don't know whether I should just go along with the crowd or stand up for the other ponies," he finished, feeling like a large stone had been removed from his back.
He looked up to see Celestia asleep, standing up. Her snoring had been drowned out by Blueblood's tale until then.
Smiling and rolling his eyes, Blueblood put her to bed and then returned to his room to retire.
He would discuss it with her tomorrow.
Two. Weeks.
Blueblood shook his head.
It had been two weeks since the Grand Galloping Gala and Blueblood still hadn't found a spare moment to talk to his aunt.
He didn't blame her it's just that, with all her royal duties, she didn't have time to talk to him.
The only ponies who really had time for him were Silver Dollar and his friends. They had become quite good friends lately. Blueblood was something new to them. He was a royal without the constant duty of ruling. So he was always able to attend their charity auctions, parties and polo games. He had found the Wonderbolts derby to be his favorite event of all though.
So Blueblood smiled as he donned his best jacket and headed out to meet his friends for just such an event.
Blueblood trotted out of his room and down the now familiar hallways. He no longer felt so intimidated by the grand scale of the castle. It had become his home.
"Auntie!" he hollered as he passed the throne room, "I'm leaving!"
"Mmhm," Celestia answered, glancing up from the stacks of paperwork she had to do.
I'm glad he's finally found some friends, she thought, smiling.
Although friends weren't the best description of Blueblood's entourage.
"Ah, Prince Blueblood," Silver Dollar said, with yet another mare at his side, "We're so glad you could make it."
Blueblood trotted over to his friends and sat down.
Today, they were attending a charity auction followed by a banquet. For some reason, Canterlot ponies only seemed to donate money at auctions. Blueblood had reservations about this worldview, but he had adjusted.
"Have they put the first item up yet?" he asked.
"No," said Silver Dollar, "But according to the program, it's a Rembraynt painting. I'm hoping to acquire it for my collection."
Blueblood scanned the program Silver Dollar passed him. There were a few paintings, mostly by Rembraynt, Ponycassio and Lipizzaner De Vinci. Also there was a grand piano that had previously belonged to Ludwig Van Braythoveen.
Blueblood read the description and smiled.
Anieghdeus would love this! he thought.
The first painting went up on the block and Silver Dollar (of no surprise to anypony) won it.
After a couple more paintings and pieces of furniture were auctioned off, on came the grand piano.
Blueblood examined it.
It was a brilliant white and didn't have a scratch on it. Despite it being older than Blueblood himself, there was not sign of age other that some wear and tear on the keys, seat and music stand.
Blueblood thought of how amazing Aneighdeus would sound on it.
"Starting bid, seven-thousand bits," said the auctioneer.
Blueblood waited to see if anypony else wanted it.
A snobby-looking filly was tugging at her father's sleeve and pointing at the piano.
The filly's father raised his hoof.
"I see seven-thousand, do I see seventy-five hundred?"
Blueblood raised his hoof.
"And seventy-five hundred from the prince. Do I see eight-thousand?"
"Blueblood," said Silver Dollar, while the auction played on, "I didn't know you played piano."
"I don't," said Blueblood, raising his hoof again signaling eighty-five hundred, "This is a gift for somepony."
"You're willing to spend eighty-five hundred," Silver Dollar corrected himself, "I mean ninety-five hundred bits on a gift?"
"Of course," said Blueblood, raising his hoof again.
"Who's this for?"
"Well, he's a friend of mine called Aneighdeus Motzart and he likes to-"
"I haven't heard the name. Is he perhaps from the De Lis family?"
"Uh no. His father is a shoe salespony, named-"
"A shoe salespony?!?!" Silver Dollar exclaimed.
He grabbed Blueblood and shook him.
"Surely you don't mean you associate with commoners?!?!"
"Going three times... SOLD to Mr. Insanely Rich and that little girl of his."
Blueblood groaned when her realized he'd lost.
"Silver Dollar! You distracted me. Aneighdeus would've loved that piano."
"Well I'm glad I did. You, as a prince of Equestria, cannot be giving expensive presents to any common pony around. That's what we come to these auctions for. We donate money, and some, other pony takes care of others."
"But why?" Blueblood queried, asking his first question in two weeks.
"Because you are better than those ponies!" Silver Dollar hissed.
He turned to his friends.
"Tell him."
Blueblood felt a strange pressure as all his 'friends' began to nag him.
I need to talk to Auntie, I need to talk to Auntie, I really need to talk to Auntie, Blueblood repeated over and over in his mind as he returned to the castle.
"Where is my aunt?" he asked a guard.
"She retired some time ago my prince."
"Thank you."
Blueblood crept into his aunt's room. He hated to do this, but he needed somepony's advice.
"CELESTIA!"
Celestia bolted up in bed.
"Whuzz... I was snorking the fitzgerald and then somebody zonked me to zlap."
Some-BODY???
"I was honking the murkle and then you tonka truck the canary."
"Auntie? It's Blueblood, I need to talk to you."
"Oh Flu-bod, please, go ahead and caulk. I'm all sears."
Yeah, I'm not getting any good advice from HER right now.
"Goodnight Auntie," said Blueblood.
He exited the room and called a servant and a guard.
"Dark Cloud," said Blueblood to the guard, "Please tell my aunt I left for Manehattan."
The guard nodded.
"And Feather Duster," Blueblood said to the servant, "Please pack me a suitcase of casual clothes and things."
Chapter 7: Neigh York, Neigh York, It's a Heck of a Town!
Blueblood looked out of his cab at the beautiful city of Manehattan. It was even busier than Canterlot, which, despite being the capital, must have been a quarter of the size. Ponies scrambled around like ants at an anthill, not appearing to have a purpose, but all driven by a enormous sense of importance and worth.
Yeesh! Do they ever stop?
"Is it always this busy?" Blueblood queried to the stallion pulling his carriage.
"Yes," said the cabbie, "Welcome to the city that Luna never visits in the dreamscape."
I see why, Blueblood thought, observing the controlled chaos that Disord would've adored.
"What keeps them going all the time?"
"Blood, sweat and tears. Oh and Starbits coffee."
Blueblood looked out his window at a store with 'STARBITS' in tan letters. A green emblem had a strange, abstract pony on it.
Maybe that's what you look like after a cup of their coffee, Blueblood thought with a smirk.
"While you're here," said the cabbie, "You've just gotta see the Pony of Liberty and the Brayklyn bridge, Oh and don't forget ta try ah Neigh York Style Pretzels."
"If I have time, maybe."
I have other things to do.
"What brings ya ta ah fair metropolis?"
"Just visiting a friend."
"Must be a very good friend for ya ta come all the way from Canterlot."
"You have no idea."
Blueblood smiled at the thought of seeing Stormwing and his family again after all these months.
"Well anyhoof, here ya are," the cabbie announced.
Blueblood's head swung around to see a weathered old house.
"Thank you," Blueblood said, passing him a large ruby, "Keep the change."
"Thank YOU!" said the cabbie, tipping his hat.
The cabbie pulled his carriage off into the streets and Blueblood walked up to the doorway.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
The door creaked open revealing a slit of a teal face.
"Hi Lily Blossom."
"BWUBWOD!" she screamed, throwing her hooves around the Prince of Equestria, "I mithed you thoooooo much."
"I missed you too Lily Blossom, are your parents at home?"
"Is that Blueblood's voice I hear?" came Studious's voice from down the hallway, "Why yes it is. Come in, come in."
Blueblood entered the house and walked into the parlor.
The parlor was of old design, but not dingy. It was well-kept and clean as a whistle. A large bay window looked out onto the street and let in shafts of Celestia's sunlight. Pictures of the family hung on all the walls and several potted flowers gave the room a lovely fragrance.
"I'll get some tea," said Studious, racing off.
Blueblood heard soft piano music coming from another room. It stopped abruptly and in walked Aneighdeus.
"Blueblood!" he exclaimed, "So glad you finally fulfilled that invitation of ours. Tis truly a pleasure to see you again."
"Good to see you as well Aneighdeus. What have ya been up to?"
"Oh nothing much. Composed a few sonatas and chorales since we last met, and my school's orchestra has agreed to play 'Canterlot Imprisonment' at our next concert. Thrilling, isn't it?"
"Yes," said Blueblood, "But I'm sure they won't do the piece justice."
"Oh but of course they shall," said Aneighdeus, "I didn't tell you I attend the Manehattan school of Music? All my schoolmates are most accomplished in the musical arts. Of course, not as accomplished as I."
"A concert sounds amazing! Well tell me when it is and I'll be happy to come."
"November the twelfth."
"Tea anypony?" asked Studious, carrying in a tray of food and refreshments.
"Thank you," Blueblood said, "Studious, if I may ask, where is Leather Loafer and Stormwing?"
"Leather is out selling shoes. That's the good thing about Manehattan, it's so large he never has to leave the city and be gone for days on end. And Stormwing is away on a tour of duty."
"Ah yes, I forgot."
"I actually just returned from the university where I teach and Lily and Aneighdeus just got out of school."
"I gow to the Manehattan Schoow fow Fwower-wuvers," said Lily Blossom.
"Yes, Lily Blossom has quite the green hoof."
"I wanna be a bo... ba... boton... photon... botox..."
"A botanist dear," Studious prompted her daughter.
"Tanks Mommy. Yeah a... a what she said."
Blueblood chuckled inwardly as the filly began scarfing down the cookies her mom had brought out.
"So," said Studious, passing Blueblood a teacup, "What brings you out to Manehattan?"
"I actually just came to see you. I've been missing you guys lately. I guess I should've given you guys heads up but I kinda planned it last minute."
"Oh no it's fine. We're all glad you came."
"I've been needing a break from Canterlot. Always so busy."
"Well you've come to the wrong place if you want quiet. Manehattan is-"
"I know, the city Luna never visits in the dreamscape. I consider just being with your family relaxing."
"If only I could," Studious joked, catching Lily Blossom's teacup before it fell off the table.
"Ha, I guess you're right about that."
"Let me in on your secret."
Blueblood and Studious laughed as Lily Blossom shot Aneighdeus a confused look.
"Well, this has been fun," Blueblood said, standing and wiping a happy tear from his eye, "I better get situated at my hotel."
"Not on your life!" Studious said, "You'll stay here. You can have Stormwing's room. It's the least we can do."
"You're too generous Studious."
"Nonsense. Call it... Revenge. Aneighdeus, Lily, help Blueblood with his suitcases."
"I only brought one. I can handle it."
"Well I'll get started with dinner. Leather should be home in an hour or so."
"Wet me sow you my woom Bwuebwod," said Lily Blossom, dragging Blueblood by the hoof upstairs, "I've got my own wittle gweenhouse!"
"I'M HOME!!!!" proclaimed Leather Loafer as he opened the door.
"DADDY!!!" screamed Lily, encasing her father in a death hug, "I mithed you."
"On a scale of one to one thousand, how much?"
"I don't know. I can't count dat high."
"Fair enough."
It was then Leather Loafer saw Blueblood. His eyes lit up with delight. He opened up his arms for a big bear hug.
"Blueblood! When did you show up?"
"About an hour ago," said Blueblood, accepting the hug.
"Well sad ta say Stormwing's not here."
"I know."
"Dinner's ready," called Studious.
"We only have a salad, main course and dessert here," Leather Loafer joked, "Sorry if that's less than you usually eat."
Blueblood rolled his eyes and he and the family sat down to eat.
"Tomowwow," said Lily Blossom, "Can I take Bwubwod to schoow wif me?"
"He isn't a show-and-tell artifact Lily," said Studious, "And it's 'may I'."
"I'd love to go to school with you Lily," said Blueblood, "I'm not much of a hoof at gardening though."
"Dat's okay," said Lily.
The family dissolved into cordial conversation, discussing their day and what they were planning for tomorrow. Nopony was left out of the conversation. Even Lily Blossom got to talk about her garden.
This is nice, thought Blueblood, They just seem so... Loving. Nothing like my father.
It is in the past!
Blueblood smiled as Stormwing's face flashed before his eyes.
What a goof. But still, they never seem to have any troubles.
Blueblood, Aneighdeus and Lily Blossom stood in the kitchen washing, drying and putting away dishes while Leather Loafer read the newspaper and Studious graded essays.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
"I'll get it," said Leather, rising from his easy chair.
He walked to the end of the hall and Blueblood could hear murmuring.
What's going on?
"Thank you," said Leather Loafer, closing the door.
Walking back into the kitchen with a heavier step and a graver expression he said, "Aneighdeus, would you please tuck your sister in? We'll finish the dishes."
Aneighdeus arched his eyebrow and sensing his father's need for obedience replied, "Of course, come along Lily."
"Goodnight Mommy and Daddy," Lily said, kissing her parents, "Goodnight Bwubwod."
She hugged Blueblood tightly and then trudged upstairs, unhappy about the early bedtime.
"What happened Leather?" Studious asked once the kid's were out of earshot.
"That was a messenger of the Royal Guard," he answered, in a voice shaking with fear, "Stormwing's in the hospital."
Blueblood felt a rock drop in his stomach.
"Let's go," Studious said, rising from her chair, the essays forgotten.
The three ponies bolted out of the house, barely remembering to bolt the door behind them.
Magical machines bleeped and whirred as Blueblood and Stormwing's parents walked through the hospital. Doctors and nurses darted from room to room, trying to take care of everypony around.
Blueblood swallowed.
The guard hadn't given Leather Loafer anymore information than the fact that Stormwing was in the hospital and what hospital it was.
I shudder to think what might have-
Blueblood's trail of thought was interrupted by Leather Loafer's voice.
"Here's his room. One twenty-two."
Studious knocked softly.
"Come in," came an unfamiliar voice.
The door opened to reveal Stormwing, lying on a hospital bed, and a unicorn guard.
"Leather Loafer, Studious?" he asked, "I am Commander Knight Sky, your son's commanding officer."
"Mom... Dad?" Stormwing said, as he woke up from his medically induced sleep.
"We're right here son," said Studious, holding her son's hoof.
Blueblood surveyed the damage to his friend.
Nothing but bruises mostly. There was a cast on his left hind leg.
Then Blueblood saw it.
Celestia, no.
Stormwing's right wing was bandaged, broken and bent.
"What happened?" asked Leather Loafer, drawing Blueblood out of his horror.
"Well," said Commander Knight Sky, "We were on a raid into griffon territory and those barbarians had us surrounded. Their leader was just about to strangle me to death," he indicated to the claw marks around his neck, "When your son dropped down from the sky to save me. As he was detaching the griffon's claws from around my neck though, that blighter threw him into a stone cliff. It bruised him up a bit, broke a leg and a rib, but it also mutilated his wing. I'm not sure if he'll ever fly again."
"Oh my poor baby," said Studious, beginning to cry.
"It's, it's only a flesh wound," said Stormwing, trying to comfort his mother.
"But I must say thank you," said Commander Knight Sky, "Without your bravery Stormwing, I might not have been here today."
"Glad to have been of help sir," said Stormwing, saluting his commander.
Knight Sky left the room to leave the family by itself.
Stormwing hugged his mom and dad. It was then that he noticed Blueblood.
"Blueblood! How did you get here?"
"I was, uh, coming for a visit," said Blueblood, trying not to look at his friend's bandaged wing.
"Hm," Stormwing said, "Well I guess you got back at just the right time."
"Or the wrong time."
"You're such a pessimist."
"There's not really an optimistic way to look at your best friend getting injured."
"I get some time at home. My next leave wasn't for six months."
Blueblood couldn't help but smile at that.
"What you'll do for a vacation Stormwing..." he teased.
The two broke into laughter.
"When do you think they'll let'cha outta here Stormy?" asked Leather Loafer.
"They've already bandaged me up more than an accident-prone foal," joked Stormwing, "They want to keep me tonight for observations. Observations, what do the want to observe me doing? Choking on my dinner?"
"The food's that bad?" asked Blueblood.
"It's a hospital; cooking's not really included in their job description. Well anyway, they said I could come home tomorrow and begin my six week recuperation period."
Blueblood tried to hold back his enthusiasm.
On one hoof, he felt horrible that Stormwing might never fly again, but on the other, HE WAS GOING TO GET TO HANG OUT WITH HIM FOR SIX WEEKS!
"Well we'll let you get some sleep then," said Studious, dragging her husband and Blueblood from the room.
"See ya tomorrow," said Stormwing.
Blueblood, Aneighdeus and Lily Blossom pulled up to the hospital in a cart pulled by Studious and Leather Loafer. Aneighdeus and Lily had skipped school to see their brother.
"I've nevew pwayed Kooky befowe," said Lily, smiling.
"It's hooky," said Aneighdeus, "And this is a new experience for me as well."
The hospital door swung open to reveal Stormwing, in a wheel chair, being pushed by a nurse. The doctor was giving him some last minute instructions.
"Now no strenuous activities for a while,"
"What?!" asked Stormwing in an obviously mocking tone, "No tennis?"
The doctor rolled his eyes.
"You know I'm glad you're going home."
"Me too," said Stormwing, maintaining the sarcasm, "There's my family, friends, good food."
"Well make sure you stay up on your medications and rest. Oh, it looks like your folks are here."
"STOWMWING!!!" screamed Lily, bolting from the cart, making a beeline for her big brother.
"LILY!" screamed her mother, halting the filly mid-dash, "Remember what I told you. Stormwing's hurt. Don't squeeze the daylights out of him."
"Sowwy," said Lily, gently hugging Stormwing and getting back into the cart.
Blueblood helped Leather Loafer put the ramp down in the back of the cart and load Stormwing in.
"I'm exuberant that you are okay Stormwing," said Aneighdeus in a bored drone.
"Not too excited, is he?" Blueblood whispered.
"On the contrary," Stormwing answered, "I haven't seen him this excited since the Neigh York Fillyharmonic announced a reunion tour."
"I mithed you," said Lily Blossom, "Stowmwing, Why ith youw wing wapped up?"
"I hurt it Lily Blossom," Stormwing said to his innocent sister.
"Do you want me to kith it all bettew?"
"I'm good."
"How's the house?" Stormwing asked Blueblood, "Still there?"
"Unless somepony moved it while we were gone!" Leather announced.
Stormwing smiled.
"Hopefully not dad. Once was enough."
Stormwing turned back to his friend.
"So what really brings you all the way to Manehattan?"
"Oh," Blueblood said, "You know how boring Canterlot gets."
"Yeah, with all the high society parties and pretty mares."
The friends laughed.
"I just needed to see you guys."
"Coolness. Well, you saw us."
The cart out of the traffic into a parking space next to Stormwing's family's house.
"Everypony out!"
"Wheee," said Lily, jumping off the side, "Stowmwing, I want to sow you my garden!"
"Sure thing," Stormwing said, clambering out of the wheelchair.
"Should you really be walking around?" asked his anxious mother.
"Yeah, it's fine mom. They just put you in a wheelchair to make you feel like you need to be more careful."
Stormwing winced as he put weight on his broken hoof. Flapping his good wing, he could just barely get around.
"Let's go see that garden of yours Lily," he said, half-hopping, half-hovering inside.
"Dis way," she said, completely oblivious to her brother's pain.
"Stormwing-" began his mother.
"It's fine mom, I'll just go see her garden and then I'll get back in the wheelchair."
Stormwing allowed his little sister to drag him up the stairs to see her rooftop garden.
"He hates to disappoint her," said Studious to Blueblood, with a look of sadness on her face, "And I swear it'll be the death of him."
Blueblood and Stormwing sat before the fireplace, one reading and the other whistling absentmindedly.
Blueblood looked up from his book.
"Is my whistling bothering you?" asked Stormwing.
"Nah, I was just looking at the clock. What time did they say they'd be back with dinner?"
"Seven. But I know what ya mean. I'm starving."
Blueblood returned to his book.
"Hey," said Stormwing, "Ya know what we should do while you're here?"
"What?"
"An intense all-Manehattan tour!"
Blueblood looked at him in shock for a moment before he realized Stormwing was joking.
"Very funny."
"I am aren't I?"
Stormwing's expression became more serious.
"Well, what's eating at ya this time?"
Blueblood looked at him slightly bewildered.
"Does something have to be wrong for me to come see my best and only friend?" he asked.
"Yes."
"That's stereotyping."
The two friends laughed.
"But something usually is," Stormwing said, "So what is it this time?"
Blueblood looked at his hooves.
"You have more important things to worry about Stormwing. I mean, what if you never fly again?"
"I can walk," Stormwing said, sensing Blueblood's hesitance to talk about himself, "Flying isn't the only thing that defines me Blueblood. There's also my rakish good looks."
Stormwing flipped his mane.
"And your overactive imagination," retorted Blueblood.
"But anyway, it's like me defining you as a 'unicorn', and nothing else. But I know there's a lot more to you than that."
"Thanks."
"Anytime," said Stormwing, he leaned back and put his front hooves together, "Now that we've got that out of the way, what's eating you?"
"Well, if your sure."
"You got a captive audience Blueblood," Stormwing said, indicating his broken appendages, "Go ahead."
"Well,"
Blueblood recounted all the incidents of the past couple of weeks.
"The Canterlot ponies treat everypony else like scum and I don't know what to do."
Stormwing smiled.
"Maybe I should be charging you for psychiatric help. Look Blueblood, if something feels wrong, chances are it's wrong."
"But I need to be respected in Canterlot society."
"You're a prince right?"
Blueblood nodded.
"Then why don't you use your power to instigate change. You know, when I first joined the Royal Guard all the soldiers were lax. Being that Equestria hasn't really been at war in a while, well, everypony was extremely comfortable, we didn't need to fight and be brave. Me and a couple of buddies decided we were gonna change all that and thank Celestia we did! We started acting better and slowly our whole battalion had changed. Following that were other battalions. Blueblood, when you live life correctly, everypony wants to be like you. If my buddies and I hadn't decided to be weird, I know we wouldn't have been prepared for the wars in griffon territory and we'd have had our flanks kicked when Somb-"
Stormwing cut himself off when he remembered who his friend was.
"Sorry."
"It's fine," said Blueblood, "And you're right Stormwing. I need to be a role model."
"Well," said Stormwing, "Now that that's cleared up, I guess you can leave."
"No," said Blueblood, "Our friendship is more than you counseling me. I want to stay here and help take care of you. Which reminds me, you should get some rest."
"Thanks Nurse Blueblood," Stormwing teased as a door opened, "But it sounds like dinner's here."
"WE'RE HOME!" yelled Studious, as she, Aneighdeus and Lily walked in with bags of groceries, "I hope you boys weren't too bored."
"I'm gonna mith you thoooo much," said Lily Blossom, squeezing Blueblood till his eyes bulged out, "Do you haf to go?"
"I'm afraid so Lily. The princess requested that I return to Canterlot immediately," said Blueblood, "But I'll be back."
Probably when I have another problem, Blueblood thought as he shared a secretive wink with Stormwing.
"Then thay hewo to da pwinthess fow me."
"I will."
"It sure was good ta see ya my boy," said Leather Loafer, thumping him on the back, "Sorry we didn't do much while you was here. We were kinda busy with Stormy."
"Oh I assure you I had a wonderful time," said Blueblood, "Thank you for putting up with me."
"Your no bother dearie," said Studious, "Come back anytime."
"Till we meet again Stormy," said Blueblood.
"Till then," said Stormwing, "And might I say, I'm looking forward to it."
Stormwing hugged Blueblood one last time before before he climbed into the royal chariot bound for Canterlot.
"I'M HOME!" yelled Blueblood as he entered the throne room.
Celestia started in shock and dropped the papers she had been signing.
"Sorry Auntie," Blueblood said, fetching the documents from off the floor and passing them back to his aunt.
"Oh no, it's fine Blueblood," said Celestia, sorting through the jumbled mess, "Did you have a nice time in Manehattan?"
"Oh yes Auntie. I'd like to go back as soon as I can. I only came back because you said you needed me for the Fall Festival."
"Yes," said Celestia, "I would like you to plan the festival because I have been rather... well... busy with my royal duties."
You can say that again.
"Anyway, one of my assistants, Properly Filed, will help you plan the festival. He has past experience with it so if you have any questions just ask him."
"Got it," said Blueblood turning to a gray earth pony.
Properly Filed had coke-bottle spectacles and a well-kept short mane. There was not an extra frill or flourish on him.
"My prince," he said, bowing low.
"Well Properly, shall we go?" Blueblood asked.
"Yes of course my prince."
"He does that a lot," whispered Celestia, "He's awful stuffy but I have never had a better assistant. Just tell him to call you Blueblood and he will."
"Got it. Well, let's go Properly."
"Oh course my prince."
"You can just call me Blueblood," said Blueblood as the two walked out of the throne room.
"Yes my pr-... Blueblood."
"Well," said Blueblood, as he and Properly sat around a desk in Blueblood's office, "My aunt said you know everything there is to know about the Fall Festival, so, what's first?"
"Well the basic design for the festival hasn't changed in over a hundred thousand moons..." said Properly, "The tradition was started by Celestia and Luna's parents, Solar Flare and Starry Sky when one year they barely had enough harvest to feed their subjects. The next year the harvest was so bountiful and the subjects were so grateful that they had a festival, which has been celebrated every year since..."
Blueblood yawned and looked out the window.
It wasn't that this wasn't interesting, it was just that Properly had such a dull way of speaking and Blueblood had more on his mind than party-planning.
I wonder how Stormwing is feeling. I think I'll write him when this meeting's over.
Properly Filed's voice faded to a background drone.
Yadda, yadda, yadda. Does he ever stop?
Blueblood found himself counting the number of royal guards in formation outside.
"But the singularly most important aspect to a successful Fall Festival is proper promotion, which is best handled by society. If you want anypony in Canterlot to attend a social get-together, you have to get the right ponies to come. I know that you prince have several connections and that makes you the perfect pony to spread the news to the general public, and... Are you even listening to me?"
"Hmm?" said Blueblood, his head jerking up, "Yeah, Starry Flare and Solar Sky founded the festival after a especially bountiful public and it's been celebrated unchanged since I made friends in high society. Heard every word."
Properly adjusted his glasses.
"Yes, you heard every word, just not in the correct order. I understand if your majesty needs to recuperate after your long journey. We can discuss this tomorrow if you wish."
"Yes," said Blueblood, faking a yawn, "To be honest I am feeling rather pooped. Goodnight Properly."
Properly left and Blueblood yanked out parchment and quill.
Blueblood didn't really feel tired at all, he had spent the ride back enjoying snacks prepared by Studious and napping, but if it bought him time from planning this party and allowed him to write Stormwing, then he wasn't going to complain.
Blueblood sat for an eternity composing a 'thank you', 'get well soon' and 'I can't wait to come back' letter to Stormwing's family.
When he finally finished and sealed it into an envelope, the moon had been up for hours and his candle had almost burnt out.
So Blueblood extinguished the candle and tucked himself in for the night.
Blueblood adjusted his tie and examined himself in the mirror.
He was getting ready for the Wonderbolts derby and he couldn't wait.
This wasn't meant to be just a social affair though. Properly had instructed him to drop information about the Fall Festival to get Canterlot chatting. He was also keeping in mind Stormwing's advice about being a good influence on ponies. On top of that he was hoping to enjoy himself.
This isn't going to be a walk in the Canterlot Gardens.
The bell tower struck one and Blueblood started.
He would have to hurry or he would be late for the derby. Despite being advised about the technique of being, 'fashionably late' Blueblood still considered it inconsiderate to do such a thing.
With a short farewell hollered to his preoccupied aunt, Blueblood left the castle and climbed into a chariot.
"Welcome back Blueblood!" said Silver Dollar extending a hoof in greeting, "how was your trip to Manehattan?"
"Quite agreeable, Silver Dollar," said Blueblood.
He had learned the difference between serious questions and pleasantries since he met Silver Dollar, who was prone to asking the later more frequently.
"And how have you been since I left?"
"Oh fine, fine. But you know Canterlot hasn't been quite the same without you. May I get you a drink?"
It was the same old spiel. Silver Dollar and Blueblood would exchange pleasantries, one would offer the other a drink, they would inquire about each others health and by then, they were usually distracted by other ponies. Blueblood had come to treasure the unscripted conversations he had with Stormwing.
I wonder how he's doing?
"So Blueblood, any new gossip from the palace?" asked Absurdly Rich, wife of Insanely Rich.
Properly had instructed Blueblood not to blurt out the information all at once.
"Possibly," he started, leaving room for inquiries.
"Your drink, your Highness," said a pretty mare, bringing Blueblood his champagne.
"Thank you," said Blueblood, handing her a few bits, "and you may call me Blueblood."
The mare looked at him in shock. To address royalty by first name was unheard of for a pony of her class distinction.
"What was that all about?" asked Silver Dollar when the mare scurried away, "Why on Equus would you tell her to call you Blueblood?"
"You call me that," said Blueblood shrugging, "Why not let everypony?"
"Oh I get it," said Absurdly, "She IS a pretty mare."
She prodded Blueblood in the ribs.
"But you know you could do so much better Blueblood. I know this mare, (She happens to be my niece as a matter a fact) much more what you would look for in a marefriend."
Blueblood rolled his eyes.
"Absurdly Rich, I'm not in the market for a marefriend. I just thought it would be nice to treat servant ponies like more than dirt."
"A noble ideal but truly antiquated nowadays," said Silver Dollar chuckling.
"Who says it needs to be?"
"Society my boy."
"And am I not at the pinnacle of society?"
Silver Dollar shuffled uneasily.
"Um, well, no. That would be the princess."
"Who I'm sure would do nothing but agree with me."
"You don't speak for her though."
"Then I shall speak TO her tonight."
Blueblood and Silver Dollar stared at each other for several moments before Silver Dollar sighed.
"I suppose that social norms are meant to be broken."
Blueblood smiled. He'd really had nothing to worry about in the first place. These ponies would follow him no matter what.
"Blueblood," interrupted La Jeune Fille de Lis, eager to change the subject, "Is there any news of the Fall Festival?"
"Well..."
"Oh do tell," said La Jeune Fille de Lis's husband, Cheval de Lis, "Canterlot is so dull this time of year with social gatherings."
They all knew Blueblood was instructed to act this way though. That is the way it was always done.
"Well... We might be having a Fall Festival in the works."
"Go on," said Absurdly.
"Well, it's still in just the planning stages and we are nowhere near complete, but I can tell you-"
"Telegram for Prince Blueblood," said a mailpony.
"Thank you so much," said Blueblood, handing the mailpony a few bits, "Have a nice day."
"What does the letter say?" asked Silver Dollar, showing polite interest.
Blueblood had been reading the paper and slowly getting more and more pale.
He darted away and back to the palace, leaving the letter to float slowly to the ground.
"Wait!" called La Jeune Fille de Lis, "You were telling us about the Fall Festival!"
With an indignant harrumph, she and Cheval, left for their home.
"What's got him so worked up?" asked Insanely.
Silver Dollar picked up the letter and read it.
"Oh, nothing," he said balling up the paper and tossing it into the trash can, "Just something about somepony named Stromwing being sick."
"Stormwing?" said Absurdly, considering the name, "Never heard of that family. Must be some commoner the prince associates with. Oh but don't tell him I said that."
"But of course."
Blueblood made the trip from Canterlot to Manehattan in record timing.
Leather Loafer was waiting to pick him up at their home.
"How is he?!" Blueblood screeched upon touchdown, "What happened? When did this happen?"
"I'll tell ya on the way there," said Leather Loafer, putting a hoof on the young prince's shoulder.
They got in a cab and headed toward Manehattan General Hospital.
Blueblood had been there less than a month ago when he had first visited Stormwing.
"Well?"
Leather Loafer sighed.
This whole ordeal had drained him of his usual energy and life. The once vibrant and happy face now looked tired and old, like it had been worrying for years.
"You remember how Stormwing could sorta get around?"
"Yes, by flapping the one wing and walking/hopping. What about it?"
"Well... One day, Lily took him for a walk. It wasn't her fault. She doesn't really understand what happened to him. He didn't want to say no, so they walked around Central Park together, that is if you could call what Stormwing did walking."
"And?"
"Well, it re-opened some wounds we had thought healed. We didn't think too much of it, but, apparently we didn't clean it out as well as was needed. An infection spread through his wing and they had to amputate it yesterday."
Blueblood felt a rock drop in his stomach.
An infection. Amputate? Oh Celestia, not Stormwing. Not my best friend.
"They've kept him at Manehattan General, but they say there's not much hope."
"Don't worry Leather," Blueblood said, denial in his voice, "He'll be fine. Stormwing's always fine."
"Blueblood, they've stopped trying. The infection's spread way to far for any hope of curing it. Stormwing wanted you to come..."
Don't say it.
"So he could say goodbye."
Blueblood's head dropped down and Leather Loafer saw tears stream down the stallion's muzzle.
"It's okay," he said, patting Blueblood.
Blueblood's face swung up. Tears had been replaced by anger.
"No Leather, it's NOT okay. You and your family are always okay but this is NOT! Stormwing might... Stormwing will..."
Blueblood's voice trailed off.
"Die," he finally finished, "How is that okay?"
"We're here," came the cab pony's voice.
Leather Loafer and Blueblood dismounted and Leather began to pay but the cabbie raised a hoof.
"No sir, that's okay. You just get in there and see your son. I'm terribly sorry."
"Thank you," said Leather, as he and Blueblood turned and walked into the hospital.
"Stormwing?!?!" Blueblood exclaimed, bursting into his friend's room.
"He's asleep," said Studious.
Studious, Aneighdeus and Lily sat around Stormwing's hospital bed where lay a sleeping Stormwing.
"I don't fink I wike Kooky anymore," said Lily, hugging her middle brother, "When's Stowmy gonna wake up?"
As if on cue, Stormwing stirred.
"Hey Lily," he said, smiling, "My ears were burning. Were you talking about me?"
"Stowmwing, I don't wike it hewe anymowe. When awe we going home?"
"We can go home if you want," said Studious.
"Can Stowmy come too?" asked Lily.
"I'm afraid not dear."
Lily grabbed her brother's hoof.
"Den I'm staying hewe too," she said with confidence.
"Long time no see eh?" Stormwing said, grinning, "What's it been. One... Two weeks? Sheesh Blueblood, Can you really not get along one month without me?"
"Aw don't joke about this Stormwing," said Blueblood earnestly.
"Lily," said Studious, "Why don't we all go to the cafeteria and get some hay fries?"
"Okay," said Lily.
Lily, Studious, Aneighdeus and Leather Loafer all left the room.
"My parents have always had exceptional timing," said Stormwing.
He laughed. After a few moments he had to stop because of the pain. He put a hoof on his chest.
"Brings a whole new meaning to 'laugh till it hurts' eh? Well, sit down and stay a while."
Blueblood eased into a chair.
"Well," said Stormwing, sensing the awkwardness of the situation, "This is a change isn't it? Usually you're the one with the problem? Guess it's me this time."
"Quit joking," said Blueblood, "You could die."
"Blueblood I am going to die."
"Don't say that."
"What? We're all dying. Some are just closer than others."
"Death is no joke."
"Well what do you want me to do?" Stormwing asked, "Sit around and grouch like you?" he crossed his hooves and put on a pouty expression, "No way. If these are my last... you know, days, I don't want to waste a single one."
Blueblood looked at his hooves.
"But why do you have to be so happy about it?"
"You remember when my grandfather died?"
Blueblood nodded.
"I've tried misery. I decided I didn't like it."
"Well sometimes you can't get around misery."
"Where there's a will..."
"I guess I don't have that will."
"Yeah you do, you just don't know you do," said Stormwing, his eyelids sinking.
Blueblood jumped up from his chair.
"Stormwing? Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm just..."
Stormwing's head slumped to the side.
"STORMWING!" Blueblood yelled.
"I,I'm okay," said Stormwing, shaking his head.
"Should I get a nurse?"
"No, there's nothing they can do. Look Blueblood, I just want to say, you're the best friend I've ever had."
"You're mine too," said Blueblood, tears trickling down his face.
"Also, never let ponies change you into something you're not."
"But you did."
Stormwing laughed.
"You had the good in you when we first met. I saw it when you first helped me. I just had to find some way to bring it out."
He coughed.
"Blueblood?"
"Yes?"
"Please tell my family... that I love them."
With that Stormwing's eyes closed for the final time and his head slumped on the pillowcase.
"STORMWING?!" shouted Blueblood.
When he realized his friend was gone, his head hung forward onto the bed and he started to cry.
"Stormwing," he said to himself, trying to comfort him.
Leather Loafer, Studious, Aneighdeus and Lily walked back in with hay fries and daffodil and daisy sandwiches.
"Stormwing?" Leather asked.
"Oh Celestia," said Studious, dropping the food and rushing to her son's side.
Aneighdeus lowered his head in remorse. One small tear fell from his face.
Leather went to go get and nurse and Lily Blossom just stood around, confused.
"Aneighdeus? What's gowing on?"
Aneighdeus didn't answer.
"Mommy? Blueblood?"
She went over to the bed and shook Stormwing.
"Stormwing? No time fow naps. Get up."
The youthful innocence slowly began to drain from her face.
"I'm so sorry," said Rarity, putting a hoof on Blueblood's shoulder.
Despite the years, she could see the memory was still very painful.
A few tears trickled down Blueblood's face.
"He was my best friend. To lose him so fast... Well it hurt me deeply. That's when I really started to change."
"Are you okay going on with the story?" asked Celestia, "I can finish it for you."
"No," said Blueblood, breathing deeply, "I'll be okay."
Rarity looked over at Pinkie Pie, expecting her to burst into tears or hand Blueblood a cake.
But the pink mare sat there with the most solemn look she'd ever had on her muzzle.
"You aren't going to hug him or something?" she whispered.
"Shhh," replied Pinkie, "Rarity, there's a time to be silly," she held aloft a stuffed manatee, "And there's a time to be serious. This is no time for party cannons."
Rarity stared at her friend, shocked at her maturity.
"Well," continued Blueblood, "After Stormwing died, I didn't really know what to do. I went to the funeral and then returned home. I'll never forget how sad poor Lily was."
***
"Blueblood?" asked Celestia, poking her head into her nephew's room.
He hadn't left his room since he got back from Manehattan a week ago.
"Are you okay? Do you wanna talk abou-"
"No."
Celestia bit her lip.
It's not good for him to just sit in there dwelling on what happened.
"Do you want to come out for dinner?"
"No,"
"Are you sure? Chateaubriand made your favorite, apple fritters."
Ooh, she thought, grimacing, I shouldn't have said that.
***
"Wait just half a tic," said Applejack staring at Blueblood, "Your favorite food is... Apple fritters?"
"Yes."
"But at the gala you said-"
"Studious always made the best apple fritters. After Stormwing's death, they just... reminded me of him."
"Oh," said Applejack, "I guess I should've considered the menu more."
"You couldn't have known. Don't worry about it."
***
"I'm fine Auntie," said Blueblood, closing the door, "I just want to be alone."
It can't be healthy for him to be alone all the time, thought Celestia, Maybe he should spend some time with his friends. I'll have to talk to Silver Dollar. Maybe I should be more cheery too.
"Why do bad things happen to nice ponies?" asked Blueblood, staring at the card Lily had made for him when they'd first met.
"Blueblood!" said Celestia, bursting into the room and opening the curtains, "You need to get ready! Your friends want to meet you-"
Blueblood's face lit up.
Stormwing's family?
"-at the Wonderbolt's derby!"
Oh.
Blueblood sighed.
Silver Dollar and everypony else. Great.
"So get dressed and ready. You need to eat something too. By me, you're almost as thin as a rail."
What's with her? She's so... Bright.
"I had your suit pressed and a nice, nutritious breakfast is waiting for you. Hurry up before it gets cold."
Celestia left the room, and with her went about ninety percent of the energy.
Blueblood sighed and dragged a comb through his bedraggled mane.
She must have been trying to cheer me up.
Blueblood showered and put on his suit.
After a nice, nutritious, (though somewhat cold) breakfast, he left for the derby.
"Blueblood," said Silver Dollar when he got to the box, "So good to see you again. I'm terribly sorry about your friend."
Blueblood narrowed his eyes.
The only thing he hated more than his aunt trying to cheer him up was fake sympathy.
"I'm glad that you came though. Last time we saw each other, you were about to tell us about the fall festival. Not to be insensitive, but you kind of left us on the edge of our seats when you left."
"You remember last year's festival?" asked Blueblood.
"Yes?"
"Picture the exact same thing and you'll have this year's festival."
Blueblood sank into a chair and examined the racer list with fake interest.
Silver Dollar watched him for a few moments, until more ponies arrived and he was lost in meaningless greetings.
Stormwing was so much better than them, thought Blueblood, And now he's dead. These ponies are dull as dirt and they all live to ripe old ages. How is that fair?
He watched the influx in high society ponies that meant absolutely nothing to him.
I guess the moral of this ordeal is never get to close to a pony cause sooner or later they'll die, thought Blueblood, Which is great for me since none of these ponies even WANT to get close to me.
***
"Wait a second," said Rarity, "That's the conclusion you came too? How in the hoof would you think anything so dumb?"
When she saw Blueblood smile and shake his head she quickly reiterated, "What I meant was, how did you come to that decision because it seems so... unlike you."
Blueblood laughed.
"It's okay Rarity, it was dumb of me. But have you ever lost anypony you really cared for? You can think some crazy things. Plus, this wasn't exactly a new thing for me. It was really a bit of my father speaking to me. I knew I was wrong, but I really didn't want any new friends at that moment. So I just told myself lies that friendship wasn't worth it."
Twilight's eye was twitching at this point.
"Uh... no offense," said Blueblood.
The Princess of Friendship nodded and grabbed Pinkie almost like a security blanket.
"Now, Rarity," said Pinkie, "Is a time to hug."
"So," said Rarity, turning her attention back to Blueblood, "That's when you really drifted away from everypony?"
"Yes," said Blueblood, "And it's really easy to get lost in Canterlot high society. You live this life you think is important but in reality, when you look back on the day, you see that all the parties and boat christenings aren't really fulfilling you."
"I know the feeling," said Rarity, "I learned that lesson a while ago. All that... stuff just can't replace true friendship."
"Yes," said Blueblood, "For a while, Auntie tried to spend time with me, but after trying for so long, she just gave up and went back to her royal duties. And since nopony else held me up to standards well, I became the um, 'snerk' you knew before."
"So when did things start to change back for the better?" asked Rarity.
"You don't want to hear the riveting tale of the hundred or so years I spent being the pony everypony should know?"
"Um, not really."
"I understand. Well, that happened the night of the Grand Galloping Gala, with you actually."
"Me?"
"Yes, I'll explain. You see, ever since Luna was reformed, Celestia had had more time to spend with me. She had, of course, noticed my behavior change and wanted to improve my attitude on life but I really didn't care what she thought. All those years of nopony to be held accountable to had really taken their toll on my respect for my aunt. But that night, Celestia saw a side of me she really hated and decided to have another go at changing my attitude."
***
Blueblood looked through the sea of ponies.
His aunt's word's rushed through his mind.
I'm sick of this pony, I want my nephew Blueblood back. Is he still there?
I'm not a colt anymore Auntie!
What is so foalish about treating ponies as equals? I'm serious Blueblood, I want to see a change.
Blueblood rolled his eyes.
Nothing would change, nothing ever did. This was Canterlot. Another gala. Just like all the other ones.
Oh well, might as well mingle.
He walked around the ballroom for a while, chatting and hobnobbing with his 'friends' until he got tired and decided to go out into the rose garden.
He noticed behind him followed a lovely white unicorn in a stunning pink gown.
Blueblood knew what she was after.
Yet another star-struck mare head over hooves in love with me, he thought, How predictable.
He was constantly having to tell mares that it wouldn't work out for some-such reason and that he had royal duties that would interfere with the relationship.
They were all lies of course, but they kept the mares at bay.
Maybe I can have some fun with this one, he thought, smiling coyly.
She played it cool and walked over to sniff a rose, pretending that was the sole purpose for her coming outside.
Blueblood decided now was perfect for his opening line.
"Well hello. I am Prince Blueblood," he said, walking over to the lovely, white mare.
"I am Rarity," she said, giggling under her breath, "Oh my what a lovely rose."
What a sap. This'll just kill her.
"You mean," he said, bending down and picking it up in his teeth, "This rose?"
He held it in front of her til she was thoroughly charmed, then he bit off the stem and inserted it into his coat.
Blueblood tried to hold in his laughter as her face fell.
"Thanks. It goes with my eyes."
Rarity looked bewildered but not willing to give up on her fantasy.
I'll just have to try harder.
***
"Wha- You- You were trying to be a pain?!" Rarity said in shock and amazement, "Why would you-"
"Consider my character at the time," said Blueblood.
Rarity thought for a moment.
"Yes, I can see you being that much of a jerk."
***
Blueblood's mind raced with ideas on how to give Ms. Rarity a clue he didn't like her.
I must admit, she is more persistent than the other mares. Most would have given up when I didn't offer her that seat out in the garden.
But he could hear her whispering to herself and he knew she was getting annoyed.
Blueblood spotted a puddle in the middle of the ballroom and smiled.
Perfect.
"Ms. Rarity," he exclaimed, throwing his hoof out to stop her, "Stop!"
"Oh, Prince Blueblood, she said, batting her eyes, "How chivalrous."
"One would hate to slip," said Blueblood, slipping out of his normal speech and into a more formal tone.
"Yes," said Rarity, giggling, "One certainly would."
"One's cloak should take care of the problem."
"Oh, of course it will."
Blueblood and Rarity stared at each other as Blueblood let it sink in.
Then, he took her cloak and threw it into the puddle and walked over it.
He held back laughter as Rarity followed and muttered rude things under her breath.
Blueblood walked into the ballroom again, the door opened by his marefriend for the night.
She is very... hmm, the correct word would be... persistant? Annoying? Tenacious?
Blueblood's thoughts were cut short when he saw an apple cake, presumably made by the country pony, sailing through the air towards him.
Thinking quickly, Blueblood grabbed Rarity to shield himself from the falling cake.
This will get her for sure.
Rarity turned towards Blueblood, her face red with anger.
Here it comes, thought Blueblood, better act surprised.
"You sir are the most UN-CHARMING prince I have ever met! In fact the only thing ROYAL about you is that you are a ROYAL PAIN!"
One last remark, as insurance, Blueblood thought. But in reality, he was just having fun at this point.
"Ah, stay back," he whined, "I just had myself groomed!"
"Afraid to get DIRTY?!?!?!" screamed Rarity, keeping on the offensive.
She shook herself off, splattering cake all over him.
Blueblood stood up and walked backwards to get away from the mad mare. By accident, he slipped on some cake frosting and hit a statue of Celestia, making it sway back and forth.
A rainbow-maned pegasus tried to catch it but ended up making more of a mess by knocking down several pillars.
Thank Celestia they're for aesthetics and not structural, thought Blueblood.
Celestia and her personal protege entered at that time and stared at the carnage.
Blueblood could just picture what his aunt was thinking.
Abruptly, the door to the garden swung open, letting in a barrage of animals and an insane, yellow pegasus.
"You're going to LOVE ME!" shouted the crazed mare.
Utter pandemonium broke out in the ballroom.
Blueblood looked and saw Rarity and her companions run out the door.
"Blueblood," said a voice from behind him.
He looked to see his aunt glaring at him.
"What?" he asked, "I didn't cause this. It was that looney pegasus and her animal cohorts."
"You played a hoof in this. I can tell. And you've been annoying that unicorn all night."
"She wouldn't leave me alone."
"That does not give you free reign to treat her like garbage. And don't think that your royal status puts you above her."
But I am above her, thought Blueblood smugly.
"I haven't said a thing about your behavior in a while, I know that, but I think it's time I intervened. Now go wait in your room while I go talk to Twilight and her friends."
Celestia left and Blueblood followed a ways behind, keeping out of sight.
I'm not a foal anymore Auntie, he thought, I'll go wherever I want, whenever I want. I'm a prince.
Blueblood arrived out of breath at the donut shop. He had had to run to keep pace with his winged aunt.
He looked in the window and saw his aunt and a baby dragon plus Ms. Rarity and the five other ponies she had come with.
They were laughing and talking.
It seemed very...
Nice.
An memory flashed through Blueblood's mind that he hadn't thought about in a while.
It was of his dinner with Stormwing's family.
They were laughing just like these ponies now.
What if?
Blueblood shook his head.
Friendship was a waste of time. He had had a best friend and despite his friend being the most wonderful pony in all existence, he had died.
Well, he thought, there doesn't seem to be anything interesting happening here. I suppose I'll go take a bath.
Scowling, Blueblood turned around and galloped back to the castle.
"Blueblood?" asked Celestia, peeking around her nephew's door, "May I come in?"
"Of course."
What will it be this time? thought Blueblood, smirking, She's already taken away chariot privileges from me once this month. Oh perhaps I'll have to work in the gardens like last time?
That had been easy enough. Bribe some castle guards and servants and soon enough he had plenty of ponies doing his work for him and Celestia was none the wiser.
"Blueblood, I was quite disappointed with you this evening," said Celestia, launching into the same speech Blueblood had heard since Princess Luna had returned, "Your behavior embarrassed all of the Royal family. I thought I told you that being a royal doesn't mean you can treat other ponies as inferior."
Even if they are.
"And I have decided on your punishment."
Blueblood rolled his eyes.
"You will work on a rock farm for six months without being allowed to come back to Canterlot."
Blueblood's jaw dropped.
"S-s-s-six months?" he cried, "Auntie, that's insane! Where in the hoof did you get six months!?!?!"
"Perhaps you'll think better next time you are tempted to act out. You leave next week."
Celestia left the room, letting her nephew sit there and think.
It was several minutes before Blueblood managed to pick his jaw up off the floor.
***
"I hate to say it," said Rarity, "but I do think you kind of deserved that."
"I did, didn't I?"
"I felt he needed strong discipline," said Princess Celestia, "That's why I send him to Igneous Rock Pie and his family. I also felt he needed some strong role models."
"Hey wait," said Pinkie, "Igneous Rock Pie is MY FATHER!!!!!!"
"Yes Pinkie," said Celestia, "He was also Blueblood's boss for six months. And did Blueblood work hard."
Blueblood could not believe it. His aunt was sending him to work like a lowly peasant.
Not that Blueblood expected to work. Show those poor ponies some bits and he would be home free, drinking champagne and lounging on a lawn chair.
The chariot landed in front of the farm.
It was simple and to the point. No flourishes or frills.
Blueblood could smell the hard work in the air.
His nose scrunched up.
I detest the smell of commonfolk.
"Where is the owner of this establishment?" he asked upon disembarking.
"Look no further for I be right behind thee," came a voice.
Oh Celestia, don't tell me it's auntie Luna, thought Blueblood, rolling his eyes and turning around.
It certainly was not Luna though. Before him stood a very bland, very simple looking brown pony with a simple black hat and collar.
"You?" spluttered Blueblood, "You own this establishment?"
"Verily," said the pony, "Be ye the young lad our Princess sent? The colt with a sharp tongue and little sense?"
"I am a PRINCE!" exclaimed Blueblood.
"Title doth not hold meaning here. We value an honest day's work more than diamonds."
"But you don't know how many diamonds I can give you," said Blueblood, pulling out a wallet and flashing Igneous a hoof-full of precious gems.
"Bribery be a most lamentable vice young one," said Igneous, shaking his head, "As be laziness. You seem to know both quite well. My daughters Maud and Limestone shall teach you our ways."
Two equally dull ponies led Blueblood out into the fields.
"Well?" asked Blueblood, looking around, "What are we supposed to do?"
"We're moving these rocks to the south field," said Maud in a monotone voice.
She pointed to rocks that were strewn about around them.
"Then we rotate them to the west field," continued Maud, "Then to the east, then back here to the north."
"And the point of this would be?" Blueblood exclaimed, waving a hoof around.
"Mine is not to question why," said Maud.
"What a ridiculous notion!"
Limestone glared at him, making Blueblood shrink back a little.
"Because father said so. Maybe you should learn a little respect!"
Blueblood swallowed hard.
"Well... let's get on with it."
"You go work over with our summer help," said Limestone, "I'm taking a shipment of rocks out and Maud will be supervising the rock moving. Get on now."
Blueblood began rolling a rock with his head along the path. He tried to use his magic but Maud said that was against their earth pony ways.
"Just because I was blessed with magic doesn't mean I should have to suffer for it," Blueblood said, sticking his nose in the air defiantly.
"I wouldn't consider this suffering," said Maud, blinking.
"Well that's because this is all you've ever known. You have no knowledge of the finer things."
"To me, there's no greater joy than pleasing my father."
Maud kept staring at Blueblood indifferently.
"He's brainwashed you," said Blueblood, hitting his hoof on his forehead, "that explains it."
"Explains what?"
Blueblood stared at the boring earth pony, dumbfounded that she was willing to move these rocks three-hundred and sixty-five days a year just to please her father.
"Well," said Maud, bending down and shoving a rock along the ground, "Enough talk. Back to work."
She took off at a tremendous speed.
Not to outdone by the rock farmer, Blueblood shoved with all his might, but barely managed half of Maud's speed.
Walking along, Blueblood found himself lost in boredom.
Six months. Might as well be six years.
BANG!!
Blueblood's head collided with another pony and they both screamed, "OW! HEY, LOOK WHERE YOU'RE GOING!"
He looked up to see a lovely, blue unicorn with a light blue, almost white mane.
"Hmpf, you shouldn't run into ponies like that!" he said, sticking his snout in the air, "I could have been seriously hurt!"
"Ha!" said the unicorn, putting a hoof to herself, "The Great and Powerful Trixie, doesn't give a flying feather about you!"
"I happen to be a PRINCE!" said Blueblood, indignantly.
"Ha, if you're a prince, then what are you doing here? Trixie happens to be the Great and Powerful Trixie. The most powerful prestidigitator in all of Equestria!!! Trixie's cutie mark is said to have been so powerful that when she got it, a sonic rainboom erupted in the sky as a show of joy!!"
Fireworks shot out from behind her.
"Well my cutie mark signifies..." trailed off Blueblood, "Hmm."
He'd never really thought about it. What did his mark signify?
"Twas Trixie after all," she continued, "Who vanquished not one, but two Ursa Majors! Everypony thought that all hope was lost. Luckily for them, somepony remembered the Great and Powerful Trixie was nearby. Using Trixie's amazing magic, Trixie banished the Ursa Majors to the depths of the Everfree Forest, saving all the ponies in Hoofington, AND PONYVILLE!"
Blueblood rolled his eyes.
"If you are a great magician, why are you working on a rock farm?"
Trixie sighed.
"Prestidigitators aren't in great demand right now. That and the fact that some awful ponies were spreading lies about Trixie in her last venue. They claimed that it was not Trixie that vanquished the Ursa but some nopony named Twilight Sparkle."
"Oh she's more than some nopony," said Blueblood, "I happen to know her and she's Princess Celestia's personal student. And the bearer of the element of Magic."
Trixie harrumphed, not impressed.
"Bah," said Trixie, "She could not beat Trixie in a magic duel! Trixie will show her that... eh, when Trixie get's enough bits to buy something."
"Say," said Blueblood, his eyes lighting up, "I'll give you all the gems you need if you can get me off this rock farm."
Trixie's eyes narrowed.
"But aren't you a unicorn like Trixie?"
Blueblood shuffled uneasily.
"Magical spells have never been my forte."
"Trixie is not sure about this. Magical spells cannot simply be bought."
Blueblood waved a pile of gems in front of her face.
"Deal."
"Fine," said Blueblood, "We leave tonight."
Blueblood peeked around the door of his room to see Trixie standing by the door waiting.
"Glad to see you're here," he said, brushing an invisible speck of dust off his pristine coat, "I admire punctuality in mares."
Trixie rolled her eyes.
"The Great and Powerful Trixie has always been on time for things. It is part of her greatness and powerfulness. Now, let us be off."
Trixie's horn began to glow and she and Blueblood disappeared in a flash of light.
Canterlot, here I come.
"Where are we?" asked Blueblood, looking around in the darkness.
"Trixie is not quite sure. We were supposed to appear just outside of the property line, not... wherever here is."
A light came on and Blueblood shrieked to see Maud and Igneous standing at an open doorway.
Trixie and Blueblood could now see that they were in the rock cellar of the rock farm. Next to them piled high, were (you guessed it), rocks, aging before the Pie family could sell them.
"Twas inspirational of the Princess to think of this," said Igneous.
Blueblood rolled his eyes.
"What did my aunt do now?"
"She expected you'd try to escape so she cast a spell preventing that," said Maud indifferently, "Now, shouldn't you both be getting some sleep? We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow."
I'm trapped, thought Blueblood on the verge of hysteria.
"It's alright," said Maud, "Rock farming isn't as dull as it might seem."
I'm trapped, AND I'm sure to die of boredom.
"The Great and Powerful Trixie won't be caged like an animal!" yelled Trixie.
"Of course," said Igneous, "Thou may leave when thou sees it fit. The Prince however, is bound here by law of the Celestial Princess."
"Oh well," said Trixie, "Tough break."
"Let's see how well you do without MY funding!" said Blueblood indignantly.
"Shoot, Trixie had not considered that. Awwwww, Trixie does not want to work on a rock farm for the rest of her life!!!"
Trixie and Blueblood headed back to their respective rooms, grumbling all the way.
The next day, Blueblood and Trixie were back at work, this time breaking rocks up into tiny pieces.
"Trixie shall have her revenge on that abominable Twilight Sparkle. She will stand no chance against Trixie's might!"
Blueblood rolled his eyes.
Trixie had been going on like that since breakfast.
How annoying can she get? Oh well, at least I'M not like that, Blueblood reassured himself.
"How much longer do we have to do this?"
Maud set down her hammer and answered, "Until lunch break at noon. Then we'll be grinding these shards into gravel for use in making asphalt."
"Well why does it have to be so laborious?"
"It's only laborious if you keep thinking it is."
What a ridiculous notion.
"Don't think about it and soon it won't bother you at all."
"Is that why you're so dull?" asked Blueblood, advancing towards Maud angrily, "Because you don't think about reality? Maybe you should engage and then you'd have an ounce of character!!"
Maud stared at him.
"I have character," she said, before turning back to her work.
"What?" asked Blueblood.
"I said I have character," said Maud around the hammer in her mouth.
"No you don't."
"I do."
"Then show me."
Maud looked at him and blinked several times before responding, "I don't need to prove anything to you."
With that, Maud returned to her work.
Blueblood stared at her for a few moments.
She annoyed him, not just because she was dull at, well... rocks, but also because she wouldn't react to him.
Rarity had done just what he wanted, thrown a tantrum. Maud however, responded the same all the time, with indifference.
No, not indifference. More like a sleepy sort of calm.
Well, whatever it was, it annoyed Blueblood.
And that cutie mark, how does she deal with such a lame cutie mark?
Now, feeling much like Trixie, Blueblood resumed his work.
Only, he fumed inside and his anger was towards Maud, the sleepily calm earth pony.
A bell sounded, signifying the beginning of the lunch hour.
All the workers gathered around a table while Igneous's wife, Cloudy Quartz brought out a kettle of stone soup.
Who would eat this slop? thought Blueblood, Hasn't Cloudy ever heard of Grass Marsala?
"Better eat before it gets cold," Cloudy said.
Blueblood rolled his eyes.
It getting cold is the least of my worries. I'm just hoping not to chip a tooth.
Maud and the rest of the Pie family said a reverent prayer and attacked the soup with vigor.
Blueblood scrunched up his nose in disdain. He'd had enough rock soup to last a lifetime, and he's only had it once.
"Doth thee find something unpleasant in thy repast?" asked Igneous.
"It's Rock. Stew."
"It be not rock stew," said Cloudy, "But stone soup. Eat before it grows cold."
"I don't eat rock stew."
"Why not?" asked Igneous, "It be sufficient for giving us strength to do our jobs."
"I don't eat rock stew."
"Hmpf, Ye be acting as a child."
"PONIES DON'T EAT ROCKS!!" screamed Blueblood, overturning the bowl of soup and storming off.
Maud watched him go, then rose from her seat and followed him.
"Maud," said Igneous, "Thou hast not finished thine meal."
"Please keep it warm for me."
She found Blueblood sitting under a tree by the only river to flow through the Pie family estate.
"That wasn't about soup back there, was it?" she asked.
"Twas my fair maid," said Blueblood in a mocking Igneous impression.
"I've never seen a pony get so worked up over soup. Not even my sister."
"Well, you've never met me then,"
Maud sat down next to him.
"We annoy you in our blandness."
Blueblood stared at her.
Her statement wasn't in the form of a question, she wasn't pestering him. It didn't seem like a forceful statement, like she was telling him what to think. She simply... said it... And she was right.
"P-possibly."
Blueblood was shocked by himself. He hadn't stuttered in years.
"I know we seem boring, but it is who we are."
"What do you mean by that?"
Maud pointed to her cutie mark.
"My very cutie mark says that I should be in a boring profession. Rock farming. How dull can it get?"
You could be me.
"Exac-"
"I was always jealous of my sister. You probably don't know her, but Pinkie's the best party planner in Ponyville."
"I think I might have met her once, at the Grand Galloping Gala."
"See?" said Maud, "You meet my sister met you at a party and I meet you on our rock farm. My sister and I live quite different lives. She's saved Equestria and I farm rocks. She's important and I farm rocks. One could easily be jealous."
Just like Auntie and I, thought Blueblood.
"But," said Maud, a smile almost beginning to show on her face, "I can help Equestria in my own simple way. Without my family, we wouldn't have all these rocks. Our rocks have been used in building the First Canterlot Bank and our gravel is in countless roads in Equestria. Plus, there are certain advantages to rock farming. Come with me."
Maud got up and walked to the mines.
Blueblood followed her into the dark caverns.
"This is an advantage?" he asked, looking at the darkness all around him.
"Most other ponies would leave and forget all about the dark, boring mine. But I..."
Maud lit a candle to reveal a brilliant, pink, crystal cave. The light bounced almost magically on the walls.
"...I know better."
"Wow," said Blueblood, looking around in awe.
"But it's more than that," said Maud, "You look around and see pretty pink crystals that sparkle. I know that these are pink diamonds and they are made from compressed carbon deep in Equestria's core. The pink color means that these particular diamonds were very deep down and were put under severe pressure, which distorted the crystal lattice and caused the diamonds to absorb green light and turn a pink color. You probably don't understand what I just said, but I did. Every stone I see tells me a story. Rocks are my passion, and that is why I am happy with my cutie mark. My sister may travel more and be more famous, but I am content with myself."
Blueblood stared at the pony he had once seen as dull.
She may not have been the life of the party, but she was happy with who she was.
"And since I am content with who I am, I have character," said Maud, "Now, do you want to go back? Mother will pour you another bowl of soup."
Maud turned around and began to leave, but Blueblood caught her hoof.
"Maud," he said, "What if you didn't know what your cutie mark meant?"
"How so?"
"My mark is my family crest. A symbol of my wealth and prestige, how am I to embrace myself when I don't know who I am?"
Blueblood looked at his hooves.
"I guess I'm the one with no character."
Maud put a hoof on his shoulder.
"I don't know who you are," said Maud, "But I do know you can find out."
Blueblood and Maud headed out of the cave and back to lunch.
***
"From then on, time on the rock farm seemed to fly by. Trixie was still annoying as ever, but Maud and I would just ignore her," Blueblood said.
"Maud's great, isn't she?" asked Pinkie.
The rest of the mane six coughed and looked at their hooves uneasily.
"Yes she is Ms. Pie," said Blueblood, "Such a wonderful spirit. I really hated to leave for Canterlot, but the inevitable had to happen and quick as a flash, six months had passed."
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 execa 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.
"Well that didn't work," said Blueblood, washing egg yolk off of him, "I told you I wasn't any good at cooking."
Fleur examined the cookbook.
"Well I don't think you were supposed to use a microwave spell on it."
"How else are you gonna hard-boil an egg?"
"Possibly by boiling it?" asked Fleur with a raised eyebrow, "But we can come back to that one. Why don't we move on to... hmmmm... Kickboxing?"
"I think we might be grasping at straws here Fleur. What does kickboxing have to do with my cutiemark?"
"Well... It was developed in the east and your cutiemark is a compass."
Blueblood gave her a very cynical glance.
"I don't even think we can call what we're grasping at straws by now. More like coffee stirrers."
"Well do YOU have any ideas?" asked Fleur.
Blueblood thought about it for a while.
"I have absolutely no idea what to try next. What am I any good at?"
"Perhaps you could try chaos?" came a voice.
Fleur and Blueblood whipped their heads around trying to find the source of the voice.
"Who's there?" asked Fleur.
"Tis I," said a creature as he appeared in front of the two.
The creature looked like a collage of different animal parts. He had a dog's paw, an eagle claw, a goat hoof and a lizard foot.
"W-w-who are you?" asked Blueblood, shrinking back, "W-W-W-WHAT are you?"
"Oh that's right Blueblood," said the creature, running it's paw and claw through Fleur's mane, "You never met me. You were too young. I met your father though."
"Get your claws off of me," said Fleur, smacking the creature.
"Fine," said the creature and proceeded to pet her with his paw till she slapped him again.
"M-m-m-my f-f-f-father?" stammered Blueblood.
"Yes," said the creature, "Nice fellow. Could have used a bit more chaos in his life though. But to answer your two previous questions, my name is Discord, Lord of Chaos and I am a draconequus."
"Do you want anything?" asked Fleur, glaring at him, "If so, what? If not then you can get lost. We have work to do."
"Oh yes," said Discord, ruffling Blueblood's mane, "Work finding ol' Bluey's talent. Him with his meaningless mark. His senseless symbol. His-"
"Your POINT?" interrupted Fleur.
"My point," said Discord angrily, placing Fleur in a giant perfume bottle, "Is that I know what your purpose is Blueblood. And I can show you it too."
"Leave me alone," said Blueblood, "and let Fleur out of the bottle!!"
"Not until you hear me out," said Discord, "And besides, she'll come out smelling fresh as flowers. I just wanted to know whether or not your tired of this? All the searching... that is surely to no avail? Because, I sure am."
Discord handed Blueblood an empty red and white striped box.
"I ran out of popcorn long ago and the plot is hardly... How should I say, Gripping? I'd really just like this whole thing to be done and over with."
"What are you saying?" asked Blueblood, curious but cautious, "That you could tell me what my cutiemark means?"
"No, no, no," said Discord, shaking his head till it fell off. He picked it up off the ground and spun it back onto his shoulders with a click, "But I could give you a new one! A better one! What have you always wanted to do? Oh, I've got it! How about cotton candy cloud production?"
A pink rain cloud hovered over Blueblood's head, drenching him with chocolate milk.
"I'm a unicorn. I can't walk on clouds."
"Come on Bluey," said Discord, shaking his head, "Consider the source."
He clapped his paw and claw together and a t-shirt appeared on Blueblood with a picture of a smiling Discord on it with the caption, 'What fun is there in making sense?'
"I don't want some creepy, crazy, chaos-y cutiemark," said Blueblood, removing the shirt, "I want to understand my REAL cutiemark. Are you sure you don't know what it means?"
"AND WHAT IS SO WRONG WITH CHAOS?!?!" exclaimed Discord, throwing his paw and claw into the air. He caught them as the plummeted earth-ward and regained his composure, along with his appendages.
"Even chaos has it's restraints," said Discord, "But if you consider my offer, I'll be at the castle tormenting your beloved aunt and her protege."
The cotton candy cloud followed Discord as he tap danced happily down the street singing something about, 'singing and dancing in the rain.'
Blueblood sighed until he remembered Fluer still stuck in the bottle behind him. He uncorked the bottle and lifted Fleur out with a levitation spell and placed her gently on the ground.
"I thought you didn't want anypony telling you what your talent was?" she asked.
"I didn't," said Blueblood, shaking his head and clearing his mind, "So why did I listen to Discord?"
"I see a bad moon rising," said Fleur as she looked up into the sky, thoroughly spooked.
Blueblood followed her gaze until his eyes locked on thousands of cotton candy clouds filling the sky, nearly blocking out the sun.
"Ahhhh!" said Fleur, sliding into a nearby lamppost on the newly created dish soap roads.
Blueblood helped his friend up.
"This is not good. Fleur, you go home and stay indoors with your family," said Blueblood, "I'm going to the castle to find out what's going on."
"Be safe," said Fleur, hugging him before she made off for her family's estate.
Blueblood gulped and galloped towards the epicenter of the chaos, Canterlot Castle.
Blueblood tore into the Canterlot hallway to find his aunt pacing the floor restlessly.
"Auntie," said Blueblood.
"I know," said Celestia, "Discord has returned. I have no idea how he escaped from his stone prison but I expect my faithful student Twilight Sparkle to arrive at any moment with her friends."
"Why can't you just take care of him like you did last time?
Celestia gritted her teeth in anger.
"There is nothing I would like to do more than send him back to stone, but myself and Luna no longer hold the powers of the elements. They are bound to Twilight and her friends, and sadly the elements are the only thing that can stop Discord."
A low, threatening laugh resounded throughout the castle.
Celestia looked around frantically.
"He's here... somewhere."
"So what are we going to do till Twi-?"
"Shh," whispered Celestia, "The less he knows, the better. We have an advantage and I don't want to lose it."
"What are we gonna do in the mean time?"
"There is nothing to do but wait and hope that Discord doesn't do too much damage.n You should hide Blueblood. Go to Fancypant's house. You'll be safer there than at the castle. Discord will target me in particular, so you'll be safer farther away from me."
"But I want to help!" exclaimed Blueblood.
Celestia hugged him tight.
"There is nothing you can do. The best thing you can do is stay safe and away from Discord. There's no telling what he'll do to everypony."
"I don't want to leave you here... alone... with him."
"He's just annoying me. He wants to play with me and scare me. But he won't and he knows it. I won't put harming you past him though. So you see the best thing you can do for me is really to hide away."
Blueblood nodded and left the castle.
Celestia resumed her nervous pacing of the floor.
Blueblood left the castle and headed for Fancypant's house.
"My my, Celestia is sooo predictable," said Discord appearing next to Blueblood with a Celestia doll clenched in his claw. He flew along keeping pace with Blueblood while he waved the doll in the air and spoke in a high-pitched voice, "Blueblood go hide and stay safe. There's no telling what that monster will do to you. I'll stay behind and take care of the problem, you just get your worthless carcass as far away from me as possible."
"Be quiet," said Blueblood, rolling his eyes, "My aunt doesn't think that."
"How would you know," said Discord, throwing the doll over his shoulder and returning to his normal voice, "Can you read minds?"
"Can YOU?" Blueblood retorted.
"Not quite," said Discord, "Not your aunt's at least. But I've always been a good judge of character."
"What would you know about character?" said Blueblood, "You've got none of your own."
Discord snorted.
"I have plenty of character! Why just ask Lauren! But enough about me. I have known Celestia much longer than you have Bluey. Trust me when I say that she doesn't trust you nor think you're capable of lifting anything other than a champagne glass."
The largest champagne glass Blueblood had ever seen appeared in Discord's paw and he began to pump it like a weight.
"She trusts me," said Blueblood.
"Oh really?" asked Discord, dropping the glass and leaning in, "How do you know that?"
"I don't believe I need to give you any answer whatsoever," said Blueblood with a smirk.
He walked past Discord, who scowled for a moment until a lightbulb came on over his head.
Discord grabbed the lightbulb and inspected it.
"Hmmmm, I wonder how this lights up without being plugged into anything?"
The lightbulb lit up again.
"Of course!" said Discord, "That's it! I'm Discord! There is no explanation!"
He threw the lightbulb over his shoulder and followed Blueblood.
"You know Bluey, I'm really proud of you. I don't know if I could trust my aunt without any sort of guarantee. Part of the reason could be that my aunt tried to eat me when I was little but that's a story for another time. ANYWAY I was just saying that if I didn't know how MY aunt thought about me I wouldn't trust her so easily. If I'd have just trusted my aunt come to think of it, I'd be in her stomach right now! But I'm sure that YOUR aunt MUST be telling you the truth. After all, you're only the only prince ever who didn't understand his cutie mark and didn't really have a purpose. And she's just the supreme ruler of Equestria who could be really embarresed if ponies found out that her nephew didn't understand his calling in life... Oh well. C'est la vie."
Blueblood chewed his lip angrily.
"I cannot wait for Twilight and her friends to show up and beat him," he mumbled.
He turned his head to see Discord pointing a huge ear trumpet at Blueblood.
Blueblood immediately clamped a hoof over his mouth. But it was too late.
Discord happily shoved the ear trumpet into his ear and laughed.
"I knew I could get you to spill the beans if I only tried. Thank you so much Blueblood. Perhaps you should consider becoming a professional mole."
A fluffy burrowing mammal appeared in Blueblood's hooves.
"WHAT did I just do?" murmured Blueblood with wide eyes.
"YOU, my dear boy have just told me all that I need to know to take over Equestria!" said Discord happily. Turning over to a clone of himself he continued, "Tell him what he's won me!"
Exciting music started playing and the replica Discord picked up a microphone.
"Well myself," said the duplicate draconoquus, "He's won humiliation, the chance to be called a stool pigeon and a fink wherever he goes and the retribution of the most powerful pony in Equestia!"
"And I tell you what," said the original Discord, "I'll even let you keep that cute little mole in your hooves. I believe animals should be around their same species."
The mole growled at Blueblood and Blueblood dropped him, causing the angry little creature to vanish in a puff of smoke.
"And take my advice, after all I'm not using it," whispered Discord into Blueblood's ear, "I wouldn't try to get back on Celly's good side. She's a bit of a wrathful pony."
"Enjoy the rest of your day in the new Chaosville!" yelled Discord, happily skipping away to plan his offensive.
Blueblood stared down the road as chocolate rain began to fall. He had single-hoofedly cursed Equestria to a future of utter chaos.
He slowly walked to Fancypant's house, not knowing where else to go.
Lifting a hoof, he gave three sharp raps on the front door.
Fancypant's sweet maid answered to door.
"Prince Blueblood!" she exclaimed, "What can I do for you?"
"May I see Fleur de Lis please?"
"Yes come this way."
The mare led Blueblood up the flights of stairs into Fleur's room. The pink mare sat looking out the window at the havoc that was being wreaked on the city.
She turned at the sound of the opening door and saw Blueblood.
"Blueblood!" she exclaimed jumping up and hugging her bedraggled, wet friend, "Feather Duster will you please fetch Blueblood a towel so he may dry off?"
Feather Duster nodded and left.
"What happened?" asked Fleur, leading Blueblood back down the stairs and into the sitting room, "What's the Princess going to do?"
"I... I don't know," said Blueblood, accepting the towel that Feather passed him and began drying his coat.
"Are you alright?" asked Fleur, observing her friend, bury his muzzle into the towel.
She pulled the towel away and saw Blueblood's eyes starting to turn red and swell as tears streamed off his muzzle.
"Oh Fleur," he said, wiping his face with a hoof, "This is all my fault."
"Blueblood that's ridiculous," said Fleur, passing him a cup of tea that Feather Duster had brought, "How could any of this be your fault?"
"I told Discord my aunt's plan," said Blueblood, "I told him her plan!"
"What plan?" asked Fleur as her friend dissolved into sobs.
"She was going to get Twilight Sparkle and her friends to use the Elements of Harmony on Discord and turn him back to stone but now I've ruined all that!"
"How?" asked Fleur, raising Blueblood's head off of the towel and looking into his eyes.
"He wasn't supposed to know you see. They were gonna catch him off guard and defeat him but he tricked me into telling him. I've betrayed Equestria and my aunt!"
Blueblood shoved his face back into the towel and Fleur rubbed his mane.
"I'm sure they'll defeat Discord even if he knows," she offered.
"No. He'll probably do something to the elements that'll make them not work of he'll kill one of the mares or, oh I don't know! My aunt told me he couldn't know and that it was a secret and then I went and blabbed it to the enemy!"
"It was a mistake," said Fleur, "Discord tricked you. Don't you think you might be overreacting just the tiniest?"
"You just don't understand Fleur," said Blueblood, "These past few months have been the best ever. Ever since I returned from the rock farm I haven't felt any hatred or stuck-upedness and I've finally been able to spend time with my aunts again! But whenever I'm around Discord, I feel that horrible old self come back and fight for dominance. I don't want to be my old self and if Discord rules Equestria again, I'm afraid that I won't be able to fight that awful spirit in me anymore. And I've just betrayed my aunts, so how could they ever love me again?"
"Oh Blueblood," said Fleur, "Your aunts wouldn't be that unforgiving and heartless. They are the kindest ponies in all of Equestria. They don't hold grudges."
"How do you know?" asked Blueblood, "I've just doomed Equestria to eternal chaos. Would you forgive me?"
"First. You don't know it's eternal. They might still beat him. Second. If I wouldn't forgive you then why do you think I'm still here?"
Blueblood looked up into Fleur's loving eyes. Oddly enough, he suddenly saw Stormwing in those eyes.
"Thanks Fleur," he said, wiping his face again, "I really needed that."
Desperate to change the subject Blueblood continued, "My aunt wanted me to stay here until Discord is, might be, defeated. Is that alright?"
"Of course," said Fleur. She called out for Feather Duster to come.
"Yes Madam?"
"Would you please prepare Blueblood a room?"
"Of course."
"Thank you."
Fleur got up and poured herself and Blueblood a fresh cup of tea.
"By the way Blueblood," she said, "There's no ifs. They will defeat Discord."
***
"I always wondered how Discord found out about us," said Twilight, "So when did you return to the castle?"
"Not until you had defeated Discord," said Blueblood, "I was so worried that Auntie wouldn't forgive me. Fleur offered to come for moral support."
"Fleur sounds absolutely lovely!" said Rarity, "I simply MUST get to know her better!"
"I think you'd like each other," said Blueblood, "She's one of the most understanding ponies I've ever met."
***
Blueblood and Fleur walked nervously into the castle. As they made their way to the throne room, Blueblood glanced out the window and saw a stone creature in the garden. A shiver ran up his spine as he recognized Discord.
"This way," said Fleur, opening the door to the throne room.
Blueblood swallowed hard and entered the room with Fleur right behind him.
Celestia and Luna were addressing a small panel of newspaper ponies about Discord's return.
Celestia looked up and when her eyes locked with Blueblood's a smile spread from ear to ear.
She rose from the throne and left Luna to answer the badgerings of the reporters.
"Blueblood!" she exclaimed, wrapping her hooves around her nephew, "I'm so glad you're safe. Thank you for looking out for him Fleur."
Blueblood wriggled out of his aunt's grasp and stared her in the face.
"Aunt- Princess Celestia?" he started.
"Yes?" Celestia asked, surprised by his formality.
"I have something to tell you."
"Go on."
Blueblood looked at Fleur, who nodded.
"Discord, well I... I told him about Twilight and her friends."
"What? I'm sorry I didn't quite understand you."
"I said I told Discord about Twilight and her friends!" said Blueblood, "It was an accident and I'm very sorry. If you don't want to see me anymore I understand."
Blueblood stood with his eyes shut for a few terrifying moments until her felt Fleur nudge him.
Cracking one eye open, he saw Celestia staring at him with a half smile on her lips.
"I wanted to see how long you'd stand there."
She wrapped a hoof around him.
"Blueblood, it was a mistake. Discord tricked you and I'm not angry. Nopony was truly hurt and he's been defeated. I'm actually very proud of you that you had the courage to admit your mistake to me."
"You mean... you mean you aren't mad?"
"I'm just happy your okay."
"No comment about how you should have listened to me in the first place," said Fleur, poking Blueblood in the ribs.
Blueblood pulled her into the embrace and Luna shooed the reporters away and joined the group hug.
---Author's notes.
My computer is behaving all wonky and won't save the author's notes that I write so I'm putting them down here probably only for this chapter. Cool thing to note. I got the idea of Blueblood blowing up an egg from the fact that my dad recently did the same exact thing. Truth is stranger than fiction! Spring really hit me hard over the head. I have a lot more on my plate than before and I don't think I'll be able to stick to my previous writing schedule. I'll try to post every two weeks or at the most, three weeks. Thank you for understanding that I have to put my school and other engagements first. Stay tuned for the next, heart-stopping installment!
He adjusted a crooked wing on his costume and smiled. He and Auntie were going to have so much fun handing out candy tonight.
A knock on the door turned his head and he saw his aunt entering his room, dressed as a banana.
"My my," she said smiling, "Aren't you a fearsome looking dragon?"
"Why auntie," he said smirking, "I'm not a dragon. I'm dressed as you when you come to breakfast early in the morning!"
"Oh come on you rascal," said Celestia, giggling.
Blueblood followed Celestia out on his room and down to the castle entrance.
"Your highness," said a guard, "Are you quite sure about this? You aren't very safe here."
Celestia laughed.
"Oh your always worrying Shield. We'll be fine."
"Very well your highness," said the guard, giving a stiff salute.
Blueblood and Celestia sat on two small chairs holding bowls of candy while small troops of foals and fillies patrolled Canterlot for sweets.
Luna approached her sister with a dark cape around her shoulders.
"Sister," she said, forgetting her sister hated the Royal Canterlot Voice, "We are off to the small town of Ponyville to change ponies perceptions of their princess of the night. We shall most likely return late with their many gifts of adoration."
"Are you quite sure about this Lulu?" asked Celestia, "After a thousand years I doubt ponies feelings about you are too-"
"Thy princess of the night shall be fine!" said Luna, "And how many times must we remind thou sister that we despise that abominable name thou hast bestowed upon us?"
"And how many times must I say that you're destroying my hearing with that voice of yours? Nopony talks like that now Lulu."
"Apologies," said Luna, "But we are off to Ponyville."
"You sure you don't want to stay here and hand out candy with us?" asked Blueblood, holding a bowl in front of Luna's face, "I've got marshmallows... your favorite!"
"Tis below our dignity to be seen in such plebeian pastimes," said Luna, holding her muzzle in the air, "Personally, we are astonished with thou, sister. We thought you had more dignity than that."
"Aww come on Lulu," said Celestia, prodding her younger sister in the gut, "It's been a thousand years. You need to come out of the past and accept microwave ovens."
Luna's eyes bugged out as Celestia mentioned her secret phobia of modern technology, especially microwaves. Luna had tried to use one when she had returned from the moon to cook a potato. Not knowing to poke holes in it, it exploded, ruining the microwave and Luna's thoughts on them. She had since sworn them off and would simply cook food magically.
"The enchanted cookware hath nothing to do with this sister. The fact is that we are the royal sisters who must conduct themselves in special ways. Not dressing as bananas."
Celestia laughed.
"Fine sister, go to Ponyville and see for yourself."
Luna pulled the hood over her head to protect her mane from the windy journey ahead and flew to her waiting chariot. The chariot took to the air and flew towards the town of Ponyville.
"Boy is she in for a surprise," said Celestia, giggling, "She'll scare the costumes right off the ponies in Ponyville!"
A small troop of fillies and mares walked past the castle and Celestia perked her head up eagerly. They turned the corner and headed to another house which caused Celestia to slump back into her chair.
"I swear ten groups have passed by and nopony has stopped to say hello."
A golden filly wrapped in toilet paper to resemble a mummy trotted back around the corner and up to the supreme ruler of all Equestria.
"Hewwo Youw Highneth," said the filly, "May I have thome candy pweathe."
"Yes of course you may," said Celestia, reaching into the bowl to hand the filly a huge chocolate bar.
But before Celestia could pass the filly the candy, the filly's mother came tearing around the corner and grabbed her daughter.
"Your Highness, I apologize for my daughter," she said, bowing low. She turned her daughter back to the group and started lecturing her, "What did I tell you about wandering off? And for pities sake, you don't just walk up to the princess and ask for candy!"
"But mom-"
"No buts about it. This is the last time you are allowed to wander off. You're going to hold my hoof for the rest of the night!"
"But mom-"
"My my, it's a wonder Nightmare Moon herself hasn't gotten you."
The filly looked back and Celestia and Blueblood with doe eyes.
Celestia blew the filly a kiss and levitated the biggest chocolate bar she had into the filly's bag. Celestia was thanked by the filly's adorable smile.
"I wondered why nopony wanted to come over to us." she said. Then, rising from her chair, she continued, "Well we'll just have to fix that now won't we."
Blueblood rolled his eyes. What his aunt wouldn't do to hand out candy on Nightmare Night.
Celestia and Blueblood looked out from their new costumes at the festivities in Canterlot Square. Celestia had on her back a bowl of candy for young fillies and colts.
Celestia and Blueblood now wore more elaborate costumes to hide their identities from all the ponies who were intimidated by royalty. Celestia had applied a lot of makeup to make herself look like Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Blueblood was dressed as her well-known coltfriend and rumored fiancee, Shining Armor.
"Hello there little fillies," Celestia said, walking up to a group of foals who were inspecting their candy haul, "Would you like some candy?"
The foals looked at her with wide eyes and screamed. They then booked it over to their respective mothers.
"What are they so afraid of?" asked Celestia, eyebrows raised in astonishment.
Blueblood laughed.
"No offense, but you did come of as a creepy stalker pony there. Would you take candy from a stranger?"
"But I'm not a stranger!" exclaimed Celestia, still confused, "I'm their princess."
"How are they supposed to know that?" asked Blueblood, flipping his aunt's wig, "Princess Cadence?"
"Drat," said Celestia, grumbling, "No matter what we do, nopony will accept candy from us."
"Hewwo," said the same filly from before, "That's a vewy nithe cothtume."
"Thank you," said Celestia, "Would YOU like some candy?"
"Thure," said the filly, reaching into the bowl and grabbing a piece of candy, "But I think you wooked nither ath the printheth." '
"How did you know it was me?" asked Celestia.
"Nopony elthe ith ath tall ath you," said the filly, happily skipping away.
"I wonder how she got away from her mother," asked Blueblood, mind wandering.
"WHO CARES!?!?!" screamed Celestia, "SHE TOOK CANDY FROM ME!!!! HUZZAH!"
"Well I bet her mother does," said Blueblood, hooves clamped over his ears.
"WAHOO!!!" yelled Celestia, jumping up and down so hard her costume started to come apart at the seams.
Everypony stared in shock as the pony they had thought to be disguised as Princess Cadence, suddenly became Princess Celestia.
"My gosh," said a pony in the crowd, "It's Princess Celestia!"
All the ponies bowed low in respect.
"What? No, please don't bow," said Celestia, trying to address her subjects.
It was to no avail though, as they were all bowed low and exclaiming the princess's praise.
"Umm, do you all want to play a game?" asked Blueblood, trying to change the subject.
"Oh but we are mere commonfolk," said a pony at the front of the crowd, "We are not nearly worthy enough to play a game with the princess."
"I'm not a princess!" yelled Celestia, "No wait... I'm not royal, no... Your not worthy, no, you ARE worthy to play games with me!
But the crowd just bowed lower.
"This happens every Nightmare Night," said Celestia, pouting.
"Well I'd rather have ponies praising your name wherever you go then screaming it in terror," said Blueblood, rubbing his aunt's shoulders, "Why don't we go back to the castle now? I think our cover is officially blown."
Celestia nodded and they walked home.
Blueblood and Celestia sat around the dining table sipping tea and being bored.
"Why do they have to adore me so?" asked Celestia, still severely down heartened.
"I don't know."
Their heads turned as a navy blue alicorn with streamers in her mane and chocolate on her muzzle came bounding through the door.
"Ah sister," she said, bubbly, "Thou should have been at Ponyville this night! We had a delightful time scaring foals! Didst thou scare any foals?"
"Oh yes," said Celestia, nodding apathetically, "We scared foals."
"This holiday doth be our new favorite!" exclaimed Luna, so excited she began slipping in and out of her Royal Canterlot Voice, "We indulged in much candy and many games. We are the new Champions of Ponyville in the pumpkin chunkin' event! We also dominated at the game where one bobs for apples! The festivities in Ponyville are most pleasing!"
"Glad to see you enjoyed yourselves," said Celestia, pouting.
Luna cocked her head to the side and stared at her sister.
"We see that thou art in distress. What happened? Was it not the greatest night ever for thou?"
"No it wasn't," said Celestia, "Nopony would accept our candy and when they found out who we were in the square they all bowed down and wouldn't let us join the festivites because we were 'royalty'."
Celestia made little quotation marks with her hooves.
"Hmmmm," said Luna, sitting down and grabbing a bag of marshmallows, stuffing them into her mouth, "We had the exact opposite problem when we arrived. The ponies thought we were still Nighmare Moon and still evil."
"So how does that equal a good time?" asked Celestia, disappointingly licking a lollipop.
"Twasn't," said Luna, "We were most distressed over this and even declared Nightmare Night cancelled for all of eternity!"
"Don't you have to discuss such rules and bans with ME?" asked Celestia, eyebrow cocked.
"Verrily sister," said Luna, "But twas to no matter anyway as thine knowledgeable magenta unicorn student helped us to understand the true meaning of Nightmare Night."
"And what is that?" asked Celestia, pulling the lollipop from her mouth and staring at it.
"SCARING PONIES!" exclaimed Luna, startling Celestia to dropping the lollipop into her lap, "Tis quite enjoyable to see them screaming and running from you. Apparently tis fun for the scare-ees as well!"
Celestia glared at her.
"Oh, uh, apologies sister," said Luna, unwrapping another lollipop for her sticky sibling.
"That sounds like a ton of fun Auntie," said Blueblood, "Why don't we go scaring ponies next Nightmare Night?"
"Why wait?!" asked Luna, jumping from her chair, "Nightmare Night be not over yet!"
"I'm not really that good at scaring ponies though," said Celestia, pouting.
"That doth be from your cheery outlook, which you seem to have lost anyway," said Luna, chortling, "We shall simply dress you as a scary creature, like a manticore and we shall go as Nightmare Moon and you Blueblood can go as....."
"Myself several months ago?" asked Blueblood, smirking.
"Nay, nay," said Luna, "Thou shalt go as one of Nightmare Moon's batpony guards. Would that suit you?"
"Verrily my antiquated auntie," said Blueblood, laughing.
Luna rolled her eyes and led the pair off.
The threesome spent the rest of the evening jumping out from around corners and scaring ponies half to death. Luna was quite right that ponies liked to be scared. Everypony would always laugh and would often accept candy from them.
Three hours later, Nightmare Moon, a sunnily dis-positioned manticore and a batpony guard came staggering into the castle, laughing their sides off. That morning, Celestia slept so late that the sun didn't rise until noon. Some citizens complained but most of them laughed about it and understood that even royalty enjoyed Nightmare Night.
Author's notes: My computer is still being evil about author's notes. Bear with me. Sorry ya'll for the lack of updates. End-of-year-chaos and all that.
That and I had some trouble with my editor who shall remain nameless for safety issues. He's No One anyway. Thank ya'll for being patient. Now without any further ado...
Chapter 15: The Fickle Eyes of Canterlot.
"Blueblood!" exclaimed Fluer de Lis, bursting into the castle. She ran down the halls and into Blueblood's room, "You'll never guess who we ran into today at the market! It was that Rarity mare you told me about!"
***
"Oh no," said Rarity, laying down on the floor and covering her ears, "I'm not sure if I want to hear about this!"
"Awww come on Rarity," said Pinkie Pie, "As my great grannie Pie said, 'a story that is incomplete, is probably missing some pages!'"
"Is this the same grannie who told you to giggle at the ghosties?" asked Rainbow, "Cause I think she might have gone off her rocker."
"Aww no way Dashie, that was my grannie, not my GREAT Grannie. Yeah, mom always said great grannie Pie was a few rocks shy of a mountain. I always liked her for some reason."
"I wonder why," whispered Rainbow to Applejack, rolling her eyes.
Applejack elbowed Rainbow in the ribs and said, "Lookee here Rarity, Pinkie's right, what kinda story would it be if you took out the parts you didn't like?"
"A bad story with a lot of dislikes," whispered Pinkie to Rainbow Dash, "Not that it's doing that hot right now."
Dash rolled her eyes.
"Oh you just want to hear about how I insulted Blueblood, don't you?" asked Rarity.
Applejack shuffled uneasily.
"Uh.... Maybe."
Rarity glared daggers at her.
"I can skip it if you want," said Blueblood.
Rarity smiled and Applejack kicked the ground with her hoof.
"But I think it's in bad taste as I've been spilling out my soul to you ponies this whole time."
Rarity's smile wilted and Applejack brightened up.
"'Sigh' Very well."
***
"Rarity?!?!" exclaimed Blueblood in shock and amazement, "What is she doing in Canterlot?"
"Apparently, your auntie asked her to stay here."
The cogs started turning in Blueblood's mind. His auntie knew he was ashamed of how he treated Rarity at the gala. Was she making an opportunity for him to apologize? If so, why hadn't she told him before?
And what will I even say to her?
And if this really was a second chance, Blueblood couldn't waste it. Nopony got to redo first impressions a third time.
"Well what did you do when you saw her?" asked Blueblood, shivering, "Did you tell her you knew me? Did you tell her I've changed?"
"I didn't really SAY anything, I was very nonchalant about the whole encounter," said Fluer, rolling her eyes and laughing.
So that means she pretended to not even notice, probably by posing in different flattering positions like she often does.
"But I think it's best if you talk to her yourself."
She looked at her friend, whose blue eyes were the size of dinner plates.
"But what do I say? How do I ask for her forgiveness? Will she ever forgive me? What if she doesn't? Then-"
"Then you'll move on with your life and accept that she made the mistake in not forgiving you," said Fluer, "But you should get ready. Daddy invited her to the Wonderbolts derby and I figure that'll be as good a place as any to apologize."
"THE DERBY?!" exclaimed Blueblood, "But that's this afternoon. I can't possibly be ready for that! I need time to write a full apology and practice it. It has to be perfect otherwise she mightn't accept it!"
Fleur rolled her eyes again.
"Just be honest and say you're sorry for being a jerk!" said Fleur, "Honestly, you think you've never apologized before."
She looked at Blueblood, who just sat there with a sheepish look on his face.
"You HAVE apologized before, right?"
"Not formally," said Blueblood.
"What about to your aunts after Discord returned?" asked Fleur.
"But that wasn't really an apology, more of a confession."
"You MUST have apologized before."
"Not really to anypony outside my immediate family," said Blueblood, "Certainly not on something this important. I just want to make this the best apology ever so she won't have any choice but to accept!"
"She'll accept if she's ready, now get your tail ready for that Derby! I'll see you in two hours in my father's box!"
Blueblood swallowed hard.
This was going to be hard.
***
"You'd never apologized before?" asked Rarity, eyebrow raised.
"I know," said Blueblood, "Pretty lame right? Well, I practiced in my room for two whole hours and by the time the derby was about to start, I was certain.... That I couldn't do it. So I went to the derby and sat in the royal box observing... just not the races."
"You were watching me?" exclaimed Rarity, appalled.
"I wanted to gather information on whether or not you were still angry at me," said Blueblood, "I figured observing would be the best choice for all of us. To reassure you, I'm completely in shock that I'd do anything that stupid today. It was a really dumb choice and I should have been stallion enough to face you, I was just so scared after our last encounter."
"I can understand why," said Applejack, "Rarity was pertty horrifying wasn't she?"
"Not nearly as horrifying as you force-selling your goods to everypony around!" exclaimed Rarity, head held high in annoyance.
Applejack chuckled and said, "I think we were all pretty bad."
"But I was the worst," said Blueblood, laughing along, "The funny thing was that Stormwing was on guard-"
"Wait a tic," said Applejack, "I thought he die-"
"Stormwing VIII," clarified Blueblood. He continued, "Anyway, Stormwing was on guard and found me observing Rarity. He dragged me by the ear back to the castle to lecture me until Fleur returned."
***
"Dude," said Stormwing, "There are certain things you don't do unless you want to be called a creeper. Staring at a mare you've only met once before from your balcony through binoculars is one of them."
"I didn't have binoculars," scoffed Blueblood, "I didn't think to bring them."
"But if you had, you would've," said Stormwing, giving Blueblood a cynical look, "Alright trust me. I've had friends who are mares my whole life. You go up, look them in the eye, acknowledge that you were wrong and apologize. It's the best way."
"What if she doesn't accept?" asked Blueblood.
"Grovel," said Stormwing, causing Blueblood to burst into laughter.
"What should I do if I want to keep my dignity?" asked Blueblood, wiping a tear from his eye.
"As a stallion who's had the past experience of offending Fleur many, many, many times, particularly when we were foals, I can honestly say that if you want to be forgiven by a friend who's a mare, you have to kiss your dignity goodbye."
Blueblood rolled his eyes and chuckled.
"Take my advice," said Stormwing, putting a hoof on Blueblood's shoulder, "Put aside your pride and apologize. Something tells me your gonna have some practice when Fleur gets back."
Blueblood nodded.
"Well, I'd love to stay and chat, but I've gotta get back on duty or the captain will have my hide."
"I didn't get'cha in trouble did I?" asked Blueblood.
"Nah," said Stormwing, "My first loyalties lie to the royal family so you overrule my superior officer.
Blueblood nodded understandingly at Stormwing as he flew out the door an back towards his post.
Well, I did gather SOME information, thought Blueblood, smiling.
Blueblood whistled merrily as he undid his tie and placed it on the mantle in his room.
"Blueblood?" hissed Fleur, stomping in the doorway, "Where were you? I told you to be at the derby and you didn't come! I thought I told you any apology would work!"
"Did you see her Fleur?" asked Blueblood, dusting himself off with a brush, "She didn't look angry or brooding at all. And that was a lovely hat she was wearing?"
"I doubt she lets it get to her," snapped Fleur, "especially when you're nowhere to be see- wait, how did you know what she was wearing?"
Blueblood shuffled uneasily.
"I may or may not have been umm... watching you."
"What?" asked Fleur, cocking her head, "Speak up."
"I said I was umm... watching... you."
Blueblood braced for Fleur to get angry.
"Why'd you do that?" she said, giving him, instead of an angry look, a confused look that said 'How are you that stupid?'.
"Well," said Blueblood, staring at his hooves and speaking to the floor, "How else was I supposed to know whether or not she's still angry at me?"
Fleur rolled her eyes and laughed.
"Maybe you've heard of this new idea Blueblood? It's called talking to the party you have a problem with. For Celestia's sake, I learned this stuff in foal school."
"Well I never went to foal school because my dad abducted me and trained me in dark magic."
"Sheesh talk about the bad points of homeschooling."
Blueblood laughed.
"Ya know if you really want some help in apologizing, why don't you talk to your aunt? I'm sure that there's a reason that she invited Rarity to stay in Canterlot Castle."
"Now there's an idea," said Blueblood, raising his eyebrows in a thoughtful expression.
"Just promise me that you won't go spying on ponies anymore," said Fleur.
"I won't," said Blueblood, laughing, "you must be sick of me by now Fleur."
Fleur shrugged.
"Not really. It makes me look like an angel! I'm going home now. YOU go talk to your aunt."
Blueblood nodded and trotted out of his room and towards the throne room.
Celestia shooed her advisors away when she heard her nephew enter the throne room. She stood up and flew off her throne to meet Blueblood in the middle of the large room.
"Blueblood! What can I do for you?"
"Well auntie, I've got a question for you."
"Fire away."
"Why did you invite Ms. Rarity to stay in the castle?" said Blueblood, launching into a nervous frenzy, "Do you think I'm ready to apologize to her? Is that it? You were providing an opportunity for me to right some of my previous wrongs? I don't know if I'm ready for this auntie. I've never really had to apologize to a non-family member before. What if she doesn't forgive me? What if she hates me forever? What if she tells everypony else in Canterlot and nopony will ever be my friend again?!?!"
Blueblood paused to take a breath and saw Celestia looking quizzically at him.
"What's the matter auntie?" he started, "DO you think there's a chance she won't forgive me?"
"No, that's not it," said Celestia, "I was just remembering what happened."
"You mean you forgot all about the Grand Galloping Gala? ALREADY?!?!" continued Blueblood, "I knew I'd changed, but how could anypony forget how atrocious I was that evening. I know I can't. And I seriously doubt she has either."
"Well, I have noticed that our memories are quite long," said Celestia, "Especially when somepony else has wronged us."
"So what should I say when I apologize to her?" asked Blueblood.
"That's entirely up to you," said Celestia.
"What?" asked Blueblood, "B-b-b-b-b-but auntie, you're so much better at this stuff than I am."
"And there comes a time when you must start making your own decisions and apologies," said Celestia, "I won't always be around to help you Blueblood."
Won't you? thought Blueblood, staring at his immortal aunt.
"Knowing mares and this particular mare," said Celestia, "I think an apology from you would mean more."
Blueblood chewed his lip nervously.
"Very well auntie. And thanks."
Celestia smiled and ruffled his mane.
"Luna's just about to raise the moon, if you want to apologize today, now is the best time. Rarity is staying in the east tower"
Blueblood nodded and plodded out of the room, making his way as slowly as possible to the east tower.
Blueblood noted how large Canterlot Castle seemed at that moment. He felt like it would take him years to reach the east tower even though he knew it was only a five minute trot. But even then, he didn't know if he wanted to arrive.
Because that was where she would be.
At the end of this walk could be a huge relief, or a great disappointment, thought Blueblood, nervously, Am I ready if she says no to my apology?
The time has come, thought Blueblood, reaching the top of the stairs and staring at Rarity's door.
He swallowed and gave three, resounding knocks on the door.
Silence.
Blueblood shuffled a hoof uneasily.
"Ms. Rarity?" he asked.
More silence.
After about a minute, Blueblood inched the door open and stuck his face in to look around.
There was a hiss and Blueblood felt half a dozen claws dig into his face.
"AHHHH!" yelled Blueblood, shaking the creature of his muzzle.
It flew off and landed on the ground, hissing at Blueblood all the way.
"OPALESENCE?" came a lovely, feminine and familiar voice from down the steps.
Blueblood's eyes bugged out.
Rarity catching him tossing her cat around was not his idea of a ideal second meeting.
Thinking quickly, he levitated himself up to the roof to the demon cat's amazement.
"Mrowr?" it said, as it's eyes followed him up.
"Oh Opalesence," said Rarity, reaching the top of the stairs, out of breath, "How did you get out you silly kitty?"
Levitating the struggling feline up to her muzzle for a nose bump she said, in a sickeningly sweet voice,
"You need to be more careful sweetums. Now come now. I simply must tell you about my divine day in Canterlot. I seem to have become quite the popular pony. I was walking back to the castle this morning when who should I run into but Fancypants! And might I say that he has the most fabulous taste in suits. Pure style with that pony. But anyway, he invited me..."
The cat waved it's claws frantically in Blueblood's direction, but thankfully for Blueblood, Rarity was too caught up in her story to notice.
After she closed the door, Blueblood slowly alighted back on the staircase right outside her door.
"I simply have to talk with her," he said, "And I'm going to."
Blueblood turned on his heels and galloped down the stairs.
"Tomorrow."
Inside the suite Rarity cocked her head.
"You know it's funny Opal, but when I first got back I could've sworn I heard a stallion scream. Hmm..."
Her face softened and she laughed.
"Must have been my imagination. It was a long day after all."
Opal rolled her eyes and started sharpening her claws on the bedpost.
Should that mysterious pony come back, she wanted to be prepared for a rematch.
***
"Aww, Opal isn't that bad," said Fluttershy smiling innocently.
"No worse than Angel Bunny," said RD, rolling her eyes.
"Don't," growled Fluttershy, fixing her 'stare' on Rainbow Dash, "Insult my bunny."
She turned her head back to Blueblood, sweet as ever, intent to hear what happened next.
***
Blueblood sat at the Canterlot Cafe, absentmindedly stirring his tea.
It had been several days since the incident with Rarity's cat, and Blueblood still hadn't worked up enough courage to go talk to her.
Stormwing VIII alighted on the streetside and trotted into the cafe, slightly out of breath and sat himself down beside Blueblood.
"Cafe au lait please," he said to the waitress pony who approached their table.
The pony nodded and ran off to fetch Stormwing his drink.
"So Blueblood," he said, turning to his friend, "Hows it going?"
Blueblood sipped his tea and recoiled as it scorched his tongue.
Blowing on the cup he answered,
"Fine."
"Did you talk to Rarity yet?"
"No."
Stormwing rolled his eyes.
"Why in your aunt's name not? Are you still nervous?"
"I'm waiting for the right time."
Stormwing groaned.
"In other words you're chicken."
"No," said Blueblood, "It's just that she's been getting in really late and I don't want to talk to her when she's tired. I want her to be in a good frame of mind."
"I could say a lot here about mare's frames of mind," started Stormwing, nodding his head to the cafe's entrance, "But seeing as we have some feminine company arriving, I'll shut my mouth."
Fleur de Lis approached the table and Stormwing and Blueblood, being gentlecolts stood up and greeted her.
"Hey Fleur," said Stormwing, pulling Fleur's chair out for her and then sitting back down, along with Blueblood, "We were just talking bout Rarity. Blueblood thinks he needs the proper time, place and mindset to apologize."
"I need as many things going for me as possible," said Blueblood shrugging.
"Well I think I may have just the deal," said Fleur, grabbing a pastry from a passing cart, "You know that skyship Father wanted you to christen tomorrow?"
"The S.S. Cloudsdale?" asked Blueblood.
"That's the one," replied Fleur, "Well, one of the other chairponies of the board of the Equestrian Skyship committee suggested that they have somepony else help with the christening and well... Rarity's name came up."
"So what you're saying is..."
"Rarity will be standing right beside you when you christen the boat, that should be the perfect time to apologize. Or at least sometime around then."
"That's fantastic Fleur!" screamed Blueblood, turning several heads in the cafe.
A couple of ponies harrumphed and shushed him.
"Sorry," said Blueblood, blushing, slightly embarrassed, "But how did Rarity's name come up? She's a fashion designer from Ponyville. Not a Canterlot aristocrat."
"Well ever since the derby, she's been making quite the impact on Canterlot," said Fleur, holding up the latest issue of Cosmarepolitan.
On the cover was a picture of Rarity in the dress she had wore to the gala last year. The headline ran, Rarity: How she became the toast of Canterlot.
"She's on the cover?" said Blueblood, dumbfounded, "But she's only been in Canterlot for a week or so!"
"Well apparently she's been lying through the teeth about her life," said Fleur, opening the magazine and reading aloud, "Cosmarepolitan: How is it that you know the Wonderbolt's trainer so well. Rarity: Oh well darling, I met her once when she came looking for the new designs for their uniforms. I told her the old ones clashed horribly and she should add gold accents to them for true style."
"She didn't design the Wonderbolts uniforms!" exclaimed Blueblood, "At least not to my knowledge. What are the Wonderbolts going to do when they hear about this?"
"Most likely sue her," said Fleur, rolling up the magazine and passing it to Blueblood, "She goes on later to tell how she's had numerous stallions ask for her hoof in marriage, but she's waiting for that special somepony. What a load of hooey."
"Oh what a tangled web we weave," said Stormwing, waxing poetry, "When first we practice to deceive."
"I need to warn her about this," said Blueblood, "She can't just lie her way up the Canterlot prestige ladder."
"Why not?" asked Stormwing, smiling, "So many other ponies do."
"I've got to tell her," said Blueblood, "Now I'm even gladder that she's christening the boat with me tomorrow."
***
"And we needn't go into the sordid details of what transpired," said Rarity, interrupting Blueblood.
"Why?" said Rainbow, one eyebrow raised, teasingly, "What happened?"
"Never mind all that," said Applejack, "Rarity, what made you think that you could get away with all those lies? Didn't ya think that somepony else who read Cosmarepolitan would know you didn't do all those things?"
"Well..." said Rarity, "I figured that... you see to be interviewed by Cosmarepolitan is such a great honor... And I'm really just a nopony... Well, I thought I'd embellish my story just a tad, for, um, flair."
"There was so much flair in that article you didn't have any story," said Applejack, gritting her teeth, "You sure are lucky that them Wonderbolts didn't sue ya."
"Well of course they didn't," said Rainbow, "Haven't I always told you ponies how awesome they are?"
"Well what would you have done?" said Rarity, indignant, "When you know ponies are going to read the article expecting something juicy? Tell them all about how you own a small boutique in Ponyville and will probably never be really successful in the fashion business!"
"Well I'd at least tell lies that can't be easily disproved," said Rainbow, "Not that I'd need to lie about how epic-ally awesome I am! But then again, everypony already knows that so it wouldn't be too interesting to read about."
"So you understand why I... fibbed, slightly?" asked Rarity.
"No I don't," said Rainbow, "I understand why you lied through your teeth though. Your life isn't that awesome. Well at least not compared to mine."
"Will ya'll be quiet!" hollered Applejack, "Rarity was a real numbskull, but that's in the past. Why don't we let Blueblood get on with his story?"
"So," said Rarity, "You forgive me for lying like I did?"
"I forgave you after you explained it to us at that garden party shindig," said Applejack, "Now shush. I want to hear what stupid things ya did next!"
Rarity harrumphed and Blueblood continued his story.
***
Blueblood stood amidst a crowd of ponies, all here to see off the newly completed S.S. Cloudsdale. Somewhere out among the multitude was Rarity, and Blueblood simply had to find her.
"Have you seen her?" asked Blueblood as Fleur approached him, wearing a lovely, silk dress, "Is she here yet?"
"Come now Blueblood," said Fleur, straightening Blueblood's tie, "I have a feeling we'll know when she's here. She IS the guest of honor."
A hush fell over the crowd and all their heads slowly came to rest on a lovely, white mare who trotted into the courtyard where the ceremony was being held. Her hooves gleamed with a fresh hooficure and not a hair on her lovely mane was out of place as it curled into her signature hairstyle.
"Wow," said Fleur as Rarity descended gracefully down the steps, "She sure knows how to make an entrance."
"You can say that again," said Blueblood, "So what do we do next?"
"We go find her," said Fleur, grabbing Blueblood's hoof.
They were about to start searching around until they heard a cough from behind them.
They both turned around to see Fancypants standing next to Rarity.
"Rarity, I would like you to meet the pony you shall be christening the skyship alongside. Prince Blueblood, meet Rarity."
Rarity's eyes had been scanning the courtyard in all it's grandeur until she heard Blueblood's name.
Her eyes locked with his and she mouthed the word, 'you!'
Blueblood smiled sheepishly and held out his hoof in greeting. Rarity did not return the gesture.
"Yes, nice to meet you," she said quickly before saying to a pony standing next to her, "Oh my, Darling is that you?"
Darling nodded and she and Rarity walked off talking happily.
"Well that was odd," said Fancypants, before following his guest of honor.
"Let's go after her," said Blueblood, before he felt a hoof on his shoulder.
He turned to see a palace guard.
"Sir, I was informed to tell you that the christening shall be in five minutes so you and Ms. Rarity should make your way over to the boat."
"Yes, thank you," said Blueblood.
He nodded goodbye to Fleur and followed the guard to the staircase which led up to the balcony from which they would christen the boat.
Rarity followed soon after accompanied by another guard.
She sat herself down on a nearby bench and looked in the direct opposite direction as Blueblood.
"Ms. Rarity?" Blueblood asked.
"I have nothing to say to you," she said, "Now please, can we just christen the ship with dignity?"
"Ms. Rarity," started Blueblood again, "I wish to apologize for my horrendous behavior at the gala last year. I was-"
"You want to APOLOGIZE?!" asked Rarity in amazement, her jaw dropping.
"Yes," said Blueblood, "I acted most foalish and I was wondering if you could find it in your heart to forgive me?"
Rarity thought about it, chewing her lip and staring up into the sky.
"I suppose I can."
"Thank you," said Blueblood, smiling wide.
That had been much easier than he'd thought.
"May I also ask you a question?"
"I suppose so."
"Why are you lying to everypony about your past? You and I both know you're from Ponyville. So why tell ponies otherwise?"
Rarity looked at him, faking flabbergasted-ness.
"Prince Blueblood, with all due respect, why in Equestria do you think I'm lying to ponies?"
"Because I know you a lot better than you may think," said Blueblood, "You're no Canterlot high society pony. You're a fashion designer from Ponyville. And I'm warning you Ms. Rarity, Canterlot is seldom very forgiving of such mistakes. Lying can only get you in trouble here."
Rarity stared at him upset for a moment, before her eyes narrowed.
"Oh I get it," she said, "That apology. Your changed attitude. Really Prince Blueblood, you'll have to get up earlier in the morning to fool Rarity!"
"What are you talking about?"
"You know exactly what I'm talking about," ranted Rarity, prodding him with her immaculate hoof, "You only apologized just now to get on my good side. You know I'm the most popular pony in Canterlot and you can't stand to be dethroned of your title, so you hatched this sick little scheme. You mean to scare me out of Canterlot! Well I'm not fooled by you for a moment! Not one moment!"
"Ms. Rarity I assure you-"
"Your assurances mean nothing to me!" Rarity hissed, "I'm a full grown mare and I can make my own decisions thank you very much! Oh and you can forget about me forgiving you too! Not that I expect you even cared about it in the first place!"
"Now," Rarity said, walking up the stairs to the balcony and grabbing the bottle in her mouth, "Let's get this stupid christening over with so I can get back to my real friends!"
Blueblood walked up and stood beside her.
"Ms. Rarity I-"
"Oh shut it Blueblood! I figured out your little scheme!"
The crowd turned their attention to Rarity and Blueblood and they both plastered fake smiles on their faces.
Rarity let the bottle go and it impacted the hull of the skyship, not shattering.
"You see Blueblood?" hissed Rarity, keeping her eyes front and the smile plastered on her face, "I always knew you were bad luck."
Blueblood sighed, s confetti flew down from the sky getting all over them.
This was not what he had planned.
***
"Sheesh Rarity," said Rainbow, "What was with you?"
"Well, I..." started Rarity, her voice trailing off.
"Fleur guessed that you couldn't handle being called out on your behavior, so you lashed out," said Blueblood, "Was she right?"
Rarity thought long and hard about it.
"I suppose so," said Rarity, "How I wished I'd have listened to you though, I just got caught up in the wonderful feeling of being a very important pony. Which made it all the worse when I had to reveal who I really was to everypony."
Author's notes: Sorry for the long wait ya'll. I'll stop saying I'm gonna update often and be honest with you guys. Summer was a mixture of laziness/writer's block and now, my schedule is just too packed to give me this free time. And as my mom will so readily point out, I've got things to do that are of greater importance than this. THIS IS NOT ME GETTING BORED WITH WRITING!!! I LOVE THIS BOOK AND WILL FINISH IT!!!
Chapter 16: A Canterlot Catastrophe.
"Did you hear the latest news?" asked Fleur de Lis at their weekly tea, "But I'm sure you have Blueblood. Aren't you excited?"
Stormwing and Blueblood looked up from their respective teacups with puzzled expressions. Stormwing swiveled his head towards Blueblood, who looked back at him and shrugged.
"Stallions," said Fleur, rolling her eyes and dropping two sugar cubes into her tea and then nibbling a third, "Honestly Blueblood how could you of all ponies not know? It's all over the streets and you do live at the castle!"
"Just lucky I guess?" Blueblood said, shrugging again.
Fleur harrumphed.
"Princess Cadance and Captain of the gaurd Shining Armor are getting married! Don't you ever pay attention to anything?!"
"Hmm," said Blueblood, turning back to his tea.
Stormwing's eyes, however, bugged out and he spat tea over the entire table and his two companions.
Fleur glared at him and dried herself off with a napkin.
Stormwing continued on without a care, too engrossed now in the subject to apologize to his damp friends.
"Cap's getting married?! Shoot, why didn't I hear about this before?! Me and the boys could've been teasing him about it for weeks!!"
"But isn't he your superior?" queried Bluebood, one eyebrow raised.
"Yah but he doesn't stand on rank. Unless it's an emergency or somepony's inspecting us, Cap's really cool and awesome with everypony. He's just like one of the boys. Man, that's a bummer that he's gettin hitched."
"Sounds like a nice guy," said Fleur, "I'm glad cause I don't want Cadance to get anypony who isn't good enough for her."
Blueblood and Stormwing looked at her and she shrugged.
"What? We attended filly school together. We were friends."
"She's like your adopted cousin or something, isn't she?" asked Stormwing, turning to Blueblood.
Blueblood, who up until this point hadn't really been paying a great deal of attention to the subject, shrugged. He'd never really spent much time with Cadance. Canterlot Castle was a big place and it always seemed she was at other countries on diplomatic duty. To be honest, sometimes Blueblood felt a little jealous of his Equestria-trotting relative.
"I dunno. I don't really know her that well."
"Well maybe if you behave really nicely, they'll let you be the flower girl or something," Stormwing said with a smirk.
Blueblood stuck his tongue out and stood up.
"Well it's been fun, but I've got to get back. Maybe I'll see ya'll later."
"Goodbye," said Fleur.
"Ya see ya," said Stormwing. Then, turning his head to Blueblood, who was walking out of the cafe, he yelled, "Maybe you could be mare of honor!"
Stormwing turned back to Fleur, who just stared at him with a, 'Is that really what stallions talk about?' look.
"I was kidding," chided Stormwing in a sing-song voice.
Fleur just looked at him as if he were all the stupider.
"Hello Aunties," said Blueblood, walking in on Celestia and Luna, who appeared to be neck-deep in wedding planning.
Both his aunts had disheveled looks about them. Their usual immaculate and flowing manes were a mess of tangles and knots. They each had dark circles under their eyes which was saying a lot about Luna being she had a naturally darker coat. They both had drowsy, somewhat unaware expressions on their muzzles which were made all the more obvious when they waited several seconds before they seemed to react to Blueblood's greeting.
Blueblood stared at his aunts in awe. He hadn't seen Celestia this tired looking since before Luna came back.
"Oh, hi Blueblood," said Celestia, trying unsuccessfully to hold back a yawn, "We're just pla-ah-ah-nning Cadance's wedding."
"Isn't that something SHE should be doing?" asked Blueblood, staring at his already overworked aunts.
"Unquestionably," said Luna. Blueblood was quite annoyed to see that her tiredness hadn't changed her way of speaking, "But in as such as our niece doth plan a royal affair there is considerable more devising than an average ceremony. So mine sister and I hath offered our services to Princess Cadance."
"hm," said Blueblood, backing away in case Celestia recruited him for stuffing envelopes, "Well I think I'll just go and congratulate Cadance."
And Blueblood left the sisters with stamps stuck in their manes and multiple papercuts to find his adopted cousin.
"Why didst thou not entreat his assistance?" asked Luna.
"This isn't his wedding," said Celestia, "Besides he's probably upset that he's not in the wedding party."
Blueblood trotted down the halls in no apparent direction whistling contentedly. He didn't really plan to find Cadance.
Maybe I'll go see how Stormwing is, he thought as he turned a corner.
Much to his surprise, he saw his cousin, laying unconscious on the floor with some, hideous, bug-like pony standing over her.
Blueblood ducked back behind the wall and watched.
"Sleep tight," said the bug pony in a distorted voice, "And dream well. For dreams will be the only nice thing you have for the rest of your life."
Her sick giggling sent shudders down Blueblood's spine.
The bug pony's horn began to glow, and Cadance vanished in a flash of green sparks.
Blueblood gasped and the bug pony's head turned in his direction. Blueblood jerked his head back around the corner.
"Hmpf," said the bug pony, looking around and then turning around again.
Blueblood watched in silent awe as she morphed into the very likeness of Cadance and began to walk down the hall, giggling softly.
I've got to warn somepony.
He turned tail and dashed back towards the throne room.
"Auntie!" screamed Blueblood, bursting through the doors into an empty throne room.
He stared around at the lack of princesses in the room then, his eyes caught on a card with his name on it sitting by Celestia's throne.
Walking over to it, he broke the seal and read the letter.
Blueblood,
We went to pick our flowers for the wedding. We'll be back later.
Love,
Aunties Celestia and Luna.
"What timing," said Blueblood, crumpling up the parchment and running back out the door. If his aunts couldn't help him he'd go to Shining Armor.
"Alright men!" shouted Shining Armor at his command, "Straighten up and look forward."
The line of stallions straightened up and saluted Shining Armor, who returned it.
"Shining Armor!" interrupted Blueblood, running full speed out of the castle and up to the white stallion in dress armor.
"At ease, men!"
The line relaxed and Shining Armor turned to Blueblood.
"Yes Prince?"
Blueblood wheezed slightly, trying to regain his breath before speaking.
"Shining Armor. You're fiancee's been kidnapped."
Shining Armor's eyes expanded rapidly and he stared at Blueblood, terror-struck.
"W-w-w-what?" He stuttered, "C-c-c-c-cadance, kidnapped? By who?!"
"Some, I don't know, bug-pony or something."
"Bug-pony?" asked Shining Armor, as skepticism crept onto his face.
"Yeah and-"
"Is there a problem dearest?" came a feminine voice from behind Blueblood.
Shining Armor and Blueblood both looked to see Cadance strolling towards them with two guards beside her.
"Oh Cadance," said Shining Armor, walking forward and giving his wife-to-be a peck on the cheek, "Blueblood was just telling me-"
"That the royal guard looks awesome," said Blueblood, interrupting. He knew this pony was really that bug-pony and that whatever she was up to, she couldn't be trusted, "You do a fine job Shining. Oh and Cadance," he said, turning his attention to his fraudulent cousin, "Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are out choosing the flowers for your wedding. You should probably go help them decide. Their probably fighting over sunflowers vs. evening primroses."
Cadance gave his a puzzled look, but then kissed Shining Armor again and headed off towards the Canterlot florist.
Shining Armor turned back to Blueblood with a quizzical look on his muzzle.
"All due respect your highness, but what was with that joke?"
"It's no joke Shining Armor," said Blueblood, "Can we talk alone?"
Shining Armor rolled his eyes and led Blueblood off into a corner of the courtyard, leaving his men muttering among themselves.
"Well?"
"Okay," whispered Blueblood, "This is gonna sound crazy, but that wasn't your fiancee."
"Your highness-" started Shining Armor.
"No," interrupted Blueblood, "Hear me out. I was walking down the corridors when I saw that bug-pony I told you about with Cadance tied up. She hid Cadance somewhere and then morphed into her. That isn't Cadance."
Shining Armor waited a beat, shaking his head and rolling his eyes, before answering.
"Blueblood, if this is about you not being in the wedding party, I can explain. See I really wanted my sister to-"
"This has nothing to do with the wedding! We've got to find Cadance before that bug-pony does anything else!"
Shining Armor groaned.
"Fine Blueblood. I'll tell you what, I'll quiz Cadance on her life, and if she can't answer, then maybe I'll believe you. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to my troops," turning away, Shining Armor muttered, but Blueblood could still hear, "We have to protect Canterlot for the actual threat that's been made."
A knock resounded on Blueblood's door. Blueblood was poring over books on strange creatures found in Equestria, to see if he could find anything about bug-ponies. He quickly stuffed the book under a pillow and said, "Come in."
In trotted Shining Armor, fuming. His face was so red Blueblood was worried it might burst.
"What," he yelled, slamming the door shut, "Is the big idea?!?! You made me interrogate my own fiancee!! I've never been so insulted in my life!!!"
"Well could she answer all the questions?"
"With one hundred percent accuracy. She even helped me with a headache I was having!! She was all in all the wonderful mare I know, love and am going to marry!!!"
"But Shining Armor, I know what I saw!"
I don't care what you saw, Cadance is fine!! Now if you'll excuse me, I have to plan for my wedding!!"
Shining Armor marched towards the door and said as he opened it to leave,
"And next time you're jealous cause you aren't asked to be in a wedding party, why don't you come up with a more plausible conspiracy theory?"
***
"That's terrible," said Twilight, "What did you do after that?"
"Well," said Blueblood, "I went to several reporters to try to get the word out but they wouldn't take my story, finally I had to go to The Neightional Inquirer and they finally printed my story. But you can guess how it was received. Everypony in Canterlot decided that I just wanted attention or I was jealous."
"What did Celestia say?" asked Twilight.
"Unfortunately," said Celestia, "Luna and myself were too busy with wedding plans and protecting Canterlot. You remember that time, don't you?"
"Oh, yeah," said Twilight, "Well what happened on the wedding day?"
"I was prepared for the worst. I remember I was in the crowd..."
***
"Come on Blueblood," said Fleur, "You didn't need to bring all this," she indicated to the weapons Blueblood had hidden under his suit, "Just who do you thing you are?"
"Blood, Blueblood," Blueblood said with a grim expression on his face.
"Funny," said Fleur, "Are you sure you saw what you think you saw, Were you dehydrated or something?"
"Now you don't believe me?" said Blueblood, glowering at Fleur, "Sheesh, I thought of all ponies, YOU'D believe me."
"I didn't say that Blueblood," said Fleur, "I was just trying to work out a reasonable explanation for what you saw."
Blueblood's attention was drawn away from Fleur at that moment by the opening of the door and the beginning of the wedding march. And here came the fake Cadance, fooling everypony but Blueblood.
Shining Armor looked a little out of it, but Blueblood assumed it was wedding day nerves.
Wait until he finds out just whom he married.
"Don't you dare disrupt the wedding," hissed Fleur in his ears.
"I'm not disrupting anything. I'm simply prepared."
Blueblood heard Princess Celestia starting the ceremony and turned his attention back to the altar.
Just as Princess Celestia was beginning the wedding vows however, the sound of two huge door opening echoed through the great hall.
Turning on their hooves, Blueblood and Fleur saw another Princess Cadance and Twilight Sparkle galloping up to the altar and Cadance screaming something about a changling.
Impostor Cadance started laughing and was enveloped in a wave of green fire magic. Her body morphed back into the form that only Blueblood and Cadance had seen before.
Screams enveloped the hall as the Bug-pony explained who she was and what she was doing.
She's going to take over Canterlot and leech all the love from ponies! thought Blueblood, I've got to do something.
Blueblood teleported out of the great hall trusting his aunt would take care of the changling queen.
He looked overhead and saw changlings throwing themselves at the force field, trying to weaken it.
Stormwing and the other guards were trying to calm the frightened ponies all around them. But they had all seen the black mass of strange creatures above them and had panicked.
"What's going on?" asked Stormwing as Blueblood arrived.
"No time to explain," said Blueblood, "You're wasting time with the ponies. They won't calm down. You have to get your troops to prepare for those creatures to invade. We're safe as long as my aunt remains strong."
Above them the shield shattered and in flew the changlings, descending like locusts upon fresh crops.
Blueblood fired blast after blast at the oncoming hoards, but couldn't protect everypony. He watched as the citizens of Canterlot were captured and the changling feasted on their love.
Blueblood caught out of the corner of his eye a changling advancing on Stormwing.
Blueblood knocked the changling out with a piece of furniture from the cafe he stood by.
Blueblood and Stormwing stood back to back, keeping an eye on the other's blind spot.
Changling after changling attacked, and was repelled.
Blueblood realized in an instant that all the changlings around them had abandoned the ponies around them and were advancing towards them.
Blueblood wondered frantically why they would leave already subdued prey for two, insignificant, unicorns.
His eyes widened as he understood.
"Stormwing!" he yelled, "I need you to attack me!"
"What?!" yelled Stormwing back, "Why in the hay would I do that? We're friends!"
"DO IT!! TRUST ME!!"
Stormwing, looking thoroughly confounded, fired a blast at Blueblood, knocking him into a nearby wall.
The changlings completely ignored Stormwing and descended upon Blueblood.
Stormwing had done way to good of a job and Blueblood figured he had a cracked rib. He lay still, willing the hoard upon him.
That's it. Come and get an easy meal. No fuss, no mess.
Blueblood thought of Fleur, of Stormwing, of his aunts, of how much he loved each and every one of them.
He could feel the changlings sucking it away from him and his heart grew colder and colder.
A face formed in his mind. His father's face. Then came the rest of his father, beckoning him onward with him. To follow him.
Blueblood backed away from the image in his mind, but it only grew sharper and clearer as the changlings drew from him the only thing that had separated him from his father.
Blueblood felt all the love leaving him and his father's personality coming closer, and closer. Fear, hate and anger filled him. But above all, a hopeless sense of misery, left by the hole the changlings were taking.
An image shot into his mind. Of Stormwing lying on a bed in a hospital, telling him why he wasn't afraid of death.
"I've tried misery. I decided I didn't like it."
Blueblood shook his head violently and cast his thoughts to the original Stormwing, his first ever friend, of Aneighdeus and Leather Loafer and Studious. And of Lily Blossom, the filly who had loved Blueblood till her dying day.
The changlings drew this love from him, trying to satisfy their voracious appetite, but Sombra appeared no more in Blueblood's mind. He had found a source of unrelenting, pure love that the changlings drew from. The love of a friend who never gave up on him, along with the love of his sister, who always assumed the best about him.
Then, before he knew it, Blueblood felt a wave of warm light wash over him.
The parasitical feel cast by the changlings was gone and he felt himself relax and slowly...
... pass out.
"Blueblood?" came Fleur's voice.
Blueblood's eyes fluttered open and focused on Fleur, Stormwing, Celestia, Cadence, Shining Armor and Luna, all standing around him in what looked to be a hospital room.
"I shall inform the doctor's as to thy state of wellness," said Luna, exiting.
"Oh Blueblood!" exclaimed Fleur, hugging him tightly, "The doctors were worried. They said that the changlings had drained too much out of you."
"I'm fine Fleur," he said, "What about Canterlot? Is everypony okay?"
"Some ponies were hurt by the changlings, but nopony's died yet," said Shining Armor.
"You were actually the closest call," said Stormwing, "You overachiever you."
"But what happened?" asked Blueblood, "All of a sudden the changling were just... gone? Was it the elements of harmony?"
"No," said Cadence, "Shining Armor was able to cast his protection spell again to drive out the changlings."
"Not without considerable help from you dear," said Shining Armor.
"What about you two?" asked Blueblood, nodding to the rings the two of them wore.
"We're hitched," said Shining Armor giddily, "We just got back from the honeymoon two days ago."
"Two days?" asked Blueblood, "How long have I been out?"
"Almost two weeks," said Celestia, "The doctors were afraid to use magic to wake you up from your coma because of the magical residue left by the changlings."
"Wow," said Blueblood, shaking his head and blinking hard, "Best sleep I ever got."
"I guess apologies are in order," said Shining Armor, "I really should have listened to you. It's just that the changling seemed so... like Cadence."
"Forget about it," said Blueblood, "Nopony believed me and I certainly don't expect an apology from everypony in Canterlot."
"I don't intend to forget," said Cadence, kissing Blueblood on the cheek, "It was very brave of you to stand up to everypony else when nopony believed you. Thank you."
"Don't mention it," said Blueblood.
His eyes fixed on Stormwing, who stood nervously shuffling his hooves, barely making eye contact with Blueblood.
Celestia, noticing it too, cleared her throat.
"Well everypony, I think Stormwing and Blueblood have some things to discuss. Let's leave them be."
With that, she ushered everypony else out of the room.
"Great timing, my auntie," said Blueblood, feeling a weird, reversed sense of deja vu, "What seems to be the problem?"
"Well," said Stormwing, looking at his hooves.
"Well?" answered Blueblood, chortling, "I'm afraid I'm gonna need a little bit more to go off of."
Stormwing stood silent for a few moments before continuing.
"Why'd you tell me to attack you? We were doing just find together? Why'd you tell me?"
Blueblood didn't answer for a few beats.
"I didn't want you getting hurt."
Stormwing looked up in surprise.
"So you thought the best way to proceed was to have me blast you into a coma?"
"Yes."
Stormwing looked quizzically at him.
"Didn't you see how the changlings were coming after us? There were other ponies around, but they came after us. They saw us looking out for each other and sensed friendship."
"So when I attacked you-"
"They assumed that you no longer cared for me and decided to go to me for the love they wanted."
"But we could've taken them."
"I didn't want you to have to. The only way to insure that the changlings would leave other ponies alone was to provide them with a strong source of love. I've lived for centuries. I've got centuries worth of love stored inside me. I was the best candidate for them."
"So, you sacrificed yourself for the safety of your subjects?"
"It wasn't exactly a sacrifice. I didn't die."
"But you could've."
"That wasn't the point. The point was that with me, they were going to leave everypony else alone."
Stormwing looked at him for several seconds.
"That's really noble of you."
"No less than any royal would do for their subjects."
"You're under crediting yourself. It was noble."
"Maybe so," said Blueblood, looking out the window of his room.
Beneath him was the city, still recuperating from it's attack. Windows were shattered and burn marks riddled the streets, telling the tales of the battles that had been fought. But amidst the scars, were ponies, safe and happy, going about their daily lives, trying to restore order and peace to their world.
Blueblood breathed a sigh of relief as he realized that Canterlot was safe.
It had been several months, and Blueblood was fully recuperated. Canterlot was slowly being rebuilt, and every morning Blueblood would look out his window to see the reconstruction of the city.
This particular morning, Blueblood awoke to feel a chill in the air. Shivering, his pulled on a robe and slippers before going to breakfast.
But Blueblood was alone for breakfast. Servants bustled all around him, not knowing what to do with lack of the princesses. After breakfast, driven by curiosity, Blueblood searched the castle, starting with the throne room.
He came upon the entrance of the throne room to find the purple protege of his aunt wobbling out with a terrified look on her face. Tears shimmered in her eyes.
"Good morning," said Blueblood, as the filly walked right past him. She mumbled something back and plodded away.
"Blueblood," came Celestia's voice, "Could you join us for a moment?"
Blueblood walked into the throne room to find his two aunts with solemn faces.
"This isn't a social gathering, is it?" Blueblood guessed.
"No," said Celestia, beckoning Blueblood in and shutting the door behind him, "It's not."
"Come on," whined Blueblood, "I just got over the last catastrophe!!"
He chuckled, but stopped when he noticed his aunts hadn't joined him.
"It's not really a catastrophe, right?"
Celestia and Luna exchanged looks and shuffled their hooves.
"He has returned," said Luna.
"Who-?"
The blood drained from Blueblood's face and a rock sank in his stomach.
"My... father?"
Celestia nodded.
The chill in the room grew until the three royals stood shivering.
"Well," said Blueblood, magically tying the sash around his robe tighter and flipping the collar up, "What are we going to do?"
"I have sent Twilight Sparkle to save the Crystal ponies before it's too late."
Blueblood shuffled his hooves and looked down.
"Is that disagreeable with you?" Luna asked.
"No," said Blueblood, "She's qualified. More so than me."
"Blueblood," said Celestia, "I know what I meant when I sent Twilight. I have a plan. Just trust me."
Blueblood nodded.
"Can I help?"
"You can help by staying as far away from trouble as possible," said Celestia, "I know Sombra, and he'll try to sway you back."
"I know better than that!" said Blueblood.
"Yes. But I don't want to make you have to betray your father. I think it's best to just keep you away."
"Ok."
Blueblood dragged out of the throne room and exiled himself to his room. He understood his aunt's mindset, but he wanted to help.
Blueblood pulled a blanket over him and shivered. It had been getting colder and colder the entire morning. His breath fogged in the air as he exhaled. He looked out his window, but found his view of Canterlot obstructed by a lattice-work of frost, creeping across the window. The frost dimmed the sunlight from outside, casting eerie, frosted shadows on the carpet.
Blueblood's stomach boiled with dread.
"Do I even get a hello?"
"Who's that?" Blueblood demanded, falling off the bed in surprise, "Who's there?"
"Who do you think?"
"Father?"
"Yesssss... I have returned. Jusssst as I ssssaid."
"Leave me now. I no longer support you."
"You would abandon you're father?"
"You're only my father in blood. I have-"
"Haha. You heard... You heard there will be much blood... Yesssss, much blood."
"No. Somepony will stop you."
"Haven't I proven there issss no truly sssstopping me? Evil, my son, is a side effect of good. One cannot exisssst without the other."
"Well, evil may exist, but good will triumph."
"My Blueblood, how ssssentimental you've become. You even believe the rantings of your aunt. Evil will alwayssss win because it will go to lengths good would never dream of. It wins because it dessssires victory more."
"You wouldn't know. You've never been good."
"You know me sssso well. I'll tell you thisss, Blueblood. Maybe I lose. Maybe I lose my life. But whatever is done to me, I'll make sure it is done ten thoussssand fold to the Crystal Ponies. If I sssssuffer, they ssssuffer."
"No."
Blueblood squeezed his eyes shut and tried to ignore the laugh of his father. The laugh chilled the room even more. When Blueblood peeked out from behind his eyelids, he found the room pitch black, except for the glowing presence of his father.
"Join me."
"I made that mistake once. Never again."
Sombra laughed and dissolved.
Blueblood collapsed onto the bed and exhaled. The room was slowly warming and lightening.
Something Sombra had said came back to Blueblood.
Leaping from bed, he bolted for the throne room.
Nopony was there, so Blueblood scribbled a quick note and galloped to the Canterlot train stations.
Aunts,
The crystal ponies aren't safe. If Sombra loses, they'll lose with him. I'm going to save them, or help in whatever way I can.
All the love,
Blueblood.
Celestia and Luna found the note some hours later.
"I shall set out to retrieve him," said Luna.
"No," said Celestia, looking out the window with a pensive look, "No, he needs to do this. We shouldn't have tried to keep him in the first place."
"But-"
"There comes a time when somepony must prove himself, not only for his friend's good, but for his own."
"Sister, if Sombra is able to take control of him again... A thousand years of reformation, down the drain."
"I know. But if we keep him here, is it not useless in another way?"
Luna had no answer for that.
Blueblood jumped off of the train and turned his attention to the conductor.
"What's the problem?"
"It's these crystals," said the pony, pointing ahead of him.
Blueblood's stomach churned as he laid eyes upon his father's trademark.
"They're blocking the way," continued the pony, "Can't get through. I'm gonna have to turn the train around and hightail it outta here. Storms coming on."
The clouds around them had turned a perilous shade of gray.
"Very well," said Blueblood, "I will continue on hoof."
"You sure?" asked the pony, "I wouldn't send my worst enemy into that storm. It ain't safe."
"No it isn't," said Blueblood turning away from the conductor and walking into the maelstrom, "But I didn't come all this way to be safe."
He tightened his scarf and plundered on, hearing the retreating whistles of the train moving farther and farther away. Blueblood felt ice particles sting his face and wind tore at his skin, freezing him to the bone.
But still he went on.
It grew darker. But not from lack of daytime. The clouds above, and all around him, blocked out the sun.
Blueblood trekked on, fearing what would happen. What if he were too late? What if the Crystal ponies were banished again? Or worse?
Blueblood could almost hear their screams.
But...
He could.
Starting softly, the screams intensified.
Blueblood darted in the direction of the screams. He ignored the biting wind and picayune light. He had to find the source of the voices.
Blueblood stumbled into the thousandth cloud bank he'd seen that day, but found something different on the other side.
Trapped in a cage of black crystals, several fillies and colts cowered and shivered. There eyes lit up as they saw him.
"Help us," one said, pitifully.
"What happened?" asked Blueblood, recognizing them as crystal ponies.
"We wandered away from safety," another said, shivering, "I thought I heard my sister calling for help. We ran off to save her and found ourselves beyond the barrier. Blue sky turned to dark clouds, and we were trapped. By, him."
The colt indicated the surroundings.
"He's all around us right now. We couldn't escape, even if we wanted to."
The two unicorns in the group's horns were covered by the same black crystals that encased them. The pegasi's wings were held to their sides by similar crystals.
A laugh echoed around them, bouncing off the clouds.
As the laughter bounced, the clouds solidified into rock. The spell spread like a wave through the clouds and Blueblood found himself trapped in a cave of darkness.
One of the fillies cried out.
Then another.
Then another.
"Hello?" called Blueblood, running to where he'd last seen the cage and squinting in the blackness through it.
The ponies lay on the ground, knocked unconscious by some invisible blow.
"I didn't have to do that," came a voice, "I could've killed them. But I wisssshhhhed to speak with you."
A blood red and lime green glow came from behind Blueblood, who spun on his hooves.
In front of him stood Sombra, in full strength just as he was a thousand years back.
Morbid fear clenched Blueblood as he realized what he'd have to do.
"I'll sssay this once more," said Blueblood's father, "Join me, or die."
"Please," said Blueblood, "Don't make me fight you. Let these ponies go and come home. Everything can be as it once was."
"I've gone too far."
"You are never too far gone. I'm proof of that."
Sombra laughed.
"You're hooves are whitewashed compared to mine. I've only one option left. And I must take it. Join me or you'll die."
"I can't let you harm anypony," said Blueblood, tears streaking down his face, "I can't."
"Then so be it."
Blueblood was blasted against the cage. The crystals shattered on impact and several sunk into Blueblood's flesh.
Blueblood picked himself off of the ground and rebounded at his father. A blast of light illuminated the darkness, blowing away the rest of the cage surrounding the ponies. Next, Blueblood fired at his father.
Sombra dodged and, still laughing, launched a barrage of crystals at Blueblood.
With a deft movement, Blueblood shattered the crystals.
Blueblood had never been good at magic, but he felt powered by a separate force. As if there were no end to his ability at this moment.
Bolt by bolt, blast by blast, they fought. Father and son. Tooth and claw.
Bolts rebounded off of the crystal walls and nearly missed the firer a couple of times.
The air grew hotter around them. What had been shakes of cold, became muscle contractions from the heat. The snow beneath their hooves had melted.
Finally, Blueblood realized the heat was too much. He felt the air pressure on his lungs, and knew the hot expanding air couldn't do any good for anypony.
Blueblood raced over to the unconscious crystal ponies and knelt in the center of them.
Drawing his last ounce of strength, he shot forth a protection spell.
Blueblood wasn't a moment too soon. The walls encompassing them shattered, raining deadly sharp fragments down.
Giving way to the strains of fatigue, Blueblood released the spell, bearing him and the ponies to the icy winds yet again. Slowly, there eyes fluttered open. They stood, shaking their heads. Their eyes caught on Blueblood, and they all launched into grateful thank-yous.
Blueblood didn't hear them though.
"Blueblood?"
Who is this?
The voice was feminine and completely different from his father's.
"Cadence. Celestia told me you were coming. Where are you?"
Outside the city, somewhere in Sombra's cloud. I found several other ponies as well.
"Oh dear. Blueblood, get out of there. NOW!"
Why?
"Spike has the Crystal heart and he's bringing it down to me. We're going to use it to cast out Sombra. But if you're caught in the cloud, you'll be killed as well."
Please keep me notified.
"Of course."
"Come on ponies, we've got to make it back to the city," said Blueblood, lifting himself up.
There was a murmur among the ponies, but they promptly silenced themselves and waited for Blueblood's instructions.
"Where is the city though?" asked a pony, "I can't see anything in this storm."
Blueblood realized she was right. They were surrounded by opaque fog and clouds.
"I-... I."
Cadence! We need your help? Can you hold off the heart? We're lost!
"No can do Blueblood. My protection spell is weakening and Sombra's on the brink of breaking through."
We need help.
"Trust your judgement Blueblood. I know you can do it."
Keep talking to me, I might start believing you.
"We don't have time. You have to do this Blueblood. Those ponies' lives are in your hooves."
Thanks for reminding me.
"I know you can do this. Come to me-..."
Cadence?
No answer.
Blueblood had to do this. These ponies were depending on him.
Blueblood concentrated on Cadence's mind. He could sense her somewhere far off. But where?
Suddenly, Blueblood felt all the other ponies in the Crystal empire. The directional sense was stronger.
"That way," he said, pointing left, "Follow me."
He ran into the clouds, and, after a beat, the ponies followed him.
As he ran, Blueblood felt the sense growing stronger and stronger. They were going in the right direction.
"Hurry Blueblood."
The clink of something hard under his hooves. Blueblood looked up. They'd outrun the cloud and were running through the streets of the Crystal Empire.
Do it.
Ahead of him, Blueblood saw the heart spinning round. A pulse of bright energy erupted from it. As it washed over Blueblood, he felt calm and safe.
It collided with Sombra. Blueblood could hear his father's screams as the energy tore him to shreds.
Blueblood heard the ponies up ahead cheering for Princess Cadence and smiled. The crystal empire was safe.
"You're a hero," said the pony beside him.
Blueblood noticed her scintillating coat and recognized it in all the other ponies as well.
"I'm no hero," he said, looking down and seeing his own legs sparkling, "I just did what needed to be done."
"Isn't that what a hero does?" asked the filly, "Your name may not go down in history. But I'll never forget what you did. You saved our lives. Thank you."
The other ponies concurred and bowed to Blueblood in respect.
Blueblood blushed.
"Blueblood," said Cadence, escaping the throng of ponies and flying over, "I'm so proud of you."
"Well if you hadn't helped me, we wouldn't be here."
"That's very modest of you Blueblood," said Cadence, smiling, "I think you might make a good leader one day."
"No," said Blueblood, "I've messed up too many times to be put in charge of anything."
"You displayed the leadership, intelligence and humility today that I think so characterizes a leader," said Cadence, "You saved these ponies lives. And I think you agree with me even if you don't admit it."
She nodded to Blueblood's rump. Blueblood looked and found his cutie mark glowing.
A smile spread across Blueblood's face.
"So that's what it meant all these years."
"Three cheers for Blueblood," said Cadence.
The ponies around Blueblood echoed Cadence.
Far away in Canterlot, Celestia smiled.
"What's the problem sister?" asked Luna.
"Nothing," said Celestia, "I have a feeling everything's going to be just fine."
***
"What an interesting story,"said Twilight.
Rainbow Dash still had a look of utter shock from Blueblood's escapades on her face. Fluttershy had happy tears streaming down her muzzle, Pinkie was smiling ear to ear and Applejack had a reflective look on her face.
Rarity was the quietest of all. Her makeup had all but been cried off ages ago. Her eyes were still red and puffy.
"I'm so sorry," she said, "Can you ever forgive me?"
"You're already forgiven," said Blueblood, smiling.
"I guess it's just like that Equestrian proverb says," waxed Twilight, "Don't judge a pony until you've walked a mile in their hooves."
"Or heard their life story?" suggested Blueblood.
"Ya know?" said Applejack, "I kinda think yer story should be shared. I know lots of ponies who could learn from the lessons you've learned."
"Yah," concurred Twilight, "Somepony should write a book about you."
"Will a fanfic suffice?" suggested Pinkie, smiling.
"As a matter of fact," said Rarity, a look coming over her, "I know just who we should start with. Tell me, is it too late to tell that story again?"
Celestia laughed.
"The Grand Galloping Gala goes all night."
"What do you say?" asked Rarity.
"Alright," said Blueblood.
The group exited the throne room.
"Ahem," said Celestia, drawing everypony's attention in the banquet hall to her, "Fillies and gentlecolts, my nephew, Blueblood has a story I think would do you all some good to hear."
The ponies listened with rapt attention.
Blueblood shuffled his hooves uneasily and began.
"I wouldn't consider my story that interesting, but I have learned a lot over the years. About love, true friendship, forgiveness, and second chances. It all begins a thousand or so years ago, with a prince and his son..."
The final curse of the author's notes: Phew! Done! I don't know why the last chapter is always the hardest! I thank you for putting up with lazy authors, hectic schedules, writer's block and many other hiccups along the way. Hopefully, you've enjoyed this novel. Thanks goes out to all the helpful criticism I've received, and also to my brother, No One, for his help.
