It’s intimidating and beautiful at the same time, the castle. I could see the tops of the spires from my backyard, but never really thought much of them, figuring they were merely the tip of skyscrapers or something. Those were a familiar sight from my previous life where I would spend any time without a book staring out the window of my room instead.
Perhaps that's why I ignored them until now; they were reminders of a life I’d rather not remember. Seeing it in its entirety now, however, with the knowledge that I'll be spending the day there with actual royalty has filled me with excitement. Some good, and some bad.
The stone faced guards at the entrance snapping very dangerous looking spears down to bar our path did not help calm my nerves. “Halt, who goes there!?” they call in unison, staring intently at my father as he steps forward, clearing his throat.
“Gentlestallions, it’s always good to see the royal guard so diligent,” he says, his attempts at small talk ignored. With a small sigh, he continues, “My family and I have come to visit with my aunt, Princess Celestia. I’m sure she’s left a message with you about our coming. Blueblood?”
Directing a hoof to himself, the armored stallions look him up and down, then glance our way before turning to each other and nodding. “Yes, she informed us you would be coming today. She’s waiting for you in her study if you would like for one of us to escort you.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Dad replies easily. “It’s been a while, but I still remember my way around. Thank you, though.”
Nodding to him, the guards allow us passage. Never having seen such big stallions before, I smile nervously at them as we pass, but little Blueblood salutes. The fact that one of them salutes back makes my being intimidated by them kind of ridiculous.
That’s forgotten as I soon find myself walking through hallways so large that they seem more like roads. I know Princess Celestia is large, but this place looks like it would be better suited for giants than ponies. Speaking of ponies, there are many; mares dressed in maid outfits or stallions in fine penny coats.
I haven’t seen this many new ponies since my birthday, though they aren’t family, and I unconsciously move further under my mother’s legs. My brother has no such problem as he runs to and fro, diving under hoof and nearly causing some of the castle staff to trip as he gazes up at the expensive paintings hung up on the walls.
It’s more than a few times Dad has to call the little colt back to his side and scold him under his breath, but most of the ponies Dad apologizes to only laugh it off, commenting how cute we twins are. Both my mother and I beam at the praise and I eventually end up out from under my mother.
After a wrong turn or two that my father adamantly denies happened, we arrive at a more simple, relatively normal sized door. I look around, expecting some unicorn to be putting on a magic show or something as I feel a pressure against my horn, but there is nobody. Also, has it gotten hotter in here? Huh, must be my imagination.
With three quick knocks on the door by Dad, a familiar voice calls for us to come in and we enter into what makes me think of a miniature library. The wall to the left consists entirely of a bookcase, while the right is nearly the same, save for the middle which sports an unlit fireplace. The far wall is mostly one large window with a desk set in front of it.
“Aunty!” both Bluebloods shout, the smaller one charging around the desk to jump up at its occupant. “It’s so nice to see you again! It’s been, what, eight months?”
Surprised, Celestia still smiles brightly at the little pony trying to get into her lap and reaches down. “Nephew, Ornate, it’s so good to see you!” she says, looking from us to a clock above the door. “It’s already past noon? I didn’t even realize or else I would have met you at the entrance.”
“It’s fine, Princess, I’m sure you were busy with your work,” Mom says, looking at the large pile of paper on the desk. “It looks like there’s a lot of it.”
Celestia sighs tiredly. “Don’t I know it,” she says, rubbing a temple with one hoof while the other cradles her nephew. “Pure, are you alright?”
“Uh, sorta,” I answer, rubbing my own temple in hopes of easing the pressure building there. It also feels as if I’m sitting in front of a fire right now, which is strange since I can clearly see that the fireplace is empty. If that weren’t distracting enough, I also couldn’t grasp exactly what I was seeing on the princess’ head. “What’s um, what’s with your mane?”
Reaching up to touch the flowing locks in confusion, her eyes and the eyes of my parents suddenly grew wide. “My magic!” Squeezing her eyes shut, the princess’ regal features screw up in concentration and her hair slowly starts to lose its gravity defying properties. Eventually, it is nearly all down, but it retains the multiple colors instead of becoming the solid pink I first saw her with.
While she was doing this, Mom scooped me up and started bombarding me with questions like if I was in pain or wanted to go home. “No, I’m fine, Mommy, my head is starting to feel normal now.” I look again to the princess. “But what was that? Why isn’t your mane pink anymore?”
“I’m sorry, little one, but how you saw it before is how my mane is most of the time,” Celestia began to explain, letting the colt in her lap swat at the stray strands that were still attempting to float up. “Usually, I allow magic to pass through my mane, giving it a more… flowing appearance. It is a habit that initially came about as a way to burn up excess magic when I was younger and going through a particularly strong magical growth spurt. After a while however, it just became second nature.
“I am truly sorry if it caused you any discomfort,” she finishes, voice thick with regret. “I should have been paying closer attention to the time so as to be prepared for your arrival.”
“It’s okay, Aunty, it didn’t hurt, it just felt kinda like somepony was pushing down on my horn. And hot. It was weird.” As Mom places me gently back on the floor, I walk over and she reaches down to greet me. Nuzzling up under her hoof, I smile at her. “Don’t be sad.”
Really, remembering back on my brother’s magical surges, I can only imagine how destructive those of an alicorn princess could be. Any action taken to belay that sort of havoc was okay in my book.
With a gentle smile, the alicorn picks me up and places me next to my brother. “If it’s not hurting Pure, than I say keep it this way,” Little Blueblood declared, shifting a hoof through the multi-colored mane. “It’s really pretty.”
“Thank you, little one,” Celestia responds, “though my magic is not fully reined in as it was at your birthday party. It’s not bothering you at all, is it, Pureblood.”
Taking a moment, I close my eyes to focus, and I determine that the pressure is much less noticeable now. It was like somepony was levitating a mildly heavy object, but it far from hurt, and that’s what I tell her.
“She’s getting better every day,” Dad says cheerfully. “I’m honestly looking forward to her next appointment with the doctor at this point. I’m sure he’ll be impressed.”
“Speak for yourself,” Mom mumbles before speaking louder. “Pure, are you still okay to spend the day here? We can go home if you want.”
“I’m fine, Mom,” I answer exasperatedly. Dad is right, I really have gotten much better, but she still wants to treat me like an invalid. “I want to stay and play with Aunty Celestia.”
“The girl is right dear,” Dad says, backing me up. “There’s no safer place than here in the castle. Why, it even has its own medical wing and doctors if anything happens.” When Mom bites her lip, he quickly adds, “Not that it will be needed. Aunty will take great care of them.”
“Indeed I will. After seven months, I must admit that I have been looking forward to this day,” Celestia says, giving my mom a serious look. “You have my word, Ornate Garden, not a single hair on the heads of these foals shall be hurt. Please, go enjoy yourselves.”
“Yes, and besides, it would be rude to cancel on Ritzy Britches, he was so glad to hear we would be attending his garden party this year.”
Gaze going from Dad to us, Mom finally gives in with a sigh. “Fine, I’m sorry for being such a mother hen, I just worry too much sometimes. We can go.” Eyes suddenly cutting to her colt, she added sternly, “And I want you to be on your best behavior, young stallion. No harassing the castle staff.”
Blueblood for his part only averted his eyes and attempted to whistle, blowing a fine mist of spittle in my direction, much to my chagrin. Eventually, our parents took their leave, and the three of us sat in silence for a moment.
“So… should we visit the kitchen first? Fresh scones should be coming out of the oven about now, and I’m feeling a bit peckish.”
“What are scones?” Blueblood asks.
“Little cakes meant to be eaten with tea,” she answers, licking her lips. “The castle's pastry chef uses a particularly sweet recipe.”
Both my brother and I look up at the alicorn with wonder. Is she really suggesting sweets… for lunch? At most, we are each allowed a single cookie, and only after something healthy, hardy, and usually unappetizing. Really, not even cutting the crust off can make a tomato, parsnip, and lettuce sandwich appealing.
Truly, Equestria is ruled by a goddess. Over our enthusiastic answers of absolutely yes, Celestia laughs. “Okay, okay, to the kitchen first to pick up food, then I think we’ll go to the gardens to eat. That is, if you can wait that long?”
For a lunch of cake, I’d wait an eternity… Well, maybe, more like a fifteen minutes, but still, that’s probably how long it will take to get to the garden what with how big this castle is, so it’s fine. Plus, we’re getting a piggyback ride, so wins all around.
As the small alicorn made her way through the halls, she tried her best to keep her head held high, but it was difficult when doing so would mean potentially making eye contact with somepony. This was even harder to do when she was expected to stand tall while conversing with others, especially if it was with one of the very intimidating guards. But alas, as Princess Celestia said, if there was ever a time the young filly couldn’t find her, the guards would always be able to point her in the right direction.
It was actually kind of creepy how they always knew where their princess was, even if she was in one of the castle's many bathrooms. She wondered briefly if it was some sort of job requirement for applicants to have prior stalking experience or something. “Oh! S-sorry,” the pink filly squeaked as she stepped out of the path of a maid pushing a laundry cart.
The maid giving her a quick, nearly frantic apology didn’t sit right with her. She was the one with her head in the clouds; the mare had done nothing wrong. “Just another thing to get used to, I guess,” the filly mumbled. Just over two years now, and it still felt strange to be treated like royalty, let alone to be considered as such. She’d be perfectly happy going home to her adopted family and forgetting all this, but alas, the horn on her head was a pretty big reminder, not just for her, but for everypony she met.
With a sigh, she took in her surroundings, trying to match them with her crude mental map of the castle. It wouldn’t do to get lost. She’d have to ask for directions, which meant not only having to talk, but also meant distracting a pony from their work. It was all very mortifying, especially after how many times her teachers told her how important it was for one in her position to never appear uncertain. The ponies of Equestria needed to know their princesses were always in control.
Thankfully, she determined her location after recognizing one of the paintings on the wall and was on her way again. The princess was probably having tea in the gardens, and Cadance could not deny that the idea of joining her was appealing. Through all the craziness that was her life over the past two years, Princess Celestia was the one true bright spot. Even though she’d only known the mare for a short time, she already considered her family, and vice versa.
“Aunt Celestia?” she called as she entered the gardens. “Are you out here?”
Giggles could be heard as her aunt called out, “Yes, we’re having tea by the lavender and hydrangeas. Please, come join us.”
That was strange, Cadance wondered who the princess would be drinking tea with out here. The garden was reserved for informal occasions such as when she took a break by herself or when she wanted to spend time with Cadance outside of princess lessons. Any other time, such as meeting with a noble outside of day court, and she’d have her tea inside.
It was sad to say, but while Princess Celestia was friendly with just about everypony, she was friends with very few. Cadance picked up her pace, perhaps she’d find her Aunt with a secret coltfriend. Wouldn’t that make for an exciting discovery? Rounding a cypress tree, the filly princess was surprised to see that, while her Aunt was with a colt, there was a filly as well, and they were both much younger than her.
“Aunt Celestia, whose foals are those?” Cadance found herself asking. While a coltfriend would have been a surprise, already starting a secret family with him would be too crazy even for her. The white coat shared between the three was not helping disprove the hypothesis.
“This one here-” she gestures to the colt lacing flowers through her limp mane, “is Blueblood the 17th, and the one over there, half hidden in the flowers acting like a scone-hoarding dragon, is Pureblood. They are my nephew and niece.”
“Oh,” Cadance replied, coughing into her hoof to hide the blush on her cheeks. That made more sense. “I didn’t know you had any other nieces or nephews besides me.”
“You're Aunty Celestia’s niece too?” the filly, Pureblood, asked, before suddenly looking self-conscious and wiping crumbs from her lips. “Are you related to Daddy then?”
“Not quite,” Cadance answered, a soft smile on her lips as she looked at the little cutie. “Princess Celestia adopted me after, well, I got this to go with these.” The pink pony points to her horn and flares her wings, getting a slight gasp from both foals.
“You’re an alicorn too?” Pure asked. “Wait, you got a horn? You mean you weren’t born with it?”
“Er, no,” Cadance began, scratching the side of her head while she tried to think of how to explain the events leading up to her ascension. It was tough when she didn’t even understand it completely herself. “See, there was this witch named Prismia who was using this magic necklace and stealing love, making everypony mean and hateful until she tried it on me and I guess I sorta overloaded the necklace with my love for my friends and family, then she became good and I found myself in some bluish-white, misty place and Celestia was there, I think there was a song, but maybe that was just the adrenaline, but after that, I had a horn and my cutie mark and I was a princess… Yeah, it was a crazy day.”
While Pureblood had an eyebrow raised incredulously, Blueblood stared slack jawed. “You can become an alicorn princess?” he asked slowly, then suddenly jumping to his hooves. “That’s so cool! Aunty Celestia, can I be an alicorn princess-er- prince!? Pretty please!”
Leaning back from the pleading eyes suddenly mere inches from her own, Celestia said, “I’m sorry, Blueblood, but alicornhood is not something I am capable of bestowing upon others, it is something that must be earned.” When he began to deflate, she added, “But as for princehood, that is something you already have if you so wish. For the Platinum line, your family, the first born of the main house is given the honorary title of prince or princess.”
“Really?”
“Yes, it is a tradition that has carried on for nearly a thousand years ever since your ancestor, the first Blueblood, stepped forward to aid the kingdom in its darkest hour. As a reward for his services to his kingdom and as personal thanks from myself, he was given a royal title.”
“Wow, you never told me about that, Aunt Celestia, even after all of our history lessons together,” Cadance said. “What was Equestria’s darkest hour?”
Celestia’s expression became pained. “A very important pony was lost to us…” was all she said on the subject before giving her head a slight shake. “Anyway, as I was saying, you are already a prince, my little pony, just as your father technically is. Though, he never wished to take an active role in governing of the kingdom.”
Blueblood was quiet a moment before bursting into a wide grin and trotting in a tight circle. “I’m a prince, I’m a prince!” he cheered before rearing up to put his front hooves on Celestia’s chest. “Don’t worry, Aunty, I’m gonna be the best prince ever and help you lots so you can play with us more. Pureblood will help to since she’s really smart. I bet with both of us, you won’t even have to lift a hoof, and before you know it, we’ll both be alicorns for doing so good!”
“Actually,” Pure cut in, “I don’t think I’m a princess if only the oldest-”
“Of course you are,” Blueblood declared with a dismissive hoof wave. “I wanna start now! Look, there’s a weed! The gardener must not be doing his job right. We better call him in for a review.”
As the colt went on about how the orange flowers should be over by the purple ones, his sister began to wiggle, her hind legs rubbing together.
“Is something wrong, Pureblood?” Cadance asked, tilting her head.
“Um, I kinda have to use the little filly's room,” she mumbled, a small blush coming to her cheeks. “I think I drank too much tea.”
“Not surprising with how many scones you’ve eaten,” Celestia mused. “You must have had at least three cups now to wash them all down. Don’t worry, I’ll take you.”
“I’ll do it,” Cadance said as the larger alicorn began to rise. “I kind of have to go too, so it’ll be feeding two birds with one scone.”
“Oh, well then thank you, Cadance.” Celestia sat back down, her nephew quickly settling down between her forelegs and continuing to go over all the changes he would make. “Blueblood and I will remain here and hash out a new tax code.”
“Yes, that sounds very important,” Blueblood said with a sage nod. “Taxi’s should have some blue on them to go with the yellow. Blue and yellow are the best colors.”
Everypony shared a laugh at that. “Okay, Prince Blueblood,” Pureblood said with a giggle. “Do you think you can watch my scones while I’m gone? I don’t care if the birds are hungry, they can go find some bread crumbs.”
The colt gave a salute, and Cadance began leading Pureblood back through the halls. “So… the two of you are the princess' niece and nephew, huh? I didn’t realize she had any siblings,” the older filly said, the two speed walking before the younger had an accident in the hall.
“Hmm, I’m not really sure how it works,” Pure answered distractedly. “I asked dad about it and he said we’re actually her super great niece and nephew. Did you know Princess Celestia is like thousands of years old?”
“Yeah,” Cadance answered, her own gaze going distant. “I’ve heard it’s because she’s an alicorn, but I’ve never actually asked… I’m afraid of what her answer will be.”
“Oh… um, you said you beat a witch, right? That must have been scary. And you’re not even a grownup.”
“It was scary,” Cadance answered truthfully. “But she was hurting my village, my friends and family, and she was going to hurt even more ponies, so I just… acted. It was crazy, I was only six years old and this was a grown mare using dark magic, but I did it anyways because everypony else was already under her spell. I was the only one left unaffected, and I knew I at least had to try. Who would have thought a stupid filly could save the day, huh?”
“You weren’t stupid,” Pureblood said, looking up at the bigger filly with awe. "That’s the bravest thing I’ve ever heard, and you won too. You’re like a super hero.”
“Nah, I was just lucky,” Cadance replied, blushing.
“Well, I know I never could have done that. I probably would have run away.”
“I wouldn’t be so certain. I probably would have run away too, I was scared enough, but there were ponies precious to me that I couldn’t let down. I’m sure you’d have done the same thing if your brother or parents were in trouble.”
“Maybe… I hope that never happens though.”
“Me neither,” Cadance said, looking up from the little filly. “Hey… do you happen to know why Celestia’s mane was all, you know, limp? I’ve only ever seen it like that when she first gets up in the morning.”
“That was, um that was because of me. I got this condition where magic makes me feel funny when I’m around it. A lot can even hurt, so Aunty Celestia is trying to keep her magic away from me.” The filly looked to the floor, ears dropping a little bit. “I wish I didn’t have to bother her like that, or anypony else, but I can’t do anything other than wait and hope I get better.”
“I’m sure it doesn’t bother her at all, Pureblood,” Cadance reassured. “Why, it would bother her more to know she was hurting you.”
Pureblood didn’t seem convinced and the two continued walking. Why did the castle have to be this big anyway? The governing of Equestria could probably be done from a building a third the size.
“You know, it’s weird, but your magic feels kinda different too now that I’m walking close to you,” Pureblood suddenly said. “When I’m around Aunty, even when she’s not using her magic, it feels like I’m standing outside on a sunny day, but not. Like it’s warm all over, but I don’t sweat. With you, I feel warm, but from the inside, like I just drank three cups of hot chocolate. I even get kinda fidgety like from eating too much sugar.”
“Really?” Cadance asked. That sounded strange, was it only because she and Celestia were alicorns? “Does the magic of other ponies feel different?”
“Mmm, sorta. I can’t feel other ponies magic except for when they’re actually doing stuff with it, but I can tell my brother’s magic from other ponies, and it’s the same way with my parents. I can’t really describe it like I do with yours and Celestia’s though, with my family, it’s just familiar, you know?”
“Not really,” Cadance replied, “but I can understand the sentiment. You recognize magic like the rest of us recognize voices and stuff. Oh, look, the bathroom.”
“About time!” Pureblood exclaimed, rushing up to the door and shouldering it open with a grunt. “I was starting to think I’d burst before we made it.”
“Maybe you should tell your brother and Aunt Celestia to add renovations to the list. You can never have too many bathrooms,” Cadance said jokingly, entering behind the foal, seeing Pureblood already shutting a door to one of the stalls. “Um, do you need any help in there?”
“No! I got it!” Pure yelled back, a trickling sound soon following.
Phew, good, Cadance may have been pretty good with foals, but holding the hoof of a filly she just had a surprisingly mature conversation with while she tinkled would have been weird. Pureblood definitely didn’t act like a foal, that was for sure.
Stepping into a stall herself, Cadance went about her business quickly so as not to keep her temporary ward waiting. She did have a head start, after all.
Just like with Celestia, I find it hard to believe Cadance is actually supposed to be a princess. I suppose it could be that she’s so young, but she just acts so… normal. Walking back to the gardens, the conversation has been far less heavy and I’m learning much of my new, sort-of relative. She’s kind, considerate, and funny to boot, nothing like what I would expect from a haughty royal. Maybe that’s just a king and queen thing and that’s why there are only princesses in Equestria.
Entering the gardens, I file that question away for later, but for now, I’m more curious about what’s going on between Celestia and my brother. Blueblood is sullen, sitting between Aunt Celestia’s forelegs with his ears down as he speaks and she listens. “We’re back!” Cadance called as we approached, causing my brother to jolt a little. “Pureblood and I agree that you need to get more bathrooms put in this place, Aunt Celestia. I do not like having to walk a mile whenever I need to use the little filly’s room.”
“What do you mean? The bathroom in the west wing is only a minute away.”
Cadance stops in her tracks for a few seconds before facehoofing. “… Forgot about that one.”
Celestia chuckles. “Perhaps a happy medium would be to place maps up around the castle instead of renovating?”
As the princesses talk, I move up to Blueblood. “Hey, what’s up? Why do you look sad?”
“What? I’m not sad,” Blueblood says, looking away and crossing his forelegs. “That was my serious face since ruling a kingdom is serious business. We agreed that taxis should be blue, yellow, and have flames painted on the sides so they’ll go faster. Think of all the time ponies will save!”
I giggle. “Wow, you’re really helping the citizens of Equestria out, Bluey. Princess Celestia may want to be careful or she might lose the title of best princess.”
“That’s best prince, and yes, she might,” Blueblood answered with a firm nod. “But that’s why we’re gonna share all the credit for our bestest ideas. If I do too good, ponies will start demanding I become emperor and Aunty Celestia will be banished. It would be really hard for us to play together if she wasn’t allowed in Equestria anymore.”
I burst out into laughter at this as Blueblood simply stares befuddled. Maybe Grandpa Shield should stop telling his grandson so many historical war stories, especially when just about half of them are about coups in the Gryphon Kingdom.
When Blueblood demands to know what’s so funny, I tell him it’s nothing. “Girls are crazy,” he grumbles, getting another round of laughter from me.