The next several days passed in a regular routine for Ponyville. The sun came up and went down. Fillies and colts went to school and came home. Bullies bullied, and got in trouble when caught. Cheerilee remained on vacation, leaving Sebastian to fill in for her and extending Scootaloo's time in Ponyville. Twilight kept Celestia's explanation to herself as she and her friends went on various excursions of varying degrees of importance to Equestria's safety.
And then a visitor arrived in Ponyville from Canterlot, having taken the entire first-class car for himself and his guards. As he stepped out of the car with his guards around him, few could mistake his appearance. Pure white coat, flowing blonde mane and tail, shining white teeth in his smile, crystal blue eyes shimmering as he took in his surroundings, long spiraling horn, and the silver horseshoes and blue doublet he wore would allow anyone to instantly recognize Equestria's infamous Prince.
It was only when he reared up on his hind legs so he could reach to brace his front hooves on the ticket counter to give the ticket taker a wide smile, a friendly greeting, and a generous tip that most observers would realize this was the other Prince, who was far more enjoyable to be around...in short bursts.
This was Prince Bluebottle, younger brother to Prince Blueblood and frequently assumed to be a younger clone of the elder prince by anyone who didn't know the pair. However, one thing Bluebottle had - in excess, some would say - that his elder brother lacked was sincerity. This made him seem absolutely adorable, right up until he talked too long.
"My, what a quaint village!" he declared as he looked around, his tone oddly incongruous with his words given his station. When most nobles said 'quaint village', they said with the tone most would associate with describing something the cat dragged in. When ponies like Trenderhoof said it, the tone sounded more like 'fascinating specimen'. But when Bluebottle said it, his tone was that one would more commonly associate with 'adorable puppy'. Plainly, he was simply overjoyed to be here and see everything. He then promptly made his way into town, his guards hot on his heels.
Given the nature of the mind of social climbers, it was rather unsurprising that the Prince's presence in Ponyville did not go unnoticed, and that two certain fillies immediately homed in on him, one from long training by her mother and the other through association. After all, Diamond Tiara had been briefed thoroughly about Equestria's second Prince, the one in her age group, and exactly how to act in the unlikely instance that she encountered him. "Your Highness," Diamond Tiara greeted warmly as she curtsied, Silver Spoon mimicking her. "Welcome to Ponyville. You honor our humble home with your visit."
"Oh, I love coming to villages like this!" he declared happily, taking his eyes off his surroundings briefly to look the pair over. "There's always so many fascinating things to see that I'd never encounter up in Canterlot, and my guards tell me you find the prettiest fillies in these small communities!"
Bluebottle's nearest guard awkwardly cleared his throat, once again reminded of just how open and honest the young Prince tended to be...and knowing his fellows would never let him hear the end of feeding his charge that particular nugget of 'wisdom'.
Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon both blushed prettily. "Oh, you have such a silver tongue, Highness," Silver Spoon purred.
"I've been told," Bluebottle confirmed. "So, any idea where I might find them?" He glanced around curiously.
"Find...what?" Silver Spoon asked in confusion, finding her tongue a bit before her friend.
"The pretty fillies, of course!" Bluebottle explained. "If I wanted to talk to over-primped spoiled brats, I'd have stayed in Canterlot and socialized with the 'young elite'." In this case, the tone he used to say 'young elite' was the tone most nobles would use when discussing a 'quaint village'. "So where are the pretty fillies at?"
Diamond Tiara looked like she was about to explode, and only the fact that she was still talking to a Prince - and the thought of what her mother would say about it the moment she got her alone - kept her from actually doing so. Silver Spoon merely looked shocked and appalled. Diamond was about to turn and march off when Bluebottle suddenly gasped. "Now there's some pretty fillies!" With that, he turned and charged off.
The pair of bullies - slowly being reformed - turned to see what fillies had caught Bluebottle's eyes...only to see him throw himself in an enthusiastic hug at Scootaloo. Their jaws dropped to the ground, much to the amusement of the guards who marched past them.
Scootaloo let out a startled "Gnyak!" as a familiar pair of white forelegs wrapped enthusiastically around her neck. "Sunrise!" an equally familiar voice declared enthusiastically, though thankfully quiet enough that only herself, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle heard. "I missed you so!"
Scootaloo finally managed to get words out as she wriggled out of the enthusiastic embrace. "Bluebottle! What are you doing here?"
Bluebottle adopted a wounded expression. "Sunrise...I've asked you to call me BB!"
"And we're in Ponyville!" Scootaloo snapped back. "Here I'm Scootaloo, not Sunrise!"
Bluebottle's ears fell flat against his skull. "I'm sorry, Su-Scootaloo!" he whimpered. "But I've just been devastated with worry about you! First you miss three outings with no explanation, then I hear rumors that your home was torched only to find it's still there by the time I sneak out to see it, but no one was there to let me in! Then I hear you've inherited, but no one's seen you and none of the old help from the mansion has been seen, and then there's rumors of a new butler uncomfortably close to you- oh, my love, I was just so distraught! I had to see you!"
Scootaloo groaned, putting her face in her forehooves.
"Are you alright, my Sunrise?" Bluebottle asked worriedly.
With a sudden snarl, Scootaloo delivered a hard right cross to Bluebottle's cheek. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle gasped...but Bluebottle only grinned widely before returning the blow just as hard, resulting in the pair rolling across the dirt as they tussled, pulling on each others' manes and punching in the ribs as they tried to pin the other.
"Ahem," Sebastian declared, staring down at them in teacherly disapproval. As soon as the tussle stopped, he continued. "Such behavior is most unseemly this close to the school grounds."
"Yes, Sebastian," Scootaloo growled irritably.
As Sebastian left, Sweetie Belle turned from Scootaloo to Bluebottle. "Uh...friend of yours, Scoot?" she asked carefully.
Bluebottle grinned widely as he caught sight of Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. "Wow, Scoot! You have really pretty friends!"
Scootaloo groaned in frustration. "I'll introduce him back at the clubhouse. If I did it here, the whole school would hear your reactions."
"A clubhouse?" Bluebottle declared eagerly. "I've never been in a clubhouse before! Do you have a password? Do I need to know the password? Is there a secret hoofshake-"
Scootaloo promptly plugged Bluebottle's mouth with her hoof. "Let's hurry..."
It didn't take long for the group of four to reach the clubhouse. Once safely inside, Scootaloo gestured to Bluebottle. "Girls, this is Prince Bluebottle of the House of Blue, younger brother to Prince Blueblood..." She sighed softly, pretty certain she knew what was going to happen with the next declaration. "...my fiance."
Apple Bloom's jaw dropped. Sweetie Belle reacted accordingly.