Splendid groaned as she fell muzzle-first onto the cold castle floor, sneezing at the little specks of dust floating around her. Ugh, she thought, picking herself up off the ground, they really need to get a mattress.
“It’s so good to see you all again,” Twilight smiled warmly as she held a hoof out for Splendid, “I am glad you brought Sunny, Splendid. Pinkie was so excited to bake for her again. I swear that mare has claimed her as Sugar Lace’s sister.”
“Miss Pinkie’s going to bake again!” Sunny said excitedly as she jumped to her hooves, bouncing lightly at the thought of all the different baked goods.
Splendid rolled her eyes at her bouncing girl- no... Marefriend, and nudged Sunny with her muzzle to look at her. “You are a true ball of sunshine, Sunny, and you are the most adorable little dork.”
“Hey, I’m not a dork! I prefer to be called delightfully enthusiastic,” Sunny stuck her tongue out at Splendid before a chuckle brought both their eyes over to Splendid’s uncle Blueblood.
“You two are both adorable dorks, If I had to say,” His smile widened as he trotted over to them and mussed up their manes slightly, his usual welcome gesture after their trip through the portal.
“So, Uncle, what was it you needed me for? My mothers weren't able to tell me anything besides the fact that you wanted to see me.” Splendid asked with her own bright smile, wrapping her hooves around his neck and hugging him.
“Once we get to the dining hall, I will explain everything,” he replied, nodding his head towards the door out of the library.
Splendid nodded in return, unsure of what her uncle meant, but was more than willing to hear him out. She smiled back at her mothers, then softened her eyes. She giggled at Sunny, who had wide eyes and a bit of drool down her cheek, most likely from the thought of aunt Pinkie’s baked goods.
“Do you want to go say Hi to aunt rarity and aunt Pinkie while I’m talking to my uncle, love?”
Sunny shook her head, smiling brightly back at her. “As much as I want to, I also want to make sure everything is ok with you, so I'd prefer to stay with you, if that’s fine.”
Splendid smiled warmly and nuzzled into Sunny’s neck affectionately, earning a response in the form of a giggle coming from in front of them.
“Aunt Cadence? I didn’t know you would be here!” Splendid gawked her eyes, blinking as she stopped short.
She then beamed brightly, her eyes dancing with delight as she trotted faster toward the pink alicorn and hugged her tightly.
“Hello there, Splendid. How have you and Sunny been?” Cadence asked as she always did, with a smile and a bright gleam in her eye.
“We’re good, I guess. Um… not to seem rude, but what's the occasion? Aren't you and Shining busy with running the crystal empire?” Splendid looked at Cadence, cocking her head as she asked.
“I’m bound by oath, until your uncle has explained it to you, not to say a word,” Cadence answered, her smile softening.
Nodding, Splendid pouted before her smile resurfaced and she trotted forward with her aunt the rest of the way to the dining hall, their silence turning into most idle chatter about life and her relationship with Sunny. Once they joined the rest of the group, Splendid went to sit beside her uncle with Sunny on her other side, and placed her hoof over her marefriend’s.
“I am glad you could all join us today. As you are all aware, my name is not just Blueblood, but Prince Blueblood. Alas, for those of us who have not been back to Equestria in some time or have only been here a sparing few times, you may not be aware of the reason for this title.” Blueblood smiled brightly at all those in front of him. “I am a Minor Prince of Equestria; what that means in terms is yes, I am still of a noble bloodline, but I am not one of the faces of the Equestrian government like that of my wonderful family members, Princesses Celestia, Luna, Cadence, and Twilight. I am the Minister of Finance and I work with other noble ponies in the inner structures of our governance.”
Blueblood chuckled at that point and smiled warmly at his niece, “But I am not the focus, Splendid, my dear niece. For being the heir to my bloodline has certain inherent responsibilities that you must honor, and certain duties that will be put upon you as you progress in your own training. Once you turn eighteen, you will join me in the section of our government in which you find your calling. However, I have a feeling that with the details of your own special talent, working with foreign governments might be to your liking; specifically, the dragons.”
Splendid blinked, her eyes an almost blank stare as she processed every bit of information.
“Does that mean she’ll have to move to Equestria permanently?” Sunny asked worriedly, gripping Splendid’s hoof in her own.
“Most likely, Sunny,” he responded apologetically, looking at Splendid, who was becoming increasingly silent.
In that moment, Splendid’s mind roared into gear and tears streamed down her cheeks as the scrape of a chair echoed throughout the dining hall. As she ran from the dining hall, she tried to ignore the sound of her name being called.
“Splendid, where are you?” Sunny called out, her voice almost hoarse from the hours of searching the castle for her.
Her only response was a sad sniffle coming from nearby, her ear flicked in the direction of the sound. She trotted closer towards it, her ears flicking again every time another sniffle would echo in her direction. Finally, she was led to the door with a dragon surrounding a scroll.
Why didn’t I think to check our room?
Raising her hoof, she knocked lightly on the door and called to Splendid, “Love, it’s me. May I come in?”
The door creaked open at that moment and she took it as a sign to go in. What she saw next almost broke her heart. Sitting on their bed, Splendid looked at her with red, bloodshot eyes from hours of crying.
“Oh, sweetheart...” Sunny cooed, rubbing Splendid’s shoulder blades.
Sunny nudged her to turn onto her other side with her muzzle, climbing up onto the bed beside her. She then proceeded to nuzzle her marefriend’s neck as she wrapped her hooves around Splendid’s barrel, softly starting to hum a song they both loved.
“It’ll be alright, I promise you. As much as I hate the idea of you leaving, you deserve an amazing chance like this,” Sunny kissed her neck lightly, as she rubbed her forelegs softly with her hoof.
“I hope so Sunny… I hope so,” Splendid nods with a sigh, resting back against her marefriend.