//------------------------------// // Prince Blueblood and Publicity // Story: P.B. and J. // by TheAmazingMe //------------------------------// The knocking on my door was insistent. Finally, I gave my consent. Dr. Turner bustled in, carrying a scroll with the seal of Equestria stamped on the bottom. “Your Highness, forgive the intrusion but there is something you must know. The nobles are at this moment attending Night Court...” I couldn’t help but insert a dry comment. “As per usual. But Luna didn’t expect me at Court, just that I’d meet her for a late dinner, correct?” “Considering the declaration of war is still freshly signed, Lord Fair Fields began Court by pledging allegiance to Princess Luna,” Dr. Turner said. “The other lords, ladies and attendees took their turns to do so as well.” Joe sighed. “Well, that’s annoying. I suppose it would look bad if you didn’t show up?” I nodded. I’d only read about this in history books, so I’d never paid much attention. It was a tradition in the old times to reaffirm the oaths during times of war. Lord Fair Fields was the older brother of Heather Fields and son of Lord Fields. Was this move in response to the declaration alone or was it a calculated move to assure loyalty after my attack? It was truly the first time I’d had to question loyalty amongst any in the Night Court. To be honest, it reminded me too much of my time in Celestia’s Court. “What’s on the scroll?” I asked Turner. He unrolled it on my vanity desk. “The last form of allegiance oath known from the time that both Princesses held the thrones at the Castle of the Two Sisters.” I sat in front of my mirror to look it over as I took off the bandages. Joe sat beside me, taking the soiled bandages in his magic and dumping them in the trash can nearby. I didn’t like how I looked, but I knew it would be impactful. The bandages would have been too much, but the freshly healed wounds themselves would be fine. Having memorized it, I turned to the doctor. “That last line? It hasn’t been used in ages. Even the traditionalists use ‘according to law.’” “That’s why I chose this one.” He replied. I thought about that for a moment. “How did you even have time to grab this? The library is on the other side of Celestia’s Wing.” “Fortune favors the prepared. I grabbed this earlier today.” He crossed to my door. “It’s time to go.” I strode into Luna’s Night Court. I was late, of course. The cuts and bruises on my face had the desired effect. The string quartet had only just begun playing one of Luna’s favorite songs, a sign that the end of Court was nearing. At my glance the conductor had the music fade out. The side conversations amongst the peers continued for a moment in the absence of the music. My presence only quieted some of the Court attendees. “Prince Blueblood, Master of the House of the Night,” Luna said by way of greeting. Her words caught everypony’s attention. Now the room was quieter, yet still abuzz with hushed voices. Luna allowed herself to curl her lips into a half smile before continuing. “I had not considered that you would seek me out before the close of Court business. Would you care to join me?” She gestured to my usual place at her side. I shook my head slightly. I decided to go with the scroll that Dr. Turner had brought me and use the full oath. Bending one of my forward knees, I bowed my head deeply. “I, Prince Blueblood, Master of the House of the Night, swear by the Elements of Harmony to bear faithful and true allegiance to Their Royal Highnesses, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, until such time as Their Highness’ release me or death take me.” The collective gasp was small, but audible. It seemed nopony used the last line, as I knew and Dr. Turner predicted. Princess Luna rose and touched my horn with her hoof to accept my allegiance. “May we never live to see a time when either of those are necessary, my prince.” Luna lifted her hoof and motioned for me to stand as she took her throne. Now it was time to go in with my own idea. “Your Royal Highness, I also came to petition you.” I replied as I bowed slightly. Now it was dead silent. Her eyes narrowed. She couldn’t see what I was aiming for, but I tried to project an image of thoughtfulness. Finally, she nodded. “You have my favor, of course. Name your need and I will see it fulfilled.” I bowed my head in respect and then looked her in the eyes. “I need to return to the Crystal Empire. According to a reporter, there are records there that involve honours and orders that fell out of use when the House of the Night was banished.” Luna’s eyebrows lifted momentarily. “I confess I was not keen on restoring many of those...traditions.” She looked away, observing a few reactions around the room. I persisted. “I beg you to reconsider. The time will soon be at hoof when our House will need to recognize the chivalry of our subjects.” She nodded, although she turned her eyes to look at a spot above my head. “Would that not usurp the honor of Princess Celestia’s Royal Orders and Honours?” Shaking my head, I looked over to the gallery seats. Right where I expected the supposed head of the traditionalist faction to be. Being a creature of habit, of course he was there. “Restoring your traditions would only add to those of the Realm, not detract from it.” Her smile was open now. “See to it then. I may have forgotten many of those awards, let alone their designs. Leave the day after tomorrow, and return quickly. You will take my airship, a chariot, and a team of guards. Princess Cadence is returning to the Empire tonight. You missed it due to your accident, but we joined our ally Nordanver, the Northern Gryffon Kingdom and formally declared war on the Southern Gryffon Kingdom, Sudramoar.” I nodded, mentally forgiving her for having to cover up the attempted prince-napping. “We all will have much more on our plates then.” Luna nodded. Her chin dipped and she looked at me with a twinkle in her eye. “Undoubtedly. Was there a reason that you had to make this a matter of public record?” “Undoubtedly.” I let the word hang in the air. Luna drew her chin back up and inhaled. I suspected that she’d intended to heave a sigh, but thought better of it. “Would you care to join me now?” Luna asked. I nodded and readily complied. The music picked up once again as I looked out over the nobility sitting in on this session, I was struck by how many ponies were in attendance. On the other side of Luna from me was a four piece string quartet. As Master of the House of the Night, I began taking serious note of those at Court. Luna spoke to a few ponies informally. As she did, I tuned out the conversation except to give an occasional confirmation. Much if not all were staff related matters that only tangentially involved me at best. All three factions of Equestrian politics were represented. The highest in terms of precedence was Lord Fancy Pants’ younger brother, Earl Grey Pants. In spite of his age, he was known to be a moderate voice. Among the nouveau noblesse, Countess Mia Cuore d’Oro, the cousin of Princess Amore Cadenza. She was a countess in her own right as she was the second-born daughter and thus not in line to inherit a title. It had scandalized the traditionalists when Princess Celestia allowed the royal family of Bitaly to live in Equestria in exile during the revolution. Scandal further ensued when she gave Cadence’s cousin a title, thus ensuring Equestrian aid to Bitalian nobles. Quite a few families immigrated due to the end of the monarchy and generally poor conditions in the new republic. Bitaly now was in a second renaissance, the fashion and racing industries kept pace with the times and their historical preservation ensured good tourism revenues. Bitaly earned more from the monarchy by ousting it and Equestria gained more progressive nobility. My mind having wandered, my gaze returned to the pony I’d looked at while speaking to Luna. Lord Fields’ eldest son, Viscount Fair Fields. He took after his traditionalist father. That much was sure with him leading these oaths today. He was a more recent addition to Luna’s Court, although I couldn’t be sure of exactly when he started attending. The traditionalists tended to be quieter in Luna’s Court, more like they were observing instead of participating. Finally, I found myself looking at the viscounts and barons that rounded out the court. Many of them inherited the lesser titles from their parents holdings as second or third born sons and daughters. Quite a few were first-generation, I would have guessed more of these first generation nobles were in our court than in Celestia’s. I’d ignored a subset of them who had been around during my Prince of Pleasure phase. None of them had made any moves to speak to me, either. Princess Luna waited until the string quartet finished their last piece for the night. As the note disappeared on the air, she stood. The Court rose to their hooves. She bade them good night and sweet dreams and turned to exit as the quartet played the Equestrian Anthem. I followed her. It seemed she wouldn’t wait until we were in her private dining room. “What was that about?” “I am attempting to guilt the hell out of the traditionalists who might sympathize with certain drivers.” I answered plainly. “And get out of Canterlot as we prepare for war?” She asked, although I suspected she already had an answer. I shrugged. “Side benefit. If I’m truly angering traditionalists, then perhaps I can build a bridge to some of them. Get inside, as it were.” She snorted derisively. “Your relationship with a commoner, and a male at that, wouldn’t aid with your bridge building.” “You’d be surprised how many heirs to hereditary titles are okay with that. Even amongst the more traditional. I may have lost the older generation but I do hope to win over the next generation. I’ll handle my relationship smartly.” My reassurances seemed to work, although Luna could’ve resisted the sigh she gave. Shaking her head, she cautioned, “Don’t do anything you’ll regret.” We turned down the hallway that led to the dining room and I let out my own sigh. “It’s not like I’m leaving him, but he has things to take care of. Businesses to manage. I can’t monopolize all of his time. And I need him to know I can stand on my own four hooves.” “Good,” she said simply. “Yeah, now I just have to tell him without hurting his feelings.” I said as Luna stopped at the door to the dining room. She signalled the guard to wait before opening the door. “I suppose that would depend on how far you would take this relationship. I don’t want to pressure you. I know your feelings for each other are strong.” I massaged the bridge of my nose with one hoof. “I just announced we were dating, my foalhood caretaker passed away, I took on the highest position in a royal household and then I was attacked by extremists who were against not just my relationship but also your rule. Oh, and lest we forget, the country is at war.” Setting my hoof down, I looked Luna in the eye. “I will start thinking about where my future is heading. And I’ll let Joe know that he should start thinking about it as well.” “Well, that’s easy. I’ll sell my stakes in the other Donut Joe’s franchises to Sue, turn over operations of the Canterlot business to my next chef in line and marry you.” Joe said from behind me. I jumped, and not just from his sudden appearance. “What? When did you decide this?” “Um, I’ve been thinking about it since we...” here he paused to flick his eyes at Luna then back to me, “...since we became a couple.” “This is not a proposal!” I said, stomping a hoof. “Well, then this is a preemptive ‘yes.’ Now you just figure out when you’re going to propose.” He said the last part much too jovially. I smiled in spite of myself. “That’s not how this works. That’s not how any of this works!” He smirked in just the most punchable way possible. “I’ll tell you what. After your Aunt’s party tomorrow, I have to go check on the businesses anyway. I won’t make any moves towards selling, or put anything like that into motion. You go enjoy the Crystal Empire—“ “How did you know about that?” I interjected. He rolled his eyes. “Dr. Turner was there. He came and told me when Court was finished.” “I was going to tell you at dinner,” I said, mostly failing at not pouting. He brushed my shoulder. “I know. He said not to let on that I knew, but I figured this was easier. So you enjoy the Empire and maybe we can throw together a rough sketch of the future.” I turned to him with a serious look. “It’s too much to ask of you that you divest yourself of what makes you happy. You can’t just stop being a baker.” “Outside of the odd competition or whenever Discord places an order, I haven’t felt like a baker. I’ve felt like an entrepreneur, which is a lot more difficult than being a baker and something I’ll be glad to give up.” Joe wrapped a hoof around me. “Besides, I think the palace has a kitchen.” “And I think that kitchen prepared us a meal?” Luna interjected. Nodding to the door guard, she led the way into the dining room and took her place. Joe and I sat out our places, me at the right of Luna and he at my right, after Luna took her seat. Unnoticed to me until they began, a violinist struck up music as the servers entered. The tune was sweet and simple, but unfamiliar. “Not that I’m objecting, Luna, but what’s with all the musicians suddenly?” Luna smiled. “Celestia’s idea. She felt it would help relieve stress. Every little bit counts she said.” I shrugged, but that brought my other idea to mind. “On a related note, I’m thinking of hiring a royal biographer. Someone to help manage the image of the royal family in this unpleasantness.” Luna began eating, so I hurriedly unfolded my napkin and began doing so as well. Joe was ahead of me on that. “How would a biographer help manage our image?” Luna asked, more interested than dismissive, given by her eye contact. I sipped some water and then answered. “They would give us both historical context. Maybe quash the rumors that I’m not actually related to Celestia.” Joe piped in. “You mean those rumors you believed until Celestia literally brought up your entire genealogy?” I turned a sour expression on him. His look was not penitent in the least. “If you can work a biographer’s salary into your stipend, go for it. Actually, have Dr. Turner crunch the numbers for you while you’re at the Empire. Who would you likely hire? I hear the top in the field is Memory Lane,” Luna remarked before really tucking into her food. “Lane is a bit expensive, I’d think. Anypony who could extract anything from ancient pony records to make a biography of the last great gryffon king would have to be expensive.” Joe remarked. “I’m sure I’ll find somepony within my budget. Perhaps that Life Story would know somepony? I’ll have to remember to ask him tomorrow night.” “You don’t think the pony named Life Story would be interested in writing a biography?” Joe asked. “Well, he is a reporter. I guess it’s not a terribly big leap of logic. I just haven’t heard of him writing a biography,” I admitted. “I do seem to recall reading an obituary that I think he wrote for The Crystal Empire’s newspaper.” Joe cocked his head. “Why would you remember that?” “We had some down time, and the obituary was for some Crystal Empire politician who actually remembered bits of Sombra’s reign,” I said. Joe shrugged. “Well it’s a good thing his husband saved you yesterday. Otherwise he might have written your obituary instead of your biography!” “Tactful as ever. Thanks Joe.” Again, unrepentant look plastered over his face, Joe looked at me and grinned. I had the distinct impression that were it not for Luna’s presence, he might’ve even blown a raspberry.