Celestia bade everybody present a good day and left for the throne room. She tried to remain composed but regularly found the same happy feeling from the day prior returning to her. She often recomposed herself with the same thought: Blueblood finally being out of her mane for a while.
The mere notion of him serving was deplorable, after all who would actually permit him to be a competent soldier. However, she could just send him to some far off outpost in the middle of nowhere and let him drive himself insane. Unfortunately, this often brought back the spring in her step.
Regardless the reason for her joy, Celestia made her way past several soldiers and once she entered the throne room, she composed herself, ready for the impending argument.
I finished my breakfast calmly and casually read the nearby newspaper. I found the local newspaper, the Canterlot Press, curious and mostly filled with simple day-to-day events and reviews of whatever theater performance was in town. It was at least a more pleasant read than the Equestria Daily which often times criticized the princesses and complained about the taxes in Las Pegasus being too high.
“Let’s see,” I said absentmindedly, “the weather’s sunny until the weekend.” It felt odd every time I saw the weather report since Luna told me about Cloudsdale and its Weather Factory. Even after the explanation though, it still bothered me. “Where’s the delight in completely predictable weather? How can a guy enjoy a little time under a tree with a date in the rain if everyone knows when it’ll rain? I suppose it would just have to take someone getting lazy to have a moment like that.”
Aureus cleared his throat as he entered the throne room. “Your highness, I would like to announce Prince Blueblood.”
No sooner than the words left the earth pony’s mouth than the blond-maned unicorn rushed in. “Your highness, I beg you tell me if this message is a joke.” There was a scroll held closely to his side wrapped in a pale blue hue.
Princess Celestia mentally fought back the grin curling at the edges of her mouth. “What do you mean my dear nephew?”
“Thi…this letter,” he managed as he levitated it towards Celestia. “Please, I have to know why I was sent this letter.”
Celestia’s magic quickly enveloped the scroll as she pulled it towards her. “Yes,” she said pensively as she examined it’s broken seal, “I happen to recall reading this since it was brought to my attention.”
“You’ve examined it then?”
“Yes, I have thoroughly examined the letter. I know how you were withdrawn from the academy when you were younger and I wanted to make sure this document was genuine.” Come on, she silently urged. You can keep a straight face. Just remember, this is for all of Equestria’s good.
Blueblood stared at the piece of parchment as the solar diarch sent it back to him. “Please, Princess Celestia. Please tell me it isn’t real.”
Celestia wore her best sympathetic face for the disheveled prince. “I’m sorry Blueblood, but I’ve tried to rescind their decision. You will have to serve, regardless of your misgivings.”
Despite Celestia’s expectation of an ostentatious counter, Blueblood hung his head. “Then I will have to prepare to attend the academy. I hope that you would please not inform my mother, I don’t want her to make a scene in your presence.”
“Of course, be ready to arrive in Stalliongrad by the start of next week. I’ll inform them about your decision to accept their letter as soon as possible.”
“I understand, thank you for trying your best Princess Celestia.” Slowly, he retreated a few steps. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll have to prepare.” Something’s not right, he thought. If only I could place my hoof on what exactly it was. If I’m wrong though I could be implicated in a crime to overthrow Princess Celestia!
“I’ll try to get you a position back in Canterlot as soon as you finish your time at the academy,” she called to the departing prince. After I make sure your service is as difficult as possible, Celestia silently added. Now, please close those doors so I can actually smile and savor everypony’s collective freedom from your presence.
After savoring every possible moment of breakfast, I took Celestia’s words to heart and did my best to slip into the back corridors of the palace. The real problem I saw with this idea in general though was it was a sunny day, clear skies, and the general fact that there were an alarming number windows and terraces. With a sigh of regret, I just walked casually through the palace, making my way back towards my room.
*****
Every time I go this way, I always see the same crimson red pegasus. She’s usually really polite, says good morning, and returns to whatever she’s working on. Today though, she looked like she was waiting for me.
“Forgive me for saying this but you might want to take a different corridor,” she told me.
“Why would you suggest that Miss…”
“Actually it’s Mrs. if you don’t mind,” she corrected. “My name is Ruby and I suggest that because there’s a delegate who likes to wander the hallways before he’s seen in the afternoon. I saw him and thought you should be warned.”
I bit my lip, Celestia didn’t want me being seen and if I double backed then someone may see me. “Which way would you suggest then?”
“You’re off on the other side of the castle so I suggest you head back to the last fork and make your way out into the gardens. You can get back into the castle on the far side and make your way back to your room that way.”
“Why help me Mrs. Ruby?”
She looked over her shoulder before staring at me. “I’ll explain later,” she hissed, “but you need to go now.”
I followed her idea and rushed down the corridor I recently passed. Far down this new path, I came to a door I had been warned not to use and, despite warnings, opened it to see a lush field of green grass with flowers of every color and perfectly maintained shrubbery.
*****
I spent an alarming amount of time enjoying the sights, wondering why I wasn’t permitted to see such a nice place. I was supposed to be escaping back to my room and it was drifting into the afternoon before I began to hear two ponies talking nearby. As I got closer, I could hear them far clearer and couldn’t help but overhear.
“…I noticed the spring in Princess Celestia’s step Shining,” came a female voice from the balcony above me.
“That doesn’t mean he’s involved,” replied the unicorn’s resolute voice. Even after all this time, after everything I try to do, he doesn’t trust me one iota. If I dared to blame him, then I’d be questioning his position.
“I think you should give him a chance.”
“Cadance, do you think we should’ve given Chrysalis a chance?”
“No! I mean, I hear he’s nice and he’s not trying to hide the fact that he’s done bad things.”
“He struts around the castle like he’s royalty. I can’t tolerate that a criminal could be, as unlikely as it sounds, manipulating Princess Celestia. Do you even think Princess Luna cares about what she did?”
Strut, I thought with an irritated glare to the balcony where the pair talked. Since when have I strutted around here? I really couldn’t say anywhere though, I’ve had to play the part of so many uptight high-society toadies before that I’ve had to get strutting down to an art form. I don’t like to strut, that’s all there is to it.
“Do you see her mane covered in spiders today?”
“Well no but-”
“What about being painted?”
I continued to listen to the Capitan losing ground in this discussion. It seemed to help me learn a little about the mare of my affection though. How much she picked on her sister was pretty sold in my mind now, but I just don’t know exactly how long it’s been going on. It could be days, months, years, or even just one of those ‘sibling things’.
By the time I decided to leave, the thought continued to stir in my mind. It disturbed me to say the least; I mean would she spurn me just for a laugh? Would she even care if I had feelings for her? I had no answers and the questions continued to pile up.
Celestia’s heart was indeed an interesting challenge. I doubt I could be pushed to my limits without something so unusual to aspire to take as my own. “I think I’ll need to talk to Luna,” I muttered to the vacant hallway I turned down. She might know how I could impress her sister, I silently added.
Princess Cadance gave a sigh of relief. “You saw him didn’t you Shining?”
Shining Armor nodded. “I don’t appreciate his eavesdropping but I suppose it makes us even for-”
“Sounding like a complete jerk,” she suggested, doing her best to stifle a giggle.
“Yes, sounding like a complete jerk… hey! Cadance, I thought you weren’t going to do that to me anymore!”
She giggled at the simple joke on her husband. “I am being serious though. You are being really harsh on him.”
“Well, it’s because he’s a criminal and I’m a guard. If I wasn’t then I wouldn’t be doing a very good job would I?”
“He deserves a chance though. He got rid of Blueblood after all right?”
Shining Armor sighed. “You’re right, nopony has gotten rid of him for too long and I have to hope he’s out of our manes for a while. If he can keep Blueblood out of Canterlot for a few months then I’ll be impressed.”
“And if Blueblood never comes back?”
“If Blueblood never returns, or at least stops trying to have Ponyville razed, then I may just see him in a better light.”
Cadance merely smiled. It’s a start.
I looked out my bedroom window, seeing the gardens once more in the light of the setting sun. Stone walls do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage. I knew it all too well now. I had some freedom to move about the castle, but I had to remain as hidden as possible. Most of the castle’s staff didn’t really react to my presence, but some were at least kind enough to greet me.
“I wonder if she knows why a caged bird sings,” I asked nobody in particular as I looked out to the lush place I only briefly visited. Sure, I wouldn’t get a reply but at least the garden was a good listener. I sprawled out on my bed and began to hum a few bars of a tune slowly.