Celestia tapped her hoof on the desk, staring impatiently at the door across from her. Though she could be working on any number of projects that needed her attention, or catching up on the reports she should be reading, all that took a back seat as her worrying got the better of her.
The alicorn sighed and turned to the window behind her, gazing out over the sprawling towers that dotted the Canterlot skyline. They were tall, majestic, but after yesterday, seemed oddly sullied. Celestia sighed, trying to push thoughts of her nephew from her mind, but the ‘conversation’ they had still stuck in her mind, refusing to leave her in peace.
Celestia stared down at the small pony, her voice barely above a whisper. “Blueblood the fifth.”
The aforementioned stallion smiled, ignoring the glare the monarch was leveling his way. “Good evening, Your Majesty.”
“I heard you had a very interesting afternoon.” The alicorn’s glare hardened, drawing a bead of sweat from the stallion’s forehead. “Tell me about it.”
The stallion’s smile remained plastered against his face and he moved towards one of the chairs across from the alicorn’s desk. “May I?”
“You may not.”
Blueblood blinked, subtly shifting back to the spot he had been standing in. “Okay then. Um, where to begin. You know most of it as I informed you of such during our meeting at the secret garden. After that Bluey and I returned home for a mid-afternoon snack and after that-”
“Aren't you leaving something out?” she asked, leaning into her desk and steepling her hooves.
The elder Blueblood shrugged. “I suppose there was a little kerfuffle after you left.” He sighed. “One of those Starshine foals tried to jump over the other one and it turned into this whole debacle. Fortunately they were both fine.” He lifted an eyebrow. “Was that what you were referring to?”
“I was referring to when you told my student that she was a leper and a commoner,” Celestia scolded.
The stallion stared right at her and after a moment of silence burst into laughter. “Oh, that is a good one, Your Highness. You really do have the world’s greatest poker face.”
Celestia’s brow furrowed and her hooves pressed together with such force that she could have shattered bone. “I assure you, that was not a joke.”
Blueblood lifted an eyebrow, only now noticing that the room was growing warmer by the second. “I beg your pardon? I can assure you, Your Majesty, that no such interaction happened.” He smirked. “If it bothers you so much, why don't you ask my son? I’m sure he’ll tell you the same thing.”
The alicorn’s eyes narrowed, as the rest of the light in the room lowered, leaving only her radiant form as any sort of illumination. “I am giving you the chance to come clean, Blueblood. If you make me regret giving you this chance, I will ensure that you regret it as much as I do.”
“I-” The stallion’s voice hitched and he stood there awkwardly, his words having gotten caught in his throat. For a second he seemed to consider the alicorn’s offer, his usual jovial mask being disrupted, but it was only for a second. The stallion’s trademark smile plastered right back on his face a second later. “I am sure your student must have been confused. It's alright though, I understand that sometimes a foal’s mind can get a little mixed up.” He chuckled. “Are you sure you are not working her too hard?”
Celestia let out a slow breath, the building heat suddenly dissipating, her shoulders sagging. “I tried.” Her horn lit up and a golden wave washed over them. “Now then, could you repeat that?”
The stallion looked around. “What was that spell you used?”
“Answer the question, Blueblood,” Celestia commanded.
Blueblood tried to light his horn, but found he couldn't break through the cloud of mana that hung over the room. “What was that spell, auntie? Surely you didn't cast anything you shouldn't.”
“I did no such thing,” Celestia growled. “Now you have three seconds to repeat what you said or I will personally carry your family’s things to the curb. Am I understood?”
“Crystal, just give me a second to analyze the spell and-”
“Three.”
“Please auntie, you know how rude it is to cast a spell and not-”
“Two.”
“Two seconds! Please just give me that and I could-”
“One.”
The stallion raised a hoof and sighed, shaking his head. “Alright alright. It seems as though you are hellbent on having myself repeat, so I will reluctantly relent. What exactly was I repeating anyway?”
Celestia tapped her hoof on the table. “Simply tell me what you said to my student.” She opened her hooves and smiled. “That isn't too hard, is it?”
“No, of course not.” He smiled warmly. “If that's what you want to hear.” He cleared his throat and stood up a little straighter. “I just told her that she was wasting your time with her-” He stopped, shaking his head. “That's not what I said at all. What I really said was, her family was a disgrace.” The stallion clapped a hoof over his mouth, his eyes going wide.
“Interesting. She didn't even tell me about that part.” Celestia gestured to the stallion. “Please, do go on.”
“Did you cast a zone of truth on us, auntie?” His eyes narrowed, his stance instantly regaining the tall and regal standing it had only moments ago. “You know that casting such a spell requires the express permission of all potential targets.”
“Unless there was such an instance in which I have probable cause to assume a crime may have been committed such as a child and minor being alone and the adult in that picture refuses to tell the truth.” The alicorn frowned. “Just a tip, Blueblood, but do not quote laws at the pony who wrote them!” Celestia slammed her hoof into the desk with enough force to send her quills rolling off the side, the entire piece of furniture shuddering under the blow.
Blueblood took a quick breath and plastered that same smile back on his face before ducking into a deep bow. “My sincerest apologies for angering you, Your Highness. I assure you this is all taken terribly out of context. What I had said previously was simply blown out of proportion by what may or may not be the filly’s overactive imagination.”
“Ahh, duplicitous statements and no definitive answers, cute.” The alicorn smirked. “I remember when I learned how to get around a zone of truth when I was young.”
The stallion waved a hoof dismissively. “Well, I did have a wonderful teacher after all.”
Celestia tapped a hoof against the desk. “Alright then, tell me the context of what you had said. Oh and if you try that again, I will turn this conversation into one where you only answer yes or no questions, understood?”
The stallion’s smile wavered and he nodded his head. “Absolutely.”
“What was the context?” Celestia offered.
Blueblood hesitated, looking around the room. “I don't suppose you have any tea by chance, do you? I’m afraid I may be feeling rather parched.”
“You may be or are parched?” Celestia asked simply.
The stallion wavered once more, opening his mouth to speak before closing it.
“The fact that you would stall for time with such a weak excuse is all the proof I need.” The alicorn sighed. “I am terribly disappointed in you, Blueblood. To think I considered you family.”
“B-but, I just.” He growled, stomping his hoof. “She's just jealous! We have everything those peasents want, and instead of working for it, she's here, getting handouts!” He gestured wildly towards the door. “You can't honestly say my son isn't a better choice.”
“You will watch your tone, Blueblood or-”
“Or what? You’ll take another opportunity from my family and give it to some filthy peasant that has all the honor of a street beggar?” The stallion snarled.
“I am going to give you one last chance-” The stallion opened his mouth, only to find it slammed shut by the princess’ magic. “You will be silent and let me speak.” She rose from her chair, trotting around the desk and looming over the much smaller pony. “I am giving you a final chance to take it all back, to say you are sorry and that you were wrong.”
She walked around the sweating stallion, her magic holding his mouth firmly shut. “I know it won't be a wholly truthful statement, but that's alright. I want to hear you try, that's all.” She turned and looked him dead in the eye. “The Blueblood I knew wouldn't treat others so poorly based solely on wealth. Be that pony for me again and nothing will come of this. Or don't, and I swear you will reap the whirlwind that you have sewn.”
The princess nodded, lifting the magic from around his mouth.
The stallion rubbed a hoof across his muzzle, after determining that he wasn't actually injured, he looked up at the alicorn with a fire in his eyes that was only exceeded by her own. “She is a disgrace to everything the crown stands for and the honored houses all know it.”
Celestia sighed and slowly trotted back to her desk, her pace slow. With a heavy clunk, the alicorn sat in her chair. “Get out of my office, Blueblood.”
The stallion scoffed. “You must know this, auntie! If you weren't so biased towards the rabble, you would understand just how bad this looks on all of us!”
The alicorn’s jaw clenched and she looked up at the unicorn with such intensity that for a second Blueblood didn't know if he would leave this office on his own four hooves, or in a dust pan. “Get. Out.”
This time there was no graceful exit, no haughty scoff, the stallion merely sprinted out of the room, careening down the hall with all the speed he could muster.
Closing the door to her office, the alicorn sighed, burying her head in her hooves, feeling the hot sting of tears as they ran down her face. “Where did I go wrong?”
The stallion felt his mind finally catch up with his body and he frantically slowed his desperate sprint, already casting a glance over his shoulder to ensure nopony saw him running so ridiculously. Already a plan was forming in his mind in case anyone asked him why he would be running through the halls with a terrified expression.
He stopped suddenly, turning to a nearby window and staring out over the city, catching his bearings as he looked out over the bustling cityscape. Breathe, Blueblood, fix yourself, then we can think about what happened. We cannot let anyone see us like this.
Running a hoof through his mane, the stallion began to fix the damage the sudden sprint had done to it. With a careful application of magic, his mane and fur were in perfect order and he began to trot towards his family’s tower, his mind whirling with too many thoughts.
How could she do such a thing? Me, her own nephew getting threatened with eviction like a common peasant! His teeth ground together as his steps grew heavier.
The houses warned me she was tainted by the common filth. Why didn't I believe them? His anger faded, replaced by a strange pity. I must get home and speak to Bright Horn, she’ll know what to make of this.
At the thought of his wife the stallion hesitated, his mind going back to all the warnings she had uttered over the years. Maybe she was right, maybe Celestia isn't as great as she has made herself out to be.
His hooves slowed, his anger now gone completely, indecision suddenly gripping him. But is the houses’ plan truly the right thing to do? He shook his head, dismissing the thoughts and filling them away for later.
First and foremost he needed to get home, he could worry about the implications of the great houses’ plans later.
Celestia watched as a patrol of guards flew in a slow arc around the edge of the palace grounds, the pegasi both maintaining a slow and easy pace, confident in their positions. The alicorn shook her head and sighed, turning from the window and sitting heavily on her chair, the wood straining under her weight.
The princess morosely dug through the drawers of her desk, searching for something she had not sought in many years. Eventually she found it hidden away at the bottom drawer at the very back.
Before she removed it from the drawer, the alicorn made sure the room was properly secure with every manner of anti-scrying spell she knew. With the room impossible to see into or enter without her permission, the alicorn retrieved her prize.
Her golden magic gently levitated a long wooden pipe from the depths of her drawer, placing it gingerly on the desk.
Next she used her magic to access a very private and ill-used pocket dimension she had made for such an occasion. Her horn glowed, and her hoof reached into thin air, after a short search she pulled back, a small brown bag in her grip. The alicorn chuckled at the sight of the bag, good memories coming to mind.
She tugged open the draw strings and gingerly reached inside, gripping a small pinch of the dried plant matter within before pulling her hoof out and depositing her prize into the pipe.
Placing the pipe against her lips, the alicorn summoned a brief flame, lighting her pipe. With a deep breath she inhaled the potent mix and held it for several seconds before finally exhaling through her nose.
Her eyes closed and for a minute she didn't move or think of anything, focusing solely on her breathing and the act of just relaxing contently. She puffed occasionally on her pipe, but it had quickly run out of the relaxing substance and she tucked it back in her desk.
The alicorn sighed one last time, feeling a faint smile cross her face. It wasn't much, but it was still nice to get a moment of solitude before Velvet Touch would be here. She glanced over at the clock only to blink. “Oh poo,” she muttered.
Celestia shot to her hooves and threw open the window, brushing aside the curtains and summoning a quick wind spell to push all the smoke stained air out. A sudden knock on her door drew the alicorn from her panicked spell casting, causing her to accidentally put a little too much power into the spell.
Papers went flying and things flew off her desk, the nick nacks and reports caught up in the surge of wind that flew out the window. Thinking quickly the alicorn hastily grabbed the few reports that flew outside before slamming the window shut, shoving everything back onto her desk and sitting quickly.
“Come in!” she yelled.
The confused face of Velvet Touch popped through the crack in the door, eying the messy room with trepidation. “Are you sure now is a good time? I can come back later if you would like.”
The alicorn shook her head, hastily reorganizing her desk. “No, just had a bit of a gust of wind is all. Please, sit.”
The psychologist sat in the offered chair, placing her bag beside her and smiling faintly at the alicorn as she finished her rearranging.
Once complete, Celestia looked up and nodded. “Whenever you are ready.”
“I’ll just jump right into it then.” Velvet Touch sighed.“Twilight’s mental health has suffered from this recent run in. That much is obvious, but I fear it goes a little deeper than that.”
“I had feared as much. How bad is it?” Celestia asked.
“For one, I doubt you will get her back out there anytime soon. She has expressed distaste for the elder Blueblood and has even gone so far as to start drawing pictures of him getting eaten by something with many, many teeth.” The psychologist retrieved a slip of paper from her bag and placed it on the desk, pushing it closer to the alicorn.
Celestia frowned, studying the drawing closely. It was surprisingly well done, showing the elder Blueblood held in the jaw of a four limbed creature of some kind. The creature itself was a bizarre one, having bug like wings, and long arm-like appendages coming out of its back, with hook like extremities at the end of them. Its back legs were thick, supporting its weight while the front limbs sported large claws. Its mouth was filled with razor-like teeth and on either side of its head it had large growths that morphed into horns. The entire thing was a mix of purples and browns that blended together to make a truly disturbing creature.
The princess frowned and set the drawing aside. “That is quite disturbing. Did she say where such a creature came from?”
The other mare shook her head. “Just a dream, she said.”
“Odd.” She cast one last glance at the drawing before shaking her head. “Has she said why she avoids the other foals? She seems to do her best to pretend they aren't there when they meet in the halls of the castle, even while I’m there and Blueblood is not.”
Velvet sighed. “She seems to believe that she is not liked by the other foals. I believe this may be a reaction to the incident and she simply associates them with the trauma that has occured.” She shrugged. “That is just my instinct talking though, I don't have a lot to back that up.”
“It sounds logical at least,” Celestia remarked. “Is there anything we can do to remedy this?”
“There is. I would suggest setting up playdates with individual foals with your supervision, or this Bull pony. Twilight seems to trust them.”
The alicorn chuckled. “She does seem to have a way with Twilight, yet not any other foals.” She shook her head. “Regardless, that is a good suggestion, any others?”
“Playing with less judgemental ponies? Perhaps from poorer families. Other than that, simply paying stricter attention to her interactions with other foals her age would go a long way,” Velvet offered.
Celestia nodded. “All good suggestions. How bad do you think it is?”
“Honestly?” She shrugged. “It could be nothing provided we can find her some more friends, but if left to fester, this might be a moment that really pushes her towards further antisocial behavior.”
“Most disconcerting.” The alicorn frowned, glancing nervously at the drawing, her frown deepening.
The unicorn hesitated, her hoof half extended towards the alicorn. With a shake of her head she placed her hoof on the other mare’s, drawing the princess from her reverie. “It’s not your fault, you couldn't have known.”
The alicorn pulled her hoof away. “I could have, there were rumours that he had gone down a darker path since he married this new mare of his.” Her expression darkened. “But I only remembered all those times I held him when he was a foal, the way he used to call me-” She sighed, shaking her head. “Perhaps that is one of the weaknesses of my longevity. I can't help but remember seeing you mortals as the foals you used to be.”
An uncomfortable silence settled over the room, with Velvet nervously shifting in her chair while Celestia gazed off into space. Just as the silence had grown a little too awkward, the alicorn sighed and shook her head. “I am sorry, Velvet. This entire thing has rattled me more than I care to admit.”
“Your secret is safe with me,” Velvet reassured.
Celestia chuckled. “Thank you. If only I had the time to investigate these rumours more thoroughly.” She shook her head. “Regardless, thank you again for all you've done. Twilight seems to enjoy talking with you.”
The psychologist smiled faintly. “Just doing my job. Don't beat yourself up too much, princess, she is easily the most intelligent filly I’ve ever spoken too.”
“That is good, though I hope to instill more than just a love of reading and learning,” Celestia remarked. “It is not enough that a pony be smart or strong, they need experience and understanding to guide them, lest they fall down a darker path.”
She stood suddenly, extending her hoof. “I assume that was the rest of your report?”
Velvet blinked, quickly handing over the manilla envelope in her bag. “Yes, it's all here. If I may, I was hoping to request an interview with this Bull individual.”
Celestia placed the papers on her desk and nodded. “That should be easily done. Though I am curious as to why you would make such a request.”
The psychologist tapped her hooves together. “It's nothing. I just had a hunch that I was hoping to test out.”
“Oh, what kind of hunch?”
“I can't help but think that Twilight might be having an affect on those that interact with her.” She shook her head. “It's probably not possible, but I figured it couldn't hurt to build a profile on her, just in case.”
Celestia nodded slowly. “Granted, though I would remind you not to ask anything that may be classified and that such conversations are not spoken of to anyone.” The alicorn’s eyes narrowed. “Am I clear?”
“Crystal, ma’am,” Velvet stuttered nervously.
The alicorn stared for a second longer before relaxing. “Excellent. Secrecy on this subject is paramount.”
“I understand the need for secrecy, but why the sudden reminder?” Velvet asked.
The alicorn steepled her hooves. “I fear we may already have someone sniffing around the castle, seeking out information on my student. I do not want anyone to hear of our little project. Have you memorized your cover?”
Velvet nodded. “I reread it this morning, Your Majesty.”
“Good.” She sighed. “If that's everything, I should let you get back to work.”
The mare stood, quickly throwing her bag on her back. “Thank you again, Your Majesty, and don't worry, my lips are sealed.”
Celestia chuckled. “Hopefully not literally, I think Silver would have my head.”
The psychologist blushed hard enough to make her face go bright red. “P-princess!”
“I still got it.” The alicorn lit her horn and opened the door. “Good evening, Miss Touch.”
The psychologist ducked into a quick bow before stopping suddenly, her nostrils flaring. “What is that smell?” she muttered.
Celestia coughed awkwardly, causing the mare to jump back up. “Oh, sorry Your Majesty, good evening to you too.”
The mare turned and scampered out of the room, leaving a relieved alicorn to fall back into her chair. “That was close,” she muttered to herself.
Shaking her head, she turned to the window, throwing open the shades once more and gazing out over Canterlot. She sighed one last time, her gaze drawn down to the royal gardens below, a frown on her lips.
“What other dark portents might there be, lurking just beyond my sight?” She sighed. “I may have eternity, yet I still feel like I don't have enough time in the day to investigate everything.”