There was no greater institution in all the world than Equestrian royalty.
That was the truth that had defined Blueblood’s life for as far back as he could remember. After all, it was Equestria’s own Princess Celestia that raised and lowered the sun and the moon each day, dispensing wisdom and keeping the nation safe and prosperous. To be her peer was to stand at the very pinnacle of civilization itself.
But whereas Princess Celestia was an alicorn – powerful and eternal – Blueblood himself was neither of those things, unable to fly or cast mighty spells or set the course of day and night as she did. The disparity between them was so daunting that, shortly after he’d been told that he’d inherit the mantle of prince once he received his cutie mark, he’d confessed his insecurities to his father, Prince Trueblood. He’d done so tearfully, worried that by saying his doubts out loud he’d somehow tarnish the great honor that he was going to be entrusted with. But to his surprise his father had burst out laughing when he’d voiced his fears.
“Oh son,” he’d chortled. “I had the same worries when I was your age.”
Blueblood could still remember being so thunderstruck by the admission that he’d momentarily forgotten his lessons on proper speaking etiquette. “Really?! Er, I mean, is that so, Father?”
“Indeed,” replied Trueblood, his chuckling fading to an amused grin. “And so did my father, and his mother before him, and her father before her. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if everypony in our line had some version of this exact conversation before they donned the crown. So in a way, my boy, you’re carrying on one of our family traditions, exactly as I’d expect of my heir.”
The praise had buoyed Blueblood, easing both his fear at not measuring up to Equestria’s eternal monarch and his surprise that his father had ever actually been afraid of something. But that still hadn’t answered his question. “Then, Father, what’s the answer? How can we stand alongside Princess Celestia as her esteemed equal when she can do so much more than we can?”
His father hadn’t answered right away, still smiling as he leaned back in his favorite chair and turned to look out the window, watching the sun set. “Son,” he’d answered at last, “Princess Celestia is the very heart of Equestria. Not just because she makes day and night happen, and not just because of how strong her magic is, but because she’s a living link to our history. She represents the very best qualities of our most noble race.” He’d paused then, and Blueblood had leaned forward, knowing that there was more. And he’d been right.
“But she while she may represent those qualities, she doesn’t embody them.”
“Huh? I mean, I don’t understand.”
“Refinement, my boy. Cultivation. Sophistication. Nobility. The very essence of what it means to be a pony. While Princess Celestia certainly honors those ideals, she doesn’t truly live them.”
“She doesn’t?” Blueblood had found that almost as shocking as the idea that his father had ever been afraid of something. “But she seems so…elegant.”
“Oh, she affects it well enough,” granted his father. “But once you’ve seen her eat a slice of cake, or make fruit faces on common pancakes, or prance – actually prance! – at the prospect of a theater production, the illusion fades quite quickly. No son, a princess might be what Celestia is, but it’s not who she is. Not like us.”
“Not like us,” murmured Blueblood, doing his best to commit his father’s speech to memory.
Trueblood had nodded then, clearly pleased that his son was taking his lesson to heart. “That’s why she so often holds herself apart from the populace. She knows that if she were among them for too long, her façade would crack, and everyone would see her as she truly is. And while that wouldn’t be the direst of disasters, it would still wound the fabric of our nation. That’s why we, alone among the founding tribes of Equestria, have maintained our exalted status. So that we can remind not only Princess Celestia, but all of Equestria – and indeed, the world – what the conduct of true royalty looks like. We walk among the people so that we may inspire them to strive, in their own small ways, to emulate our example. We demonstrate the poise and the grace that elevates ponies above other creatures, reminding our subjects that their kinship with us gives them a spark of greatness that no other people possess.”
He’d paused then, nodding as though agreeing with himself. “You can see it when it happens. Ponies stand up straighter when they’re in your presence. They try to smooth out their rough edges. They offer their aid, wanting to be a part of something greater than the simple accomplishments that they’ve eked out of their own lives. Because just seeing a glimpse of the very apogee of what it means to be a pony…it inspires them. And that, my son, is something that surpasses even the mightiest of spells.”
Blueblood had reflexively straightened up at that, feeling a deeper appreciation for the responsibilities he was being groomed for settling over him. “I understand, Father. I’ll endeavor to work harder than ever in order to faithfully execute our family’s duty.”
For the first time in their conversation, his father’s smile had disappeared, and he fixed Blueblood with a penetrating gaze, leaving the colt struggling not to squirm under the weight of it. “I know that you will, Blueblood,” he’d said a moment later, voice solemn. “Because if you fail, then something precious will be irretrievably lost to our people. Princess Celestia might be the heart of our nation, but we’re the soul of it.”
The words his father had said next had been ones that Blueblood had remembered every day of his life since.
“Without us, Equestria’s ponies would have nothing to rally their spirits, leaving them all equal in their unfulfillment.”
Silence reigned as Blueblood stared at Lex Legis in shock.
He can’t be serious! Nopony duels with royalty! This has to be some sort of tasteless joke on his part! But as the seconds passed, the brutal-looking stallion – his vulgar appearance made even worse by the filth covering him, as though he’d gone rolling in the dirt while putting on whatever little lightshow he’d been engaging in a few minutes prior – failed to withdraw his acceptance of Blueblood’s challenge, silently letting the enormity of what he’d agreed to hang in the air.
In the years since Blueblood had received his father’s crown, Trueblood’s words had proven true again and again. Everywhere Blueblood went, his presence motivated ponies to place themselves at his disposal, eager to contribute in some small way to the pride of Equestria: himself. Even if most of their efforts didn’t measure up, the fact that they felt so moved as to make the attempt was proof that he was upholding his family’s legacy, carrying out the family duty to live a life that reminded his subjects of what made ponies great. His every word moved them. His every gesture impressed them. His life was a tribute to the illustrious heritage of the country that his fellow Equestrians called home.
By contrast, that meant that nopony dared to publicly disparage him. As a living national treasure, any disgrace thrown at him was a disgrace to the entire nation. The fear of being so tarnished should have kept even the vilest of churls in line, and if it didn’t then their friends and family should have rushed to stop them from doing something foolish, not wanting to be tainted by association with somepony so coarse.
Certainly, being challenged to a duel should have brought Lex Legis up short, and sent ponies scurrying to beg for forgiveness on his behalf. Indeed, he’d predicted that very thing when River Bank had fearfully asked what would happen if Blueblood’s mere presence wasn’t enough to cow the cur, invoking the specter of making Lex face him in combat to hint that this was his trump card. That much was obvious, since there was self-evidently no winning for anypony who dared to duel with royalty; to actually fight a prince was to commit social suicide of the worst sort! It would mean that restaurants wouldn’t take his reservations! Tailors would make him buy off the rack, without doing custom fittings! Luxury importers wouldn’t take special orders on his behalf! It would be a fate worse than death!
And yet, Lex Legis had accepted his challenge.
Not just accepted it, but done so in the most belligerent way possible, leaving no doubts as to his intentions.
Worse, nopony was coming forward to try and stop him. Were they all simply frozen in horror at his temerity? Or did he simply have no one here who was concerned for his reputation?
It must be the latter. Certainly someone as bellicose as Lex was being now must have isolated himself from everypony around him. No wonder everyone was cheering when I took to the field, realized Blueblood. They were all waiting for me to come and put this miscreant in his place!
The more he thought about it, the more certain he was that he was right. After all, Lex Legis had already insulted Princesses Celestia and Luna without remorse. Surely by now, everypony knew to disassociate themselves from him, lest they be tarnished with the weight of his transgressions. Which meant that all Blueblood needed to do now was push the issue; once Lex Legis came down from whatever childish thrill he was getting by making a spectacle of himself, he’d realize the enormity of his faux pas and start looking for ways to walk it back. And once he does, decided Blueblood with an inward snicker, confident that he’d properly grasped the situation, I’ll be gracious enough to allow him to save face…with some concessions, of course.
Which meant that all that was left was to bring the metaphorical hammer down.
“Very well then,” announced Blueblood, making sure to keep his expression grave. “The challenge has been issued and accepted. Therefore, as per tradition, we should withdraw from direct negotiation and each nominate an agent to represent our interests, allowing them to work out the details on our respective behalves. Mine will be my valet,” he added, fighting down the urge to smirk at his victory. Once Lex realized that he had nopony willing to take up his cause, it would drive home how badly he’d isolated himself, the embarrassment of which-
“Master Legis, if I may be so forward, please allow me to humbly offer my services.”
“River!” The cry came, not from Blueblood’s lips, but from that low-born mare that had elected to join his loutish host in not being part of his entourage, Pansy or whatever her name was. “What are you doing?!”
But River didn’t respond to her friend’s cry, trotting over and kneeling down before Lex, which Blueblood couldn’t help but note was more respect than she’d ever shown him. “I was wrong before,” she murmured reverently, her voice low enough that Blueblood had to strain to hear it, “I know that now. Please, allow me to make up for it.”
But whatever she was pleading with him about, Lex appeared unmoved. “The last time you begged for absolution, I was inclined to give it to you. This time I’m not. The recommendation of the pony you wronged might sway my judgment when your sentence comes due, but nothing you do now will.”
“I…I understand,” gulped River, a shudder running through her as she kept her face down. “But if you’ll let me, I want to do this anyway.”
“Very well,” sighed Lex, sounding for all the world as though he was growing bored with the topic.
It was that, as much as River Bank’s complete and utter betrayal of his expectations – despite how much he’d already lowered them for her – that made Prince Blueblood step forward, right to the very edge of the red carpet that had been laid out for him. “I demand to know what exactly is happening here!” His voice wasn’t a yell, since royalty were never so uncouth, but neither did he speak softly. “River Bank, does that scoundrel have you under his thrall somehow?”
Standing, River turned to answer, but before a word could pass her lips the mare at Lex’s side – a most comely girl, even considering the company Blueblood typically kept – took a step forward, nudging the villain. “Hey, wait a second, is that guy saying he wants to pick a fight? Because I’ve been listening super hard and it kinda sounds like he wants to pick a fight.”
Blueblood jumped in before Lex could answer. “Fair maiden!” he called, making her raspberry-colored eyes blink as she looked at him. “Would you perchance tell me your name, and what your relationship is to that rogue at your side?”
“You talk funny,” she giggled, the sound like the tinkling of bells. “I’m Sonata Dusk, and I used to be Lex’s girlfriend, until he decided that me and my sister should just be his, you know…” She gave a coy smirk then, and Blueblood’s knees weakened at the sight. “Nighttime snuggle-bunnies instead.”
“S-snuggle bunnies…?” Blueblood felt himself turning red, first in embarrassment at the lewd language, then in outrage at what Lex was doing to that poor girl, sating his vile lusts upon her and her sister both! Doubtless he’d lured her in with promises of being his inamorata, only to instead force her to commit salacious acts together with her own, probably equally attractive, sibling for his wicked enjoyment!
“Um, Your Highness?” murmured his valet, licking his lips nervously. “Should we begin negotiations for the duel, or-”
“You fiend!” shrieked Blueblood, pushing away thoughts of exactly what nefarious activities Lex was making fair Sonata and her sister participate in. “To commit such heinous acts on such innocent girls! Does your depravity know no bounds?!” This was no longer a matter of stately propriety. It was about rescuing a damsel in distress – two damsels, to be completely accurate, who were apparently well-versed in participating in carnal activities together – from a wretch most foul.
Nor was that the full extent of this monster’s transgressions. “I can see the full scope of your misdeeds now, Lex Legis! You have terrorized the innocent ponies of this village, turning your wrath on any who dared to stand against you!” He waved a hoof at the unconscious ponies lying scattered around them, who had doubtlessly fainted in horror at witnessing Lex’s barbarism. “You have preyed upon those defenseless girls for your own foul pleasures!” At his side, Sonata seemed to consider that for a moment, before smiling and nodding. “And now, you have dared to raise your hoof against the crown! You are not merely a boor, but a criminal of the highest order!” Beside himself with righteous anger, Blueblood was about to declare his intent to smite him during their duel – purely as an intimidation tactic so that Lex would fear his anger as well as the social fallout from pursuing their battle, driving him to surrender quietly – but he never got the chance as a new voice suddenly rang out from above.
“I KNEW IT!”
Blueblood barely had time to look up before a vaguely-familiar blue pegasus mare with a multicolored mane and tail dropped out of the sky, landing between himself and Lex as she glared at the latter pony furiously. “I knew you were up to no good! Now you’re gonna get what’s coming to you!”
Then, wings flapping, she launched herself straight at Lex.