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// 26 - Mother's Day 
// Story: Blueblooded Bluebell 
// by David Silver 
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Blue walked with purpose. "Fancy is waiting for us."

"Sure is." Fire was not at all surprised, donned in her fanciest dress. Not her favorite, but it was fancy. At least she got to keep her tail ribbon. "We could have met at your folks' place."

"We could have." She didn't continue from there. They could have, but they had not, and were not going to. "Fancy!" She smiled, veering off as she laid eyes on the stallion. "And guests?"

Behind Fancy were two older ponies, a stallion and a mare. Fancy stepped aside to gesture at them. "I present, my father, Royal Purple." His voice lowered in a whisper, "Not actually royalty."

"Charmed." Royal inclined his head faintly.

"And my mother, Foxy Bouquet!" He gestured to the mare, who hurried past the hoof as if her calling was a signal.

She was on Blue instantly. "Look at you!" She circled around rapidly. "Look at you! This is him? Look!" She sat and clopped her hooves together, a bright smile on her face. "You've become a wonderful-looking mare. And I hear you've been up to such lovely things! Please tell us all about them."

"Her," corrected Blue.

"There is not a doubt about that." Foxy nodded slowly. "And soon to be my daughter, hmm?" Both Fancy and Blue colored at that. "Look at you two, so precious." She grabbed for them both, trying to hug her children without shame, but there was another pony in the way.

Royal was gently nudging her back. "Honey, dear. You're embarrassing them."

"Well, too bad! I'm in love with my children and I will faun over them if I want to!" Foxy brought down a hoof with a loud clop.

Blue coughed softly into an upheld hoof. "We are still in the courtship stage of things, Miss Bouquet. We haven't even formally accepted one another as boyfriend and girlfriend, as they say."

Fancy shook his head. "That is not entirely correct."

Blue swiveled an ear, the rest of her lagging behind it. "How is it not?"

"It would be a lapse of etiquette, for a courting couple to... exchange a kiss in such a manner."

Things became quiet. Blue's eyes widened. She had done that. She had pushed the relationship forward, and not even realized it! She... "You didn't stop me," she weakly defended.

"Baroness Blue Belle." Fancy extended a hoof, crooked. "Would you do me the honor of being my--"

Foxy had her hooves pressed tight together, watching with trembling lips and a giddy smile. Royal was far more comported, watching with a proud fatherly gaze.

"--girlfriend?"

"I..." Things were not going according to how she saw the day! She glanced at Fire, who was not even a bit of help in that situation. "I..." She did want that, right? "I accept you... as my suitor, instead of in courtship." There was a big difference between the two!

She was rewarded by being pounced upon. Foxy got an arm around either of the two, hugging them tight and close. "Congratulations!" she sang out, looking happy with the world. "And to think, I was sure I'd just get to meet a darling mare today, but no, my daughter."

Blue smiled sheepishly from the grasp of the older mare. "It is a pleasure to meet the two of you. It's... to be quite honest, a weight off my shoulders to know you approve of us." One set of parents, down! "Fancy, I thought we were to see my parents first, and today?"

Fancy rubbed behind his head, equally as trapped by a loving mother. "That was my plan to start. They called me and insisted on coming to meet you immediately. I don't know what got into them."

Fire finally made a noise, giggling a bit to herself.

Royal glanced over. "Ah, there you are." All eyes were on him, but he was looking at Fire. "Thank you for calling us." She was gesturing wildly for him to stop talking, but it wasn't working. "To think that little foal we once knew has gone through so many changes, for the better."

Blue was darkening rapidly. As nice as it was to  be told one had grown, it meant being called out on needing such growth in the first place. "I wasn't that bad."

Royal coughed into a hoof raised for the purpose. "I didn't mean to imply you were, Baroness. But you were hardly suited for a proper relationship with our son."

That did not help abet Blue's intense coloration! Her old self, in a relationship with Fancy Pants? The court would whisper endlessly... They may anyway... But it was a better situation, right? "I don't mean to be rude... You two have been absolutely delightful, but I do need to meet with my parents." A thought hit her. "Birth parents," she hastily added.

Foxy released the younger ponies. "Well, don't let us hold you back from your busy days." She giggled, a joyful smile on her face. "boyfriends and girlfriends have to meet their parents, after all. It's only proper."

"Too right." Royal Purple seemed in simple agreement with the idea. "Not to be a show off." A clear warning that he was about to show off. "But I would wonder at the senses of any pony that was told Fancy Pants may enter their family and would be anything other than delighted."

Liberated, Blue went for the sheepish looking Fire Paradox. "What did you tell them?" she hissed. "And how?!"

"The proper response is 'thank you.'" Fire extended her tongue, the tip flickering like that of a snake before it snapped back in. "I gave them a call, told them what you were up to."

"You used my mirror!" Blue's ears went stock straight up. "I didn't even know you knew how."

"You ask it to talk to a pony." Fire rolled her eyes dramatically. "I can cast spells of mind bending complexity, but you think saying a pony's name is too hard?"

"How did you even know their names?!"

Fancy ahemed gently. "Dears, we really should be off."

Blue reached up to fuss with the net in her mane. "This isn't over, but yes, we have places to be."

Fancy flagged down a cart that slowed for them to climb aboard. "Besides, it was my fault."

Blue's erect ears quivered and fell, one angling towards him. "Yours? I have difficult imagining that."

"I mentioned them, before." Fancy adjusted his clothing, settled in his seat. "Not long after she got her new wardrobe."

Fire waved at Fancy from across Blue. "You said, and I quote, 'I hope they accept our courtship, but Royal Purple can be a very uptight pony.' Using first names for parents, that's cheeky, and not very appropriate."

Fancy sat up tall. "We have an understanding. There is no impropriety if it's understood between the parties involved. He actually prefers I use his name when he's not present, and 'father' when he is there. A curious line to draw, but not one I begrudge."

Blue burst into titters. "As if Fancy would make such a mistake. Still, what a surprise."

"A bad one?" Fire looked way too smug about how her surprise had went.

Fancy looked to the window, where Canterlot could be seen going past them. "Whereabouts do your parents live?"

"A nice enough manor on the west side." Blue pointed ahead, they were heading towards it. "They've done well for themselves, as aristocrats."

"Oh dear."

Blue perked an ear at that. "What?"

"You very rarely use that word, and never in a good way." Fancy shook his head. "Should I be ready?"

Blue went quiet, considering the words she had used. "You're not... wrong. They are rich and fancy for the sake of being those two things." She wobbled a hoof in the air. "Like I was, I suppose..."

He threw a hoof over her, arm coming down on her neck. He didn't draw her in closer, but it was still quite the forward display. "You've grown, in a number of ways. Be proud of that."

But it wasn't inappropriate, for a suitor, which she had just said he was. She had a suitor, a boyfriend. She burst into quiet giggles, realizing that she had taken a boyfriend out of the bachelor pool that so many other mares would have loved to snag. He was hers!

"You look pleased." Fancy was watching her, the emotions on her face. "Care to share?"

"Oh!" She had been an open book for all to see. "I'm just taking measure of how things have changed, again."

Fancy pressed his hoof into her shoulder supportively from the far side, a hug of sorts, though he was not putting enough pressure to slide her closer. "That is a feeling I understand. These are shifting times for us both. Though, not in a displeasing way?"

Fire suddenly crashed into Blue, forcing her rump to slide over the cushions, bumping into Fancy. "Now kiss!" she encouraged with a big grin, sliding away.

Blue gasped, fanning herself. "Miss Paradox! That is not acceptable behavior." She slid herself back into position. "I'm terribly sorry, Fancy. She's learning, I swear."

"No harm came of it," he assured gently. He did bring his hoof back to his side, detecting the time to have his arm draped over Blue had passed.

"We're arriving." Blue pointed at a building of no particular importance. But it was their neighbor's house, she remembered that. "Now, Fire, I need you on your absolute best."

"I got one set of parents on your side, let's go for two of two." Fire willed the door open and hopped free to the ground with a clop. "What're you so worried about?"

"Oh, thank you." Fancy had not expected a hoof offered as he descended, but he accepted Blue's kind gesture, however much he was sure he could manage the distance. "Your servant isn't wrong. Now would be a fine time to tell us what to expect."

Blue waved off the cart driver, seeing it away to give rides to other wealthy ponies. "Fancy, dear, surely you've met them before?"

"Mayhaps..." He slowly turned in place, settling on what he figured was the manor they would approach. "When we were but foals. There is a high chance you met mine as well. Our parents navigate similar circles, but you did not know them."

"Mortal problems." Fire was dancing in place with an eager energy. "So spill the intelligence."

"They're not an enemy... I hope... Look, the real problem is that I have had no chance to introduce them to... the new me." Blue waved a hoof over her body vaugely. "In their eyes, they see a dead pony. They expect their prince to come by for a visit, not a baroness. Not their baroness."

"Oh dear." Fancy raised a brow just half an inch. "Why didn't you call them and at least let them see then?"

"Fancy, dear. Dear..." Blue raised a hoof to pat Fancy on the shoulder. "They don't have a calling mirror. If I'm honest, I didn't either until recently. Either way, that wasn't an option. We spoke the old fashioned way, with letters..."

Fire sank to her haunches. "And you never even mentioned going mare."

"And I never even mentioned it!" wailed Blue, confirming what Fire had smugly predicted. "They're going to hate me..."

"You would have feared the same thing." Fancy gestured out vaugely where they had come from. "My parents, I mean. But they took to you with open arms and bright smiles. Why, if we can keep that trend going, your family will adopt me on the spot."

Blue burst into a titter at that thought. "That would make us getting married a little awkward."

"I knew it." Fire pumped a hoof, on a roll with social predictions.

Fancy walked past Fire as if she weren't there. "Shall we say hello?"

"Let's." Perhaps feeling better, Blue began a proper walk, one leg at a time on the way towards the front of the house. "Mother, pa pa, I do hope you're ready." There was a button beside the door that Blue pressed a hoof to. An appropriately wealthy noise issued from within the house. "It's been such a time since I heard that," she nostalgically sighed.

"Quaint." Fancy's disapproval came in his lack of compliment.

"Oh don't be like that." Blue swatted at him, but kept her attention on the door.

Which cracked open a moment later. "Yes?" There was their butler. "Ma'am?"

"Don't call me that." Blue waved the thought away. "House! It's me." The butler, House, looked quite confused. "Ah, right. The pony formerly known as Prince Blueblood?"

His eyes widened. "Ma'am... I don't mean to be rude, but that is quite the claim you have just made." He pointed past her, towards the castle in the distance. "Prince Blueblood resides there and..." It clicked. "He did inform us of... his arrival." His eyes went over the mare in front of him. "Your parents will have words, I should imagine." He turned away from the door. "I'll see you to the sitting room. You do recall where it is?"

"House, of course." Blue began into her old home. "Fancy, this is House Pony, mom and pa pa's butler."

"Charmed." Fancy inclined his head faintly. "I am sorry about the surprise."

"Not your fault." House gestured at a room he was about to walk past. "Wait here. I'll inform the master and mistress."

Blue returned the favor for the others, as if they hadn't seen House just do it. "Everyone in." Only after Fancy and Fire had gone in did she follow, closing the door behind her with her magic. "I wonder if mother still..." Her magic snatched an urn from atop a cabinet. "Here we are."

Fire peered at the curious object. "Is that some pony's ashes?"

"Oh goodness no." Blue's magic twisted, grabbing the lid and pulling it free. "Here we are." And out came a parading band, held in her magic, a line of small cookies that set themselves out on a fine plate. "A little something for guests, hm?"

"Jolly good." Fancy did not hesitate to take a sample, chewing neatly. "I am glad to report that they are not the same cookies you remembered."

Blue colored even as she laughed. "I would certainly hope not!" Down came the lid, sealing the urn for the next time they were required. "I would wonder if my parents had taken leave of their senses."

"I had the same question." The voice came from a mare that stood in the doorway, open. "Two moons." Her voice had a cool steel of accusation in it.

Blue twirled to face the mare. "Mother!" But there was little warmth coming in the other direction. "Did I catch you on a bad day?"

"I am a mother." She stepped closer to Blue. "Of a darling son. A darling son who, apparently, decided they did not like what I gave them." She raised a well-groomed brow at Blue. "And do you know what the worst part is?"

Blue cringed back. Her companions were not leaping to assist. To get in the way of a mother and their child was a foal's game at the best of times. "I am uncertain, mother. What was the worst part?"

"So glad you asked, dear." She raised an accusing hoof, leveling at Blue. "It took that son two moons to even tell me what happened! Then. Then! Out of nowhere, he wants to come home, to rub what he's done in my face, to gloat in my discomfort, and to be absolutely certain I know that he does not care what I think."

"Mother..." Tears welled in her eyes. It had been two moons. She'd made an absolute mess of things! "I'm so sorry."

"And even if one were to forget that." That mare was not done. "One remembers how much he discussed this with us, this..." She wobbled a hoof up and down at Blue. "Not even one word. Not... one word. Just, done. We lost a son, just like that, not a word beforehoof, and not a word afterwards. You just want us to accept it."

"I'm sorry..." She flopped to her haunches in abject defeat.

"Ma'am." Fancy Pants took a single step forward. "I do apologize. You are clearly--"

"If you know you're doing something wrong, how about you just stop?" She shook her head at Fancy Pants. "Really, don't they teach foals any manners these days. This is between my..." She trailed off there. "I don't know what they are anymore, but it's still none of your business."

"Ma'am, I must stand my place." He glanced aside. "As rude as getting in your way is, protecting the mare I am suiting rates as an equivalent task. You are hurting her, and I am honor bound to stand in her defense."

Blue's mother turned, her attention sliding entirely onto Fancy Pants, her eyes taking measure of him. "You do realize... Wait... Fancy? Fancy! You could have any mare in the city, and you want one that was your play friend colt friend? You two exchanged boogers, and now you're swapping saliva? Is that how it works these days?!"

"Ugh," suddenly announced Fire. "Who died and made the mistake of making you queen?" Politeness was not a thing standing in her way.

"I never!" she did not say. It was more of a shrill shriek that shook the room they were in. "You have fallen very far, and have company to prove the fact."

"I didn't mean to hurt you," hurriedly blurted out Blue, moving to get between her mother and Fire, lest they exchange more unpleasantries. "I came here to announce this, and so much more! I..."

"Didn't think this through," finished the mother, frowning. "But that, at least, has not changed. It was always about what you wanted, hasn't it? That's never changed, and never will. At least... in this... the world is stable."

"I have... I made a mistake... several." Blue raised a hoof to her chest. "May I introduce myself, from the start?"

The mother met Blue's eyes, the two silent, the room quiet around them. "You don't deserve it," she finally hissed. "But go ahead. Tell me what you have degraded yourself to."

Blue's teeth set. "Lady Competing Clause." She dipped her head and front. "I present to you, Baroness Blue Belle, ruler of Sire's Hollow, faithful subject of her majesty, Princess Celestia. Your daughter... who still loves you very much, however much she bungled things."

"Baroness? Baroness!" Competing stomped the ground. "You do not get to take our title away! We haven't given it to you. Besides, it belongs to your father. He will be furious when he hears this."

"I should hope not." Blue inclined her head faintly. "The barony was in need of direct management, which was not being provided. I have settled affairs, and Princess Celestia is already aware of that fact. I'm not here to oust my parents--"

"--That is literally what you just did!" shrieked Competing, dancing in place with a new wave of fury. "How else can this be taken?!"

"Maybe you shoulda done your job," grumbled Fire quietly, a flick of an ear revealing that Fancy heard her, but did not speak of it.

"This can be taken... as your child taking pride in the family's holdings." Blue turned a hoof on herself. "This can be taken as a sign that your foal is ready to accept responsibilities."

"Responsibilities you did not ask us about." Competing thumped Blue in the center of her chest, but ended up impacting Fancy instead. "Pardon me."

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

Competing scowled at Fancy. "A mare is allowed to discipline her child."

"A stallion is allowed to protect his girlfriend," he returned with equal conviction. "I am terribly sorry, but I cannot back down."

"I deserve it." Blue tried to nudge Fancy out of the way, but he would not budge, moving only when he had to do so to keep himself between the two other ponies. "Let her."

"I will not. Madame, Blue Belle is not a perfect pony, but she has been trying to better herself, her situation, and those around her. I am honored to know her, and, though it is not my place to say, you should be proud to have parented her."

Fire rubbed her hooves together, watching the conflict with obvious interest.

Competing stomped in place, giving up on shoving past Fancy. "You always fancied yourself a proper pony. Proper ponies do not... drop their body parts. That is not in vogue and never will be!"

Blue's ears swiveled against her head. "I did not... drop any parts, Mother."

Competing leaned to the side. "I know what you had, and it isn't there. That... dress... doesn't conceal that." In truth, it did, completely. Not a pony could see what Blue had or didn't have. Of course, Competing still knew of its abscence.

"I didn't drop it, mother. It's right where it always was... just... looks different, is all." She coughed softly into a raised hoof. "You have one yourself, mother dear. That isn't the lack of something, I hope you would agree."

"It would be if I were a stallion before." She sank to her haunches. "Sub!"

Her shout summoned a stallion to hurry in. "Yes, dear?" He looked quickly over those gathered. "Oh, I thought?"

"This is my husband, Sub Clause." She gestured at him. "Darling, are you aware that our... child... has proclaimed themselves as baroness?"

Sub inclined his head a little as he came fully into the room. "Oh... Did you go there?"

Blue smiled brightly. "I did. It was very educational, and productive. The ponies are well in hoof."

"That's good." Sub nodded gently, not really seeming all that upset about it. "You're not taking our bits, are you?"

"Pa pa." Blue went for him and set a hoof on his shoulder. "I would never dream! What I am doing is ensuring Princess Celestia doesn't do that very thing, if she thought our family was neglecting our duties."

"That makes sense," Sub agreed easily. "You're a good foal." He inclined his head a little. "Even if you're a mare now. That's confusing, but if you like it?" Blue nodded quickly. "Then it's alright by me. Princess Celestia must be alright with it."

Competing began to turn colors. "Sub! What kind of father are you?! You're just alright with them chopping bits off your son?"

"If my son wants to be my daughter, then I get to be the father of a lovely daughter." He nodded with confidence. "And she brought home a stallion?" He was looking at Fancy. "I may be assuming, terribly sorry."

"No forgiveness needed," assured Fancy with a little smile. "You guessed correctly. Sir, I wish to suit your daughter. May I have your leave?"

"What a good mannered pony!" Sub raised a hoof and it soon met with Fancy's. "If she'll have you, then you have my blessings."

Blue was already colored, shifting from shame and emotional fatigue to one of joy. "Father... This means so much to us."

Competing, on the other hoof, was looking increasingly livid as her summoned backup not only failed to launch an attack, but had supported the two completely. "Two moons! You took two moons to tell me! That's unforgivable!"

Blue nodded slowly. "You are absolutely right... Mother, I was a terrible child. I should have told you, right away, if not beforehoof. We should have talked... as a family... That was a mistake." She gestured towards Sub. "I can see at least some of you would have supported me, and the others might have too, if I hadn't been such a complete boor about it. I am sorry, mother. I have... I messed up, no excuses."

Competing danced from hoof to hoof a moment, glaring at Blue, then Fancy and back again. "You... did..." Her eyes went past them, to the plate of cookies already sampled from. "You still like my cookies?"

"Mother, there simply isn't a cookie on this planet that can compete. That will never change."

There was agreement, a little something to build from.