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// 1 - A Modest Proposal 
// Story: Blue Wedding Belles 
// by David Silver 
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Cadance hadn't married Shining Armor. The two were joyfully dating, with even being betrothed not yet set in stone. When Saddle Arabia's letter came, it was met with mixed feelings among them all.

Celestia shook her head at the scroll. "How antiquated, to put it mildly."

Cadance crossed her arms. "They want a princess?! We don't exactly have a surplus of those laying around."

Prince Blueblood looked between Cadance and Celestia. "Aren't you two the only—"

Celestia raised a hoof. "They certainly can't have my hoof. I am a touch pre-occupied." Her sister had not yet been returned to her, and Twilight had not yet ascended, removing those two possibilities. "Let me consider this properly." She stormed off with a heavy frown, tail flicking once before she went around a corner.

"That was, uh—" Shining Armor was equally displeased, with his marefriend having received such an offer, but it was tempered with the realization that she had already made her decision. "You're saying no, so that's that. Princess Celestia just has to decide how she's going to tell them no. We don't have to worry about it."

Cadance nodded a little at that. "You're right, we're worrying about nothing."

It was a pity that Blueblood found her later, sobbing softly on a balcony. "Cousin, dear cousin. What brings tears to your eyes? Is there any hoof I could bring to your aide, to comfort your soiled soul? An oaf to knock back? A dragon to slay, for any slight?"

She had dabbed the tears out of her eyes before turning to face him, steeling herself. "Thank you, Cousin." She forced herself upright with a little sigh. "But none of that would do the trick."

"You have but to name the task!" He set his hoof on his chest. "Where is Shining? Should he not be comforting his mare?"

She managed to laugh, briefly. "He knows he can't help either. Blueblood, a union with Saddle Arabia promises too much for Equestria. Celestia has reviewed it, and the other options. I will be sad, for a small while." She did her best for a brave face. "But I will recover. This is for too many ponies besides myself. It's my royal duty."

"Royal duty," Blueblood muttered with disdain. He stormed off, angered with a system he only sometimes minded. "This is bollocks!"

Princess Cadance winced when the door slammed behind him.

He stormed through the hallways, glaring at any servant that dared to be in his way at that moment. "Auntie! Auntie!" He kicked open her door. "This is completely unacceptable! My poor, dear cousin's heart is about to be broken."

Celestia rose slowly from the couch, putting aside the book she'd been reading. She rubbed her temple with her hoof, gathering her strength to deal with this new problem. "I see."

"It is a most grievous of affairs!" Blueblood stomped from hoof to hoof. "How could you even so much as consider trading away Cadance like that?! She's in love!"

"Shhh," Celestia ordered gently, with a hoof up. "Come here. Please?" He reluctantly walked to her. "Blueblood, you shouldn't be so rash with these things." She managed a patient smile, which was tempered only by how much she could sense how upset he was. "Sometimes, we of nobility—" She pointed to herself, then Blueblood. "We must do things we would rather not, for the good of the ponies that rely on us."

Blueblood huffed, sitting up tall. "Pray tell, Auntie dearest, when did that prompt you, of all ponies, to make such a choice?"

"I did not." Celestia took a slow breath. "Cadance did. I was ready to decline the whole thing and she suddenly stepped up. I'm both proud and, no, just proud. She is doing a very brave thing, for so many other ponies."

"They should still not make such a selfish, outlandish request. Just to speak for the menfolk, I think it's unfair that one of them so much as has a right to order about one of the fairest fillies in all the land." He frowned softly before those brows shot up. "Did they ask for her specifically? They didn't—" He cut himself off. "I mean, not as if you would not be a wonderful mare, but you are clearly spoken for, Auntie."

She took in a slow, steady breath before speaking. "Why don't you see for yourself?" She slid a scroll across the table to him, her horn glowing as she unfurled it for his eyes to take in.

The request was not for any specific pony. Any 'princess of Equestria' would fit the bill. But there remained only one princess that could be referring to. "Still, they only wrote this." He clopped his hooves together and rested his chin on the meeting. "I am getting ideas."

She gently scratched the back of his head. "As long as you behave yourself."

"Don't worry." Blueblood tipped his hat down in salute. "You know me. Always a gentleman. I will give them precisely what they've asked for." He curled a hoof back at himself. "I will offer myself."

Celestia blinked in clear surprise. "Blueblood, I appreciate the offer, but you, dear prince, are not a princess of Equestria."

"But I very well could be." He nodded firmly. "And such a fee seems paltry compared to the heavy tears I saw flowing down that pristine face. I would gladly take a thousand blades that I could prevent even one of them from falling! I know it would mean an increase in tension between the lands, but I cannot let the anguish of such a delicate flower—" He cleared his throat, tapping his throat lightly. "I know not all eyes are so sympathetic, but I could be just the pony for this endeavor. Besides, we have magic."

Celestia inclined her head at that. "We do have magic, but how is that at all involved?" She sat back on her haunches. "You are very confusing this evening."

"I don't mean to be, Auntie, but if I am made a mare, then I am a princess. If I am a princess, then we are following the letter of the agreement precisely." He nodded with complete confidence. "And none can whisper a word otherwise."

Celestia huffed and shook her head. "Blueblood, such a ritual is quite powerful, and permanent. You would be rewriting your very physical self. I don't think you understand how much you're offering." She let her shoulders droop. "You cannot change yourself back. What you're suggesting—"

Blueblood laughed. "Auntie, Auntie. If I do this, I will have saved my sweet Cadance the torment of marrying any stallion of the tribes. But for me, a life where I may better serve my fellow ponies?" He set his hooves down hard, chin up and chest out. "This is my opportunity to do more."

She shook her head in wonderment at this strange young prince. "That's...very nice of you, but I feel you are leaping before you—"

Blueblood was quick to jump in, "Auntie! I mean it. I can do this, and I will do this. I will be a princess of Equestria, and I will offer myself to the Saddle Arabians. Cadance will remain and be free to shed no more tears. This is the least I can do, the very least. Allow me this."

"You sound quite certain." Celestia fought a smile.

"As ever have I, Auntie. But I cannot go alone. This is a dangerous journey I embark upon, and I feel certain I will need guidance." Blueblood turned for the door. "Call for the royal magicians. We should be sure this is done correctly." He shook himself, feeling quite confident, certain, and nearly arrogant in his pride.

Celestia slid on a couch pillow, getting more comfortable. She wasn't entirely sure how to take it all, but things felt more certain. "Send Cadance in, and I will explain this to her. If she chases you to yell at you, don't be surprised. Perhaps she will have more luck than I have at convincing you to change your course."

"I will do just that, Auntie dear." Blueblood headed for the door with a proud step. "But she will not change my mind either. Better my tears than hers, given the choice. Let my last act as a stallion be the safeguarding of a mare. I can think of worse ways to bookend that, hm?" He left with a soft click of the door behind him.

Blueblood passed Cadance in the hallway. He had clearly just left Princess Celestia. He cleared his throat, walked straight past, and did not acknowledge her in the slightest.

Cadance wasn't quite sure how to react at first, so she just kept on going to Celestia's chambers, knocking gently. "Auntie?"

Celestia smiled from within. "Please, come inside. It's rather urgent we talk." She watched the mare do so, moving with the slightest swish to her hips. She was quite beautiful. "You have done your best to look wonderful, as if there is a time you fail to do so." Celestia pointed to the floor. "Sit. You will not be going to Saddle Arabia."

Cadance did not sit, instead staring at Celestia. "Auntie, I already agreed! You agreed! Why are you changing your mind now?"

Celestia did her best to not show frustration on her features. "No, you agreed to try for a political marriage. You still have the option to decline and walk away, and Blueblood stepped in to give you that very chance. In fact, you needn't even formally decline. We will be sending them a different princess."

Cadance blinked rapidly. "You're going!?" she shrieked out. "You're not just a princess, you're the princess, the one in charge!"

Celestia made gentle placating motions. "I will not be going. Blueblood will be. He's quite firm on this. You are welcome to try to convince him otherwise, but the more you pull him when he's dug in his hooves, the harder he pushes them down."

"He's not a princess. That's nonsense! Even if he went, he couldn't help the way I can." Cadance just looked up, confused.

"Actually, he is." Celestia coughed into a hoof. "I should say, she will be. They have agreed to become a mare, and thus they will be a princess, and then we will offer them up, as a princess of Equestria. We will have done as they asked, and we can put this all behind us."

Cadance staggered over and landed heavily in front of Celestia. "B-But why? Why would she do that?" She tugged on Celestia's mane. "Auntie!"

Celestia gently brushed Cadance's grasping hooves away. "This is her idea and her desire, not mine. Go and convince them to do something else, or stand in solidarity with them. I have chosen to support them however I can, for they remain my nephew, or niece, and my love will not end so easily." She stood tall once more. "They are very passionate. Don't talk them down. Let them make this decision as the fully realized individual that they are. Sometimes, my sweet, people are complicated."

Cadance pointed to the door. "You don't want me to change their mind?"

"You're welcome to try." Celestia crossed her arms slowly. "But, when that fails, please support them, just as they are trying to support you."

"How?"

Celestia flared her wings. "With love." She smiled gently. "I know you two are not family by blood, but he views you as practically a sister. Return the favor, if you can."

Cadance sprung up on her hindlegs, one hoof resting on Celestia's chest, as she leaned close and gently bumped noses with her. "I will. That moron." She tapped her horn to Celestia. "That stupid, brave, moron. Let me try to talk some sense into him." She fell to all fours and stormed out of the room.