Blue Belle adjusted her new outfit, an article of clothing from Equestria designed by Cadance herself. She loved how she looked in the dress, and the layers of cloth concealed her alien form. She turned left and right in front of the mirror, adjusting her legs and tail with soft hums. "If I saw a mare like you." She leaned in closer to her reflection. "I would consider approaching her. Would she enjoy my presence?"
A knock on the door surprised Blue. She hustled over to peek out the door.
A maid smiled at the peeking face. "Dinner is ready, ma'am."
"Thank you." Blue turned from the door, but didn't close it.
This was invitation enough for the maid to trot in and begin cleaning without another word between them. That was just as well, as Blue saw it, as that was the meaning she had intended. She looked herself over one more time, nodded, and headed for the door. "I'll be back after dinner."
The maid tipped her head at that. "The prince has asked to join you." She offered a sweet smile. "Would that be alright, Princess?"
"Uh." Blue stared at the maid. "I mean, yes, I suppose I should expect that." She resisted the urge to touch her face, instead being still. "I would be unsightly for a mare to refuse the presence of her betrothed, would it not?"
"Ma'am." The large maid, large like most ponies in that land, bowed low enough to meet their eyes before she got right back to work. "I doubt that the prince would hold it against you, if you asked to be alone."
Blue sighed gently. "I do appreciate that." She thought a moment before going to the door. "But, for now, I shall let the arrangement stand." She slipped out, accelerating to a proper trot as she made her way to the dining hall. She'd learned where such vital rooms were in the time she'd been there, and felt proud of herself for navigating to it without having to ask any guards.
One of those guards stood beside the door. "You are expected." He opened the door with a hoof and stepped out of the way for Blue to enter. "Have a nice evening, Princess."
"And you as well." She smiled at him as she passed.
A moment later, a soft groan of pain echoed from the guard.
Blue spun to look at the poor pony.
He smiled at her. "I'm fine, princess. Just a little sore." He rubbed at the leg that had been injured.
Blue Belle pinned her ears back. "You poor thing." She'd never seen a guard looking injured, especially one of those large ponies. "I should be able to help." She said that mostly to herself, frowning. Alas, healing magic was considered legendary, at best. Doctors had to work with medicine, or potions, and Blue had neither. "I'll check inside."
The guard put a hoof out. "No, ma'am. Your highness, it is my duty to be strong." He assumed a tall stance. "I won't give up just because of an ache."
Blue Belle stared at him, before bowing her head. "Very well, then. But please, go rest, and don't injure yourself further." She waited until he resumed his position before continuing to the door. With a sigh, she pushed her way in, revealing the many noble and wealthy ponies that already had a seat at the grand table.
She put on a proper smile, trotting up to her assigned chair and sliding up into it. Climbing it would be more accurate. The chair was sized for a pony twice her height, which meant she had to take a moment scaling into position and sinking to her rump with a sigh of relief.
One of those nearby snorted at her. "Equestria seems quite pitiful for a princess of theirs." He laughed as she glanced away in shame.
A flash of light appeared next to him, before fading to reveal a plate with a steak on it. Blue peered at the plate. Not fish, perhaps logical in that desert climate. What was that a steak of?
"My princess." The prince, her prince, had arrived with a kind smile. "I am gladdened to see you well." His mane was much neater than it had been before.
Blue Belle nodded at the sight of him. "You as well." She scanned over the room, noticing the glares at Sand. "Is today a particular day? There's a feeling in the air." She didn't mention the pointed looks.
Sand slumped in his chair, leaning to rub at his chin. "Well, yes. Today, we celebrate my birthday, and the union of Saddle Arabia, and, by extension, my kingdom, and Equestria."
Blue Belle beamed with pride. "Ah! How delightfully timed. We start many new things." She glanced away a moment and back at Sand, her voice lowering to a whisper, "The guard, just outside. He didn't want me to say anything, so, kindly, notice this yourself, but the poor thing is injured. He can hardly perform his job well while in that state, but he is ready to do it, out of loyalty."
Sand put his hooves on the table, shoving himself up. "I will tend to this personally. Excuse me, for just a moment." He slid off his chair, then out the door.
Blue shrank back a little. "Did I put my hoof in the wrong place?" She could only imagine what words Sand was sharing with the poor guard. "I hope not."
A maid stopped by Blue's chair. "Ma'am, are you not hungry?" She gestured at the vast spread of assorted plates and the foods they offered.
"I am." Blue glanced at the offerings, none of which looked particularly appealing. She swallowed gently. "I'm just not sure what to get, honestly."
The maid leaned in to whisper to Blue. "You are not the first Equestrian. I suggest that one." She gently pointed with her snout at a lone plate. "Unpopular with locals, but quite liked by all visitors from your home, hm?"
Blue's ears flicked. "Oh!" She lit her horn, grabbing a fork, and lifting up that plate, of all things, spaghetti. "You're a gem." She set the plate before herself. "But I won't learn if I don't try." She swayed her tail gently. "What is the most traditional thing on offer, hm? What would a true Saddle Arabian just not refuse?"
The maid went pale at that, before scanning the table. "That one, perhaps?" She pointed to a chunk of meat sitting on a platter, not on a plate, but the tray it was cooked in.
That mysterious steak from before. "Ah, of course. Thank you." She shared a nod with the larger maid and reached with her magic to slice off a portion of that steak. "I won't know until I try it at least."
"If it is unappetizing, I could..." The maid blushed, obviously in a bind.
Blue Belle gently patted the maid's flank. "Please, no. I've chosen this. If I change my mind, I will know what to avoid in the future, yes?" She looked up and over at the maid, meeting her gaze. "Tell me, are you local?"
The maid bowed her head. "I am."
"Well, then." Blue waved a hoof as if dismissing the very notion of a problem. "I could hardly complain, as my choices are new. I'm quite excited, to tell the truth."
With a wide smile, the maid moved on to attend to the other ponies at the table.
Sand returned to his chair with a heavy sigh. "They insisted that I must not trouble myself over this. I wouldn't even have noticed if you hadn't told me, dear princess." He reached for her free hoof, stroking it gently. "I will bring this matter to attention when there is a lull."
Blue Belle smiled at Sand. "Thank you." She grabbed her utensils and speared a clump of the mystery meat, to have her first bite. Chewing slowly, she tried to decide how she felt about the texture.
"Oh!" Blue's eyes widened. The spices flowed over her tongue in a mighty rush, her eyes watering a moment.
Sand offered a glass of water, placing it near her without water. Blue drank it quickly, but silently. "Ah, mmm, that is quite potent." Despite that, she tried a second bite, carefully measuring it with each bite.
Sand nodded his head slowly. "Our finest cooks and chefs. Each dish has a unique flavor." He sniffed the air. "Ah, you chose one of the more popular, if not common, dishes, the beef."
Blue felt her limbs stiffen. Beef? Were cows different in Saddle Arabia? The idea of eating one in Equestria was unthinkable, but she was already chewing her second bite. She could see no delicate way to retreat from the problem she had created. "The cooking is exquisite."
She gave no sign that she was secretly cursing her own bad luck. She kept her smile and avoided embarrassing herself, at least in that fashion.
"Ladies and gentlecolts." A stallion at the far end of the table stood up, towering over it. He was tall, even for one of their kind. "Thank you all for coming, to celebrate the joy that enters our lives." He waved a massive hoof towards Sand. "My son is twenty two, and I am filled with joy as a father to have him mature and healthy, and I know my queen would agree, and know the same joy, had she not fallen to illness."
The room grew quietly somber in a moment to honor that passing. He went on, undeterred save for that pause. "Also, we have a guest, a new family member. Duchess Princess Blue Belle of Equestria."
Blue tensed at that. They knew her full name?! She raised a hoof to wave at the many ponies examining her. "It's a pleasure to meet you all." She did her best to smile, feeling all that pressure bearing down on her. She ate mechanically, feeling that unease.
The stallion nodded firmly. "Princess Blue Belle will be wed to Sand in one moon's time. They are betrothed already, and getting along so well."
Understanding the prompting, Sand reached to draw Blue closer. "She is a delicate but wondrous mare. I am still learning of her, as she is of me, but we have found nothing unfavorable, father. My princess is a charming pony."
"As glad as I am to hear that." He chuckled gently. "I also must tell you, Sand, that you've inherited much, and that is your responsibility." The room applauded gently. "And you, Blue Belle, you will carry a weighty title as well. Are you ready for it?"
She put a hoof at her chest. "I will proudly be Sand's—" She hesitated, just a moment. She had not been raised to be anything but a prince, and perhaps a husband in time. "—wife, and do my best to support him, and the kingdom as a whole." She realized her misstep, and saw that some ponies had caught on to it.
Still, the applause was gentle and polite.
The king huffed with a nod. "Let the party continue."
Sand lifted an ear. "Apologies for that surprise. Were you raised to become a proper princess of Equestria?"
"No, I wasn't." She touched her forehead as she slinked lower. "I was always expected to take my uncle's role—" She bit her lip, realizing she was about to give away her secret. "As ambassador! I didn't expect such a role to involve a political marriage, but here we are." She covered her eyes.
Sand lifted a hoof. "Now, now. We have time yet." He bumped her gently, setting his hoof down. "Why don't we get some fresh air?" He slid easily to the floor and offered a leg in front of her like a makeshift step. "We've attended the most important part of the function."
She lifted a hoof. "We haven't even had cake yet!"
Sand chuckled at that. "But we have eaten, have we not?" He turned his gaze up to her. "Besides, a little walk won't make us miss dessert."
Blue reached down a hoof to step down, gracelessly falling on the extended arm.
Sand lowered the arm, Blue along with it, to the ground. He slid the arm up between her forelegs, powerful hoof rubbing her underside as he left her standing. "Shall we?"
Blue was a bright shade of red, floundering to figure out how to answer him. "Y-yes." She trotted a few steps to the door. "Yes. Please."
Sand was right behind her as they made their way out into the crisp desert night. As hot as the sun blazed during the day, the moon seemed to radiate only the deepest of chills, carried by the soft wind that kissed their snouts.
Blue Belle had already wrapped herself in her tail as they walked out into the courtyard. She lifted her face to the sky, eyes closed as she relaxed.
"We have much to do, my princess." He undid his cape and threw it over Blue, concealing her entirely a moment under its fluffy mass. "You look cold, even if you are quiet."
Blue Belle was in the darkness, but also there was a scent, Sand's smell was all around her, as if he were embracing her in welcome warmth, chasing away the chill of the evening. She let it hang a moment before reaching out with a hoof and poking Sand.
He poked back, as if she were one of his pals, rather than his princess.
She poked again, pulling the cape back until her head could poke free of it and see more than the back of the cape. "Thank you." She pulled it close, finding that it did keep in the warmth from his body quite well. She walked side by side with the stallion as they moved through the castle grounds, admiring the starlit night.
"You must have so many questions." He turned an ear to the side. "We are alone. You may ask me anything."
Blue considered this with a little frown. "I would ask, what do you expect from me, as your princess?"
Sand paused at that. "Direct." He leaned in, touching his nose to her side. "I like that. From my princess, I would have love. I would have honesty. I would have your support." He sank to his haunches. "With some amount of fortune, I would have children. I would have a happy life."
Blue's gaze followed his. "What do you mean?"
Sand folded his hooves before him. "I don't have any brothers, nor sisters, nor cousins. The closest heir I have is a distant one. In some ways, this is good. I don't have to fear that struggle."
Blue perked her ears at Sand. "Ah, I see." She glanced back at herself, a mare, a potential source of such children. She just had to do one little thing. Well, two. Mares had to do those two things, and children would happen. Neither felt like easy things to do.
The thought of either sent trembles of nervousness through her. "If we did have children, would I be permitted to care for them? I wasn't allowed to be a mother or anypony's wife." She bit her lip. Of course they would let no prince try to do either of those things.
Sand stroked his chin with a hoof. "You will have help. No one princess raises her foals. You will have me, and the maids, and the tutors, and the nannies, and every other pony to assist in raising our family, when we are ready for it."
Blue sighed at that. "That's a relief." She stood up slowly. "I just don't want to make a shame of it. There are, hm, there are things I would have had my own parents do different, had I that power. I would prefer any foal of my own to not have such thoughts."
Sand looked Blue over a moment, seeing her shake a little. "You're in need of something." He rose and began to walk slowly, inviting her to follow him with just that movement. "Perhaps some of that dessert? A sweet, for my sweet."
Blue blushed. "You're too much." She trotted alongside, holding the cape up so she could see him. "That sounds pleasant, though. You were correct." She smiled over at him.
Together, they made their way back inside.