Bluebell was distraught. Her talk with “Captain Shining Armour” had done only to lessened her mood. After her conversation with Rubinstein, she had believed there was a chance to head home. That blasted Shining Armour ruined that didn’t he… To be fair, it technically wasn’t his fault, he was just the deliverer of bad news. Now she lied crawled up in a bed with a blanket over her as she bawled her eyes out. She had been crying a lot lately, it wasn’t something she liked doing, it always left her really tired. But she couldn’t help it, she’d just been told she’d be stuck here for a month! During her talk with that Shining Armour, he had asked who she was and how she got into the palace. She had answered with her name of course and explained that she thinks she came through the mirror. Shining had looked uneasy after that. She had asked if there was a way she could go home now and he tensed up. With a heavy sigh he had told her that there wasn’t a way for her to leave until 30 moons had passed. Her jaw dropped. 30 moons! She had to stay here for a month! There wasn’t another way for her to return home?! Shining Armour sadly told her that the mirror only opened every 30 moons, and once the sun had come up this morning, it had closed and wouldn’t open for another 30 moons. She started tearing up at that. Shining had offered her to stay at the palace until she could return home, she nodded thanks as he told her it would be best if she didn’t tell any pony about the mirror. Most ponies don’t know about it except for himself, the Princess and a few trusted guards. The mirror is dangerous because magical items work differently through it and they don’t want ponies travelling through only to be stuck on the other side. She agreed but didn’t pay much attention to him after that. She just picked the blanket up off the ground and covered herself in it. While Shining had wanted to leave her alone then, he had to ask about how she hurt herself. Not caring anymore, she had poked her wing out revealing bare skin where feathers should be and bruises in the shape of bit marks. He was shocked but didn’t press her as to why while she cried under the blanket. Now she was just waiting on the bed for the doctor, Shining said he would send. She wished Rubinstein was here. She didn’t know why, maybe it was just because he was the only pony she knew here, sort of. She didn’t really know him, they’d only had two short conversations. Maybe it was just because she knew she could trust him. God she wished Tailor was here, he would hold her and look out for her, call her Blueberry and joke about her style. She missed her family. It was going to be a whole month before she saw any of them! They wouldn’t have any idea of what had happened to her. How would she explain to them where she’d been for a month. How would she explain not having her English assignment done, she doubted even a month’s absence would be enough to get an extension from her horrid teacher. She was going to be behind on all her subjects! Maybe… maybe it wouldn’t be so bad… she wouldn’t have to do school work, that was good. And who knows, maybe it’d be fun. At that the door to the room opened and she poked her head out from under the blanket.
In front of her in a white doctor’s lab coat was a very shiny mare with a crystal-like pink coat and bunched up mane. The mark on her side was a red cross with four gems around it. She walked up to Bluebell’s bed side while cheerfully saying,
“Why hello there! I’m Nurse Ruby Heart. I was told you hurt your wings. Now while I don’t usually work on wings I do have some knowledge and I’m sure I can help you. May I?” Bluebell, although scared and unsure, stretched her wing out from under the blanket for the Nurse to look at. She gasped for a moment as she stared at the dishevelled appendage but quickly got to work. She pulled out a moisturising cream from a cupboard and applied it to the bare skin on her wings and then proceeded to wrap them in bandages.
“Now dear, why ever would you do this to yourself?”
“I was scared…” Bluebell didn’t want to say any more than that and Ruby Heart didn’t press her.
“Is that what you pegasi do when you’re nervous? Must be like how young foals bite their hooves. Such a bad habit.” Bluebell stopped listening to her after that. She wasn’t saying anything interesting and Bluebell just wasn’t in the mood. Finally she finished and told Bluebell to get up, the Princess was expecting to see her soon. Only problem, when Bluebell attempted to walk forward a few paces, she clipped her front hooves with her back ones and tripped onto the ground. She had never walked like this before, and wasn’t used to the order her new appendages were supposed to walk in.
“Are you alright miss?”
“Oh umm… Yes, just a bit disoriented.” She picked herself up again and told herself it wasn’t so hard, it’s just like crawling when you’re a baby. She still sometimes hit her back hooves on the front ones but it was becoming easier to keep up with the doctor. It turns out she was in a room at the palace, not far from the throne room, but even the hallway was a sight to behold. Crystal walls all the way up to the ceiling glittered in the morning sun, blinding her eyes every so often annoyingly. Even so something was nagging her, and it wasn’t her empty stomach. She turned to the Nurse and asked.
“Um, Nurse Ruby Heart? I was just wondering what happened to Shining Armour and the guard that was outside my door?” (Left front hoof, right back hoof, right front hoof, left back hoof…)
“Shining Armour has gone to the tournament grounds to check over proceedings while the other guard has gone back to the guard barracks to rest up.” They turned down another hallway, all of them looking pretty much the same.
“Oh… Wait, tournament?” This caught her attention, enough to lose focus on her walking and trip a step.
“Why yes, the Jousting Tournament. I had assumed that was why you were here. A lot of ponies from other towns and cities have arrived to watch or partake in the tournament this year.”
“Ah jousting, that’s the thing with the really long swords isn’t it.” Bluebell wasn’t one to listen in history class, some medieval sport if she remembered right.
“Lances my dear, and they aren’t really swords. You see the lances are made of wood so that they break easier when they hit the other opponent. I’m heading down there tomorrow to help out any of the injured ponies. My dear, if you aren’t here for the tournament, just why are you here?”
“Oh… umm… I was—”
“Bluebell! It’s so good to see you!” A pink pony with both wings and a horn trotted up to them. She smiled down at both of them while the Nurse quickly bowed.
“Oh Princess! I was just escorting this mare to you, you know each other?” The Nurse looked surprised as she looked between the Princess and Bluebell.
“Yes of course! Bluebell is a friend of mine from Canterlot, I asked her to meet me here. Is there anything else you needed to tell me?”
“No Princess, Bluebell is just fine, her wings are okay for now.”
“Brilliant. I’ll see you another time then.”
“Uh yes Princess, I’ll just be on my way.” The nurse left the room as the Princess walked with Bluebell into another room. There was a huge crystal throne at the back of the room and statues of ponies around the room.
“Sorry about that Bluebell, you looked to be in some trouble so I thought I’d help. I’m Princess Mi Amora Cadenza, but please, call me Cadence. You came from the mirror right?” Bluebell just nodded, still not quite sure what just happened.
“Princess Cadence? Why did you tell her that I knew you? We’ve never met before.”
“It’s because she doesn’t know about the mirror, she kept asking you questions about why you’re here and I didn’t want anything to slip so I pretended you were a friend, although I do hope to become friends. After all you’ll be here for a month, and I’m happy to give you one of the rooms at the palace to stay in in the meantime.”
“That would be nice thank you.”
“Now on to business, since you’ll be staying here I have arranged for one of my guards to help you get accustomed to living here.”
“Really?” Bluebell was getting excited for once since arriving in this new world, and a part of her was hoping that Rubinstein was this guard pony she was talking about.
“Yes, and along with a tour of the city, she will teach you about our culture and protect you if the need arises, acting as a friend for you in this new world.” Bluebell’s mood sank.
“She?” Through doors to the throne room, a mare in guard armour and with the same purple coat and lighter purple mane colours as Rubin had entered. She was about the same height as Bluebell and paced over to her and the Princess.
“Bluebell, this is Diamond Spirit. She will be your new guide.”
“Um hello.” Bluebell said, she reached out her hoof hoping that this was the proper way of greeting someone in this pony world. The guard looked down at her emotionless and shook hooves.
“Eh, likewise.” Although her face didn’t reveal much, her tone did. It was clear to Bluebell that she was as happy about this as a 5 year old was to getting underwear on their birthday. ….Did ponies even have underwear? This was a question for another time though.
“Diamond Spirit, this is Bluebell. I hope you two can become friends, oh and don’t forget to have Bluebell back here for dinner. I want to hear all about your first day in the Crystal Empire.” Cadence’s warm smile was enough to brighten her face while they left the palace, though after they were gone her mood was severely dampened.
“I can’t believe I’m stuck with dragging you around for a month! I’m not a foalsitter! I’m a royal guard! Nopony is ever going to take me seriously after this.” It was non-stop whining since they left the palace. Bluebell wasn’t learning anything about the city or getting to know this pony any better aside from what a complete pain she was.
“Do you think we could talk about something else?”
“Oh and what would that be hmmmm?! About how my job is in jeopardy, about how no stallion will ever want a pitiful foalsitter for a wife?!”
“How about how you never shut up?” Bluebell mumbled.
“What was that?!”
“Oh um, I said how about the tournament? Why don’t we check how it’s going?” Diamond just rolled her eyes and trotted off in another direction, hopefully one that led to the jousting grounds.
***
Luckily her guide did know where they were going and they found themselves walking in between the contestant’s tents. Many of the competitors were from outside the Crystal Empire and didn’t have somewhere to stay like she did. So they would set up tents where they could spend the night and get ready for the competition. Flags with their insignia stood outside their tents to mark whose were who’s. They were just passing a tent with a picture of a storm cloud along with three lightning strikes shooting out of it when Bluebell bumped into someone. He was a tall pegasus stallion with a light grey coat and black mane that stood up like the wind had permanently pulled it back in place. His rump also had the picture of the storm cloud with lightning on it. He looked down at Bluebell with dark blue eyes as her face reddened in embarrassment.
“I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you, I wasn’t looking where I was going. Sorry.” A broad grin covered his face.
“Oh there’s no need to be sorry, the faults all mine. What are you doing wandering around here?” he took a quick glance to Bluebell’s flank and finished with, “Cupcake.”
“Well Diamond Spirit here was showing me around.” Bluebell pointed to her guide who flittered her eyes back at him suggestively. He gave her barely a second glance before he stood between the two and guided Bluebell away from Diamond. He had one of his huge wings pushing her forward as they walked.
“That’s all very nice and well Cupcake, but hows about you let me show you around. The name’s Colossus by the way.”
“And my name’s Bluebell, and although I would love to take you up on that offer I alre—”
“Great! Just follow me.” Bluebell wasn’t sure what to do, she didn’t want to be rude but she was sure she couldn’t run in this body yet, she was still getting the hang of walking! Luckily the rejected Diamond was feeling all too eager to help. Pushing in between them both, she pushed Bluebell away from Colossus and turned on him.
“Hey! I don’t know who you think you are but you are not taking this pony with you. I have been instructed by the Princess herself to watch her and there’s nothing you can do to change that. So leave!” Without waiting for a response Diamond turned and roughly nudge Bluebell forward. They left Colossus and headed away from the jousting grounds to the shop district to find something to eat.
***
They were sitting down outside a restaurant waiting for their meal while Diamond sulked in her seat.
“I can’t believe that stallion went after you of all mares! What am I just not good enough for him?! Am I not good looking enough?!”
“Maybe it’s the armour? You know, doesn’t want to get in trouble for hitting on one of the guards.” Bluebell didn’t care, she just didn’t want to listen to any more complaining.
“You’re probably right, I mean, what stallion in their right mind would pick a mare like you over me?” Bluebell was quite offended by that but didn’t think much of it. Her breakfast had finally arrived and she was starving. She hadn’t eaten anything since yesterday lunch thanks to a certain mirror and had to admit, crystal berry pancakes were very delicious, even if it was difficult to eat them without hands. It felt odd just ploughing into it with her face like a dog or… horse… would. But she guessed she’d just have to get used to it for now.
***
“Hey I think I found her!” One of Colossus’ friends was running back to him after he’d told them to go out and look for his beautiful mare again. He liked this one, she was quite the looker and a Pegasus as well, and he met her at the Crystal Empire of all places. He just had to have her, a mare such as herself couldn’t be with just any stallion, only one as handsome and strong like himself could have such a mare.
“Where?” They rounded the corner and there across the street was his mare; Cupcake. “Alright Whirlwind, here’s what you do.” Colossus drew his friend closer to whisper his instructions.
***
Bluebell had just finished her meal when a strapping young stallion trotted over. He was a pegasus and had a brown coat with silver mane and bright gold eyes. Flicking his mane out of his face he turned towards the guard pony across from Bluebell and grinned.
“Why hello there madam, I hope you’ll pardon the intrusion but I just couldn’t help but come over. You see I have travelled many lands and flown many skies, but I must say, you are surely the most stunning pony I have ever seen.” Diamond’s cheeks turned bright red as she looked up at the handsome stallion. “The name’s Whirlwind, may I have yours?”
“Diamond Spirit.” Her beam was so far stretched across her face it was difficult for her to say anything more. His gold eyes came closer to hers as he leaned down across the table, their muzzles inches away. Diamond’s stomach fluttered with butterflies. Bluebell’s on the other hand was feeling sort of awkward, like a third wheel on a bicycle, it was like she wasn’t even there.
“Umm? Diamond?” Bluebell really didn’t want to intrude but what else could she do? Diamond’s face creased as she looked over at her annoying companion.
“What is it?!” Whirlwind didn’t even bother turning to look at her, he just used this as an excuse to lean in closer to Diamond.
“I.. I don’t know…” Bluebell really didn’t, she just wanted this stallion to move away from them, but she didn’t know how to say it without sounded really really mean… Diamond sighed irritated as her hooves held the sides of her head, she looked just about to burst from having to deal with Bluebell, luckily her coltfriend had an idea.
“Hey Diamond, why doesn’t your friend order us a drink or something…” Diamond’s smile returned as she gazed into his eyes. Dreamily she agreed and Bluebell was ushered away to the counter. She asked the waiter for three vanilla milkshakes but as she started heading back over with them, her path was blocked by none other than Colossus.
“Hey there Cupcake, fancy meeting you here. What’s say you and I ditch the lovebirds and head around town?”
“Oh I really don’t think I should, thanks for the offer though.”
“Come on Cupcake, it’ll be fun. Forget them, they’re off in gah-gah land. Just you and me now.” Colossus had picked up one of the milkshakes and put it between Diamond and Whirlwind, taking Bluebell’s straw so the drink had two straws poking out of it, leaving Bluebell to just sip out of hers. Stretching out his wing, he held it behind Bluebell, keeping her close to him, while also forcing her to walk with him. He had guided Bluebell out of the shop and they were on the side of an almost empty street while they enjoyed the last two milkshakes. Bluebell was quietly sipping hers unsure what to do, she wasn’t sure she was confident enough to run yet and she doubted she could get away from Colossus anyway.
“So Cupcake, you know the Princess?”
“Uh yeah, we’re old friends. It’s my first time in the Crystal Empire so she had one of the guards ponies show me around… Who I should probably be getting back to.”
“What do you need her for? You have me, I can show you around. I was thinking of taking a flight over the city, I can see your wings aren’t really up to it,” he said looking to the bandages around them, “But I was thinking I could carry you. Care to join me?” His own wings spread out.
“No thank you, the ground’s fine.”
“What’s wrong Cupcake? I thought a babe like you would love a flight over the city with me.”
“Please, just call me Bluebell, my name’s not Cupcake.”
“Oh but Cupcake is just so much more,” Suddenly Colossus’ tongue licked some milkshake foam from her nose, “Delicious.” Bluebell’s milkshake dropped to the ground from her hoof in shock. She backed away a few steps but found herself stopped by a wall. Colossus walked right in front of her, his eyes gleaming back, his smile licked by his foam covered tongue. Before she could bolt, he had his hoof around her neck and pulled her closer toward him. She tried to sink her head away but his other hoof rested under her chin and lifted it closer. Her voice failed her as her heart thumped against her chest. She tried to speak but Colossus beat her to it.
“Looks like you spilt your milkshake babe, let me just help you clean it up.” But he wasn’t talking about the drink on the floor, instead his tongue licked right over her lips, cleaning up the milkshake still on them. Bluebell was freaking out, she started pushing against him trying to get free but his grip tightened and his muzzle was suddenly interlocked with hers. She barely knew what happened before she felt his huge tongue rolling around the inside of her mouth. His dark blue eyes were the last things she saw before he brought his wings up to hide them from watchful eyes. A veil of darkness added to her torment, unable to call for help and too weak against this leviathan to stop him, she wasn’t sure what to do. Tears welled up in her eyes as only a few trickled over.
All at once, her darkness vanished.
With her lips relinquished and the taste of vanilla like dirt in her mouth, she turned a tear soaked face and saw a lone stallion standing next to them. He had Colossus’ wing pulled down and was looking between the two of them, his face hardened when he saw Bluebell’s tears.
“Hey buddy! Do you mind?! Me and my girlfriend are kinda busy here?” Colossus wrenched his wing out of the stallion’s grip. Bluebell looked up at the new comer with hope.
“Girlfriend huh?” His voice was blunt but sounded familiar, like Rubinstein’s, he even had the same purple coat, but his mane was blue instead of light purple like before. He also didn’t have any armour on so she could see the picture on his side was of a palace tower.
“Yeah, so bugger off! Come on Cupcake, someponies just have no idea what privacy is.” Colossus stood up and started herding Bluebell away, they were stopped though when the stallion walked in front of them. Colossus was aggravated. “Hey! What do you think you’re doing?!”
“Get off her.” His voice was barely audible as he grit his teeth together.
“What?”
“Leave her alone you miserable excuse for an equine!” The stallion bellowed, he had pushed between Colossus and Bluebell and butted him away from her. Head down and nostrils flaring he guarded Bluebell from him.
“What in Tartarus are you doing?!?! That’s my girlfrie—”
“SHE IS NOT YOUR GIRLFRIEND!” His hoof slamming the cobbled road. “Now leave Bluebell alone before I have you thrown in jail for harassing her!”
“Rubinstein!” Bluebell’s eyes widened with joy as she squealed his name, he turned slightly to give her a soft smile before throwing his attention back at Colossus.
“Wait, you know her?!” Colossus’ face etched in surprise.
“Yes I know her. And if I ever see you near her again I will personally make sure your stay in the dungeons is a long and unpleasant one!” With a flick of his tail, Rubin kicked after Colossus causing him to jump in the air,
“Ah! Alright, alright! I’m going!” Colossus flew up out of Rubin’s reach, “Be seeing ya babe.” He said with a grin, then off over the buildings out of sight he flew. Rubin huffed pleased with himself and turned back towards Bluebell. He didn’t get far before being tackled in a lung crushing hug. He looked down and saw Bluebell beaming as she gripped his neck.
“I-I’m so glad you came! I didn’t know what to do, he wouldn’t leave me alone and I couldn’t get away and and…” Her eyes squeezed shut as more tears found their way down her face. Her breathing was erratic as she pressed her face into Rubin’s chest and cried. He wrapped his arms around her and just waited, stroking her neck until she was ready.
***
Bluebell’s eyes were still red and puffy when they made their way over to the restaurant that she had eaten breakfast at that morning. Luckily Diamond Spirit was still there gazing into her new stallion friend. That was short lived though when Rubin interrupted them and ordered Diamond to follow him. Their trek over to the Crystal Palace was a silent one, Bluebell wasn’t feeling up to talking and Rubin was ignoring all of Diamond’s attempts to figure out what this was supposed to be about.
Finally they reached the palace and they each entered the throne room. Shining was speaking to his wife at the time but both stopped to see who entered.
“Rubinstein? What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be off-duty.” Shining Armour asked.
“Sir, I need to speak with you immediately. It’s about Bluebell.” Cadence was suddenly rushing over to Bluebell as she said,
“Oh my goodness! What’s happened? You look like you’ve been crying dear.”
“Rubin what happened?” Shining walked over to them as well to speak with Rubin.
“Bluebell was harassed by a stallion. I found him forcing himself on her in the street.” The Princess gasped as Shining looked concerned, he turned on Diamond and asked,
“Where were you? Weren’t you supposed to be looking out for her?”
“I didn’t know that was happening!” She exclaimed.
“That’s because you were making googly eyes with a stallion of your own.” Rubin bluntly said, he stared daggers at her with hatred.
“What right do you have to state that!?!” She yelled at Rubin.
“EVERY RIGHT! Bluebell was almost taken advantage of while you were off being distracted by some stallion! Something could’ve happened to her!” Shining suddenly stepped between them to stop any hooves flying.
“Both of you, enough! Diamond! I want you in my office now!” She gritted her teeth to hold back words she might regret and trodded out the room. “Now Rubin, aside from your outburst just now… I am very happy for what you did.”
“Thank you sir.”
“It was very noble Rubinstein.” Cadence said. “Helping a lady in need.” A small voice then asked,
“Can Rubinstein be my guard?”
“Huh?” Each of them turned to Bluebell. She withdrew at all their staring faces but continued in a quiet voice.
“You know, instead of Diamond. He does a better job of it anyway.” Shining smiled in understanding and asked,
“That all depends. Rubinstein, do you want to watch out for Bluebell during her stay here.” Without hesitation he answered,
“I’d be happy to sir.”