//------------------------------//
// Revealing the Lies 
// Story: Azure Flame 
// by Silver Page 
//------------------------------//

	Blueblood stared in horror at Twilight, who had appeared from the hallway, and was staring back at the Prince with an equally shocked expression. Neither moved a muscle and just stood there, silent and staring.
He opened his mouth to say something, anything, but the Unicorn held up her hoof, cutting him off. He blinked in surprise, and watched with a mixture of curiosity and fear as Twilight started to pace the floor and mutter to herself.
“Okay, Twilight, no need to panic. We don’t need to go crazy. Sure, Princess Celestia’s nephew, has a secret identity! Sure, he has lied to not only his whole family, but to Rarity. Who, by the way, he seems to like. No, love! But hides his affection in the form of anonymous creepy stalker gifts! Oh sweet Celestia, what in the name of Tartarus am I going to do?!”
Though slightly amused by Twilights overreaction, Blueblood felt he should intervene before her ranting drew any unwanted attention. 
“Um, Miss Twilight?” She looked over, a demented look in her eyes that caused the Prince to take a step back out of fear.
“Deep breaths?” He offered, hesitantly. She stared for a few minutes that made him squirm, but eventually she broke eye contact and took a series of calming breaths.
“Okay, I’m good. Now, onto business.” She turned her gaze to Blueblood, and he had to resist not to bolt as her eyes pierced him. “WHAT THE HAY IS GOING ON?!”
“Well, you see,” Blueblood stammered, and was about to try and lie or avoid the conversation, but some small remnant of honesty and integrity remained in his heart, and he sighed heavily.
“The truth is pretty much as it is. I am Azure Flame. There isn’t a pony with that name, I checked the census records. I use that identity to be myself.” As Blueblood spoke, the feelings he’d had bottled up inside for years spilled out.
“Because I’m a Prince, everypony has always treated me differently, and even in the comfort of the castle, I feel isolated and estranged. And after I lost my parents,” Blueblood choked back a sob, “I developed some odd habits. Whenever I feel nervous, a part of me breaks free; Snob Mode. I act aloof, snooty, and arrogant. Because of that, ponies stay away from me, and label me a foppish noble! I couldn’t go on! I had to do something!”
Blueblood took a deep breath, and tried to collect himself and calm his nerves. Twilight looked on, her intense gaze softening as she listened to the Prince spill his heart.
“Can you imagine what it’s like to be essentially trapped in a gilded cage surrounded by babbling nobles with petty desires and shallow personalities? For years I suffered, the loss of my parents weighing heavily on my mind, and the court life only made my burdens heavier. I couldn’t even leave the castle without an escort because I’d be mobbed by groupies and other ponies. But then I found a solution!”
“If I went about disguised, I could go about Canterlot unnoticed! Long story short, I created the persona of Azure Flame to allow me to see the world beyond the castle walls in an unfiltered, uncensored manner. I could live the life I never had, and befriend the citizens I’m supposed to lead. I’ve seen the true face of the city of Canterlot, and despite its many failings, I can’t help but love it.”
Twilight looked at Blueblood in amazement, admiration for him appearing as she watched him shed his fears and tell her his story. A story it seemed no one else knew.
“Why Rarity?” It was a simple question, but it carried a lot of potential, and Twilight wanted to know. 
Blueblood’s reaction was as unexpected as it was adorable. A cute blush formed on his face, and he tried to hide it behind his hooves, covering up himself in panic as he felt the heat. 
“Before the Gala, I had never met Rarity. To be fair, I had never met any pony so beautiful, so elegant, so refined, and so generous before, either. But when I saw her at the Gala, I felt something. Auntie was always talking about you and the other Elements, and I learned a lot about her from the letters you’d send. There was a now a chance to meet this lady, and so I attended last year’s Gala in the hopes of meeting Rarity. In fact, that was the first Gala I had attended since…” Blueblood trailed off, bitter memories of his trying to surface. But he crushed them down, and turned his attention back to Twilight. 
“But the hobnobbing and the greeting and the nobility! I don’t do well in public settings, which is why I requested a desk job running the Canterlot General Affairs Office. Too much pressure, and I go into Snob Mode. I treated Rarity poorly because I couldn’t contain my nervousness, and ended up ruining my one chance. Or so I thought.”
“I used the persona of Azure Flame again, this time to send packages and letters of apology to Rarity. But I was too nervous and scared to even use my fake name, so I sent them all anonymously.” Blueblood lowered his head, and Twilight saw the hurt and shame in his eyes.
“I’m a coward. In the end, I couldn’t tell her the truth. Then, Auntie Celestia and Luna, and cousin Cadence as well, had the brilliant idea to invite you all to help me with the planning for this little event.” Twilight could hear the sarcasm dripping from his words at the mention of the Princesses. 
“And it got worse. I couldn’t deal with you, as Blueblood or Azure Flame. And then I nearly went and struck Rarity…!” Blueblood sunk to his haunches, and sobbed softly. Twilight, motivated by some odd female impulse, trotted over and wrapped the prince in a big hug. 
“I never wanted to hurt her! But all I could see when she spoke of the Gala was my parents! All I could see was their deaths! And I couldn’t take it. I couldn’t…” Twilight said nothing, and let Blueblood cry into her shoulder. 
She might not have been the most observant pony when it came to emotions, but even Twilight could tell he was truly sorry, and he wanted nothing more than to be liked. She decided then to try and make him happy, help the poor Unicorn get the girl of his dreams. 
With a smile, she used her magic to dry her dress and mane off, and wipe the tears from Blueblood’s face. In a moment, he was looking good as new. Everything looked like it was going to be fine.
“TWILIGHT?!” Or not. 
Blueblood wasn’t paying much attention until he heard the shout, and his eyes widened at what he saw over Twilight’s shoulder. With a hesitant turn of her head, Twilight looked behind her, and saw Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack, standing in the hallway, staring. 
At her. 
And Blueblood. 
Hugging.
“…This isn’t what it looks like?” Twilight offered, wondering how this could get worse.