//------------------------------// // Blueblood Vs. Dodge Junction // Story: The Prince and the Pauperess // by Bluecatcinema //------------------------------// Canterlot Castle was abuzz with activity. A short time ago, Celestia had suggested some "vacation time", and Shine had gleefully offered for them to go to Dodge Junction for their upcoming cherry festival, a biennial tradition that he and Mist went to every time with Big Red. Celestia had offered to take Dusty and Blueblood along, and Dusty had answered for both of them. Blueblood wasn't happy, having little taste for quiet little towns in the middle of nowhere, but he couldn't argue with his beloved. "Ooh, I can't wait!" Dusty chuckled as she sat beside Blueblood in the carriage. "I've always wanted to visit Dodge Junction!" "I haven't." Blueblood groaned. "My mane will probably get clogged with dust the second we arrive." "Oh, lighten up, mister grumpy." Dusty nuzzled. "I'm sure it won't be that bad." "I hope you're right, my love." Blueblood smiled. "Sure, she is!" Caboose cheered, having been invited to come along by Dusty. "I always wanted to go to the Wild West. I've been brushing up on my cowboy accent: Howdy, y'all, ain't it ah fuh-ine daey?" He finished in a rather bad cowboy accent. "First off, we don't overdo it on the accent in Dodge Junction." Shine corrected. "And it isn't really the Wild West… more like Wild South… it's a little complicated." "Hmph, guastafeste" Caboose pouted in Bitalian. Once the passengers had all boarded, the carriage took off. Meanwhile, waiting in Dodge Junction, Big Red had a large group of ponies rallied up at the front of the Ranch. Cherry Jubilee was next to him. "Okay, everypony." He declared. "As ya may know, mah foster son and daughter will be arriving here shortly, along with mah son's wife, who may Ah remind you all is the Princess of Equestria, and with mah granddaughter no less. As soon as the carriage arrives, we are to give 'em the biggest 'welcome' ya can muster within the pits of your guts. Ah know it may seem weird that we have royalty attendin' the festival, but ah assure ya, the esteemed Celestia is now a part of the family, so Ah expect ya to treat her as such. Are we all in agreement?" Everypony nodded in agreement. "Oh come now, hon'." Cherry chuckled. "No need to be all nervous." "Nervous?" Big Red put on a proud face. "Ah'm not nervous." Cherry smiled and pecked Red on the cheek. "Don't worry, dear, I missed them too." She beamed. "The ranch hasn't been the same without them." "Yeah... Ah hope that once he gets here, we can make up for the months' worth of father-son/best friends fun we missed." Big Red smiled. "Same goes for Mist." "Don't forget your new daughter in law and grandfoal." Cherry reminded him. "Well, shoot, can't forget them too." Big Red nodded. "Ah can't wait to take lil' Miracle out to see her family work. It'll be like old times! "Yeah." Cherry sighed. Soon the carriage arrived, and Big Red jumped up in glee. "Here they are, guys." He declared. "Places!" The doors of the carriage slowly opened, and Caboose was the first one out. "WELCOME TO DODGE JUNCTION!" Everpony yelled. "GAH!" Caboose screamed. He clutched his heart and pretended to die of a heart attack. Big Red and others were confused. "What the..." Big Red stared. "Who the hay is this?" "Caboose, is everything alright?" Blueblood and Dusty exited the carriage, and were shocked to find Caboose playing dead. "Prince Blueblood?" Big Red gasped. "Mare Ah've never seen before?" "Oh... this is awkward." Blueblood said as he looked around. "Um... hello." Dusty waved. "Hi!" Caboose suddenly leapt to his hooves, filled with glee. "I'm Caboose!" Shine, Celestia (carrying Miracle), and Mist came out of the carriage. "Ah, there ya'll are!" Big Red rushed. "How ya doin', Shine?" "Great, thanks." Shine smiled as Big Red pulled him into a hug. "Hey, don't forget me!" Mist exclaimed. "Mist! I missed ya too!" Big Red cheered, as he pulled Mist for a hug as well. He then noticed Celestia. "And how's mah royal daughter-in-law?" Big Red chuckled. "Quite well, thank you." Celestia gave him a friendly kiss on the cheek. "An' where's mah sweet li'l granddaughter?" Big Red picked up the giggling Miracle. "Come ta grampa!" Big Red hugged Miracle, the Alicorn filly nuzzling against his beard. "Grampa!" She squealed. "Oh mah gosh, she talks!" Big Red smiled. "She's growin' up so fast!" "And who are you, missy?" Cherry asked Dusty. "I'm Dusty Speck." Dusty smiled. "Blueblood's marefriend." "Seriously?" Big Red gaped, pulling his eyes from his grandfoal. "The pretty, pretty prince?" "You don't have to act so shocked, you know." Blueblood grumbled. "Sorry, Blueboy." Big Red snorted. The rest of the royal family emerged from the carriage. "Warm out, isn't it?" Constell noted. "Good thing I brought a hat along." "It is a little balmy out." Gothic agreed. "Celestia's sun certainly does it's work here." Luna noted. "Well, howdy!" Big Red greeted, passing Miracle to Cherry. "Didn't expect the whole royal family ta be comin'." "Shine told us so much about this place, and we all thought we could see what the hubbub was all about." Luna explained. "Well, if ya'll put yer luggage in the house, we can get onta the big tour of our sweet li'l town." Big Red declared. After their luggage was deposited in the house, Big Red led the royal family through Dodge Junction, as they prepared for the festivities. Shine noticed there being Changelings among the workers. "Wow, Red. It seems like ponies here took quite nicely to the changelings." He noted. "They sure did." Big Red nodded. "Ah don't know what ya said or did, but these little buggers have been mighty nice. Hard to believe that these guys were ever bad to begin with." "They've been mighty helpful on the farm as well." Cherry added. "That is lovely to hear." Celestia smiled. "Queen Chrysalis will be pleased to know that her kind is thriving so well. She was very hesitant to send her 'children' out of the hive when the treaty was signed." "I also heard that changelings are making it nice in Bitaly." Caboose chipped in. "My brothers have been hiring them in spades lately." "...What do your brothers do exactly?" Shine asked. "It wasn't exactly clear in your file." "Uh... stuff?" Caboose said nervously. "Stuff?" Shine repeated, raising a brow. Yes. Stuff." Caboose nodded. "Very important stuff, that shouldn't be looked into for ponies usually disappear without a trace for looking into them kind of stuff." "Well if that's the case, we won't look into it." Big Red chuckled. Caboose let out a sigh of relief. Big Red and co. soon arrived back at the ranch. "Anypony who wants to can help with the festival work." Big Red declared. "Still a lot ta be done." "Count me in." Shine nodded, "I hadn't bucked a cherry tree in months." "Me too!" Caboose beamed, "I always wanted to work on a plantation!" "It's a ranch, but I enjoy your enthusiasm!" Big Red corrected with a grin. "How about some cherry tea, your highness?" Cherry asked Celestia. "That sounds lovely." Celestia nodded. "Sounds delicious." Luna agreed. "Cherry always make the best cherry tea." Mist told Constell. "I'd love to try it!" Constell stated. "Will you join us, Blue?" Dusty asked. "Or would you rather help with the festival preparations?" Gothic snorted. "Excuse me?" Blueblood asked, glancing warily at Gothic. "No offense pal, but you're not really the 'working type', are you?" Gothic chuckled. "No, you're the 'won't even get the mail because I'm worried I'll chip a hoof' type." Dusty giggled. "Dusty!" Blueblood yelped. "Sorry." Dusty stopped. "But Gothic's right. You're not the working type. Now, how about that tea?" "I'm not really in the mood for tea right now." Blueblood shrugged. "Suit yourself." Gothic shrugged. As they walked away, Blueblood was fuming. "I'll show them who's the 'working type'!" He growled. Charging over to Big Red and the others, he declared "Need some help?" "You want to help?" Big Red stared, looking him up and down. "What's the matter?" Blueblood seethed. "Don't think a prince can work?" "Easy, Blueboy." Shine stepped. "Of course you can join us. Every little bit helps. Blueblood was led to a cherry tree, where Big Red and co. planned to buck cherries for the cherry Festival. "Okay, Blueboy, here's the deal: Cherry-bucking is not easy." Big Red declared. "It may seem like all you are doing is kicking yer back legs against ah tree, but there is ah fine art to it that you need to mastah if ya want tah get all the cherries." "Fine art?" Blueblood snorted. "Doesn't look like it." "If that's so, why don't ya try it?" Big Red smirked deviously. "I will..." Blueblood said confidently... before faltering. "But could Shine give a demonstation first?" "Sure thing." Shine walked up to a tree, and, one swift and powerful kick later, a torrent of cherries fell into the bucket. "Ya see? Easy as pie!" "Okay..." Blueblood glanced at his tree, before getting into position. "Here goes nothing!" Blueblood wound up his legs and kicked. The sound echoed through the orchard. Blueblood winced, waiting for cherries to drop... but none did. "Huh? What the?" He gasped, shocked. "Why didn't the cherries fall?!" "You must had not bucked hard enough." Big Red said matter-of-factly. "No, that can't be!" Blueblood tried bucking it again, but with the same results. "Come on!" He bucked again. "Drop cherries, you stupid tree!" He bucked it constantly, to no avail. "This tree must be defective!" "Impossible." Big Red shook his head. "All trees here were home-grown and nurtured to the best of our abilities. Lemme give it a shot." "Be my guest, but that tree is-" Big Red struck the tree with one hoof, and all the cherries fell out. "Well, I loosened them for you!" Blueblood stuttered. "Maybe you oughta to sit back on this one, Blue-" Shine suggested. "No!" Blueblood roared. "I have to prove that I'm capable of working in the country, and I won't let any stupid piece of wood make a mockery of me!" Caboose glanced at another tree. "Let me take a whack at one!" He got into position and bucked the tree. Nothing fell down. "Huh?" "You see!" Blueblood pointed. "Caboose can't buck them either!" Suddenly, a loud splintering sound was heard, as the tree suddenly fell over. Big Red and the others were stupefied. "NO!" Big Red wailed. "'CHEERY'!" Caboose glanced at the tree, then at Big Red. "You name your trees?" He asked. "Yes!" Big Red glared at him. "Don't you name your valued objects?" "Well, now that I think about it, I did once have this cannon named 'Shelia'... before she was killed in a fiery explosion..." Caboose suddenly broke down. "SHELIA! Why did you have to die?! I never found out what those two extra pedals were for!" " ...I think we should move on." Shine said awkwardly. "Hey Blueblood, why don't you try cherry stompin'?!" "Cherry what?" Blueblood asked. "It's how we make cherry juice for most of our cherry-based beverages." Big Red declared. "Wanna give it a shot, or are ya worried about messin' up yer hoof-e-cure?" "What do I care of hooficures?" Blueblood snorted. "Bring it on!" "Ooh, me too!" Caboose said giddily, snapping out of his despair. They went over to two huge wooden pools suspended on stilts, both filled with cherries. Blueblood cringed as he got in, feeling the berries squish underhoof. "I can do this..." He told himself. "I can do this..." "And... start yer stompin'!" Big Red yelled. Caboose kicked things off by doing a merry jig. "Roses are red and violets are blue, one day we'll cruise down Blood Gulch avenue!" He sang, squishing cherries like there was no tomorrow. Blueblood was a little more hesitant, only putting down one hoof at a time. "Ugh, I'm going to have very red hooves after all this..." He groaned. "Hey, speed it up there, granma!" Big Red yelled. "We don't have all day!" "And you've barely stomped enough for one glass." Shine added, "Most ponies have about thirty by this time!" "Fine, I'll speed up!" Blueblood said testily. Blueblood went into overdrive, stomping his four hooves as fast and hard as he could. "How's this for speed?!" He boasted. Suddenly, Blueblood slipped, and tumbled out. "Whoa!" He cried as he crashed onto the ground. "You okay, Blueboy?" Shine rushed over. "I'm fine." Blueblood spat, sore in more ways than one. "It was just a slip." "Don't be so hard on yourself!" Caboose yelled. "It wasn't 'just a slip.' It was a great slip!" "Maybe you should quit while you're ahead." Shine suggested. "Ugh, fine." Blueblood seethed, staring at his reddened hooves. Before long, everything was done. All that was left was to take the supplies into town. The wagons were hitched to each stallion. "You sure about this, Blueboy?" Big Red asked. "Ah can take two wagons. Ah'm strong enough." "No, I'm fine." Blueblood brushed him off. "I'm sure I can handle a little wagon." "Okay then, let's go!" Shine declared. They all started pulling their wagons. Blueblood heaved and grunted, pulling his wagon at a snail's pace. "I thought you gave him the lightest wagon?" Shine whispered to Big Red. "Ah did." Big Red whispered back. "Need some help, Blue?" Caboose asked. "No... thank... you." Blueblood groaned. "I'm... doing... just... fine." Eventually, they got all the wagons into town (though they had to wait for Blueblood to catch up), and returned to Big Red's homestead. As they entered the kitchen, Blueblood flopped into a chair, totally exhausted. "Blue, is something wrong?" Dusty asked. "Oh, it's nothing." Blueblood smiled weakly. "I'm just tired after a hard day's work." "Hard work?" Gothic snorted. "You? That'll be the day." "Okay everypony." Big Red declared. "Before we help ourselves ta dinner, there's something Ah'd like ta say ta Cherry. Somethin' Ah've wanted ta say fer a long time." "Red?" Cherry asked, confused. "Cherry, ya'll have been very special to me for a long time now." Big Red declared. "Bein' with you has been the best time of mah life, an' Ah don't want it ta end. Ah guess what Ah'm tryin' ta say here is..." Big Red took off his hat, revealing a small black box on his head. Taking it in his hooves, he opened it, revealing a ring with a small diamond in it. "Will ya make me the happiest stallion in the world, an' marry me?" He asked. "Red..." Cherry smiled. "Of course I will! Cherry rushed over and embraced Big red, kissing him passionately. "What took you so long?!" She said indignantly. "Heck, it ain't easy, askin' the prettiest mare around ta marry ya." Big Red shrugged. "Flatterer." Cherry blushed. "Congratulations!" Celestia smiled. "Hooray!" Mist whooped. "You hear that, Miracle?" Shine smiled. "You're gettin' a grandma!" "Yay!" Miracle cheered. "Grandma, grandma, grandma!" "Let's celebrate!" Big Red smiled. "Time ta pull out them gor-may cherry pies an' aged cherry wine I've been saving fer decades!" Before long, everypony was out in the field, eating and drinking in celebration of Big Red and Cherry's engagement. Celestia was feeding Miracle a small piece of cherry pie, and as per a foal's behavior, Miracle got it over all her face. Celestia smiled at her daughter. "My, you are such a messy eater." Celestia chuckled. She took a napkin and wiped Miracle clean. "There, all clean." Celestia turned around, and was shocked to find Shine had finished his piece, his own mouth covered in cherry filling. "Your sweet tooth is cakes, mine is pies." Shine shrugged. "Especially ones of the cherry kind." "How' bout some music?" Big Red cranked up a gramophone, which churned out a jaunty tune. "Shall we?" Shine offered. "Of course." Celestia beamed. "You don't mind watching Miracle, do you, Luna?" "Of course not." Luna nodded. Shine and Celestia soon stepped out onto the dance floor, soon joined by Big Red and Cherry Jubilee. Even Caboose was getting in on the fun. Meanwhile, Blueblood was sitting at the table, his hooves wrapped in bandages from splinters and blisters from trying to work all day, watching Shine and Celestia dancing together. Dusty sat next to him. "So... Big Red told me you've been trying hard to help out with the preparations." She declared. "Well, I figured they could use a hoof or two." Blueblood shrugged. "I'll admit, it was quite refreshing to get down and d-" A cracking sound rang out, and Blueblood grasped his shoulder. "Ow..." "Blue... you didn't hurt yourself just to prove Gothic wrong, did you?" Dusty asked. "What? Me? No, no, no..." Blueblood snorted. Dusty looked at him flatly. "Yes. I'm sorry, but I wanted to prove to that shadow-walking know-it-all that I could handle my own on in the countryside. And I did... at the cost of my coat and mane, and possibly my four hooves. I just didn't want to be seen as the prince who can't do anything himself." "Blueblood, I don't care if you can't handle being a country pony." Dusty smiled. "I mean, I fell in love with you as a prince, and I've been fine with that Blueblood for over a year now." She kissed Blueblood. "Don't ever change." "...Thanks, Dusty." Blueblood beamed. "And I swear, the moment we get home, I.. am going to have a very long bath." Dusty and Blueblood shared a laugh. Meanwhile, Caboose was dancing... albeit very weirdly, and finished up by doing a head spin... but due to his horn and spinning speed, he burrowed a hole into the floor. "Um... little help?" He gulped from inside the hole. Everypony laughed. Before long, the sun started to set, and Dodge Junction was bathed in orange light. "You know, maybe this wasn't such a bad trip after all." Blueblood declared, as he and Dusty looked toward the horizon. "Best vacation ever." Dusty kissed him.