//------------------------------// // On and Off the Rails // Story: Cold Confrontations // by Dapper Guy //------------------------------// -Canterlot Train Station, Canterlot- Twilight Sparkle sat patiently on a station bench, a satchel with her cutie mark embroidered on it laid next to her. As soon as she had woken up, the princess had gathered all the books she received the day before and started to depart for her train. Giving a small kiss to Spike, the young dragon was still asleep in his basket, the princess walked out the door quietly. “Now Twilight, I have arranged a carriage to take you to the station,” Celestia said, meeting the white alicorn in the foyer. “My nephew will meet up with you momentarily. He’s made some special arrangements for the trip.” “Special arrangements?” raising an eyebrow at how the princess phrased the term. “My nephew is a slave to comfort, no doubt you already know,” a hint of guilt in her voice. Out of the front gate, the two princesses were greeted by a magenta carriage in the middle of the castle’s path. The side doors were flanked by two guards, standing silently at attention. “Take care Twilight,” watching as the smaller alicorn boarded into the carriage, “And when you see Cadence, tell her I am sorry.” Celestia watched as Twilight’s confused expression faded as she traveled down the castle’s dirt road and out the front gates. Since her arrival, the princess had sat in silence as she pulled out a book to read. The few ponies that were awake worked the station, leaving the princess to her thoughts. For half an hour, Twilight sat on the bench, a few station managers offering her food which she gratefully accepted. Whooooooooo! The sound of a steam whistle stole Twilight’s attention away from her book, as a brightly colored train chugged into the station. Brakes hissed at the forced halt, the locomotive’s wheel squealed as the train stopped. A familiar magenta train car was hooked up to the back; however there was another car behind it. An eight pointed blue and gold star was set in the middle, between two long windows inlaid with silver frames. The train car itself painted royal blue with small suns and moons alongside the top and bottom, with iron railings polished to reflect the morning. Even the balusters were eight pointed stars. Twilight stared at it until a small cough made her turn her attention away from the gaudy waste of bits. “Well now, Princess Sparkle, it’s good to see you’ve come prepared,” came Blueblood's usual haughty tone from directly behind her. Twilight half closed her eyes as she began walking to her train car, “Yes I have, tell me Blueblood- “Prince Blueblood,” he hissed, interrupting Twilight. Eying the petty unicorn with contempt, the purple alicorn bit her tongue as she boarded into her private train car, a train colt opening the door for her as she entered. Blueblood watched as the princess disappeared beyond her doors before heading off into his train car, fuming. Princess or not, all lines of royalty need to be addressed by title out of respect. The shrill whining of the whistle rung in Twilight’s ears as a sudden lurch of the car told her that the train had started moving. Several minutes passed before Twilight began to dig through her satchel to pick up from where she was reading in her book. Opening up to her bookmark, the princess continued on reading from "Mad Beasts of the North". Before the rise of the black tyrant Sombra, the Crystal Empire was tied intimately with the creatures beyond its mountains,- Odd that the author would call these ponies’ creatures, as Twilight scanned over the passage again. This entire book just goes on about how utterly deranged the northerners are, scratching her cheek. -these creatures seem to wield a different type of magic, it’s neither unicorn nor pegasi or even earthen in nature. From gathered evidence, it’s believed that their works require spoken incantations for it to work. They call it communicating with the land itself however without physical representation it’s proven difficult as to how they perform magic at all. Their antlers- “Antlers?” she said aloud, glancing up to see if anypony was there to hear her. Sheepishly returning to her book, she continued on reading. -may work similar as to how a unicorn’s horn works using magic. Strangely though, they lose this appendage from time to time but unlike a unicorn, are capable of growing them when broken off. Flipping the page, Twilight’s gaze was locked on a crude outline of a creature that vaguely looked like a pony. Its shape similar to a pony however on the crown of its head was what appeared to be several pointy tree branches growing. The creatures frame slightly sleeker than a pony and a more narrow muzzle. So this is what they look like, she whispered to herself. I wonder what one looks like up close though. From all the books so far, she had read that they were called reindeer but hadn’t a clear description of the creature. I wonder how different they are from ponies. Maybe they’re not; they look just like us except they all have horns. Knock-knock! Getting up, Twilight went to the door to see who it was. Standing outside was the colt from yesterday, his legs trembling slightly as his head was bent down in respect. “Princess, would you mind if I could walk through here?” “Of course,” stepping slightly off to the side, watching the colt walk to the back of the train and through the door. Did Blueblood call for something?Shaking her head, Twilight returned to her seat. Knock-knock! A slightly irritated princess got up once again, the same blue colt bowing in respect from the opposite door. “Pwinshesh, I ave a wetta fur wou,” he said, mumbling through the white envelope clutched between his lips. Stepping back to let the colt inside, Twilight flipped over the letter, taking note of the eight pointed star wax stamp on the flap. “Thank you,” as she gave the envelope a look of confusion. “Sweetie, how did Blueblood tell you to come to his car?” Blueblood, for her knowledge, hadn’t left his train car and she hadn’t sensed any magic being used coming from his car. “No princess, he told me to come to him after the train started before we started.” Twilight looked down at the foal, trying to comprehend what he had just said. What’s he doing? Opening the letter, Dear Princess Twilight, I offer my services to the crown and ask that you meet me in my private car as soon as possible. Yours truly, Prince Blueblood. Slapping a hoof to her muzzle, the alicorn let out a disgruntled sigh. “Something wrong princess?” squeaked the colt, his head quickly bowing his head again. “No,” she replied. “what’s your name sweetie?” “It’s Steam Puff, princess.” “Thank you, Puff,” placing a hoof on the colt’s shoulder. “Go back to your dad, there’s nothing to worry about.” As soon as the young colt left, Twilight straightened herself and opened the door. Celestia help me, Blueblood, you couldn’t even take five steps outside your own door to tell me something. The wind tussled Twilight’s hair as soon as she stepped out of the door and out into the open. Stepping over the small gap linking the two royal cars, Twilight stood in front of a silver handled white door . Soft music played from a phonograph on a bureau, giving a calm atmosphere to the room. A chandelier with three small lanterns hung from the center of the roof while smaller ones were glowing brightly in the corners to light the rest of the car. At the back was the prince, admiring himself in a vanity, his image reflected in three different angles. “Welcome, princess,” his eyes traveling towards the purple alicorn’s reflection, “I’m glad to see that you came as soon as you could afford to.” “Why did you send somepony to get me Blueblood?” Her voice held no emotion or trace of sincerity. So direct, so forward, I'm going to have to change that. “I just wanted to talk to you, princess, and offer my services to you. Please, come in and sit down,” motioning towards two gold silken pillows lying out on a rug near a window. Twilight sat in front of the prince, watching him finish admiring himself in the mirror before trotting over to her. She watched as the prince opened a small wooden container behind the bureau with his magic, levitating a large bottle of blood red wine with his magic. Sitting down, he conjured two small glasses in midair and filling both halfway with the red temptation. “Isn’t it a bit early to start drinking, Blueblood?” More of a statement than it was a question for the prince to answer. “This wine is nothing special, merely something to relax the nerves,” his voice calm and composed. Taking the glass, Twilight slightly grimaced as she sipped the sweet but tongue nipping drink. Blueblood smiled at her, as he, without even his eyes twitching, sipped his own glass. “I take it you have no experience with such drinks?” a ghost of a smile on his face. “Now then, princess, I know this won’t be your first time my auntie has sent you away,” pausing as he read Twilight’s expression. Slight shift in the wings, minor frown in the brow, seems I’m on point so far. “However, you’ve never traveled farther than the Crystal Empire? Correct?” “Yes.” Still a little on edge on Blueblood’s actions, Twilight felt that if she was going to figure out the prince’s actions, she’d remain as calm as possible. “Also,” he started, shifting his weight slightly on the pillow, “I believe auntie Celestia taught you the basic exchange of etiquette between two different parties, yes?” Yes and no, learning most of the regular practices with her time in Canterlot while she was under Celestia’s wings. So many hours spent on frivolous dining rituals that made her cross eyed. “Do you plan on telling me what you want?” Between his leer and smile, it was hard for Twilight to read his expression. “What I want you to understand is how to understand politics,” as he began to sip his wine again. “What?” “You see, Princess Sparkle, while my aunt may have taught you about how, we, the nobility works, she forgot to show how we operate.”A slight slur in his speech from the rosy concoction. Let’s see the fruit of auntie’s labor, shall we. “You mean bending the rules, backstabbing, buying out each other and lying?” So much for that approach. “Well, I can see that I’ll have to instruct you in the ways of nobility, princess.” The slow calming tune of jazz continued to play through the souring mood as the two looked at each other, sunlight sifting through the windows panes. One regal purple alicorn, stunned and speechless while one bleached white unicorn prince sat in silence of a luxurious car. “Excuse me?” rupturing the delicate mood of the car, “Teach me?” “Yes, teach you, princess, on how to-“ “You are the last, LAST, pony to ever teach anypony how to act, in any way!” she screamed, a small portion of the royal Canterlot voice bleeding through. Despite the glass shattering ring battering in his ears, Blueblood had remained belly down on his pillow, mane slightly askew from Twilight’s verbal assault. Brushing a few stray hairs out of his eyes, the unicorn smiled broadly. “Princess, I want to help you. Is that so hard to believe?” Standing up, Twilight turned towards the door and began to walk away. “Yes,” grabbing the door knob and tugging, only to find the door encased in a yellow glow. Blueblood was standing, his horn glowing with a soft golden light. “Princess, this entire time I’ve been calm, I’ve overlooked all of the little remarks and stings you’ve shot at me, now I’m done,” his voice coarser as he emphasized done. His lips tightly drew together tightly, as a scowl formed. “What is it that I’ve done wrong, personally, to you?” jabbing a hoof at her like a spear thrust. A mane ruffling silence began to fester between the two until a harsh sigh from Twilight shattered it. “Do you remember what you did to a certain mare at the Grand Galloping Gala two years ago?” “You’ll have to be more specific, princess; there are many mares who try to grab my attention.” Pig. “Unicorn, white coat with a purple mane, she was wearing an exquisite gala dress.” “No, can’t say I remember her.” She knows that insufferable unicorn? “Her name is Rarity, and you treated her like a hoofstool the entire time.” Blueblood’s features softened, slightly, however the royal unicorn still wore a scowl on his face. “That still doesn’t answer my question, what have I done to you?” “You treated my friend like dirt and she wasn’t the only that night you were such a pain in the flank to,” biting back at the prince. “The earth pony selling treats at her stall?” “I do remember somepony like that, can’t believe she was trying to sell such commoner’s fare at such an esteemed party.” “How, stupid, are you?” shouted Twilight, the panes in the window’s shuddering from the sheer volume in her voice. “Do you honestly just walk over anypony who you think is beneath you? Is your head that far up your plot that you can’t see how disgusting you are?” A light chuckle escaped the unicorn’s throat, “Normally, I’d have somepony detained for such animosity towards me.” Tossing his mane, the prince returned to his usual calm demeanor. “Why is it you still haven’t answered my question?” Twilight could feel her body shaking, the faint smell of smoke tickling her nose. Control, stay in control, feeling the magic surging through her body roiled. “Those ponies were my friends; you insulted ponies who I care about.” “I didn’t know,” he stated firmly. “Oh, and that just makes it better?” The royal unicorn rose up his glass again and downed the rest of his wine in a single gulp. “Well then, perhaps you can forgive my ignorance of whose part of your inner circle then?” “No.” “Then at least let me help prepare you for what you’re about to be pitted up against,” the prince said, his body swaying slightly. Light wine, huh? Twilight joked to herself. “I can teach you more than my aunt ever could.” “My answer is still no, Blueblood,” Twilight grasped the door in her magic as she tried to remove the spell on the door. “You’re a fool princess; don’t spurn me because of my past mistakes.” “MISTAKES? Being stuck up and inconsiderate isn’t a mistake; it’s a sign of how much of a witless dolt you are.” “As bad as somepony who holds a grudge for two years after an incident?” he casually remarked as he poured more of the red wine into his cup. “I can’t dwell on every minor detail, Princess Twilight; I can’t hope to remember every fleeting moment. I do however; know that I must keep my bearings as a crown prince to my greatest attention, something you have failed to do yourself. The crown is something everypony looks up to so you should wear it with grace.” No princess, I don’t know how Blueblood fell out of the back of the train car and onto the rails at breakneck speed. “Besides, if you can overlook a creature like Discord for his ways, then you can certainly give me another chance. You write reports on the magic of friendship, so why not think of this as another learning experience?” Relinquishing her hold on the door, Twilight backpedaled to Blueblood with fire in her eyes. “Princess Celestia tasked the elements of harmony to correct Discord so he could use his powers for the greater good.” Tiny wisps of smoke flickered off her tail as she spoke. “You want me to give you another chance? Do you honestly believe you’re worth giving one, Blueblood?” The prince sat back on his haunches, swirling his wine in his glass in response. “That is entirely up to you, princess; I can only try to change your opinion of me.” Looking out the window, his eyes seem to glaze over as the sunlight pooled into them. “You may leave but I’ll still be here if you change your mind.” A faint hiss and the prince released his magic from the front door. Twilight sat like a statue, her eyes closed in concentration as she stood there. Slowly, very slowly, she sat back down on top of the plush pillow. “I’ll hear you out Prince Blueblood, but only because Princess Celestia said we need to work together.” You certainly are a tough mare Princess Sparkle, you’re beginning to arouse my curiosity, sipping at his wine again as he smiled back at Twilight. “Now then, there are a few basic steps to know when you’re in control of the conversation." The two royals talked for hours, one always questioning the other. At this time, a certain reindeer had just stepped out of a court building wondering what his own journey would bring.