After careful consideration of the state of the stallion held aloft in an aura of Rarity’s magic, the staff of the Ponyville Day Spa quickly decided that their customers’ treatment would begin with a bath. Hopping down from behind the counter, Aloe led Rarity and the mystery stallion down the corridor towards the main treatment, Fluttershy bringing up the rear.
“No, wai—”
Rarity ignored the protests from the stallion and moments later there was a splash of water, Aloe stepping back with a gasp to avoid the fluids that came towards her.
“Miss Rarity, who is zis?”
“Ladies, this is my friend, Blueblood. I leave him in your capable hooves whilst Fluttershy and I get ready.”
Once his head had stopped spinning and his rear hooves had touched the bottom of the large tub, Blueblood placed one of his forehooves on the edge of the seating ring and used the other to brush his wet mane out of his face. He turned around and his gaze fell upon the pink mare he had glimpsed on the way in.
“Um… hello?”
“‘allo, Monsieur Blueblood. I am Aloe, I run zee spa with my sister, Lotus. Now, let us take care of zis mess, oui? Please, sit on ze edge.”
Blueblood did as instructed, the mare stepping up behind him. She grabbed a washcloth and dipped it in the water for a few moments, then placed it over his face. After giving a few moments to allow the soapy water to soak into his fur, she began to scrub gently.
With his eyes closed to stop the suds from getting in, Blueblood couldn't help starting to drift off, giving a gasp of surprise as some water was poured over him. Lifting his mane from his face once more, he looking into a mirror to see all the soot now gone from his muzzle, and the blonde hairs missing from above his eyes.
“Miss Rarity and Miss Fluttershy will be along in a moment. Please, relax whilst you wait.”
“Thank you, Miss Aloe.”
She gave him a smile and trotted from the room, leaving Blueblood alone in the tub. He slid down the seat until the water was just under his jawline, head tilted back with his eyes closed; he wasn’t asleep, just deep in thought.
At least I am building bridges with one mare that did not deserve to be scorned. I wonder if she knows… no, I think she does know that other mare from the Gala. Perhaps I should as—
“Enjoying yourself, Blueblood?”
He slowly opened his eyes to find Rarity looking down at him, her face upside down from where he sat, a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. Quiet splashing on the other side of the tub drew his attention, where he saw Fluttershy slipping into the water.
Rarity followed a moment later, sighing as the water travelled up her body. She moved next to her friend and looked at Blueblood, who had his head cocked.
“Something the matter, Blue? You don’t mind us calling you that, do you?”
“Not at all, in fact I would prefer it if you did. Now as to what’s the matter… I think you should go without make up more often.”
Rarity was at first indignant, but checked her rising ire before it could manifest. She knew there was a reason the stallion made such a suggestion, and she would hear him out before politely telling him where to shove it. “Oh, why is that?”
“It makes you seem more… real.”
That caused Rarity to fall silent, her cheeks turning bright pink at the surprise compliment. As if to further her embarrassment, she turned with a pleading look towards Fluttershy, who was giggling up a storm. Rarity then saw the funny side and laughed as well, then took a deep breath and dropped under the water.
Blueblood was confused until she surfaced once more, her usually pristinely styled mane now falling straight past her face and hiding half of it. She set herself in the same position that he was in moments before, Fluttershy already having done so, so he just closed his eyes and sighed as he leaned back once more.
“Um, excuse me, Blue?”
He cracked an eye open and looked towards Fluttershy, giving her a nod to continue.
“What brings you to Ponyville, um, if you don’t mind me asking.”
“Well, as shallow as it may sound, a mare.”
“A mare?”
He had her attention now, and Rarity sat up to listen in better. She knew what he was doing in the town, but hadn’t had the chance to ask him about the mystery mare. Perhaps now she would find out the missing details, and to show no hard feelings remained between them, help him look. For now, she’d need to listen carefully.
“Yes. We met about ten years ago. It was after some silly party that Aunt Celestia insisted I attended. After several hours of mingling with the nobles, I slipped away for some peace in the gardens, and that’s when I saw her. Well, she saw me and spoke.”
“Well, what happened?”
Blueblood grinned at Rarity, who covered her muzzle with a hoof and gave a mumbled apology. At glance at the pegasus showed that she was enraptured in the tale, so the stallion continued.
“She spoke to me. I hadn’t noticed her at first, and she made me jump. We talked under the moon for what felt like hours, but then she said she had to go home. I offered to escort her, and somehow it turned into a date.”
“I woke up the next morning in a hotel with the perfect mare in my hooves. I know some ponies believe in love at first sight, but this was so much more. We had a connection between us. I wanted to get her something nice, so I made sure she was comfortable and slipped out, paying for the room on my way. That was my mistake.”
As he spoke, his countenance fell, Fluttershy and Rarity moving to his sides, giving him a friendly embrace as his tears fell into the water. “I… when I got back to the hotel, she was gone! I should have left a note, not paid… anything!”
Before either mare could respond, Aloe and Lotus came trotting in, with two stallions trailing behind them. The blue-coated mare paused, looking to the bath with a frown.
“Are we interrupting anything?”
Rarity pulled away from Blueblood and climbed from the water, floating a towel over and onto her back. “Not at all, darling. If you would be so kind, could you give my friend here a special?”
Lotus looked to her sister and they both grinned, motioning for Blueblood to climb from the water. He complied, copying Rarity and covering himself with a towel. He followed the unicorn mare down to where several beds lay, Rarity hopping onto one of them and laying one front.
Fluttershy joined her a few moments later, Aloe waving Blueblood closer to a larger bed, so he trotted over and climbed up. He was surprised to feel two sets of hooves press into his back through the towel, but all that came out when he tried to ask was a pleased groan.
He looked to his side to see Rarity enduring a rather rough massage from one of the stallions, whilst Fluttershy had a pleased smile on her face as the other stallion pressed his hooves down gently and stroked along her wings; Blueblood didn’t fail to notice the look of adoration on the earth pony’s face as he stared down at the pegasus mare.
Content to hold off on his search for the time being, as he didn’t think the mare would disappear if somepony were to tell her of the newcomer in town, Blueblood lay his head upon his hooves and closed his eyes as the two mares worked away.
Too soon the massage ended, and if it wouldn’t upset Rarity, he’d get the two mares to move to Canterlot, but next came something he hadn’t had done for a while; horn filing. A unicorn’s horn constantly grew, albeit slowly, and had to be filed down to a more manageable length before it broke of. The part that allowed them to use magic only protruded a little, and a well filed horn actually helped with magic casting more than a bigger horn did.
After that was a hooficure, and the treatment was done. Blueblood spent several moments arguing with Rarity about who was going to cover the bill, mainly because he liked to pay his own way, even if he still had to collect his bits bag from the library, but to also stop the unicorn mare from turning around as Fluttershy gave the stallion that attended to her a quick peck on the cheek.
Bidding the staff farewell, the refreshed and rejuvenated trio stepped out into the streets of Ponyville once more, Blueblood gasping as he noticed how late it was by the setting sun. He turned to the two mares and sighed.
“Well, thank you for a lovely afternoon, Miss Rarity, but I must get back to the library now. Tomorrow, I resume my search for my golden eyed angel.”
Rarity giggled into her hoof, whilst Fluttershy, who was now a bit more curious, stepped closer to Blueblood. “Um, is there anything else about her you know… if you don’t mind, that is.”
“Not at all. Just recently she was given a reserve flyer place for an Equestria Games team. I shall see you around town, I am sure of it.”
“Au revoir, darling.”
“It was um, nice meeting you. Goodbye.” The two mares turned as Blueblood trotted away, heading towards the path that led out of town. They had just past the last building when Fluttershy stopped with a sudden gasp. “Golden eyes… reserve flyer… Derpy?”
Twilight Sparkle stood waiting on the platform as the train bound for Hoofington pulled in. Celestia had sent word that somepony was bringing some important documents that required Blueblood’s approval, but she hadn’t seen him since he left the library. Not knowing who it was delivering the items, Twilight smiled and waved as the ponies departing the train bowed to her as they passed.
“Princess Twilight Sparkle?”
Turning around, she blinked in surprise at the unicorn stallion bowing before her, then he stood back up. In a flash she had jumped forward and wrapped her forelegs around his neck, the stallion giving a small chuckle.
“It has been a while, Princess.”
“Ah, you still call me Twilight, Mr Wise.” Pulling back, Twilight went to help Wise Words with his bags, but noticed he was only travelling light, with simply a small set of saddlebags across his back. Knowing better than to question the stallion, she turned around and began guiding him out of the station.
Wise Words followed along with a smile, for it had been a very long time since he last set hoof in Ponyville, and the train station was simply a bench next to a single track back then. Now there were four tracks, two in the middle for express trains, and one on the outer edges each side for trains stopping, their journey coming from or going to the capital. It also had a roof over it now, as well as a few snack stands dotted around.
They had only made it a few metres from the platform when a large black blur and a small grey blob crashed in through the doors, rolling to a stop in front of the alicorn and unicorn. Giving a small giggle, Twilight bent down and helped the small pegasus colt up, then frowned as the stallion groaned and stood.
“Did we miss it?”
Twilight rolled her eyes before giggling as she shook her head. “No, Thunderlane, the train is still here, you have a few minutes. Perhaps you’d see that if you weren’t rushing like you always do.”
The stallion smiled sheepishly as he set his brother’s saddlebags on his back and then picked him up, hovering in the air.
“Yeah, guess I would. Well, see ya later, Twilight.”
“Bye, Miss Sparkle!”
“Have a fun trip Rumble.” Twilight called out to the pair of brothers before she and Wise Words trotted towards the exits, being mindful of little ponies with their guardians rushing to the other platform.
The building on the edge of Ponyville wasn’t normally overpopulated with ponies arriving or departing to their desired destination, but today was a different story. On this particular day, the station was occupied by foals who were bidding their parents goodbye, one of whom was being just a tad overly motherly.
“You have everything packed, right?” Derpy asked Dinky as she took a peek inside her daughter’s bag.
Dinky tittered as she shook her head. “Yes, Mommy. You made sure I triple checked my bag the last night… remember?” She reminded her mother, who was now blushing and chuckling as she rubbed the back of her head.
“Sorry…” Derpy said softly before clearing her throat. “But remember Dinky, always stay in the group and listen to Cheerilee at all times. Understood?”
“Yes, Mommy.” Dinky saluted her mother, beaming as she giggled at her mother before being pulled into a hug by Derpy. Dinky’s surprise lasted only for a second before she returned the embrace and nuzzled into her mother’s chest.
Derpy planted a kiss on her daughter’s forehead, before letting go of Dinky and caressing her cheek. “Have fun, Muffin.” Derpy whispered as her daughter leaned into her mother’s hoof.
“I will, Mommy.” Dinky replied, before the whistle of the train alerted the foals at the station that it was time to board. As Dinky turned around, she saw the train doors further down being closed by one of the station attendees. As she was about to jump into her carriage, she felt her mother’s hoof checking to see if her saddlebag was properly secure on her body.
“Alright, this is your train now… be good and have fun, my Muffin.” Derpy said as she waved to Dinky boarding the train with the other foals and Cheerilee following suit.
Derpy looked to the windows and saw her daughter’s head poking out.
Dinky waved her hoof to Derpy as she smiled broadly at her. “Bye Mommy! I love you!” Dinky yelled out to Derpy, ignoring the snickers she was hearing from behind her until the whistle, twice this time, of the locomotive blew again.
Derpy waved one last time before trotting away from the train station with a smile on her face. Dinky turned from the window to see find a seat in the cart she was in. She saw Twist in the distance as she walked on, but stopped when she saw the seats were taken by the three members of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Dinky sighed in defeat, until somepony waved at her. She saw Rumble waving at her, most likely indicating a seat for her. Trudging along her way down the carriage, she found a set of four seats, where one was free. Right next to a pinto colt who smiled at her.
With her cheeks burning, Dinky slowly trotted past Pipsqueak and sat herself down next to him, doing her utmost to not look at him for the sake of her face not setting ablaze. She slid her saddlebag from her back as she opened one of her flaps.
Dinky pulled out a muffin from her saddlebag, quickly removing its wrappings before she inspected it thoroughly as she squinted her eyes and looked at every corner. Straightening herself, she slid it to Pipsqueak slowly. When it bumped against his hoof, she paused and turned her head away as Pip looked down on the treat with curiosity.
“S-something for you…” Dinky stuttered, her face becoming more crimson with each second. Her ears perked at the sniggers of the two other colts seated opposite her and Pipsqueak, who reached out for the muffin with his opposite hoof. When his hoof made contact with Dinky’s, she gasped and sweated a little with her face burning violently.
Not noticing Dinky’s shyness, Pipsqueak shrugged and took a generous bite of the muffin he was offered. When he swallowed, a small smile soon spread across his face that turned into a grin. “Now that’s a delicious muffin.” He complimented Dinky as he finished the muffin. “Your mum’s a good baker, Dinky.”
“Um… well I helped bake it… so…” Dinky dared to look at Pipsqueak, but immediately turned her face when she saw him looking at her with concern. “I-I mean! S-she’s good, but Mommy’s teaching me her recipe so…”
Pipsqueak blinked a few times before tilting his head, scratching it in confusion. “Are you okay?” He asked Dinky, who only nodded with her eyes away from him. Pipsqueak only shrugged as he turned to his friends, who continued to snicker. “What’s so funny?”
Rumble cleared his throat before speaking. “N-nothing… anyway, I wonder if we’re gonna meet Princess Celestia on this trip?”
“Forget Celestia, I want to meet Princess Luna again!” Pipsqueak replied enthusiastically, whilst his friends just rolled their eyes. “She’s the best princess of them all!” Pipsqueak declared out loud, ignoring the laughter of his friends. What he didn’t notice was Dinky looking at him with half lid eyes and her cheeks still on fire.
I should have gotten the express, but that would have meant getting up earlier. Now I have to wait in this cesspool of society!
At the far end of the train waiting in Ponyville, a lone sage green mare used her magic to quickly shut the windows of her private cabin. I can’t bear the stench of such garbage! She thought to herself as she let out a sigh and waited for the train to move.
Her eyes drifted to the foals bidding their parents farewell, something that made her contort her face in disgust. Look at those revolting things… Why can’t they grow up instantly? As she looked away from the foals, her eyes widened at the sight of Twilight Sparkle speaking to a white stallion before her. She immediately recognized the stallion, causing her to raise from her seat and press her eyes against the window.
“What’s the servant of Prince Blueblood doing all the way out here?!” She asked out loud, her words resonating across the cabin she was in. Before she could speak any further, the train started to depart from Ponyville. She could see Twilight Sparkle and Wise Words walking away from the station before the train finally departed towards its destination. Taking her seat again, she narrowed her eyes as she levitated a bottle of sparkling water and took a generous gulp from it.
What are you playing at, Blueblood?