Redemption
Chapter 6: The Reunion
This was it.
This was that one moment that Blueblood looked forward to for over five years from the day he departed on his journey. The moment where he and his Aunty Celestia met once more. The moment where he would be known as, not the bratty and disrespectful Blueblood that has been a soul-crushing disappointment, but the kind and matured Blueblood that he sees as one worthy of the title Prince. And now, seeing her again...
... he couldn't be more nervous.
"Blueblood..." Celestia whispered with wide, hot eyes, slowly rising to her hooves, not believing the sight before her eyes.
"Aunty." Blueblood said in kind, his mouth trembling for what to say next.
It was only a matter of time.
"Blueblood!" Celestia cried out in tearful passion as she broke into a gallop. At this moment, the little colt in Blueblood jumped out of him as he galloped towards her, his bright, happy blue eyes alight in unbridled joy with a confident smile to match. They threw their hooves around one another as they met in a loving, passionate embrace between motherly aunt and loving nephew. Blueblood buried his cheek into her warm, soft barrel, listening in on the tune of Aunty Celestia's thundering heart. Celestia, with joyous, teary eyes, rested her head atop Blueblood's, her cheek brushing against his horn. Throughout that moment, Celestia gradually calmed as she slowly rocked them back and forth, appreciating the feeling of her nephew wrapped within her gentle caress.
"Words cannot describe how much I've missed you, Aunty." Blueblood spoke, hugging tighter as he felt a drop of moisture drop on his head. She was crying. Because of him, just like Cadence. And like Cadence, Celestia made him want to cry himself. He did his best to hold it back as he tightly shut his eyes, but the whimper that escaped him refused to be bottled up inside. He tried to take a deep breath to calm himself, but his breathing was shaky and ragged.
Celestia chuckled quietly "There there..." she whispered, rubbing her nephew's back with the tenderness of a mother. "It'll be okay, Blueblood."
"I-I'm sorry I left."
"It's okay, it's okay." Celestia whispered softly. After they both calmed down after the heat of the moment, they pulled apart to take in each other. Celestia hasn't changed a bit; her alabaster coat was still flawless and neat, her long, ethereal mane glowed with an array of colors as it billowed in a non-existent breeze, and her pearl pink eyes reflected undying love and wisdom. On the other hoof, Blueblood has changed so much. His snow white coat was thicker, fluffy even, his golden blonde mane that used to reach only his neck now stretched downed to his shoulders, pulled back behind his ears so it didn't completely cover his face, and his ocean blue eyes betrayed maturity and a longing for loved ones. They stared, cheeks still wet with tears, up until Celestia spoke those words again.
"I'm so proud of you Blueblood."
Feeling a new wave of emotions, Blueblood lunged at her, embracing her once more with a fresh stream of tears, nuzzling into her barrel. "I love you... Aunty."
Celestia smiled with the warmth of the sun. "I love you too, Blueblood. So much." seeing her nephew, the same, momma's colt Blueblood, now so matured, still showing such emotion, made Celestia giggle with a prominent blush. She remembers him being just so happy when she first told him she was proud of him. It wasn't very long after that it dawned on her that that was all Blueblood ever wanted in life; for his family to be proud of him. Such words from somepony as important to him as her meant the world and more. "I only wish I could have been there for you the whole time."
Blueblood pulled away again, he looking back up to her. "What do you mean, Aunty? I don't understand." Blueblood, looking back to his old life, was largely a blur, considering his old self hardly ever thought much before pulling himself up or putting others down. Whenever he did think back to it though, he just saw it as simply a sad existence.
"I'm sure you never would have changed if I instead consoled you about your ill feelings instead of reprimanding you." but even given the blur of his pathetic existence, any moment that stuck out to him was his time with those he holds close, whether it be good times or bad, and lectures, scoldings and such certainly counted as bad. "I'm sorry for that."
Now it was Blueblood's turn to explain. "Aunty, you should know that I'll still love you no matter what happens to me or to you. You haven't changed at all, and I've changed so many times, it's hard to keep count. And here we are. You're still Aunty to me." Celestia would've hugged him again, but they both knew they had enough hugging to last a little while. Instead, she stuck with nuzzling his cheek.
"That's my little Blueblood." Celestia said before leading him over to her cushion, in the warmth of the fire. "Now that we're rightfully reacquainted, would you like to help me finish my little story? I was just getting to the interesting part." Celestia said, picking up the book with her magic, holding it in the light. So much time has passed, catching up on old times would be the rightest thing either of them has done over that time.
Needless to say, Blueblood recognized the cover almost immediately. "I would love to." Blueblood said before he began removing his cloak. No more need for it since he was back home. It disappeared easily with magic, and since he's been doing nothing but walking and waiting for the last few weeks, he took a nice, long stretch to relieve some tension, Celestia watching all the while from the comfort of her cushion.
As soon as she saw what was underneath his cloak, Celestia was seemingly frozen on the spot from her seat on her cushion. Blueblood now had the best body of anypony she's ever seen! His frame was incredibly strong, unbelievably so, even under his thickened coat, but it was still so slender. It wasn't at all bulky, like any royal guard, Big Macintosh, or even Shining Armor, for that matter. Blueblood seemed just as strong in all aspects, stronger even, but he was thinner, sleeker, and... Celestia couldn't even complete the thought as her eyes roamed over him. His forelimbs looked fit enough to move boulders, his belly was toned to the point Celestia could make out his abdominals if she focused, and his flanks... she felt outright shameful now, though she still thought he nicely surpassed Applejack in leg power. Even during his old life, Blueblood has always stayed in superb shape, staying pretty much on par with any other fit stallion, Shining included, though to maintain his public image more than anything else. But now, it was like he went through lunar guard training times ten and then some. She could only imagine what he must have went through to achieve such a body. "Wow." she breathed without her knowing.
Blueblood groaned lightly as he finished stretching. Hearing her, he looked back at Celestia to see her staring at him with a moony look. He had a good idea of what it was, but playing dumb would spare both of them the embarrassment. "Is there something wrong, Aunty?" Blueblood asked, tilting his head as he walked over her to take a seat.
Celestia blinked twice before shaking her thoughts away. "No, nothing. It's just that I'm still so happy to see you again." Celestia explained, but then Blueblood surprised her again. Instead of resting on his belly next to her, Blueblood relaxedly rested on his side, his back gently pressed up against Celestia. It was only sensible for her to do the same as she shifted positions so she faced the fireplace with Blueblood.
"So how far are we in the story?" Blueblood asked.
"Let me see where I left off." Celestia said with a serene smile as she opened the book, flipping through the pages.
XXXXX
It was around six in the morning, and Luna took it upon herself to check up on her sister to make sure she's awake to raise the sun.
She wasn't in her bedroom, so she could only assume she spent the night in her study after reuniting with Blueblood. As she made her way up the staircase to Celestia's study, she willed the door open with her magic to see Celestia awake and at the balcony. Blueblood was laying in the cushion, facing the now cold fireplace, still fast asleep. Careful not to disturb her nephew, she made her way across the room, she joined her sister at the balcony.
"Good morning, sister." Luna greeted, watching the horizon.
"Good morning, Luna." Celestia greeted in kind as she began focusing her magic, the rays of the sun making its way over the horizon, adding a light purple shade to the blackened sky.
"I trust that your reunion with our nephew was... stimulating?" Luna asked, starting up conversation.
"Very much so, yes. He's changed so much though." the elder sister commented, feeling the sun's warmth shine upon her and seeing the night sky turn into the morning sky.
"In what ways, other than the obvious?"
Celestia paused for a moment, blushing as she tried to come up with a non-embarrassing reply. "I'd see for yourself when he wakes up." she replied, her task in raising the sun now complete as the sun was now on the horizon.
Luna gave a sideways glance, raising an eyebrow with somewhat of a grin. "I'll... take your word for it, sister. I will proceed to plan his welcoming party in two days time. I will also send Twilight and Cadence invitations once they are awake, and I do believe Blueblood will remain asleep until then. He has not been asleep since he entered Equestria, else I would have sensed him dreaming. He has traveled far, so there is no doubt he will be getting much rest. Trixie and I will go inform the populace and set the time until the party. Perhaps after this, you and he can continue to make up lost time." Luna explained before turning tail to head inside.
"That would be nice." Celestia sighed happily before following her sister in.