//------------------------------// // Once Upon a Time // Story: What a Prince Does // by Ixtaek //------------------------------// The road to Canterlot was oddly dusty as Applejack rushed along it, her hooves stirring up small clouds of dirt. The Pegasus ponies were supposed to have had a storm yesterday, but it had been delayed due to two ponies hurting their wings in a collision. The heat made everything hazy, but Applejack could vaguely see a white figure far down the path. “Blueblood!” He didn’t turn. He was too far away, and couldn’t hear her. She pushed herself, trying to close the gap. “Blueblood! Wait!” It did no good. Surely by now he could hear her, but he didn’t turn, didn’t acknowledge her. Applejack felt a mix of anger and despair wash over her, and poured all her energy into running. She heard voices from above; the Pegasus were assembling the clouds to make up for the storm. The darkening skies made seeing the white stallion easier against the dirt road, but the ensuing rain would turn them into slush. She had to reach him now, or it would be too late. Taking a final gulp of air, she shouted his name one more time, launching herself at him to close the last few feet. “Blueblooooood!” The stallion stopped and turned to look at her. Applejack was panting, her sides heaving to draw in enough air. The gathering storm clouds made the air seem heavy, unbreathable… she looked him in the face, and his cool expression made her suddenly ashamed of her dirty coat and messy mane. “Ye… y’cain’t go… y’just cain’t… not laike this…” The rain began falling from the clouds above, damping the swirling dust around her. “Y’cain’t just run away… Big Macintosh didn’t mean… nothing by what he… said…” “I left because I did not wish to be a burden on your family.” Something in his voice was different, and Applejack realized it wasn’t just his voice. His horn, which had been just a stump before, was now fully regrown, as if by magic. “I am a Prince, and your family is not exactly equipt to put up with a pony of my personage.” Applejack stared at him, flabbergasted. She still couldn’t seem to catch her breath. “What the hay are y’talkin’ about? Are y’sayin’ we’re too poor for ya?!” Blueblood looked away. “It’s better if you tell yourself that, La- Applejack.” “That ain’t… that ain’t what this is about… is it…?” Blueblood lowered his head, and she could see droplets running down his snout, though she wasn’t sure if it were tears or rain. “I remember now… I remember who I was. Who I am. And I do not like it.” He looked at her. “I will always remember my stay here as a happy time… one I do not want to sully with my true nature. So I decided to leave while I could still contain it.” “Hogwash!” Applejack took a step closer. “Yer runnin’ away cuz yer scared! Yer scared of bein’ with ponies who ya care about and who care about ya and then makin’ em upset and them hatin’ ya!” She took a huge gulp of air. Why couldn’t she see him properly? The rain must be getting in her eyes. “Ah know it! Ah know because Ah… Ah’m scared too. Ah’m scare to lose the ponies Ah care about… Granny Smith… Big Macintosh… Apple Bloom… mah friends…” The rain was blowing at her back, making her sopping wet mane billow towards him. “… and you, Blueblood… Ah’m scared t’lose you.” Blueblood stared at her for a moment. Her coat covered in wet dust, hooves muddy, mane awry, sides heaving as she struggled to catch her breath. Her hat had flown off as she chased him, and she looked oddly vulnerable without it. “Yer family, Blueblood. Apples… stick together…” He lifted one of her muddy hooves and kissed it delicately. “A lady should not be out in this weather. Allow me to escort you home.” “Will y’stay?” Blueblood did not answer right away, but unraveled the knapsack he was carrying and magicked it over her head to block the downpour. Its contents, his old suit he had been wearing, spilled out onto the muddy ground, and he made no move to collect them. “I believe I told your sister and her friends I would not give up on my quest so long as they did not give up on theirs. Until they have suddenly decided that they don’t want cutie marks, I must keep my word and remain here.” “That’ll never happen, y’know. They’re right determined.” “Well then I guess I’ll be here for a very long time.” He smiled down at her. “After all, keeping his word is part of what a prince does.”