The Blueblood Chronicles

by No One and Nobody

Chapter 15

"Blueblood!" exclaimed Fluer de Lis, bursting into the castle. She ran down the halls and into Blueblood's room, "You'll never guess who we ran into today at the market! It was that Rarity mare you told me about!"

"Oh no," said Rarity, laying down on the floor and covering her ears, "I'm not sure if I want to hear about this!"

"Awww come on Rarity," said Pinkie Pie, "As my great grannie Pie said, 'a story that is incomplete, is probably missing some pages!'"

"Is this the same grannie who told you to giggle at the ghosties?" asked Rainbow, "Cause I think she might have gone off her rocker."

"Aww no way Dashie, that was my grannie, not my GREAT Grannie. Yeah, mom always said great grannie Pie was a few rocks shy of a mountain. I always liked her for some reason."

"I wonder why," whispered Rainbow to Applejack, rolling her eyes.

Applejack elbowed Rainbow in the ribs and said, "Lookee here Rarity, Pinkie's right, what kinda story would it be if you took out the parts you didn't like?"

"A bad story with a lot of dislikes," whispered Pinkie to Rainbow Dash, "Not that it's doing that hot right now."

Dash rolled her eyes.

"Oh you just want to hear about how I insulted Blueblood, don't you?" asked Rarity.

Applejack shuffled uneasily.

"Uh.... Maybe."

Rarity glared daggers at her.

"I can skip it if you want," said Blueblood.

Rarity smiled and Applejack kicked the ground with her hoof.

"But I think it's in bad taste as I've been spilling out my soul to you ponies this whole time."

Rarity's smile wilted and Applejack brightened up.

"'Sigh' Very well."

"Rarity?!?!" exclaimed Blueblood in shock and amazement, "What is she doing in Canterlot?"

"Apparently, your auntie asked her to stay here."

The cogs started turning in Blueblood's mind. His auntie knew he was ashamed of how he treated Rarity at the gala. Was she making an opportunity for him to apologize? If so, why hadn't she told him before?

And what will I even say to her?

And if this really was a second chance, Blueblood couldn't waste it. Nopony got to redo first impressions a third time.

"Well what did you do when you saw her?" asked Blueblood, shivering, "Did you tell her you knew me? Did you tell her I've changed?"

"I didn't really SAY anything, I was very nonchalant about the whole encounter," said Fluer, rolling her eyes and laughing.

So that means she pretended to not even notice, probably by posing in different flattering positions like she often does.

"But I think it's best if you talk to her yourself."

She looked at her friend, whose blue eyes were the size of dinner plates.

"But what do I say? How do I ask for her forgiveness? Will she ever forgive me? What if she doesn't? Then-"

"Then you'll move on with your life and accept that she made the mistake in not forgiving you," said Fluer, "But you should get ready. Daddy invited her to the Wonderbolts derby and I figure that'll be as good a place as any to apologize."

"THE DERBY?!" exclaimed Blueblood, "But that's this afternoon. I can't possibly be ready for that! I need time to write a full apology and practice it. It has to be perfect otherwise she mightn't accept it!"

Fleur rolled her eyes again.

"Just be honest and say you're sorry for being a jerk!" said Fleur, "Honestly, you think you've never apologized before."

She looked at Blueblood, who just sat there with a sheepish look on his face.

"You HAVE apologized before, right?"

"Not formally," said Blueblood.

"What about to your aunts after Discord returned?" asked Fleur.

"But that wasn't really an apology, more of a confession."

"You MUST have apologized before."

"Not really to anypony outside my immediate family," said Blueblood, "Certainly not on something this important. I just want to make this the best apology ever so she won't have any choice but to accept!"

"She'll accept if she's ready, now get your tail ready for that Derby! I'll see you in two hours in my father's box!"

Blueblood swallowed hard.

This was going to be hard.

"You'd never apologized before?" asked Rarity, eyebrow raised.

"I know," said Blueblood, "Pretty lame right? Well, I practiced in my room for two whole hours and by the time the derby was about to start, I was certain.... That I couldn't do it. So I went to the derby and sat in the royal box observing... just not the races."

"You were watching me?" exclaimed Rarity, appalled.

"I wanted to gather information on whether or not you were still angry at me," said Blueblood, "I figured observing would be the best choice for all of us. To reassure you, I'm completely in shock that I'd do anything that stupid today. It was a really dumb choice and I should have been stallion enough to face you, I was just so scared after our last encounter."

"I can understand why," said Applejack, "Rarity was pertty horrifying wasn't she?"

"Not nearly as horrifying as you force-selling your goods to everypony around!" exclaimed Rarity, head held high in annoyance.

Applejack chuckled and said, "I think we were all pretty bad."

"But I was the worst," said Blueblood, laughing along, "The funny thing was that Stormwing was on guard-"

"Wait a tic," said Applejack, "I thought he die-"

"Stormwing VIII," clarified Blueblood. He continued, "Anyway, Stormwing was on guard and found me observing Rarity. He dragged me by the ear back to the castle to lecture me until Fleur returned."

"Dude," said Stormwing, "There are certain things you don't do unless you want to be called a creeper. Staring at a mare you've only met once before from your balcony through binoculars is one of them."

"I didn't have binoculars," scoffed Blueblood, "I didn't think to bring them."

"But if you had, you would've," said Stormwing, giving Blueblood a cynical look, "Alright trust me. I've had friends who are mares my whole life. You go up, look them in the eye, acknowledge that you were wrong and apologize. It's the best way."

"What if she doesn't accept?" asked Blueblood.

"Grovel," said Stormwing, causing Blueblood to burst into laughter.

"What should I do if I want to keep my dignity?" asked Blueblood, wiping a tear from his eye.

"As a stallion who's had the past experience of offending Fleur many, many, many times, particularly when we were foals, I can honestly say that if you want to be forgiven by a friend who's a mare, you have to kiss your dignity goodbye."

Blueblood rolled his eyes and chuckled.

"Take my advice," said Stormwing, putting a hoof on Blueblood's shoulder, "Put aside your pride and apologize. Something tells me your gonna have some practice when Fleur gets back."

Blueblood nodded.

"Well, I'd love to stay and chat, but I've gotta get back on duty or the captain will have my hide."

"I didn't get'cha in trouble did I?" asked Blueblood.

"Nah," said Stormwing, "My first loyalties lie to the royal family so you overrule my superior officer.

Blueblood nodded understandingly at Stormwing as he flew out the door an back towards his post.

Well, I did gather SOME information, thought Blueblood, smiling.

Blueblood whistled merrily as he undid his tie and placed it on the mantle in his room.

"Blueblood?" hissed Fleur, stomping in the doorway, "Where were you? I told you to be at the derby and you didn't come! I thought I told you any apology would work!"

"Did you see her Fleur?" asked Blueblood, dusting himself off with a brush, "She didn't look angry or brooding at all. And that was a lovely hat she was wearing?"

"I doubt she lets it get to her," snapped Fleur, "especially when you're nowhere to be see- wait, how did you know what she was wearing?"

Blueblood shuffled uneasily.

"I may or may not have been umm... watching you."

"What?" asked Fleur, cocking her head, "Speak up."

"I said I was umm... watching... you."

Blueblood braced for Fleur to get angry.

"Why'd you do that?" she said, giving him, instead of an angry look, a confused look that said 'How are you that stupid?'.

"Well," said Blueblood, staring at his hooves and speaking to the floor, "How else was I supposed to know whether or not she's still angry at me?"

Fleur rolled her eyes and laughed.

"Maybe you've heard of this new idea Blueblood? It's called talking to the party you have a problem with. For Celestia's sake, I learned this stuff in foal school."

"Well I never went to foal school because my dad abducted me and trained me in dark magic."

"Sheesh talk about the bad points of homeschooling."

Blueblood laughed.

"Ya know if you really want some help in apologizing, why don't you talk to your aunt? I'm sure that there's a reason that she invited Rarity to stay in Canterlot Castle."

"Now there's an idea," said Blueblood, raising his eyebrows in a thoughtful expression.

"Just promise me that you won't go spying on ponies anymore," said Fleur.

"I won't," said Blueblood, laughing, "you must be sick of me by now Fleur."

Fleur shrugged.

"Not really. It makes me look like an angel! I'm going home now. YOU go talk to your aunt."

Blueblood nodded and trotted out of his room and towards the throne room.

Celestia shooed her advisors away when she heard her nephew enter the throne room. She stood up and flew off her throne to meet Blueblood in the middle of the large room.

"Blueblood! What can I do for you?"

"Well auntie, I've got a question for you."

"Fire away."

"Why did you invite Ms. Rarity to stay in the castle?" said Blueblood, launching into a nervous frenzy, "Do you think I'm ready to apologize to her? Is that it? You were providing an opportunity for me to right some of my previous wrongs? I don't know if I'm ready for this auntie. I've never really had to apologize to a non-family member before. What if she doesn't forgive me? What if she hates me forever? What if she tells everypony else in Canterlot and nopony will ever be my friend again?!?!"

Blueblood paused to take a breath and saw Celestia looking quizzically at him.

"What's the matter auntie?" he started, "DO you think there's a chance she won't forgive me?"

"No, that's not it," said Celestia, "I was just remembering what happened."

"You mean you forgot all about the Grand Galloping Gala? ALREADY?!?!" continued Blueblood, "I knew I'd changed, but how could anypony forget how atrocious I was that evening. I know I can't. And I seriously doubt she has either."

"Well, I have noticed that our memories are quite long," said Celestia, "Especially when somepony else has wronged us."

"So what should I say when I apologize to her?" asked Blueblood.

"That's entirely up to you," said Celestia.

"What?" asked Blueblood, "B-b-b-b-b-but auntie, you're so much better at this stuff than I am."

"And there comes a time when you must start making your own decisions and apologies," said Celestia, "I won't always be around to help you Blueblood."

Won't you? thought Blueblood, staring at his immortal aunt.

"Knowing mares and this particular mare," said Celestia, "I think an apology from you would mean more."

Blueblood chewed his lip nervously.

"Very well auntie. And thanks."

Celestia smiled and ruffled his mane.

"Luna's just about to raise the moon, if you want to apologize today, now is the best time. Rarity is staying in the east tower"

Blueblood nodded and plodded out of the room, making his way as slowly as possible to the east tower.

Blueblood noted how large Canterlot Castle seemed at that moment. He felt like it would take him years to reach the east tower even though he knew it was only a five minute trot. But even then, he didn't know if he wanted to arrive.

Because that was where she would be.

At the end of this walk could be a huge relief, or a great disappointment, thought Blueblood, nervously, Am I ready if she says no to my apology?

The time has come, thought Blueblood, reaching the top of the stairs and staring at Rarity's door.

He swallowed and gave three, resounding knocks on the door.

Silence.

Blueblood shuffled a hoof uneasily.

"Ms. Rarity?" he asked.

More silence.

After about a minute, Blueblood inched the door open and stuck his face in to look around.

There was a hiss and Blueblood felt half a dozen claws dig into his face.

"AHHHH!" yelled Blueblood, shaking the creature of his muzzle.

It flew off and landed on the ground, hissing at Blueblood all the way.

"OPALESENCE?" came a lovely, feminine and familiar voice from down the steps.

Blueblood's eyes bugged out.

Rarity catching him tossing her cat around was not his idea of a ideal second meeting.

Thinking quickly, he levitated himself up to the roof to the demon cat's amazement.

"Mrowr?" it said, as it's eyes followed him up.

"Oh Opalesence," said Rarity, reaching the top of the stairs, out of breath, "How did you get out you silly kitty?"

Levitating the struggling feline up to her muzzle for a nose bump she said, in a sickeningly sweet voice,

"You need to be more careful sweetums. Now come now. I simply must tell you about my divine day in Canterlot. I seem to have become quite the popular pony. I was walking back to the castle this morning when who should I run into but Fancypants! And might I say that he has the most fabulous taste in suits. Pure style with that pony. But anyway, he invited me..."

The cat waved it's claws frantically in Blueblood's direction, but thankfully for Blueblood, Rarity was too caught up in her story to notice.

After she closed the door, Blueblood slowly alighted back on the staircase right outside her door.

"I simply have to talk with her," he said, "And I'm going to."

Blueblood turned on his heels and galloped down the stairs.

"Tomorrow."

Inside the suite Rarity cocked her head.

"You know it's funny Opal, but when I first got back I could've sworn I heard a stallion scream. Hmm..."

Her face softened and she laughed.

"Must have been my imagination. It was a long day after all."

Opal rolled her eyes and started sharpening her claws on the bedpost.

Should that mysterious pony come back, she wanted to be prepared for a rematch.

"Aww, Opal isn't that bad," said Fluttershy smiling innocently.

"No worse than Angel Bunny," said RD, rolling her eyes.

"Don't," growled Fluttershy, fixing her 'stare' on Rainbow Dash, "Insult my bunny."

She turned her head back to Blueblood, sweet as ever, intent to hear what happened next.

Blueblood sat at the Canterlot Cafe, absentmindedly stirring his tea.

It had been several days since the incident with Rarity's cat, and Blueblood still hadn't worked up enough courage to go talk to her.

Stormwing VIII alighted on the streetside and trotted into the cafe, slightly out of breath and sat himself down beside Blueblood.

"Cafe au lait please," he said to the waitress pony who approached their table.

The pony nodded and ran off to fetch Stormwing his drink.

"So Blueblood," he said, turning to his friend, "Hows it going?"

Blueblood sipped his tea and recoiled as it scorched his tongue.

Blowing on the cup he answered,

"Fine."

"Did you talk to Rarity yet?"

"No."

Stormwing rolled his eyes.

"Why in your aunt's name not? Are you still nervous?"

"I'm waiting for the right time."

Stormwing groaned.

"In other words you're chicken."

"No," said Blueblood, "It's just that she's been getting in really late and I don't want to talk to her when she's tired. I want her to be in a good frame of mind."

"I could say a lot here about mare's frames of mind," started Stormwing, nodding his head to the cafe's entrance, "But seeing as we have some feminine company arriving, I'll shut my mouth."

Fleur de Lis approached the table and Stormwing and Blueblood, being gentlecolts stood up and greeted her.

"Hey Fleur," said Stormwing, pulling Fleur's chair out for her and then sitting back down, along with Blueblood, "We were just talking bout Rarity. Blueblood thinks he needs the proper time, place and mindset to apologize."

"I need as many things going for me as possible," said Blueblood shrugging.

"Well I think I may have just the deal," said Fleur, grabbing a pastry from a passing cart, "You know that skyship Father wanted you to christen tomorrow?"

"The S.S. Cloudsdale?" asked Blueblood.

"That's the one," replied Fleur, "Well, one of the other chairponies of the board of the Equestrian Skyship committee suggested that they have somepony else help with the christening and well... Rarity's name came up."

"So what you're saying is..."

"Rarity will be standing right beside you when you christen the boat, that should be the perfect time to apologize. Or at least sometime around then."

"That's fantastic Fleur!" screamed Blueblood, turning several heads in the cafe.

A couple of ponies harrumphed and shushed him.

"Sorry," said Blueblood, blushing, slightly embarrassed, "But how did Rarity's name come up? She's a fashion designer from Ponyville. Not a Canterlot aristocrat."

"Well ever since the derby, she's been making quite the impact on Canterlot," said Fleur, holding up the latest issue of Cosmarepolitan.

On the cover was a picture of Rarity in the dress she had wore to the gala last year. The headline ran, Rarity: How she became the toast of Canterlot.

"She's on the cover?" said Blueblood, dumbfounded, "But she's only been in Canterlot for a week or so!"

"Well apparently she's been lying through the teeth about her life," said Fleur, opening the magazine and reading aloud, "Cosmarepolitan: How is it that you know the Wonderbolt's trainer so well. Rarity: Oh well darling, I met her once when she came looking for the new designs for their uniforms. I told her the old ones clashed horribly and she should add gold accents to them for true style."

"She didn't design the Wonderbolts uniforms!" exclaimed Blueblood, "At least not to my knowledge. What are the Wonderbolts going to do when they hear about this?"

"Most likely sue her," said Fleur, rolling up the magazine and passing it to Blueblood, "She goes on later to tell how she's had numerous stallions ask for her hoof in marriage, but she's waiting for that special somepony. What a load of hooey."

"Oh what a tangled web we weave," said Stormwing, waxing poetry, "When first we practice to deceive."

"I need to warn her about this," said Blueblood, "She can't just lie her way up the Canterlot prestige ladder."

"Why not?" asked Stormwing, smiling, "So many other ponies do."

"I've got to tell her," said Blueblood, "Now I'm even gladder that she's christening the boat with me tomorrow."

"And we needn't go into the sordid details of what transpired," said Rarity, interrupting Blueblood.

"Why?" said Rainbow, one eyebrow raised, teasingly, "What happened?"

"Never mind all that," said Applejack, "Rarity, what made you think that you could get away with all those lies? Didn't ya think that somepony else who read Cosmarepolitan would know you didn't do all those things?"

"Well..." said Rarity, "I figured that... you see to be interviewed by Cosmarepolitan is such a great honor... And I'm really just a nopony... Well, I thought I'd embellish my story just a tad, for, um, flair."

"There was so much flair in that article you didn't have any story," said Applejack, gritting her teeth, "You sure are lucky that them Wonderbolts didn't sue ya."

"Well of course they didn't," said Rainbow, "Haven't I always told you ponies how awesome they are?"

"Well what would you have done?" said Rarity, indignant, "When you know ponies are going to read the article expecting something juicy? Tell them all about how you own a small boutique in Ponyville and will probably never be really successful in the fashion business!"

"Well I'd at least tell lies that can't be easily disproved," said Rainbow, "Not that I'd need to lie about how epic-ally awesome I am! But then again, everypony already knows that so it wouldn't be too interesting to read about."

"So you understand why I... fibbed, slightly?" asked Rarity.

"No I don't," said Rainbow, "I understand why you lied through your teeth though. Your life isn't that awesome. Well at least not compared to mine."

"Will ya'll be quiet!" hollered Applejack, "Rarity was a real numbskull, but that's in the past. Why don't we let Blueblood get on with his story?"

"So," said Rarity, "You forgive me for lying like I did?"

"I forgave you after you explained it to us at that garden party shindig," said Applejack, "Now shush. I want to hear what stupid things ya did next!"

Rarity harrumphed and Blueblood continued his story.

Blueblood stood amidst a crowd of ponies, all here to see off the newly completed S.S. Cloudsdale. Somewhere out among the multitude was Rarity, and Blueblood simply had to find her.

"Have you seen her?" asked Blueblood as Fleur approached him, wearing a lovely, silk dress, "Is she here yet?"

"Come now Blueblood," said Fleur, straightening Blueblood's tie, "I have a feeling we'll know when she's here. She IS the guest of honor."

A hush fell over the crowd and all their heads slowly came to rest on a lovely, white mare who trotted into the courtyard where the ceremony was being held. Her hooves gleamed with a fresh hooficure and not a hair on her lovely mane was out of place as it curled into her signature hairstyle.

"Wow," said Fleur as Rarity descended gracefully down the steps, "She sure knows how to make an entrance."

"You can say that again," said Blueblood, "So what do we do next?"

"We go find her," said Fleur, grabbing Blueblood's hoof.

They were about to start searching around until they heard a cough from behind them.

They both turned around to see Fancypants standing next to Rarity.

"Rarity, I would like you to meet the pony you shall be christening the skyship alongside. Prince Blueblood, meet Rarity."

Rarity's eyes had been scanning the courtyard in all it's grandeur until she heard Blueblood's name.

Her eyes locked with his and she mouthed the word, 'you!'

Blueblood smiled sheepishly and held out his hoof in greeting. Rarity did not return the gesture.

"Yes, nice to meet you," she said quickly before saying to a pony standing next to her, "Oh my, Darling is that you?"

Darling nodded and she and Rarity walked off talking happily.

"Well that was odd," said Fancypants, before following his guest of honor.

"Let's go after her," said Blueblood, before he felt a hoof on his shoulder.

He turned to see a palace guard.

"Sir, I was informed to tell you that the christening shall be in five minutes so you and Ms. Rarity should make your way over to the boat."

"Yes, thank you," said Blueblood.

He nodded goodbye to Fleur and followed the guard to the staircase which led up to the balcony from which they would christen the boat.

Rarity followed soon after accompanied by another guard.

She sat herself down on a nearby bench and looked in the direct opposite direction as Blueblood.

"Ms. Rarity?" Blueblood asked.

"I have nothing to say to you," she said, "Now please, can we just christen the ship with dignity?"

"Ms. Rarity," started Blueblood again, "I wish to apologize for my horrendous behavior at the gala last year. I was-"

"You want to APOLOGIZE?!" asked Rarity in amazement, her jaw dropping.

"Yes," said Blueblood, "I acted most foalish and I was wondering if you could find it in your heart to forgive me?"

Rarity thought about it, chewing her lip and staring up into the sky.

"I suppose I can."

"Thank you," said Blueblood, smiling wide.

That had been much easier than he'd thought.

"May I also ask you a question?"

"I suppose so."

"Why are you lying to everypony about your past? You and I both know you're from Ponyville. So why tell ponies otherwise?"

Rarity looked at him, faking flabbergasted-ness.

"Prince Blueblood, with all due respect, why in Equestria do you think I'm lying to ponies?"

"Because I know you a lot better than you may think," said Blueblood, "You're no Canterlot high society pony. You're a fashion designer from Ponyville. And I'm warning you Ms. Rarity, Canterlot is seldom very forgiving of such mistakes. Lying can only get you in trouble here."

Rarity stared at him upset for a moment, before her eyes narrowed.

"Oh I get it," she said, "That apology. Your changed attitude. Really Prince Blueblood, you'll have to get up earlier in the morning to fool Rarity!"

"What are you talking about?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about," ranted Rarity, prodding him with her immaculate hoof, "You only apologized just now to get on my good side. You know I'm the most popular pony in Canterlot and you can't stand to be dethroned of your title, so you hatched this sick little scheme. You mean to scare me out of Canterlot! Well I'm not fooled by you for a moment! Not one moment!"

"Ms. Rarity I assure you-"

"Your assurances mean nothing to me!" Rarity hissed, "I'm a full grown mare and I can make my own decisions thank you very much! Oh and you can forget about me forgiving you too! Not that I expect you even cared about it in the first place!"

"Now," Rarity said, walking up the stairs to the balcony and grabbing the bottle in her mouth, "Let's get this stupid christening over with so I can get back to my real friends!"

Blueblood walked up and stood beside her.

"Ms. Rarity I-"

"Oh shut it Blueblood! I figured out your little scheme!"

The crowd turned their attention to Rarity and Blueblood and they both plastered fake smiles on their faces.

Rarity let the bottle go and it impacted the hull of the skyship, not shattering.

"You see Blueblood?" hissed Rarity, keeping her eyes front and the smile plastered on her face, "I always knew you were bad luck."

Blueblood sighed, s confetti flew down from the sky getting all over them.

This was not what he had planned.

"Sheesh Rarity," said Rainbow, "What was with you?"

"Well, I..." started Rarity, her voice trailing off.

"Fleur guessed that you couldn't handle being called out on your behavior, so you lashed out," said Blueblood, "Was she right?"

Rarity thought long and hard about it.

"I suppose so," said Rarity, "How I wished I'd have listened to you though, I just got caught up in the wonderful feeling of being a very important pony. Which made it all the worse when I had to reveal who I really was to everypony."

"I can relate," said Blueblood, smiling.