It seems that no amount of stalling, negotiation, or bargaining will stop the council. Since Twilight's coronation, they have insisted that she be tied to a Canterlot noble, so as not to lose their hold on Twilight's dominion. Tied in marriage.
It seems that no amount of stalling, negotiation, or bargaining will stop the council.
Since Princess Twilight's coronation, the Royal Council have insisted that she be tied to a Canterlot noble, so as not to lose their hold over the lands south of Canterlot.
Tied in marriage, that is, and they've got just the pony in mind, whether he's got a say in it or not.
Twilight passed through the gates of the Royal Palace, the guards parting and putting a reasonable amount of distance between themselves and her as she strode past. On the surface, Twilight was the picture of perfect serenity; inside, Twilight had the jitters, badly.
She wasn't sure why Celestia had summoned her, nor why it had been such short notice. Usually, due to the Solar Princess's tightly packed schedule, Twilight would receive a date for their meetings weeks or even months in advance, as well as a full reason for the summons.
Twilight had received this letter yesterday. She had briefly considered there being a new threat to Equestria, but she was sure that Celestia would have found a way to make her aware if that was the case, however cryptically. Well, reasonably sure. No, this had to be something else, but the needling worry in the back of her mind didn't leave easily, no matter how she tried to coax it out.
She trotted past another pair of guards, making her way into the castle grounds, the layout of which she knew all too well from years of experience. With a tremulous shake of her tail, she made her way towards the throne room, hoping that she could simply find Celestia there and put her mind to rest.
As she walked, she began to consider the plethora of reasons Celestia might have needed to speak with her on such short notice. Her eyes traveled upwards and she habitually brushed away her bangs with a flick of magic as she considered the possibilities, be they related to changelings, a royal duty, or some other inconceivable issue that she was unaware of. Her magic subconsciously partitioned her tail hairs, thread by thread, as she gave thought to each of the intersecting possibilities crossing her mind at once.
If she hadn't been so wrapped up in the worries that gripped her, she might have noticed that there was a door directly in front of her, and that it was currently swinging open with some speed. She might also not have been hit in the muzzle by it.
"Ngghh-ahh!" she cried out suddenly, unceremoniously dropping onto her haunches, cradling her precious snout while fighting back a steadily building stream of tears. That had hurt like a bitch.
When her eyes had cleared somewhat, she was able to make out a rather apologetic looking handmaiden, holding out a hoof and offering Twilight some help in getting up. "I am so sorry, princess! Ah, uhm, P-Princess Celestia sent me to come and find you, but I didn't expect you to be," the young mare paused and apprehensively waved a hoof at the stunned Twilight, "For you to be, ahh—" she trailed off, looking both worried and confused.
A few moments, and Twilight had managed to regain her faculties. It was nice to have a distraction from her crippling concern, even if it was a clumsy, pain inducing one. She stood, still rubbing her muzzle, and winced out her best attempt at a convincing smile. "I-It's fine, really! Honestly, I should have been watching where I was going," she let out a nervous laugh, looking around at the castle staff, who all seemed to be trying their hardest to ignore her predicament, be it out of respect or fear that they might offend royalty, "Can't exactly be mad at you for opening a door now, can I?" she grimaced, painfully aware of her insincerity.
The handmaiden either didn't notice or didn't mind, as she still stood with her hoof outstretched, stammering over various apologies. She took a deep breath, and proceeded to speak with an affected calm: "As I was saying, princess," she meekly began, "Princess Celestia has asked me to fetch you, and bring you to her at once."
At this, Twilight's eyes widened and she bolted up to standing. She remembered why she was at the palace, and that thought alone was enough to put some movement into her bones. Something about what the handmaiden had said appeared odd though. "Wait, why would Celestia send somepony to get me? I know my way around, I could find the throne room with my eyes shut!"
As Twilight sprung up, the handmaiden's face whitened. "Uhm, begging your pardon, your highness, I didn't mean to insinuate that you didn't, but I'm just doing as I'm told, and the princess told me th-that she'd actually be receiving you elsewhere today--"
"Really?!" Twilight jumped in place, incredulous, "But these are court hours! When does Celestia ever take time off during the day?!"
The rapidly paling handmaiden was becoming more and more skittish with each of Twilight's bombastic responses. "I-I'm not entirely sure it's my place, to, ah, say that, Princess Twilight. As far as I know, Princess Celestia has always performed her royal duties to the best of her ability, and I never meant to imply that she didn't! Oh, I'm sorry, princess, first I attack you and next I talk badly of Celestia, ohh, please don't tell her—"
Twilight knew that any other pony wouldn't take much heed of the information she had just received, but those ponies didn't know Celestia like she did. To Celestia, her duty to her country was everything, and only the most pressing of circumstances came before it. To Twilight's alarm, she realised that whatever she had been summoned for, it was important enough for Celestia to take a break from presiding over the throne room, presumably without much notice. With her mind suddenly racing as it was, she barely noticed the pony melting into a puddle in front of her.
"...And if I'm banished to Tarturus, I'll never see my friends again, or my family! Oh, princess, she's not going to banish me, is she?" By this point, the pony was visibly shaking –her fetlocks bent forwards– and she looked as if she could collapse at any moment. Before she could become any more panic-stricken, Twilight raised a hoof, silencing her.
"No no, please, I'm so sorry," Twilight looked away for a moment before eyeing the handmaiden sympathetically, "I've made you all worried... None of that's going to happen, I promise," she spoke in soothing tones, walking over to the confused and upset pony, wrapping a soft wing around her barrel and gently pulling her in, "I'm just a little pent up right now, I didn't mean to make you so afraid."
The young attendant flinched at the contact, but quickly settled into it. She took a few calming breaths, allowing herself to deflate. "No, princess, It's not your fault, I should have been straight to the point. Princess Celestia asked me to escort you to the antechamber in the southern wing, are you familiar with it?"
Ponies peered at the pair's impromptu cuddle with little restraint as Twilight cast her gaze skyward, trying to determine whether or not she did remember where that particular room was. When nothing promising came, she shook her head.
"Then would you like me to show you the way?" The pony's tone had swiftly become quite upbeat, Twilight smiled, she must have done a good job of comforting her.
"Of course," she beamed, eyes briefly squeezing shut, "Please. lead the way."
The handmaiden moved to do as instructed, but was stayed by a purple, feathery barrier. She shuffled awkwardly on her hooves before turning to Twilight, who was again staring into space. "Uhm, your highness?"
Twilight's vision snapped back to her, her eyes swiftly gaining focus. "Oh!" She looked at her wing, "Right, that!" grinning sheepishly, she retracted her wing and folded it, "How's that?"
The mare stood up straight, testing her footing and smiling at Twilight before beginning to walk away. "Great! Thank you!"
Apparently, the mare had taken her question a little too literally; Twilight couldn't help but laugh. She quickly trotted up to keep pace with the mare, feeling the last pangs of pain fade from her muzzle as they walked through the winding corridors of the castle.
All the while, Twilight found herself to be a little curious about the mare. Maybe it was just a means of distraction from the impending meeting, maybe it was her tendency to want to understand other ponies, she wasn't sure. Twilight found the swiftness with which her mood changed interesting, as well as her genuine fear of the princesses, despite having worked for the royal sisters for an indeterminate amount of time. Twilight figured she must be new to the job. It helped to be able to deduce why ponies acted the way they did, it helped to affirm her understanding of the world.
Soon enough, her curiosity drifted back to the situation at hoof. "Say, do you know anything about why Celestia wants to see me here?" It was a long shot, but the worst she could say was no.
"I'm afraid not, princess, I was only told to escort the ponies."
Twilight nodded, turning a corner with her escort. I didn't think much would come of that. As they walked, she mentally recited the pony's words. Wait, 'ponies'? She looked quizzically at the handmaid, "Who else did you have to pick up?"
"Prince Blueblood, your highness," she sweetly smiled.
Twilight said nothing in response, but her expression barely diminished. Blueblood? But why? Does he even have anything to do with royal proceedings? Twilight considered asking the handmaiden for more information, but knew it wouldn't be much use.
"I know it really isn't my place to say this, but that Prince Blueblood really is quite the caring stallion."
Twilight involuntarily snorted with laughter. "Really? Blueblood, caring?"
"Why yes, he was nice enough to offer me lunch when I arrived at his estate, said I looked as if I had been on my hooves all day without a moment to spare! I declined, of course, but he insisted! In fact, he refused to leave until I had eaten, and I have to say, the food was scrumptious! It's funny, once we left he barely said a word, but I couldn't stop thanking him!"
Twilight raised an eyebrow. "That is, err, strange," she nodded, unsure what else to say. Twilight's opinion of Blueblood –or what little she had of one– was pretty skewed. On one hand, she had heard the stories of his treatment of Rarity (at some length), and that was enough for her to vehemently dislike him. On the other, she had witnessed his behaviour herself at the Equestria Games, and saw him then to be polite, respectful, and most importantly, not pompous or arrogant in any sense of the word. It would have confused her, had she ever paused to think about it, and now that she gave it some consideration, she realised it didn't make much sense at all.
"Anddd, here we are!" the handmaiden announced, beaming as she gestured toward an exquisitely crafted oaken door, "If you do get a chance and would be so kind, could you please tell the good prince that Meadow Springs says hello?"
Huh, so that was her name, Twilight thought, annoyed she hadn't asked for it sooner. "Uhh, yeah, sure. Well, thanks, Meadow!"
"No problem!" Meadow called, already skipping away to whatever new task awaited her.
Twilight no sooner faced the door as it opened of its own accord. Luckily, this door opened inwards, and there was no chance of it hitting her. Not wasting any time, Twilight stepped inside, soon spotting Princess Celestia and Prince Blueblood sitting together at a small gilded table, purple satin pillows pushed underneath the pair as they sipped from small porcelain cups that hung in each pony's respective aura.
The scene was almost tranquil to look at, and relaxed Twilight somewhat, though it also gave rise to small pangs of jealousy.
Twilight was well aware that Blueblood was Celestia's nephew, but it felt strange to see another pony sitting and drinking tea with her mentor, as she had grown accustomed to doing herself. The only reassurance the picture gave her was that whatever this matter was, it couldn't be as grave as she had anticipated, not if everypony appeared so calm.
Then again, Celestia always appeared calm, and Twilight had no clue about Blueblood. She slowly stepped in, not too eager to make her presence known, but not looking to skulk around in the shadows either. Luckily, Celestia's infallible perception drew her to the fray.
"Ah, Twilight," she said without looking, "Please, come and join us. You've met my nephew, I presume?"
With this, Blueblood's head languidly rose, his eyes regarding Twilight briefly and then narrowing, though he remained silent, save the odd sip of his drink.
"No, I haven't, Princess Celestia, though I have heard of him," Twilight smiled at the pair, hoping she didn't look too false. Just remain cordial, Twilight, you'll be fine. "It's nice to meet you, Prince Blueblood."
Blueblood nodded in response, his face stolid as ever. When Twilight extended a hoof to shake, his features appeared to harden, but he returned the gesture nonetheless, briefly and gingerly shaking her hoof.
Celestia smiled at this. "Good, it seems you're, ahem, already acquainted," Celestia looked away for a moment, and then proceeded to repeat the word 'good' a couple of times.
If Twilight didn't know any better, she would assume that Celestia was currently blanching.
"Now, I must apologise to you both in advance," she eyed Blueblood, and then Twilight, her expression penitent, "For many things, honestly, but first of all for bringing you both here and then thrusting this meeting upon you without any notice or explanation as to why."
If Twilight shared any trait with Blueblood, it was the instinctive smile they both offered to Celestia in forgiveness. Twilight chose to ignore that, and instead try to get a better scope of the situation. "You mean you've not told Prince Blueblood anything yet, Princess?"
"I have not, and he has been very patient in waiting."
"Thank you, Princess Celestia," Blueblood said, softly and clearly.
"Aunt," Celestia sternly corrected.
"Yes, Aunt Celestia," he repeated, his tone childishly querulous for but a moment.
"Honestly, Blue, you don't need to be embarrassed in front of Twilight, she is a wonderful pony."
Twilight stifled a laugh, "Blue?" she wondered aloud, mirth in her eyes as she regarded the prince.
To his credit, Blueblood's strong features didn't falter, he didn't blush nor flinch. "Yes, Celestia has called me such since I was young, I have grown quite accustomed to it."
Twilight put a hoof over her mouth, pushing back a sudden wave of giggles. She wasn't sure why, but she found it difficult to place the idea of Blueblood having a childhood nickname, one given to her by the Princess of all Equestria, no less.
Celestia cleared her throat for a second time, abruptly halting Twilight's laugh before it could break free. When they both turned to regard her, she appeared unsure how to proceed. "I, uhm, I do believe I have kept you waiting long enough, you in particular, Blue, and I'd like to explain why you had to have this meeting."
Twilight instantly raised a hoof like a schoolfilly in a classroom, Celestia nodded her way and she proceeded to speak. Blueblood raised an eyebrow by a centimetre at most.
"Excuse me, Princess, but you used the past participle 'had' to refer to a meeting that hasn't even happened yet."
Celestia smiled at her student's characteristic punctiliousness, but it was overshadowed by a small sigh. "Usually, you would be right as always, Twilight, but I'm afraid that in this case, the meeting has already taken place."
Twilight cocked her head, bewildered. "Wait, what do you mean? I thought I was meant to be present at the meeting?"
"That's the thing, Twilight, you were. You both were. In fact," Celestia briefly chewed her bottom lip, "How do I say this? This meeting was simply an opportunity for you to meet each other."
Twilight looked at Blueblood, who returned her gaze, apparently equally confused, then looked back at Celestia, who looked as if she had just bitten into something very sour. "Uhh, why would you call us here for that, princess? I don't really follow."
"I must concur," Blueblood stated. "I see little merit to this short interaction, what were you hoping to accomplish?"
Celestia briefly closed her eyes before looking at each pony, resolute. "This 'interaction', as you put it, was necessary. I'll try to explain this as best I can. Recently, I came to the end of a long dialogue with the Royal Council regarding a certain topic that I've been trying my hardest to keep off the table for months now. Unfortunately, they've found a way around my efforts to impede them."
Blueblood's eyes widened at mention of the council, but he otherwise remained silent.
"The council members, spearheaded by one in particular, posed a certain plan to me many months ago, and I immediately took every step to veto it. Unfortunately, it seems they've found a way to ensure that they get what they want. Namely, in ancient Equestrian law, long before Luna's banishment, when the royal families were large and diverse, there was a clause that stipulated the allowance of arranged marriage between two noble or royal houses of neighbouring counties, to strengthen the royal bloodline and ensure heirs."
"Hold on," Twilight interjected, "What's this got to do with us?"
"Please listen, Twilight. Luna and I are fully aware that there may come a time in future when we are no longer fit to rule, or when we may no longer want to, and we will not wish to leave Equestria in the hooves of an unchecked republic if we can avoid it. As far as we can see, the only alternative is to have a continuation of the royal bloodline, allowing democracy to be balanced with the monarchy, and for both systems to keep one another in check, but both Luna and I are unable to facilitate this ourselves. The council realise this, and likely have their own agenda for wishing to see the royal tree expand, but while Luna and I have consulted on this extensively, we see no better alternative. We just wish it did not have to be you two."
"W-wait, us two?" Twilight stuttered, "You mean we both have to go and find ponies to marry?! That's crazy!"
"No, Twilight," Celestia softly exhaled, wishing her student was not so oblivious, "I mean that you two must marry. Prince Blueblood controls the Trottingham Duchy, and many of the lands south of Canterlot fall into your own dominion. Because of that, a continuation of both of your respective bloodlines ensures that settlers do not claim independence, should anything ever befall either of you. This union should help to propagate the ideals of a true royal family, and bring a further degree of unity to Equestria. Do you understand that there is little alternative? During the Crystalling, we were all put in a situation where we might have lost our lives. What would happen to Equestria then?"
Twilight had ceased responding. Instead, she had dropped onto her plot, and sat with her muzzle hung open. She appeared to be tracing a few of Celestia's words around the side of her mouth as her expression became increasingly vacant, as if the words were foreign to her.
Reluctantly removing her gaze from Twilight, Celestia turned to Blueblood. "You understand that my hooves are tied, yes?"
Blueblood glanced at Twilight, who still sat in a daze, then back to Celestia, his tone forcibly placid. "If the council wills it, I will not actively oppose the decision. But," he seethed, his face briefly contorting into a deep frown, "This does not mean I will be happy about it."
Celestia pensively rubbed a pair of hooves together. "Honestly, I didn't expect you to react this well," she adjusted her gaze, "As for Twilight..."
"I share the sentiment she is displaying so strongly, though I also believe you should snap her out of it. I will assume that a date has already been arranged, it would be unlike the council to not be fastidiously prepared."
"Yes, there is a date in mind, roughly three months from now. Twilight, did you hear that?" Celestia turned to her student, watching her eyes dart back and forth across the room as she attempted to process all the new information, "Twilight? Did you take in anything I just said?" Celestia asked her directly.
Suddenly, Twilight perked up, turning away from Celestia. "Oh yeah, Blueblood! A pony called Meadow Springs told me to say hello to you," a beat, "from her, I mean."
A second passed, and Twilight slowly began burying her face in her forehooves. "Why is this happening to me? Blueblood is, well, he's—he was rude to my friend in the past, and-and he ruined her night, and now... Now I have to marry him?" Twilight's voice became shrill, "You want me to have foals with him?!"
Blueblood cast a sullen gaze out of the stained glass window, levitating his drink to his lips. "It appears we have a similar opinion, there is not much I would prefer less. As for Meadow Springs, it appears I will not be able to respond to her amorously even if I had intended to, as my betrothed would surely have an issue with it," he grumbled, eyeing Celestia with a mostly restrained anger. Blueblood then allowed his gaze to settle back on the window, where he looked out over the splendor of Canterlot's gardens in the radiant afternoon sun.
With such a superb view at the centre of his focus, his mind surely must have shifted to happier thoughts.
A short lapse in communication was all it took for Blueblood to take his leave, swiftly and deliberately trotting through the door, leaving the two princesses in an uneasy silence.
When Celestia turned to Twilight, she found her wistfully staring into Blueblood's empty cup, likely still contemplating all that she had heard.
Celestia's caring and beseeching tone cut through the silence. "Twilight... Please listen to me."
Twilight turned to regard her. Her eyes were glossy, the fur beneath her eyelids was damp. "Are you really going to let this happen, Celestia?"
Celestia hated to see her student and friend so upset and bewildered. She opened her mouth to speak but was swiftly cut off.
"Did I not do enough for you? For Equestria? I took on my role as a princess, I defended our country when no one else could, I returned your sister to you... And now this? You dubbed me Princess of Friendship, I-I thought that meant I was meant to bring love and happiness to other ponies, not be a—" she squeezed her eyes shut, appearing to be wrestling with the concept. A single tear seeped through her closed lids. "...a pawn in your political games?"
Celestia's face hardened. "Twilight, hear what I have to say before you—"
"Don't look at me like that!" Twilight snapped, suddenly defensive, "I haven't done anything wrong! I've only tried to help you and Equestria, and now?! And now—"
"I have no intentions of you and Blueblood's marriage being permanent," Celestia stated, her tone clear and soothing.
This seemed to knock the wind out of Twilight. "Y-you don't?" she sniffled, suddenly still.
"In fact, I implore you to fight this ruling at every opportunity. It is not just. At the time of this archaic law's conception, the national climate was much different to what it is now. Many things have changed, and what was once considered a necessity is now nothing more than simple barbarism; this is but a tactic for the Royal Council and their affiliates to strengthen their positions."
As Celestia gauged Twilight's reaction –relief appearing to gradually emanate from her– she noticed that it was quickly offset by something she identified in her prized student far too often, a spark of realisation.
"If that's the case, why didn't you tell us this when Blueblood was in the room? In fact, why didn't he seem to care?"
Celestia sighed, stepping closer to Twilight and lifting her in her magic, setting her down on a luscious pillow. "The situation is complicated, to say the least. Suffice to say that Blueblood is by no means happy about this union, but if the council have willed it he is unlikely to oppose it directly."
Twilight's head tilted from where she sat, still shaking off the familiar, comforting feeling of Celestia’s magic. "Why not? He has every right to, doesn't he?"
"To be frank, Twilight, the position Blueblood holds is tenuous, much like mine. Of course, the power at my disposal is immense, but there are other factors at play. Unfortunately, the strongest does not always win, and this is a prime example of that.” Celestia began to softly pace before Twilight, her hooves landing with little force, as if her energy had been sapped.
“When you live to see my age, as I'm sure you will, you come to realise that there is more than one way to fight, and ofttimes the least trodden path is the most fruitful. I cannot oppose this decision directly as I have to be seen to be cooperating with the council and attempting to facilitate a stable future for Equestria. If I was to go against the voices of so many, it could lead to turmoil. You must understand, Twilight, that power only exists as long as other ponies give it to you. While you may trust me without question due to our shared history, I do not have such connections with the common pony."
Twilight slowly nodded. "Explain one thing though: Why does it have to be us? You said you were unable, but what does that mean, exactly? Plus, with Cadence and Shining Armour—"
"I went through menopause roughly six hundred years ago," Celestia interjected, her eyes focused on the floor, "And Luna and I have agreed that foals would not be good for her health. We worry that the stress of motherhood might give rise to serious depression, and that the consequences would be catastrophic. As for Cadence..." Celestia scowled, uncomfortable with the words she was about to say.
When she spoke, it was with a snarl. "Cadence is feared for what she has birthed. A natural born alicorn is unheard of in history, and a large element of the reason for this union is that alicorns are precisely what are trying to be avoided. Because Cadence is the only alicorn to have ever given birth to an alicorn, while so many others have tried in the past, the council is reluctant for her to have any more foals, they believe Cadence’s ability to birth alicorns to be an anomaly, statistically she should be one in a billion,” Celestia’s eyes narrowed, “In other words, the council wishes to see royal foals that aren’t Flurry Heart."
Twilight's eyes hardened, she too appeared upset by the prospect. "Why would anypony want to avoid alicorns?"
"To put it simply, they are feared. We are feared, that is. In the last Equestrian census, there was a twelve percent swing in favour of the monarchy being disbanded. Luna is the sole reason. The population is fickle, many ponies hadn't even heard of the mare in the moon until Luna's return, yet when I embraced her as my sister and allowed her to retake her rightful place alongside me, ponies quickly educated themselves, to varying levels of success." With this, Celestia ceased in her movements, looking at Twilight squarely.
"From what I can tell, more and more ponies are beginning to distrust my judgment as a ruler, and now that these same ponies are becoming aware of Nightmare Moon, they are beginning to fear it also. A hierarchy is needed, with proper distribution of power, and we the princesses must be prepared to relinquish our roles should that time ever come to pass.” Twilight appeared to be surprised by this revelation from the way that her muzzle hung, but she quickly shut it.
“However, contingencies must be put in place first. The problem in this is that if I was to remain stagnant and refuse to cooperate, a coup could be a few centuries, if not decades away. In contrast, if the royal tree is to be extended, however that may be accomplished, while the fair distribution between alicorns and the other tribes would likely appease many, there is no guarantee that future generations of royalty will not be incorruptible."
Twilight shifted on her pillow, glancing at the window in thought. Celestia knew it was a lot to process at once. When Twilight opened her mouth, she appeared to have fifty questions at the tip of her tongue. Eyes darting as she considered what to ask, she settled on: “Why did they choose Blueblood?”
“I believe the council sees him as easy to manipulate. He is a strong pony, but reluctant to oppose them. Also, his bond with me complicates matters. They likely knew that if I was to be seen condoning their actions, there was little to no chance he would put up a fight. They do not have his best interests at heart, nor yours, they only seek to further their own respective agendas. Of course, the council have done many things that could ostensibly be seen as beneficial to the majority, some of the things they have accomplished are admirable and significant, in fact, but as time passes, new members fill their halls, and not all of them are so caring and benevolent.”
“Hold on,” Twilight’s eyes fell on Celestia, “What exactly are Blueblood’s ties with the Royal Council?”
Celestia’s answer was forced and abrupt.“It is easier if you ask him that yourself, but I do not recommend leading with it, he is not the most trusting. What’s imperative for you to realise now is that he will not oppose this bond alone. It is for this reason that I didn’t reveal my true thoughts until he had already left. Blueblood is a complex individual, and you would be wise to learn his true nature as you proceed, it may help you to figure a way out of this mess.”
Celestia pushed a smile onto her lips, a sad thing, but genuine all the same. “I urge you to do what you do best, Twilight, dust off those old books and find a solution. If I can assist you in any way in the background, I’ll try my utmost to do so.”
Twilight nodded once more, wiping her eyes and trying her hardest to return Celestia’s smile, though her muzzle would barely cooperate. “I appreciate what you’ve said, Celestia, but Blueblood is just the worst of ponies. All I’ve heard are stories of how he treated Rarity at the gala, and considering that, I just-I just—”
Celestia cut Twilight off with a sudden and affectionate stroke of her mane. Twilight stopped short, slowly exhaling in an effort to release her mounting stress. Celestia’s look was maternal when she spoke. “Exactly, all you have heard are stories. What does that tell you, Twilight?”
“It tells me that other ponies had a negative interpretation of Blueblood,” she stated.
“And you are not other ponies,” Celestia laughed briefly, considering just how unordinary Twilight really was, “As such, you should make your own mind up. I… I cannot promise that you will think any differently as a result, but I do hope that you’ll give him a chance.”
A sharp sound whistled through the air; the repetitive clanging of blades sounded in the gardens of Prince Blueblood’s royal estate.
Blueblood dodged the onslaught of incoming blows with deft and nimble movements, swinging his body as rhythmically as he swung his weapon. With a short rapier in his telekinesis, Blueblood proceeded to whip the sword out of the other pony’s hand, disarming him before moving in for a quick thrust to the shoulder.
The blade connected, being stopped at the other pony’s fur, a magical barrier preventing a piercing, potentially mortal wound.
The swordsman lifted his mask, laughing. “A stunning riposte, prince! I must say, I wasn’t expecting that in the slightest! Tell me,” he leaned forwards, a smirk on his face, “Have you been receiving lessons in secret from one more experienced than I?”
Blueblood lifted his own mask. He returned his tutor’s gaze, but not his smile. “Truly, I have not. I simply do not wish to delay on this morn, I have a meeting that I am quite anxious for.”
“Another?” He laughed, levitating over a decanter of fresh water and two glasses. He offered one to Blueblood, who shook his head in a short motion. “That’s two in a day, is it not?”
“Indeed,” Blueblood stabbed his sword into a mound of dirt with a thrust of his magic, “And I am gladdened by neither. I have a great amount weighing on my mind, and I often believe you’re the only one privy to that, Stone.”
The bladesman smiled. “It’s quite alright to have worries and woes sometimes, my lord, but you mustn't allow them to weigh you down. Besides, it’s not as if I know what any of your issues actually are, and I wouldn’t wish to either. Being able to provide assistance in my own small way is more than enough for me.”
Suddenly and without warning, Blueblood swung his sword at Stone, clumps of dirt still attached to it. Stone barely managed to parry in time, using the long glass decanter as a shield, though it cracked and nearly shattered under the force of the thin sword’s flick.
“Oh, we’re playing like that now, are we sir?” Stone grinned, readying his weapon.
“Please, will you stop your incessant jabbering and put up some semblance of a fight this time?” Blueblood instinctively ducked, hearing the potted plant that had just whistled past his ears smash on the paved ground ten paces behind him.
Channeling energy through his horn, Blueblood began to pick up whatever garden ornaments and tools he could find, flinging them at Stone with impunity. Of course, not one met its mark.
Blueblood took a hard hoof to the face, stumbling back as he blocked a continuous flurry of swings. If there was anyone more adept with a sword than Stone, Blueblood hadn’t met them.
As he trotted backwards –trying to circle around to avoid backing up onto the path and tripping– he tried to anticipate Stone’s movements, but the other unicorn was as innovative as he was lithe and skillful. Stone went for a touch on his shoulder, then at the last second twisted his blade around in a counterclockwise motion, aiming for his underbelly.
Aware that he wouldn’t be able to block in time, Blueblood twisted his front left hoof, hoping to intercept the blade with his metal horseshoe before it struck true. Unfortunately, he miscalculated his movement, and the blade nicked him across the side of the hoof.
Stumbling forwards, he bent his front fetlocks and crouched down, pain throbbing in his hoof.
“Are you in pain, sir?” Stone asked, trotting over with his sword in a lax mental grip. “Would you like to take five?”
As Stone approached, Blueblood crouched further forwards, inhaling sharply as he put more pressure on his injured hoof.
“You appear to be hurt, sir. We should dress the wound and oof!--”
Springing straight up from his downed position, Blueblood bucked Stone right in the face, forcing him to topple backwards. A magical kinetic burst saved him from hitting the floor, repulsive energy pushing him back into the air. Twisting his body whilst airborne –twirling his sword throughout the motion– he landed atop Blueblood, pressing his blade against the prince’s neck with his aura, pinning him to the floor with both front hooves. “What have I told you about playing possum, sir?” he asked, a small gash on his muzzle from where the reasonably strong buck had connected.
“A real fox will sink his teeth in just to be sure,” Blueblood recited, his tone even, “I submit, in case you were curious.”
“Oh, of course.” Stone climbed off of Blueblood, putting some space between them and allowing him to return to his hooves. “Why the aggression today, if I may ask? It’s been a while since you’ve tried to pull that little trick on me.”
“None of your concern,” Blueblood replied placidly. “Now, could you inform the housestaff that we’re likely to have a guest arriving soon?”
“A guest, sir?”
“Yes you parrot, a guest.” Blueblood snapped. “Tell them that the guest quarters need to be ready for use within the hour, I wish to retire early.”
“May I ask who we are receiving, sir?” Stone asked, sheathing his weapon as he spoke.
“Princess Twilight Sparkle,” Blueblood scowled, though he didn’t allow his frown to stay for long.
“Oh, the princess?” Stone smiled, an eyebrow raised, “Very interesting, Prince. And the nature of this visit?”
“We are to be married,” Blueblood mumbled, eyes averted.
“To what?!” Stone exclaimed, incredulous, “You’re to marry Princess Twilight Sparkle, and you never thought to tell me?”
“You ask too many questions!” Blueblood barked, his brow straight, teeth bared. “Do not assume that you have the right to address me with such impertinence, old friend or not you still work for me. Now, go and tell the housekeepers that we have a guest arriving soon, and do it swifty! I will not tell you again.”
“But prince, this is a joyous occasion, we should be celebrating—”
“We most certainly should not!” Blueblood shouted, before considering the implications of what he had just said. “I do not wish to discuss it now,” he continued, his calm returning in some capacity, “but be aware that this is a matter of great discomfort for me. Furthermore, that is privileged information, between me and you.” Blueblood took a shallow breath before giving Stone a softer look. “Now, if you’d please?”
Stone nodded and trotted away, he likely had nothing else to say. Blueblood looked around at the scene before him, seeing scattered ornaments, mud trodden onto the path, and various other telltale signs of the damage him and his teacher’s conflict had caused in such a short amount of time.
Looking upon it in solitude, a smile slowly but surely tugged at his lips, until it had spread over his whole face. Playing back his favourite scenes from the fight in his mind, he allowed himself to be lost in fantasy –a brief reprieve– softly chortling at the sight of the destruction they had caused in such little time.
Surely, if Blueblood could handle Stone, he could handle anything.
Prince Blueblood’s happiness was transient, as was his conviction. He was well aware that he would have to receive Twilight Sparkle soon, and couldn’t help wondering whether he would be able to get through the meeting without either snapping at her or requesting she leave.
Furrowing his brow, he eyed himself in the mirror for what must have been the fifteenth time. He was – as always – impeccably dressed and well-kempt, but there was hesitation in his steely gaze. She is a victim of circumstance just as much as I am, I have no right to be angry with her. He felt a snarl crawl onto his muzzle, betraying his discomfort. Well, not over this, at least.
Blueblood was distracted from admiring his regal gait by a faint knock on the door. He bade the pony entry, and was soon faced with a middle-aged earth pony named Gertrote, who was in charge of his housestaff.
Not pausing to curtsy, she entered. “Princess Twilight Sparkle has arrived. Would you care to greet her, prince?”
Stealing one more glance at the mirror, he allowed a calm indifference to mask his features. It was, after all, his greatest defence, as well as his best means of coping. “I will be there forthwith.” he said, his tone level.
“Prince, are you sure you’re ready to—”
Already, he felt a crack in his countenance. “I’m ready, Gertrote.” he all but growled, a swift series of steps punctuating his statement.
Walking along the corridor, his horseshoes clacked against the marble stairs as he descended into the main hall, where his wife-to-be stood amongst a meagre procession of his own housestaff, appearing as if she was attempting to swallow a live wasp.
Blueblood resisted the urge to mirror her expression. Pushing a false and amicable smile onto his face, he strutted straight over to her and offered a hoof to shake.
Twilight stared at the hoof for a second, perplexed, before reciprocating the gesture. If she was confused, the housestaff were more so.
Glancing awkwardly at the ‘couple’, Gertrote – who had followed Blueblood downstairs – cleared her throat, gesturing towards the pair of them. “Shall we leave the prince and his, erm, fiancée to become acquainted?”
“That won’t be necessary,” Blueblood interjected, trying to keep the panic out of his tone. “In fact, I was hoping you would be able to show Princess Twilight to her quarters.”
“Wait,” Gertrote’s eyes narrowed, “you mean to say that the princess won’t be retiring with you?” At this, several of the others present began to look quite confused.
“N-no, it’s just that,” Blueblood fumbled in place, searching for an excuse, feeling Twilight’s eyes on him also, “we have yet to be wed, and it would be improper to share a room until then.” He caught himself, hoping that would be enough.
While Twilight seemed to visibly relax, Gertrote bore a wry smile. “Ah, that is our prince, a sense of propriety in all matters! I shouldn’t have expected anything less.”
Blueblood, despite his feeling of discomfort, couldn’t help but be proud of his ability to spin bullshit in a timely manner. He tried and failed to withhold a facetious grin.
“But regardless, you should show the princess to her room yourself, prince! Or have you forgotten your way around this place already?”
Blueblood suddenly felt red as a beetroot. He was more than used to being teased by Gertrote, knowing it came from a kind and harmless place, but it wasn’t often that he was simultaneously parading a false love, and trying to keep a level disposition in front of the pony he very much wanted far, far away from his estate. He exhaled hard through his snout, thinking of his earlier escapades in an attempt to calm himself.
Twilight, on the other hand, looked about ready to find her own way; she clearly found the idea of walking with Blueblood as displeasurable as he did. Biting back a sigh, knowing that the first step to keeping up appearances was to do just that, Blueblood gave a stunted nod.
Smiling, Gertrote rose to her hind legs, clapping her front hooves together once. “With me, everyone! We’ll allow the pair some time to themselves.”
The staff were as fast and orderly as they were well trained. Despite their head’s fairly intrusive behaviour, none followed her lead and attempted to question Blueblood. They left at once with a chorus of ‘yes, Gertrote’, heading to the far side of the ground floor before disappearing through a wide archway.
When the housestaff had gained some distance Twilight slouched in place, an unseemly posture. Looking up at Blueblood, she stepped forwards, her face a mixture of annoyance and what appeared to be contemplation. Looking down at her, Blueblood truly realised their height difference for the first time.
This was nothing new to him. He was used to being taller than the mares he interacted with, and as such didn’t often pay it much attention, but being so close to Twilight it was easy to admire—or rather, perceive their vast difference in stature. Blueblood appreciated the difference. His foster sister had always been of a similar height to him, as was his aunt, and as such he found it very difficult to feel any semblance of attraction to a taller mare.
As for Twilight? Well, her coat was a nice shade, he could say that much for her. Not that he would ever tell her so. Realising that they had simply been looking at one another for about twenty seconds now, their faces both suitably hostile, Blueblood raised a hoof and cleared his throat.
It was Twilight, however, that broke the silence. “Nice to see you’re just as excited to have me as I am to be here.”
All too quickly that pretense fell, and Blueblood threw her a powerful look, filled with disdain. “Please, are you going to insist on making this worse for the both of us by speaking, as well as being here?”
“Believe me, there are plenty of other places I’d rather be right now. Heck, there are changeling hives I’d rather spend a night in than this place!” Right then, Twilight stifled a giggle, gesturing to the corridor the help had left through. “Gertrote seemed nice though. Didn’t seem to have much trouble putting you in your place, either. I might have to ask her for lessons.”
“Now listen to me, you two bit—!” Blueblood caught himself before he could finish that sentence. He may have been angry, yes, but he wasn’t about to scream in Twilight’s face, not if he could help it. Breathing deeply, he lowered his tone. “Tell me, when did you become so relaxed about this?”
“Oh, that’s simple,” Twilight remarked, swishing her tail as she spoke. “I became calm about it when I realised that I’m going to find a way out of it.”
“Twilight,” Blueblood grumbled, uttering the name like a curse, “if there was—as you so eloquently describe, ‘a way out of this’, do you not think Celestia would have found it already?”
“Of course not. If Princess Celestia just went around changing laws all the time—even really silly ones, just to suit her friends and family, then that would look like nepotism. Besides, Celestia doesn’t wield supreme power like that, even if she wanted to change a law, it wouldn’t be instantaneous.”
Addressing Blueblood like a teacher instructing a pupil might, Twilight spoke again. “Obviously, it’s something that takes a little time, but I’ve got plenty of that. And in that time, I plan to find a loophole, a counterargument, anything that allows me to have my freedom back. Our freedom, to be precise.”
Blueblood couldn’t help but notice that Twilight seemed very natural right now. Everything from her poise to her tone of voice suggested that she was in her element, using her intuition and planning to think her way out of a situation. Blueblood would almost appreciate such determination if he didn’t consider it so hopeless. “There is no point. You may not realise, princess, as you have always assumed my aunt to be the primary authority in Equestria, but she does indeed share her power. Not only with the council, who control much of the commerce in Equestria and are connected to a great many ponies in very strong positions, but with the various groups and consortiums that they represent.”
Taking a step forwards, he scrutinised Twilight’s face, seeing only a filly who woke up one day with a pair of wings and a title. “You must understand that when this wedding is finalised, it will be the pivotal point of multiple processes and deals, things which cannot be reversed as simply as any law can, which is hardly simple either. Because of this, you will be fought at every opportunity. If Celestia was unable to fix this, why should you fare any better?”
“You know what happened to the last pony that underestimated and doubted me?” Twilight asked, a small smirk on her muzzle and a glint in her eye. Catching Blueblood’s baffled expression, she continued: “She became my student.”
This caught Blueblood completely by surprise. He had expected a warning, a thinly veiled threat, not that, of all things. “Not your wife, then?” he quipped, vaguely aware of the words that had just left his mouth.
Twilight seemed stuck between a chortle and a scoff. “Wow, Blueblood, was that a joke? Who would have thought you had it in you?” For but a moment, her eyes practically scintillated, resembling her cutie mark, even her name. Casting his eyes to the floor, Blueblood quietly berated himself for finding the sight even the least bit endearing.
Roughly slapping his metalclad hoof against the hard floor, Blueblood made it quite clear that he wasn’t in the mood for any more games. “Your room is on the far side of the first floor, the opposite side to mine. There is an en-suite bathroom as well as an intercom, with which you can ask a staff member for assistance, should you need it. However, they are off duty after nine, please do not bother them during the night.”
“Heh, who would have thought that the high and mighty Prince Blueblood had such respect for the ‘common peasantry’?” Twilight ribbed, her gaze scrupulous, but her tone light and jovial nonetheless.
Blueblood’s chest began to swell, and he flashed an imperious glare at Twilight. “How dare you? That ‘common peasantry’ all but raised me, yet you amble in here and mock them, you—” pausing, Blueblood blinked, realising what he had said, as well as noticing the hoof that was raised to Twilight’s mouth, gaped open in what he could only assume was shock. His face abashed, he sought solitude in the floor, wishing to be someplace else. “...I said too much just then, forgive me.”
Twilight, for her part, appeared to feel equally awkward. “H-hey, it’s fine, no need to apologise… Uhh, I...” she scratched behind the back of her neck, her eyes darting between Blueblood and the stairs, “I can probably find my own way, if you want?”
Shaking his head, he willed placidity to lead him once more, beginning to walk on. “No, allow me. If there’s one thing I despise more than lies and insincerity, it is a lack of hospitality.”
Twilight gave a curt nod, and soon they were walking through Blueblood’s manor together. Unlike the strong expression met with staunch indifference that had been their first encounter, or the thunderous clash that had been their most recent, this felt more uncomfortable than anything else.
The gravity of Blueblood’s penultimate words seemed to outweigh everything else, and even when Blueblood wished for a distraction he could not will himself to speak again, silently lamenting his idiocy.
So it was that he found himself oddly grateful when Twilight broke the silence, her eyes tracing a portrait of a far off mountain range. “One thing Gertrote said struck me as odd,” her eyes contemplative, they settled on Blueblood. “She asked if you even knew your way around any more, or something like that. If this is your house then why wouldn’t you?”
“I am out on business a lot,” he responded, his eyes fixed forwards.
“Really?” she asked, her head cocked. “What kind of thing do you do?”
She really is inquisitive, isn’t she? She might even be worse than Stone. “I help broker deals, foster relations, introduce ideas and maintain correspondences. I oversee a few other things, also.”
“Oh, so you’re a businessman?”
“I am a means to an end.” Noticing her frown, he added: “I do not work for excessive profit, if that’s what you are wondering. I aim for only enough to support my lifestyle.”
“You mean you don’t rely on the Royal Treasury?” Twilight asked, a small level of shock to her voice.
Blueblood couldn’t help but snigger. “No, I do not. Of course, things were provided for me in my youth, but once a pony of my station becomes an adult they do not sit around indulging themselves with lavish frivolities without having earned the right to first. You may consider me to be supercilious, and may in fact be correct, but that by no means makes me a freeloading dandy.”
“...Huh.” Twilight’s eyes lingered on Blueblood for a second before he pointed a hoof towards a nearby door.
“Beyond there you’ll find your room, if you need anything else than I would ask that you use the intercom, which is as simple as pressing a button. We can accommodate you for as long as you wish, but I’m sure you have friends and whatever else to be getting back to, yes?”
“Well, yes, but…” Twilight frowned, her face pensive. “Are we really going to avoid each other? I mean, I’m just as unhappy about all this as you are, and I wanna get out of it, but don’t you think we should at least try to be on speaking terms? It might make all this a little easier in the meantime.”
“We held a conversation just now, did we not?”
“That’s hardly getting along though, is it? Listen, if the Princess of Friendship can’t make a friend out of you, then there isn’t much hope for the rest of us, is there?”
Blueblood’s eyes hardened. “Well, my sister is the Princess of Love, Celestia knows she made a pig’s ear of that.”
Twilight grit her teeth, her eyes boring into Blueblood. “What did you say?”
“Precisely what you heard. Now,” Blueblood swiveled on the spot, flicking his mane back as he looked behind him, “I have work to be doing. Do try to make yourself comfortable.”
Twilight simply stood with her muzzle agape as Blueblood trotted away. Not sparing another look behind him, Blueblood felt the satisfaction his little insult had brought him wear off all too quickly. It wasn’t that he was incapable of disliking the pony that stood behind him, likely wishing she could beat him to a pulp with something blunt. Rather, it was that as much as he willed himself to do so, he wasn’t entirely sure that he wanted to.
Still, he had no desire to befriend her, let alone marry her or even consider courting her. It wasn’t just their incompatibility as a pair either, it was her demeanour, her naivety, her inability to understand just how things worked in the real world. It was her title, her wings and horn, and the air of faux autocracy they brought with them, power she wouldn’t understand how to use even if she was able.
It was her family. Her parents were wholly unremarkable ponies, yet not only had her brother married the first alicorn to ascend in recent history, his sister had been the second to do so. Shining Armour had also helped to produce the first natural born alicorn in history, an astounding accomplishment. Blueblood had wondered before, and he now found himself questioning again just what it was that made Twilight Sparkle and Shining Armour so different, so unique that they could waltz into royalty without so much as playing the game?
It felt juvenile; it felt asinine. Above all, it felt to be a mockery of the steadily crumbling class system. Blueblood thought to the council before pushing back a growl. Perhaps it had already crumbled.
