A Royal Pain

By Alaborn

Standard disclaimer: This is a not for profit fan work. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is copyright Hasbro, Inc. I make no claim to any copyrighted material mentioned herein.

Chapter 9: A Royal Birth

“Today we are proud to begin the construction of a new neighborhood,” Mayor Mare addressed the crowd. “This is the first of many new construction projects that will arise from the town’s new master plan.”

Prince Blueblood stood patiently around a marked-off area of loose soil and watched the mayor speak. The hard hat on her head looked rather out of place considering the suit she wore. He didn’t want to think of how ridiculous he looked, wearing the same hard hat. It was a hard hat designed for earth ponies, and his horn forced it to rest at an awkward angle. If anything did fall on him, it would knock the hard hat off before crushing his skull. Not that anything would fall on him; they were in an open area. But the traditions of a groundbreaking ceremony had to be maintained.

“What is a home? It is more than a building. It is a place to find sanctuary. It is a yard, for foals to play in. It is a porch, on which one can share the joys of the neighborhood. It is a garden, or a fence, or a bed of flowers, something individual, something to make a house a home.”

Speaking of traditions, the long-winded speech from a politician, most interested in hearing the sound of her own voice, was a well-known one. Blueblood fought to keep the fake grin on his face as the mayor spoke. His hind legs crossed as his bladder told him that it urgently needed to be evacuated. Yet still the mayor spouted her endless series of banalities.

“And so, we stand here today to break ground on this new neighborhood, one that soon will be home to many ponies we will be proud to call our neighbors.” The forepony of the construction company passed Mayor Mare the ceremonial shovel, and she dug it into the prepared ground, lifting out a small amount of soil. The ponies in the crowd stomped their hooves in applause.

The shovel was then passed around to several other town dignitaries. Blueblood was invited due to his role in planning the neighborhood. He was fifth out of eight ponies to plunge the shovel into the ground. What that meant to his relative importance for the project was a subject he would better be able to contemplate if the need to urinate wasn’t foremost on his mind.

The final shovelful of dirt was moved, and the mayor and other dignitaries went to mingle. Blueblood was already running away at top speed.

Prince Blueblood shoved open the door to the library. “Welcome back,” Twilight Sparkle said. “Are you ready to....”

“Can’t stop, gotta go,” Blueblood said as he ran into the bathroom.

Twilight Sparkle was waiting for him at the kitchen table once he finished with his pressing matter. “I shudder to think what would have happened if your mayor gave one of her long speeches,” he quipped.

“Is it that bad?” she asked.

“I was gone for less than thirty minutes, Twilight Sparkle. I find myself looking for the nearest facilities wherever I go. The thought of... losing control is embarrassing.”

“Well, I have the perfect way to get your mind off of that.” She levitated a book onto the table. “Let’s talk about the Lamare technique.”

“Does that even translate to somepony in my situation?” Blueblood asked.

“According to all I’ve read, the process of giving birth is similar. You will experience contractions. The process is all about maximizing your comfort and managing the pain, so that you can be a healthy father. So let’s practice these breathing exercises.”

“I should probably do this while lying down,” Blueblood observed.

The ponies headed to Blueblood’s bedroom, Twilight Sparkle shutting the door behind them. Blueblood lay on the bed, the springs creaking under his mass. He squirmed, trying to find a comfortable position, but just like going to bed every night, nothing felt right.

“If you want, I’ll be there to coach you when it’s time,” Twilight Sparkle said.

“I think I’d like that,” Blueblood responded. “Now how does this Lamare technique work?”

“It’s primarily breathing exercises. It will help calm you, let you get in rhythm with your contractions, and allow you to focus through the pain. In fact, a strong stallion like you wouldn’t even need spells to deal with the pain!”

Blueblood stared at Twilight Sparkle. “You don’t really believe that, do you? Every mare says that childbirth is the most painful experience in life.”

“You may be right. I can’t say I have any experience. I’m just repeating what the author said.”

“You believe everything that’s written in a book?”

“But it’s a reference book!” Twilight Sparkle exclaimed.

“Okay, so what do I do?”

“You’re going to take deep breaths. Inhale, exhale. Try to get a rhythm going.”

Blueblood followed Twilight Sparkle’s instructions. The sound of his heavy breathing filled the guest bedroom.

“Good, good,” Twilight Sparkle said. “Now I’m going to tap the bed with my hoof. Pretend that’s a contraction. Practice your breathing to be in time with the contractions, pushing at the same time as you exhale.”

Grunts joined Blueblood’s breathing. He laughed as he heard it the first time. “I can’t imagine how bad this sounds.

“Don’t worry. Nopony’s going to come up here. Let’s try it again.

Blueblood continued to practice, his grunts growing louder. He froze when he heard movement on the other side of the door.

“Uh, Twilight, do you need me to go out? Like, for a few hours?” Spike called through the door.

“What? No, it’s not that! It’s not what you think! Ew!” she squealed.

“That’s right, nopony would come up here,” Blueblood said. “Actually, could you ask Spike to take the afternoon off?”

Twilight Sparkle nodded. “Spike, I’m going to give you the afternoon off. Go out and have fun!”

“Thanks, Twilight!” he replied, before hastily departing.

Twilight Sparkle set her book down. “We can practice this later. Do you want to talk over tea?”

“Yes, please.”

Prince Blueblood held his cup of tea between his hooves, savoring the warmth. Twilight Sparkle had turned the sign on the library door to Closed. Now, she sipped her tea while looking at Blueblood expectantly. When he just stared at his tea, she spoke. “What’s bothering you about your foal?”

“Is it that obvious?” Blueblood replied.

“Yes. You’re staring at your hooves again,” Twilight Sparkle observed. “Are you having second thoughts about adoption?”

“No. The foal needs to go to a family that will be able to care for him. I just....” Blueblood paused. “Do you know the Goldens?”

“A little. I buy carrots from Golden Harvest frequently. They seem like nice ponies.”

“Are they having trouble conceiving?”

Twilight Sparkle set down her teacup. “I can’t speak for them, as they’ve never confided in me.”

“But what do you think? Please, Twilight Sparkle, this is important to me,” Blueblood implored.

“That’s the rumor, yes. These things tend to go around a small town like this.” She paused. “I take it you surmised that already?”

Blueblood nodded. “I’ve gotten to know them better than most ponies in town. I would have expected farmer ponies of their age to have several foals by now. There were a few things I heard them say, and I saw them, together, at the doctor’s office. That led to my suspicion.”

“You care about them, don’t you?”

“They have a warmth that is so unlike my own family. I’m worried that... infertility could drive them apart. I don’t think anything else could.”

“So you’re saying you would be happy if the Goldens adopted your foal?” Twilight Sparkle asked.

“I would,” Blueblood replied.

“I’ll need to read up on the laws to be sure, but an open adoption can probably be arranged without the intervention of Foal Services,” Twilight Sparkle said.

“No.”

“No?”

“No. It has to be anonymous,” Blueblood stated.

“Are you sure? If you give the foal up, there’s very little chance they will adopt your foal. I don’t even know if they’re looking at adopting yet, and it takes so long to go through the system....”

“Damn it, Twilight Sparkle! You’re a princess now! If you had a cousin who wanted to give up a foal, wouldn’t you help her?”

“I suppose, but...”

“Then help me!” Blueblood demanded, pounding the table with his hoof. The teacup shook, the cold liquid inside rippling. As he focused on the tea, he saw that the surface still wasn’t smooth; only then did he realize the blur was caused by the tears in his eyes.

“I’m sorry, Blueblood. I didn’t know....”

Blueblood composed himself, taking deep breaths. He brushed the tears from his eyes with his fetlocks and sniffed. “I’m willing to ask Princess Celestia for her aid. But I want your help. You’re the one who’s been there for me, even when I’ve been a horrible pony.”

“I didn’t know.... Okay. I’ll be your intermediary. But I don’t know how to connect you with the Goldens anonymously.”

“Just tell them the truth. You have a distant relative who is looking to give up a foal for adoption and would be more than happy for an earth pony couple to raise him.”

“But we’re not relatives!”

“Please, Twilight Sparkle. We’re both unicorns whose families have lived in Canterlot for centuries. We’re likely around ninth cousins.”

“You know, I never really thought about us being related,” Twilight Sparkle said.

Blueblood frowned as he watched Twilight Sparkle shudder with that realization.

The next few weeks brought good news for Prince Blueblood. Twilight Sparkle received approval to serve as the intermediary for the adoption. At the same time, he received a personal letter from Princess Celestia, thanking him for being so willing to help one of her little ponies. He wasn’t that surprised that Twilight Sparkle had written to her mentor on the subject, but it was comforting to see his aunt’s approval. He so rarely saw such approval.

And it looked like the Goldens were ready to consider adoption. Blueblood found himself in the awkward position of feigning surprise when Golden Grain mentioned the good news during one of their fishing trips. He smiled and congratulated the stallion.

But all these good memories didn’t help Prince Blueblood on this day. For it was summer, and a particularly hot summer day at that. He lay on his back on his bed, even the thin sheet kicked away. His mane was plastered to his forehead. His mouth was open, and he even considered panting, if that would help cool him down.

A knock came from the door. “Prince Blueblood?” Twilight Sparkle called

“Can you pleeease ask Princess Celestia to turn down the sun?” he whined.

“It’s not that bad.”

“You see how comfortable you are when you’re ten months pregnant.”

“Well, I will try to keep a positive attitude about it,” she countered. “Now, you asked me to remind you about your doctor’s appointment today. Maybe a nice cool shower before the appointment will help?”

“I don’t think it will help.” Blueblood grunted as he rose from bed. He glanced at his haggard expression in the mirror. A shower might not help him cool down, but he desperately needed one.

He did feel better once done with his shower, but Blueblood didn’t admit it to Twilight Sparkle. He grabbed an apple for breakfast.

“You’re not dressed today?” Twilight Sparkle observed.

“It’s too hot for clothes,” Blueblood replied.

“Still, you could use your illusion spell,” she continued.

“It’s too hot for illusionary clothing, too.”

Twilight Sparkle winced at she tried to process the prince’s illogical statement. “Well, whatever makes you feel comfortable,” she replied with a smile that hopefully didn’t look too fake.

Soon, Blueblood was out the door. He tried to walk casually to the doctor’s office, all the while stealing furtive glances to all sides. He didn’t think anypony was paying particular attention to him. Or if anypony was watching him, they were doing a masterful job of concealing themselves.

He checked the position of the sun in the sky, and stepped into the doctor’s office, right on time. He seated himself in a corner, partially obscured by a potted plant.

“Prince Blueblood? The doctor will see you now,” he heard after a mercifully short wait.

He forced an expression to his face, the one that said I’m calm, I’m in control, I’m in charge. But there was no way to prepare for meeting the new doctor. He was going to discuss things with him, things Blueblood wished he would never have needed to know.

Doctor Stable was in the waiting room, along with another unicorn stallion. “Prince Blueblood, I’d like you to meet Doctor Hale Spirit,” Doctor Stable said.

“Charmed,” Blueblood replied, shaking the new doctor’s hoof. “So you’re Equestria’s resident expert on seapony births?”

“Well, I don’t have the experience with seapony births that seapony doctors have,” he replied. “But for pony-seapony births, I have more experience than any other doctor alive.”

“And how many is that?”

“You’re my ninth patient,” Hale Spirit said.

Fortunately for Blueblood, the examination table was padded, so his banging his head on it didn’t leave him with a headache.

“I know it’s not a lot, but pony-seapony relationships are very rare, and pregnancy can be avoided by using protection,” Hale Spirit continued.

“Of course,” Blueblood mumbled.

“And fortunately, childbirth for stallions is less complicated. A mare might experience phantom labor pains for days, months even. But you can examine your brood pouch to know when labor is imminent.”

“I’ve read something about my... situation, but I’d appreciate your expert advice about what to expect.”

And with that, Prince Blueblood listened to Hale Spirit’s account of the birth process. He nodded along, being mostly familiar with the basics. But as he digested the details, one thought kept playing in his mind.

I’m going to be pushing another living thing out of a magically altered part of my body, through a very small hole.

“Now, Doctor Stable has kept me updated on your pregnancy, but I’d like to do my own examination now,” Hale Spirit said.

Blueblood nodded and lay on his back on the examination table. Hale Spirit pressed his hooves to Blueblood’s belly and channeled his magic into him. The foal kicked several times. In the air above them, an image appeared of the foal. Blueblood could see the colt’s hooves and tiny horn.

“He’s a feisty one,” Hale Spirit said. “You’re going to have a very active foal.”

Blueblood didn’t want to talk about the foal, so he changed the subject. “How did you come to practice in pony-seapony pregnancies?” he asked.

“I always wanted to be a doctor, to help ponies in need, but my decision to learn more about seaponies was a personal one. My grandmother was a seapony.”

“Your grandmother? But that would mean your grandfather.... Was it a....”

“My grandparents shared fifty happy years together, even if it was hard for them to be physically present together. They had eight foals together.”

“Eight? He went through this eight times?”

“Actually six, with two sets of twins. But yes. It’s amazing what love will make a pony do.” The doctor made some notes in his file. “Now, as for you, Prince Blueblood, you’re doing well. I’m going to recommend you avoid strenuous activity, but you don’t need bed rest. I also don’t recommend travel. You’re due in a month, but this is your first pregnancy. The foal could come early, or up to three weeks late.”

“Three weeks late? I sure hope not!”

“Are you set for getting to the hospital when the time comes?”

“I’m staying with Princess Twilight Sparkle, and she’s helping me through this. When the time comes, I figure she will teleport us straight to the hospital. And I don’t think you’ll be able to keep her out of the delivery room. She promised she would do whatever it takes to keep me safe.”

“That’s not a good idea,” Hale Spirit said.

“While I would normally agree with you, Doctor, I think you can make an exception for the princess,” Doctor Stable said. “I want her magical talents if something goes wrong.”

“You are the doctor in charge, Doctor Stable. But I’d feel better knowing more about the princess.”

“Just check out a book at the library,” Blueblood suggested. “You’ll learn more about her than you’d ever want to know.”

It was evening, and Prince Blueblood and Princess Twilight Sparkle sat at the kitchen table, reading. The chairs here were the least bad of a series of uncomfortable choices for the expectant prince. Reading was the best way for Blueblood to pass the final weeks of his pregnancy. Focusing on learning something new kept his mind off his discomfort, off the phantom labor pains, off the whole situation.

In the quiet of the library, he heard Twilight Sparkle turn a page with her magic. While surely she would be more comfortable reading on a couch, she chose to spend this time with him. It was comforting, in a way. Even after upsetting her on several occasions, even after royally screwing up the way only a royal could, she still worried about him.

“Are you all right, Blueblood?” she asked.

“I’m fine. It’s just phantom labor pains,” he replied. Okay, sometimes she worried too much.

“You look like you’re in more pain than normal. Are you sure you’re not going into labor?”

“I’m still two weeks from my due date, Twilight Sparkle, and Celestia knows I’m not lucky enough for this to end early. Besides, the doctor said there would be a clearly visible sign when I’m entering labor.” He leaned back and moved his forelegs to the side, although most of his body was concealed behind the table.

“Your illusion spell is still up from when we went out to lunch,” Twilight Sparkle noted.

“Like I said, it’s no... nnnnuuuhhh!” Blueblood grunted loudly as he felt his strongest labor pain yet. It was followed by a splashing sound, and he realized his seat was now wet.

“Blueblood! Your water broke!”

He looked down, and his eyes widened in horror. He opened his mouth, but he couldn’t form any coherent words.

“Stay right there! I’ll let the hospital know!” With that, Twilight Sparkle disappeared, accompanied by the unique popping sound of air filling the void previously occupied by a pony.

That noise returned Blueblood to his senses. While between the gaps of his contractions, he concentrated and dispelled his illusion. He inspected his swollen belly. He felt it with his hooves before he saw it, a seam where his brood pouch was beginning to separate.

“Oh, dear Celestia. It’s happening,” he said to himself. He started breathing heavily.

The air shimmered, and Twilight Sparkle reappeared in the kitchen. “Blueblood! Get on your hooves!”

“What? Why?”

“Just do it!”

Blueblood got off his chair, afraid his legs wouldn’t support him. But he felt the ground under his hooves, only to immediately become disoriented. All was dark and light at the same time. He couldn’t feel anything, not the ground, not the air, not even gravity. And in an instance, it was gone. He reappeared in a hospital room. One of the Ponyville nurses, he wanted to say Redheart, was preparing the delivery room.

Blueblood felt normal, as normal as a stallion in labor could. But Twilight Sparkle was breathing heavily. Teleportation was a very difficult spell, and teleporting another pony at the same time was an order of magnitude more difficult. But Blueblood didn’t have time to appreciate her magical talents, as another contraction struck.

He felt a foreleg around him. “Let’s get you into the bed,” Nurse Redheart said. She helped him into the bed, where he reclined. “Do you need anything before the doctors arrive? Water? A pillow?”

Before he could answer, he heard Twilight Sparkle mutter “need anything.” Her eyes opened in surprise. “My checklist!” she yelled. Twilight Sparkle teleported away, and a few seconds later, returned with a scroll levitating in her aura.

She was interrupted, however, by Doctor Stable entering the room. “Doctor Hale Spirit and I will have matters well in hoof, Princess,” he said calmly. “What Prince Blueblood needs is your support. Can you do that?”

“Support. Right.” She looked over her checklist, and summoned a quill pen to mark off a box. “That’s number thirteen on my list.”

Twilight Sparkle walked over to Blueblood, holding his foreleg in hers. She gave him water, talked to him, comforted him, all while waiting for the doctors to get ready. It took ten minutes for Doctor Hale Spirit to arrive, but once he did, the doctors and nurse sprung into action.

“The canal to the brood pouch is fully formed. He’s at three centimeters dilation,” Hale Spirit said.

“NNNNGG!” Blueblood screamed as he felt another contraction.

“Contractions are about three minutes apart,” Nurse Redheart noted.

“You’re doing great, Blueblood,” Twilight Sparkle said. “Remember what I said about breathing.” He started breathing rapidly. “No, slower. Focus. Bring your breaths in time with your body.”

“You’re doing good, Prince Blueblood,” Hale Spirit said. “In a few hours, this will all be over.”

“HOURS?” Blueblood yelled. His desire to protest further was cut off by another contraction.

“You’re strong, Blueblood. You can do this,” Twilight Sparkle said encouragingly. “Breathe.”

Blueblood tried, but all thought of breathing disappeared with his next contraction. He squeezed Twilight Sparkle’s foreleg in his pastern.

“Breathe. It will help you deal with the pain,” she said.

“NNNNGGGAAHH!” he screamed. He panted, trying to catch his breath. His mane was falling into his eyes. But he could see well enough to stare down the doctors. “I want spells! Now!” he demanded.

Doctor Stable nodded to his associate, and cast the powerful spell that blocked the pain coming from the rear half of a pony’s body. It helped a lot, but Blueblood could still feel it, could still feel the pressure as his body told him to do something it was never designed to do.

Blueblood pushed. He grunted. He screamed. He heard the doctors talk about lengths and times, but it was hard to keep track of anything, even how much time had passed. All he knew is that it was still dark out.

“The patient is fully dilated,” Doctor Stable said.

“The horn is safely positioned,” Hale Spirit added.

“I need you to push,” Doctor Stable told Blueblood.

“I’ve been pushing!” he protested.

“I need you to keep pushing, harder than ever,” Doctor Stable said.

“You’re doing great, Blueblood,” Twilight Sparkle said. “You’re almost there. Listen to the doctor.”

He pushed. He pushed, and kept pushing. The doctors said something about a crown. They talked about rotation. Nothing made any sense until he heard a new sound.

A foal’s screaming.

One doctor tended to Blueblood while the other cleaned the newborn. After one final contraction, Blueblood looked and saw a tiny form hovering before him, swaddled in a soft blanket.

“Congratulations, Prince Blueblood. It’s a colt.”

The infant had a light silver coat, almost white. His mane was green and gold, and shared that shimmering blended appearance with his mother. He opened his violet eyes and smiled, reaching out his tiny hooves towards Blueblood. Although he was in pain, sleep-deprived, and resting in Celestia knows what kind of mess, he never felt better.

He cradled the foal to his body, and Blueblood felt a primal magic flow through him. It was powerful, a deep connection to the magic of Equestria itself that most mares will know at one point, but very few stallions will ever sense.

Blueblood looked at his son. “Blue Seas,” he announced.

Nurse Redheart took a pencil in her mouth. “Name: Blue Seas. Type: Unicorn. Sex: Male. Date of birth: July 2, 1477 AC. Time of birth: 2:42 A.M.,” she spoke as she wrote.

He smiled and slipped into sleep.

Prince Blueblood awoke, but still felt in a daze. He was in the hospital, but in a clean bed. It was light out, but everything told him to stay in bed. He ached, a hundred times worse than when he overexerted himself during the Running of the Leaves. An IV tended to his need for fluids and nutrition. Magical devices monitored every aspect of his health.

He rested for some time until a light tapping on the door attracted his attention. “Um, excuse me? Is this the right place?” a soft, familiar voice called.

“Yes. Please come in,” Blueblood replied, his croaking voice revealing how much he needed a drink of water.

Fluttershy opened the door, stepped into the room, and quietly closed it behind her. “Twilight said you were in this room, but the sign outside says the room is closed for fumigation,” she said.

Twilight Sparkle must have suggested that as a way to keep somepony from accidentally discovering me. Quite thoughtful. “That should keep ponies out, but I’m glad you came.”

“Well, I know how my friends, animal and pony, feel after giving birth, and I thought you’d want the company.” She pulled a bundle of flowers out of her saddlebags. “I brought some flowers, in case you’re hungry. And, uh....” She pulled out a wrapped bundle. “Twilight told me how seaponies feed their infants. So I brought a fish, if you want to feed your son, you know, if that’s all right with you.”

Blueblood wrinkled his nose. "Without that seapony magic in me, that no longer strikes me as appealing. The hospital has a supply of special formula, what seaponies actually use nowadays. But thank you kindly for your offer.”

“Twilight showed him to me. He’s adorable,” she said.

“He is.”

“When are you going home?” she asked.

“I’m not sure. I have a few... things to work out with Twilight Sparkle first.”

“Okay,” she replied. “Be strong.” There was something... knowing about the look in her eyes.

Blueblood nodded. “Thank you for your kindness, Fluttershy.”

Three days later, Prince Blueblood was released from the hospital. His room at the library had been turned into a makeshift nursery. He wasn’t worried about being discovered by a library patron, as Twilight Sparkle had placed a soundproofing spell on the door to the room. Listening to his foal cry, he wondered if that was more for his benefit, or for hers.

Blueblood cradled Blue Seas in his forelegs. He held a bottle in his magic as he fed his son. He smiled, though he felt tears collecting in the corners of his eyes.

He looked up, and saw Twilight Sparkle watching him. “Hey,” she said. “I knocked, but, you know, soundproofing spell.”

“You’re always welcome in here, Princess.”

“Yes. Well. Speaking of that. As Princess and representative of the Crown of Equestria, I am prepared to accept responsibility for abandoned foals, to ensure their safety and act as I see fit to promote their best interests, in accordance with all relevant statutes.” She approached and placed a hoof on his withers. “As a friend, I want to know. Are you sure?”

“They say that parents will do anything to protect their foal. I may be a parent now. Actually, I may be a parent several times over. And that’s part of the problem.” He paused. “Until I understand what makes a loving family, and have one of my own, I can’t really call myself a parent. But I know that the right thing for this foal is to give him to the care of ponies who are worthy of being called parents.”

Twilight Sparkle nodded. “Then as soon as you leave Ponyville, Blue Seas will be in the care of the Crown, and ready to be adopted.”

“Have you told the Goldens?”

“Not yet. I thought I’d wait, so that there’s less chance of them connecting the foal to you.”

Blueblood shook his head. “With his name, and being a unicorn, and his mane color, do you think it will work?”

“He has a coat color similar to my mother’s. And really, most ponies have never seen a seapony, let alone contemplated the idea of a child of a pony and seapony. I think you’re safe.” She looked around the room, seeing most of Blueblood’s belongings still unpacked. “Are you still planning on leaving tomorrow?”

He looked at his son. “I think I’ll spend a few more days here.”

Finally, Prince Blueblood was ready to leave. He boarded the train to Canterlot, taking a seat in his private first class cabin. Curtains covered the windows. He opened them, granting him one last look at Ponyville.

Seven months ago, the idea of leaving Ponyville for good was something he so desired, but could not do. Now, though, he couldn’t turn his gaze away from the growing town. As the train rolled, the town receded into the distance. Could he come back? Maybe there was some other project that needed a ceremonial prince to ceremonially turn some ceremonial earth. And while he shook hooves with the assembled dignitaries, maybe he could catch a glimpse of a happy couple and their beloved son.

He sighed and closed the curtains. A life, his life, was waiting for him in Canterlot. It was a life for which he would need to find new meaning. But Blueblood could do that.

After all, he was a prince.

Author's Notes:

An epilogue will follow, showing how Blueblood changed as a result of his experience.

The idea of Golden Harvest being married, and being barren, is relevant to the plot of another story I'm writing. I'll probably make it my next multipart story.