Terra found the Slipstream to be a pretty awesome airship, despite its small size, calling it the flying equivalent of a luxurious carriage. Blueblood piloted them back to his private landing zone at New Heights Avionics so they could discuss exactly what they would pitch to his aunts and uncle about the Geo Ponies.

"...and that's why it's better not to come between a Geo Pony and his mineral water," Terra blathered, spouting random facts about Geo Ponies (thankfully, it was all foal-friendly tidbits of information).

"Uh-huh, so, uh, Terra?" Blueblood finally interjected, "Back down in the mine, when we encountered each other? What were you doing with those gemstones?"

"Oh, those? They're for my research," Terra shrugged, like it was no big deal.

"Research?" echoed Blueblood, "For what?"

"Well, Geo Ponies are able to imbue gems, crystals and minerals with unique properties and create even more unique gems, crystals and minerals," explained Terra, "and Praetura gave me permission to study them and see what could be done with them."

"Hmm, well... after this is all taken care of, remind me to introduce you to my good friends, Midnight Blaze and Twilight Sparkle," Blueblood smirked, noting the perk of interest he got from Terra. "They enjoy studying magic and would jump at the chance to study something magical that's never been delved into before.

"I bet they could provide you with ways to benefit your research."

"...wow!" Terra was stunned so that he forgot to keep walking and Bludblood almost didn't notice. "The chance to work with the Prince and Princess of Friendship? That... that'd be... well, thanks, Blueblood."

"Thank me when this is over and I've introduced you," Blueblood chuckled, "Now c'mon, let's get to the castle and.... what the?!"

Blueblood looked down the street and saw some kind of commotion as ponies were gathering en masse in Canterlot Public Park, where, standing on the amphitheater, was a familiar pony, whose shouting became more distinguishable as the two of them got closer.

"...heard me right, fillies and gentlecolts of Canterlot!" shouted Glam Gold, apparently using a Voice Amplifying Spell. "Lurking beneath our very hooves, deep in the beating heart of Equestria, festering like a parasite... are monsters! Beasts that look pony but are anything but! I've seen them with my own eyes, just as I witnessed..."

Glam Gold covered his face, sounding like he was stifling a sob, before saying, "Just... as I witnessed... one of them, a gargantuan purple monster swallow my good friend, Prince Blueblood, whole and alive!"

Terra gasped in abject horror while Blueblood furrowed his brows in outrage as he realized, He knows!

"Blueblood, how does he know?!" Terra whispered to Blueblood, looking terrified but not for himself. "Who is that guy?!"

"Glam Gold, I ran into him earlier today, before coming down to the mine," Blueblood glared menacingly at the snob, sowing fear and panic among the masses. "He must have followed me and saw everything."

"Why would he follow you though? He's not really your friend, is he?" Terra was starting to get angry.

"Absolutely not! He's just a typical Canterlot snob full of hot air, a tiny dog barking loud to look big," Blueblood responded vehemently. "And I'm gonna get to the bottom of this... Stay here."

Blueblood shouldered his way through the crowd as the horseapples continues to spew from Glam Gold's mouth, "We must call upon the princesses, scramble the guard! We must root out these verminous beasts infesting our nation's capital and lock them up like the monsters they are!"

"And... you really saw Prince Blueblood get eaten, Mister Glam Gold sir?"

"Yes, I did, random voice in the crowd," Glam Gold replied, looking pained and mournful. "It grieves me that our little exploration resulted in his demise...!"

"Then why am I standing right behind you?"

"Huh?!" Glam Gold turned and GASPED to see Blueblood right there beside him, giving him such a stink eye, that was soon followed by stink eyes coming from everypony in the crowd.
"P-P-Prince Blueblood! You're alive?!"

"Yes, Glam Gold, I'm alive," Blueblood responded dryly, "and I think you'll find your tall tales no longer credible by everypony here."

"You have an annoying habit of turning up where you're not welcome!" Glam Gold snapped and gasped as he covered his mouth and looked to see the ponies in the crowd beginning to disperse and grumble.

"Wait, wait! I did see the monsters! They're right under the mountain! You have to believe me, I... !!" Glam Gold's eyes fell upon Terra. "Him! He was there, that yellow earth pony! He's in league with those monsters!"

Numerous eyes turned to Terra, who shrank in anxiety of becoming the center of attention all of a sudden.

"He lured Blueblood into a trap and that creature showed up!" Glam Gold accused, "Who's to say how many other innocent victims he's led to their demises?!"

"Wha- No! That's not true!" Terra protested, "And they're not monsters, they're-!!"

Terra froze in abject horror as he'd realized what he'd just done.

"You see?! He admits they're real, that they're down there!" Glam Gold screamed, taking a savage satisfaction to see fear and anxiety wash over the crowd again.

"That is enough!" Blueblood pushed Glam Gold to the ground, "Everypony, don't listen to him! Yes, there are... unusual ponies living in the abandoned mines beneath the mountain, but they are not a threat!"

"Glam Gold doesn't know what he's talking about!" Terra added, looking to be on the verge of tears.

"But how many are there?" shouted a panicked voice among the crowd. "How big are they?" "Do they eat meat?!" "What are they up to?!" "We don't know anything about them." "What if they are our enemies?!" "What if they attack us?!"

"Not if we attack them first!" Glam Gold spoke up, "I volunteer to lead my private security force to deal with these beasts and put them in chains!"

"Put them in chains!" somepony shouted, echoing Glam Gold's words, and all-too-quickly did the effect spread as more and more ponies joined in and repeatedly chanted, "Put them in chains!

"PUT THEM IN CHAINS!!

"PUT THEM IN CHAINS!!"

"NO!!" Terra shouted, but went unheard, unable to overtake the roar of the crowd. Terra whirled to face Blueblood, tears already trailing down his face, "What are we gonna do?! They're not listening to us!"

Blueblood wasn't sure, but he noticed Glam Gold was already speaking with some thuggish-looking earth ponies, pegasi and unicorns, all garbed in armor with Glam Gold's cutie-mark as an insignia, and bearing shields, spears, and weapons caches.

"We have to warn Praetura, and fast!!" Blueblood rushed back to New Heights, Terra following.

Thankfully, they arrived at the mine entrance first, using the Slipstream. But Blueblood knew it wouldn't be long before Glam Gold and his security force showed up. After touching down and getting off, they rushed towards the mine entrance but Blueblood came to a halt before it, surprising Terra.

"What're you waiting for?! We gotta-" Terra urged but stopped when Blueblood raised a hoof.

"You have to go and warn Praetura of what's coming," Blueblood instructed, "and tell him that I will do everything I can to keep Glam Gold and his thugs at bay."

"Wha- Are you serious, Blueblood?! Now isn't the time time to be a hero!" Terra protested.

"It might not have been intentional, but it's my fault that Glam Gold followed me to this mine," Blueblood said solemnly, "and it's my fault that he discovered the Geo Ponies.

"Tell Praetura not to interfere. If he or any of the Geo Ponies fight back, it'll give Glam Gold more justification."

"And then what?!" Terra got up into Blueblood's face, turning angry red, "You expect me to just sit back and let you face them alone?! You'll be outnumbered!"

"Terra..." Blueblood spoke solemnly as he summoned his sword, the blade reflecting the adamantine sheen of a flawless diamond and the crossguard a regal gold.
"I am a Knight of Harmony. This is what I am meant to do."

Terra stepped back, in awe but also in concern as he looked upon Blueblood differently. Equal parts admiration, disbelief, and concern, and... something else. His gaze softened as he asked, "Are you sure about this?"

Blueblood felt a tingle in his horn and he looked up to see a large airship descending from on high, coming their way. He locked eyes with Terra again and bade, "Go. Look after them, and don't worry!"

Blueblood smirked, looking more than confident but not quite arrogant as he gave his sword an expert swing before saying, "Everything will be alright."

Terra looked up to see the big airship coming before sighing as he said, "Whatever you say, Your Highness..."

As Terra turned and hurried into the mine, Blueblood felt something shake loose as those words seemed to resonate with that something... when he remembered.

Canterlot Gardens, 5½ years ago...

Wooden training swords, magically reinforced to make them more durable, clacked loudly as they stuck each other. Blueblood and Terra sparred passionately, pushing each other and providing the other with formidable challenge. The unicorn prince alternated between levitating his training sword and holding it with his own hooves, having mastered the mana wielding practice of being able to hold things with his bare hooves and not require manipulation shoes. Terra had likewise mastered the same discipline and so didn't need to rely on manipulation shoes either. But he had to rear up and stand on his hind hooves to better wield his training sword and yet he still held his own well against Blueblood.

Blueblood was grateful to have Terra as his sparring partner. Thanks to having an actual opponent to duel against, his swordspony skills had returned to their former glory after just a few months and were steadily improving.

Still, that didn't solve all of his problems. As much as he'd prepared to inherit his father's company, Blueblood had been overwhelmed when he'd started, even with the board of directors helping him. Not to mention, the Canterlot elite bothering him with this and that, along with unwanted advances and flirtations from noblemares and such.

He'd tried dating again, but it had been just the latest disappointment when it turned out this one had just been trying to marry into wealth and mooch off of him. He'd dumped her and warned her never to bother him again, threatening legal action otherwise.

His recent troubles however had no place here, a fact he remembered when he became distracted and Terra knocked Blueblood's training sword out of his grasp, sending it flying before it came back down and speared into a nearby flowerbed.

Terra then gently tapped Blueblood on the side and smirked, "And that's another for me! We're tied again."

"Heh, kudos to you," Blueblood tried to shrug it off with a cocky smile but just came across awkward and forced.

"Okay, break time, because something's obviously on your mind," Terra decided and he led Blueblood over to a stone bench under the shade of willow tree, where they'd left their towels and water bottles.

"Ugh, sure, it's getting hot anyway," Blueblood followed Terra, who was already toweling off the sweat they'd worked up and accepted his when Terra held it out to him. He dabbed and wiped wherever he felt the slimiest, pressing a little here and there to massage the sore muscles and a few of the bruises he'd earned from their sparring.

Going unnoticed by Blueblood, Terra sat on the stone bench with a faint shade of pink across his muzzle with an expression of awe as he watched the prince dry himself off. Terra shook it off just before Blueblood finished and joined him on the bench, passing him a water as well.

As they sat next to each other, still smelling like a couple of sweaty stallions despite toweling off, an awkward silence ensued for a moment that Terra just had to break the ice, "So...? What's going on?"

"Nothing, I-" Blueblood tried to deflect, only for Terra to raise a hoof.

"Ah-ah, don't dodge, talk," he pressed. "Something's obviously eatin' ya, better to spit it out before you get indigestion from holding it in until you have to shit it out."

Sighing almost irritably, Blueblood answered, "Well, it seems everything I've been preparing for is so much harder than I thought it was going to be, and I already thought it was going to be no trot in the park."

"Let me guess, it's about your father's company?"

"Yes, it's..." Blueblood hesitated. A part of him wanted to talk about how his latest attempt to find a decent girlfriend had been yet another disappointment, but Blueblood didn't feel comfortable talking about it, even to Terra.
"My father worked hard to build New Heights Avionics, even with the endorsement of my aunt. My first week was grueling! I'd studied what I needed to know, but it was still a lot more than I'd expected... I can't afford to screw this up! Even one bad business decision can bring the whole company down. I'd ruin not just my father's legacy, but also the jobs and livelihoods of all my employees!"

"I get it, Blue, being responsible for a huge business like that is daunting," Terra said kindly while putting his hoof onto Blueblood's shoulder as a gesture of assurance, "but you can't back down now! You're just getting started. I know it feels that way, but once you get your groove you'll be running that company like a wiz!

"Like my dads always say: Just take it one step at a time."

His words seemed to work, as Blueblood didn't seem as tense, but he still seemed down.

"And you know, uh..." Terra reached up to rub a spot behind his neck as he gathered his courage despite his anxiety, "you don't... have to face this alone. I'm no business pony, but... Well, the thing is, Blue... I-"

"Terra."

The tone belied something that caused Terra to freeze and a weight to drop into the pit of his stomach as Bluelood became stone faced and spoke in that tone, "I think that... you should find other friends."

"...what?!" Terra's voice was soft and shaky, laced with shock.

"I can't do this anymore," Blueblood seemed cold and distant, not even looking at Terra as he said, "Too much is counting on me to oversee New Heights. I must give the company my full and undivided attention...

"And you are a distraction."

Terra was shattered. His heart hurt, and when he managed to find his breath again, he softly said, "But... but Blue!"

"My name is not 'Blue'," Blueblood's tone became edged and subtly harsh, "it is Prince Blueblood."

The silence that followed those cold words... Blueblood didn't have the heart to even look at Terra, who finally stood up, gathered his things, and responded with an empty voice, "Whatever you say, Your Highness..."

As he heard Terra's hoofsteps gradually soften until he couldn't hear them at all, Blueblood blinked away a tear that had almost escaped his eye as he thought about his decision. A part of him meant what he'd said, painful as it was, but another assured him he'd done the right thing. Being associated with Blueblood would only have led to trouble for Terra, who'd be eyed and possibly exploited by others for his friendship with the unicorn prince.

He took a deep breath as he gathered his things as well and went a different direction, thinking to himself, It's for the best.

The gut-wrenching feeling that he was wrong tried in vain to get through to him, but he buried it.

The Present...

Blueblood felt his heart sink with regret as he watched Terra vanish into the darkness of the mine. How could he have forgotten something so cruel? He'd told himself he was doing Terra favor back then, but now he realized, I was just being a selfish ass...

Looking back, Blueblood recalled plenty of decisions he'd made while fooling himself that they'd been for the best. But in this moment, he understood, It wasn't best for anyone but myself...

He turned to see the airship, marked with Glam Gold's cutie-mark and a stylized G, about to touch down. Summoning his sword, Blueblood furrowed his brows as he swore to himself, I'll make it up to you, Terra, and I'll start right here!

Glam Gold's ship landed and a walkway extended, allowing dozens of thuggish pony goons to disembark. They were ponies of all three tribes, mostly with earth ponies and unicorns but several pegasi, and there were a few mares among all these stallions. They all looked tough, edgy, unfriendly, and wore armor and gear akin to some kind of paramilitary unit but they were certainly not part of the EUP. Some might have been in their pasts, but no respectable EUP soldier would be caught dead among these lowlifes.

No, these were mercenaries, paid by the highest bidder and speak of the devil for he appeared in the form of Glam Gold leaving the airship last.

"Blueblood!" Glam Gold sneered as he came forward, his hired muscle parting before him, until he stood in front of them all and smirked condescendingly at Blueblood, who stood directly between him and the mine entrance.
"I don't suppose you're here to lend a helping hoof in Canterlot's little pest problem?"

"Glam Gold... I will say this only once," Blueblood raised his sword and speared it into the ground in front of him. "Leave and take your... employees with you."

"You surprise me, Your Majesty," Glam Gold narrowed his eyes while smirking, "You would fight for monsters against your mother country?"

"You wouldn't fight for your own mother," Blueblood quipped, which got a few stifled snickers and amused smirks among Glam Gold's hired muscle, irritating him.

"Rrgh! I advise you to reconsider your standing, Prince Blueblood..." Glam Gold said through gritting teeth as he gave threatening glances at his goons, which shut them up.
"The public won't look kindly on this act of betrayal... but I'm willing to forget this ever happened if you just step aside."

"What is this really about, Glam Gold?" Blueblood furrowed his brows. "I hardly know you, but I do know the kind of stallion you are. Because you're quite similar to the stallion I used to be."

"Oh? And what kind of stallion is that?" Glam Gold huffed.

"A stalion who strove to be more, to be perfect, to be a paragon in the circles of high society," Blueblood declared as he let his shame and his humility flow outwards. "I worked to be such a paragon while turning away from all the things and the persons in my life that truly wanted the best for me, because I had my head so far up my ass that I couldn't see a truth so obvious when it had been right in front of me.

"I blinded myself with my pride and my arrogance and my insecurity. I sought validation from the wrong people while losing the faith and respect of those who truly matter to me. Then, one night, I came all too close to losing an opportunity that would have left my life all the poorer for it.

"I know now that somepony I care deeply about and who cares deeply for me was looking out for me that night and she gave me just the nudge and the encouragement I needed to take a chance... and I found my special somepony! She was well within her rights to have turned me down after the way I first treated her but she took a chance as well and gave me another. Now, she is my wife and by her guidance and the guidance of my friends and family I truly have become a paragon of my own merits and my own virtues rather than some pompous and shallow high horse the Canterlot Elite kisses up to."

"And...?!" Glam Gold furrowed his brows, glaring enviously at Blueblood.

"And... I am happier and better than I ever was, all thanks to my family and my friends," Blueblood answered. "Glam Gold, true respect is earned, not bought or inherited. Don't make the mistakes I did, don't slave away to earn the shallow admiration and empty validation of those whose opinions and fancies change at the drop of a hat. They're not worth the effort. You can be a paragon as well, a stallion of your own merits, a stallion worthy of respect from those who care for you. But most of all, respect for yourself!

"And you can start right here, by standing down and giving the Geo Ponies a chance."

Glam Gold found himself stupefied. An emotional malaise stirred within him, something inside conflicting with his intentions and motivations. Since his colthood, Glam had been derided and pushed by his father to be a worthy scion of their noble bloodline and never once being able to earn his father's unreasonably high standards. Glam had only become the head of his House by the unforeseen passing of his father, who'd never left behind a proper will so Glam Gold inherited it all by default. But deep down, Glam knew his father had never been impressed with him despite working so hard in a vain attempt to earn his father's approval. Part of him had honestly been relieved that he no longer had to put up with his father's cruel derision and distant judging.

When he'd once won 2nd place in his school test scores, his father had snubbed him by saying somepony else's father was happier than him. When Glam Gold had made the front page on the Canterlot Gazette, apparently for his work in energy refinement, his father had ruined it by revealing he'd had it arranged. At one point, Glam Gold had even considered enrolling into the EUP but his father had expressly forbidden it, threatening to disinherit him.

All the while, Glam's father would admire Prince Blueblood, noting how a young orphaned noblepony had the blessed fortune to be taken in by the Princess of the Sun yet risen to become Canterlot's Favored Son with his work and inventions in the airship industry. One time, he'd even had the cruelty to say 'If only I'd been able to adopt him before the princess did' right in front of Glam Gold.

Then the miserable old stallion had croaked, and Glam Gold became embittered that he'd never prove himself a worthy successor to his sire, who'd made it clear he'd never approved of or respected the pony that was his actual son. And now, here was the pony his father had been impressed by, giving him the advice of a bleeding heart to show mercy and understanding to a pack of monsters!

So why am I hesitating...?! Glam Gold felt it weighing down in the pit of his stomach, something like an angry dog pulling to get loose and attack, only for something desperately holding onto the leash.

Blueblood's words ran through Glam Gold's mind again, true respect? A stallion of his own merits? It all sounded appealing, a part of him wanted to believe them. But here he was, on the verge of rooting out enemies of Equestria, which would surely earn him the admiration of Canterlot, and here was its Prodigal Son standing in his way!

He's always been in my way...! Glam Gold thought bitterly as the many memories of his father comparing him to Blueblood and pointing out how he fell short of the so-called prince echoed discordantly in his mind.
...No more.

"BLUEBLOOD, I'VE NEVER WAVERED IN THE FACE OF OPPOSITION AND I'M NOT STARTING NOW!!" Glam Gold shouted at the top of his lungs before pointing at the unicorn prince, "If he won't step aside, make him!"

Blueblood sighed, sincerely disappointed at Glam Gold's response and noticing the mercenaries all beginning to approach with threatening body language, sleazy smirks, and some of them sporting swords or clubs as they set their eyes on him and Blueblood held true as he summoned his knightly sword, the adamant blade pristine under the sun, complemented by the regal gold cross guard.

"So be it..." Blueblood's unwavering spirit brought forth the words before he could process them as he pointed his sword straight at his adversaries.

"Onward and forward... Polaris!"

A large circle of white, gold and periwinkle appeared before Blueblood, just inches from the tip of his sword, and he saw it displayed his Compass Rose cutie-mark! The borders showed the design of degrees with numerals along with glyph-like runes, before the Circle began to spin... and it came towards Blueblood's sword, which glowed as it pierced the circle. The glow radiated like a beacon guiding a lost ship before it dimmed and Blueblood marveled to see his sword had changed form!

No longer was his sword a knightly long sword, but now it was a gentlecolt's rapier, and an unorthodox rapier at that. The hilt had four points spread out, resembling the North, South, East and West on a compass, but it also had golden coils shaped into vines, forming a "cup" around the handle, which had a pristine diamond on the pommel. Straight above the hilt, connecting the blade, was some kind of spherical chamber, containing what looked to be a gyroscopic compass!

The blade itself was long and though it was thin it gave off an adamant gleam, revealing an engraved design of a floral vine along the length.

Not only that, but Blueblood's knightly armor had appeared, cladding him in its protective keep, along with his helm. It gleamed with colors of gold, white, periwinkle, and even accents of royal blue.

The display of magic caused the mercenaries to hesitate more than the sword's transformation, but still Glam Gold scoffed, "Wow! Impressive, Your 'Majesty'! You brought a pretty ornament to a stand-off! It goes so well with that glorified Nightmare Night costume!

"Well, what're you idiots waiting for?!" Glam Gold addressed his hired flunkies, "Knock him aside and get to work!"

The goons shared disgruntled looks but nodded as one of them, a brutish unicorn stallion gave Blueblood a derisive look.

"Apologies in advance, Prince Blueblood," he chuckled darkly as he charged a spell into his horn, "Just business..."

"Of course..." Blueblood whispered in response as he invoked the power of his new Polaris and placed his trust in it and in himself. "Business as always."

The ground upon which Blueblood stood lit up with the Magic Circle of his Compass Rose, and Blueblood jumped, the power of the Circle launching him higher than he'd ever been able to jump normally, easily dodging the unicorn thug's spell even when he'd tried to follow Blueblood's movements and realign his aim. Reaching the apex of his jump, Blueblood felt his mana surge and then his hooves get a solid footing as another Circle appeared, this one in thin air, making it an angled platform for Blueblood to stand on.

The pegasus goons took flight and zoomed straight at Blueblood, who waved Polaris around, creating three smaller Magic Circles as he whispered, "North Wind, Boreas!"

The trio of smaller Magic Circles quickly launched projectiles of solid ice! The pegasi faltered in alarm but were too late as the ice collided with them, freezing over the points of impact, making them too heavy to fly and drop to the ground, which thankfully hadn't been that far beneath them.

The unicorns all narrowed their eyes before focusing their horns and launching Magic Arrow spells, bolts of mana projectiles zooming towards Blueblood, whose Magic Circle platform lit up as it propelled him eastward, another Circle appearing for him to stand on, but angled just so as it subsequently propelled him down by south-east, reaching the ground, where he waved Polaris again, conjuring four smaller circles before he declared, "East Wind, Vulturnus!"

From those four small Circles zoomed out bolts and tendrils of Lightning! They struck the Magic Arrow spells mid-flight and followed their residual energies through the air, shocking the unicorns who'd shot them, causing a few of them to pass out while the rest jittered and spasm'd, trying to shake off the tingly discomfort of pins & needles on random spots of their bodies that sparked and sizzled.

The others hung back a bit, realizing Blueblood's fancy sword was no joke, and Blueblood himself, as composed and focused as he was in the present moment, was bewildered!

He didn't know where all this power and these magical abilities were coming from, aside from the obvious source being his newly-transformed sword. But these powers, the ways to wield them, they just somehow came naturally, to the point where Blueblood was thinking without thinking, acting on instinct, yet somehow moving with deliberate intent and unhesitating boldness!

"Rrrrgghh, surround him!" Glam Gold ordered, and his mercenaries obeyed, charging forward and then going left and right until they completely surrounded Blueblood, even having a few pegasi still ready for more in the air to discourage any attempts to escape with some more fancy aerial hoofwork.
"If you attack him at once, at least one of you should be able to score a direct hit!"

"You heard him, all!" shouted one of the thugs, "LET'S GET `IM!!!"

"AAAAAAUUUGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" the mercenaries all shouted as they began to close in on Blueblood, who let his power and instinct guide him as his Compass Rose Magic Circle appeared beneath him again, but instead of launching or propelling him, he crouched down a bit, Polaris extended diagonally, before yelling, "West Wind, ZEPHYR!!!"

He spun `round, the Magic Circle spinning with him as Polaris sliced the air itself and a squall kicked up into a cyclone, sharp currents zooming through the air while also literally sweeping the mercs off their hooves and the pegasi fought to stay in control before they too were yanked and sent a hurtling in a circle.

Round and round and round they went, though Blueblood doubted they'd repent.

Then they started crying out in alarm, a few of them begging to be let go, one even saying, "Yeah, I'm gonna barf!"

Reckoning they'd had enough, Blueblood held Polaris vertical before him as he focused, the Magic Circle gaining clock-like patterns and characteristics before it spread out in rippling tick-tock vibes as he declared, "Temporal Lock."

The spinning ponies came almost to a stand-still, but ever so slightly they continued to move, only at a super-slow pace that one would notice if they took a closer look.

Glam Gold was lucky to be outside the area of effect, but it still caused him to drop his jaw in utter disbelief of what he was seeing. Blueblood then summoned another Magic Circle, only this one took on a dark purple color as it span, Blueblood crouching... and then he was launched straight up, rotating as he pointed in random directions around the still-floating band of mercenaries caught in a super-slow flow of time, and among them appeared seven magic circles while one appeared right above Blueblood, which he landed against, standing upside-down though angled just so... before he had it launch him towards the nearest circle!

He lashed out with Polaris, striking multiple mercenaries at once, as he landed on the second circle, which then propelled him to the next, whilst he struck several more of the thugs. Then the fourth circle, the fifth, the sixth, seventh, and finally the eighth, all the while he'd struck every single mercenary pony, not seriously injuring them but hitting weak spots all the same.

Finally, he landed back at the spot where he'd began and flicked his mane while simultaneously releasing the Temporal Lock, the mercenaries all crying out, in alarm, shock and pain as they dropped like a ton of bricks! As they groaned and whined in a circle of tangled limbs, Blueblood stepped lightly over the goons as he kept his gaze fixed on Glam Gold, who was glaring back furiously.

"South Wind, Auster," Blueblood pointed Polaris back at the heap-over-each other thugs as a Magic Circle surrounded them with its circumference igniting into a ring of fire that discouraged any rash movements. His eyes having never left Glam Gold, Blueblood spoke, "Stand down, Glam Gold. It's over."

"This is FAR FROM OVER!!" shouted Glam Gold, charging his own horn for a spell, "When the Canterlot Elite hears about this, you traitor-"

"I couldn't care less what the so-called 'Canterlot Elite' will think, and it baffles me that you still do," Blueblood interjected, his expression no longer sympathetic, "especially since before beating you back here, I sent word to the Castle, informing my aunt of a settlement of ponies in need of an audience while being threatened unprovoked by a pony overstepping his bounds."

Glam Gold froze as his eyes drifted upward and he saw several Royal Guards already descending, Prince Sombra leading them, as they all glared reproachfully at Glam Gold, who found himself surrounded.

The tables had been turned.

Glam Gold had broken into a cold sweat. How had it all gone wrong so easily?! The answer was obvious, but still his refusal to accept the circumstances unfolding before him-

"Glam Gold!" He turned to see Prince Sombra, giving him a disapproving look. "My nephew has informed the Royal Court that you have attempted to lead an unprovoked attack against innocent ponies."

"Unprovo- Innocent?!" Glam Gold glared back at Blueblood, but then noticed behind him, the mine entrance was now filled with those creatures!

That little yellow upstart, that big purple beasts! Aside them were more, three large ones and a few foal-like smaller ones, all of them looking anxious yet hopeful. Blueblood looked back at them and gave them a smile to let them know that everything was going to be all right.

"Your Majesty! These beasts may look pony, but they are monsters!" Glam Gold spat, "And your nephew is aiding and abetting them, which makes him a traitor to crown and country!"

As Glam Gold sputtered more of his hot air, nopony noticed the earth around him shifting ever so subtly.

"I suggest you stand down and come quietly, son," Sombra furrowed his brows, "you're only making it worse for yourself..."

"Worse for myself?! These creatures in ponies' skin are what's worse for Canterlot- Nay, for Equestria!" Glam Gold pointed an accusing hoof directly at Praetura, who narrowed his eyes reproachfully... only to smirk as he saw a familiar form move through the ground like a shark swimming through water towards its prey.
"For Faust knows how long, they have squatted beneath the very seat of Equestrian power, hiding like rats, all the while surely they have been conspiring to rise and take over our blessed kingdom!

"And you and your bastard nephew are just too blinded by your naivete to see it!"

"I won't say it again, boy..." Sombra conjured his obsidian scythe, and held it menacingly even though he had no intention of using it. "Stand down."

"Rrgh!! I am willing to do what must be done to safeguard this kingdom!" Glam Gold was starting to get a crazy look in his eyes as his horn lit up to summon a sword to his side. "And if you don't have the spine, then I will-"

A tremor shook right under Glam Gold's hooves, causing him to stop mid-sentence as he felt the earth beneath him quake, alarming him. He looked around, nervous, riled up, before shouting as he stabbed his sword into the ground around him, yelling, "I won't be cowed by beasts living in the dirt!

"Come out and face me, monster!"

An explosion of dirt, rock and soil blasted upwards behind Glam Gold, who gasped in abject horror as he peered over his shoulder just in time to see a large mouth come his way. His scream of terror was quickly cut off as a large green form engulfed Glam Gold in his mouth, threw his head back and made a loud GULP, feeling the little pony slide down his throat and drop nice and snug into his belly.

There where Glam Gold stood no more than a minute ago was a Geo Pony unlike what Blueblood had seen yet. He was just about as tall as Praetura. His coat was a jade green, but had what looked to have jagged patterns across his body as if it were cracked with lighter green blotches filling gaps. Like the rest of the Geo Ponies, his mane, a pale bluish-white, ran down his back and tail, directly along his spine, shimmering a pale blue like diamonds, matching the color of his eyes, and his ram-like horns were a darker green. His cute-mark was an oval-shaped ornamental jade studded with eight pointed diamonds, three along the top, three along the bottom and one pointing out from each vertical side. He wore a silvery gray peytral studded with diamonds and matched the metal bands on his fetlocks, and his hooves looked like marble with a faint pale blue tinted white.

He then dropped onto his bottom, making a noticeably loud THUMP, revealing his bulbous belly, shaking with the terrified movements of the pony inside it, while he smacked his lips and then blech'd before saying, "Ugh, he tastes awful, but I couldn't take listening to anymore of his crap."

"Uh..." Sombra was dumbfounded, having just witnessed a criminal get swallowed alive and the pony who;d done it was acting like it was no big whoop.

"Don't worry about Glam Gold, Your Majesty." Sombra turned... and was surprised to find himself looking up at somepony else, as Praetura had calmly walked over to stand beside the alicorn prince. Ever since becoming an alicorn, Sombra hadn't stood eye-level with anypony, always looking downwards. Looking up to somepony was a foreign experience he'd all but forgotten.

"Come again?" he said dumbly.

"That's my brother, Jade Diamond," Praetura pointed to the massive green pony. "He just made sure Glam Gold won't be causing any more trouble until he can be properly arrested and locked up.

"It's.. a Geo Pony thing."

"Okay. I'll take your word for it," Sombra was still dumbfounded but then Blueblood and Terra came over.

"Uncle, I think we have a lot to talk about," Blueblood smiled as he reverted Polaris to its normal form and absorbed the sword back into his being. "Why don't we move this talk back to the castle? It'll be more comfortable and we can have snacks!"

The geo ponies all smiled and murmured excitably, while Sombra thought, I hope Tia has some cakes to spare...

And so another Knight of Harmony comes into his own power!

I won't deny, Blueblood's Harmonic Sword and its powers are all inspired by Weiss Schnee's weapon Myrtenaster and the Schnee Family Semblance of Glyphs from "RWBY"

What Blueblood forms however are Magic Circles that basically share the design of his Compass Rose cutie-mark, and its four main attacks are based on the Anemoi, the Gods of the Four Winds from Greco-Roman mythology, along wiht a few other tricks.

Blueblood was able to wield his sword's new powers so well by trusting them and letting them guide his actions, which deeply contrasts with the pony he used to be.

His sword's name is Polaris, after the North Star which is a constant guide to those who know to look out for it and trust it, which is also the name of Blueblood's family

Now all that's left is to resolve the situation with the Geo Ponies, and don't worry about Glam Gold. His real just deserts aren't being desert himself