11am
The knock at the bedroom door that roused him from slumber was firm yet deferential, just the way he liked it. Stirring from beneath his silk sheets, Prince Blueblood the Tenth, fourth in line to the throne of Equestria began his day as he always had. A sharp clop of his hooves together and the doors to his suite swung open and his entourage descended in a flurry of efficiency. Within moments his mane was brushed to perfection, his teeth brushed till they gleamed, his hooves buffed till they shone, his coat groomed till there was not a hair out of place and his breakfast was waiting on a platter beside his bed.

He eyed the collection of paper and parchment for a moment. Most of it he recognised as being the usual mundane nonsense of court life. Invitations to parties he wouldn’t be caught dead at, requests for “a moment of his time” from commoners and wastrels, updates and, no doubt, entreaties for more money from the handful of charities he had been blackmailed into supporting by his Aunt...no, there was little of any interest there this morning. Not that he would actually open it himself, heavens above no. He had ponies for that. He left them where they were, anything of note would be reported back to him after he’d dined.

He turned his attention to breakfast, noting again with some displeasure that the cooks were using, once again, the blend of tea that his Aunt favoured instead of the one he had personally requested. Yet another show of disrespect for his position and him personally. If he’d had his way, he would have them all dismissed from their posts if they couldn’t get such a simple task right. He briefly debated calling the servants back in to replace the entire breakfast, but the smells were tickling at his nostrils and instead he decided he could tolerate the insult...this time.

11:47am
His somewhat inadequate breakfast finished and set aside, Blueblood sat behind his broad, opulent desk in the study adjoining the main room of his suite, relaxing back into the plush chair with the faintest of smiles as he allowed the soft material to mould itself to his spine. A fine piece of furniture indeed. Pegasi built, soft as any cloud in the sky, and all it had taken was some words in the right ears. Really, that was all it ever took.

Pulling the bottom drawer open to reveal a selection of bottles he took a moment to study each in turn before selecting a particularly pleasant malt from Shady Hollow. poured himself a small glass of whiskey and waited patiently. One minute later, there was a knock at his door.

“You’re late,” he snapped as the door swung open and a pale blue unicorn stallion walked in, sweeping his hat from his head and clutching it deferentially to his chest. Now what was this one’s name again? He went through aides as quickly as Auntie Celestia went through cakes some weeks. This one was shaping up well enough. Bright Spark? Luminous Glow? Something to do with light, he was sure. Well, not that it really mattered one way or the other, it wasn’t like he was ever on first name terms with the staff.

“Begging your pardon, Highness,” he apologised as he dipped his head down low, muzzle near brushing the floor, his voice dripping with regret. “An unavoidable delay. Lord Ironfort waylaid me just outside the great hall in another attempt to beg an indulgence.” Ah, there was his cutie mark. It didn’t help. A crossed lamp and quill, how very cryptic. Perhaps he had a talent for illuminating things. He’d never really bothered to find out what his specific special talent was, but he had to admit that he was quite adept at ferreting out all sorts of useful pieces of information around Court.

Blueblood snorted, waving a hoof absently as he leaned back in his chair, taking a sip of the amber spirits as he turned his attention back to the here and now, musings over cutie marks could wait for another time. “And?”

“He left disappointed.” The stallion replied as he rose from the floor and trotted to the desk to sit across from the Prince, his back ramrod straight in the chair, poise as perfect as ever.

“As he should,” Blueblood growled. “Crotchety old fool. His family can barely trace their lineage back more than three generations and he thinks that gives him the right to speak to us as equals.”

“Indeed, sir. Now, as per our usual arrangement I reviewed the assorted correspondence that arrived with your breakfast. There were two letters from Princess Celestia, four from Lord Slate-”

Blueblood couldn’t quite resist a little smug smile at that. Another doddering old fool, it had been such a simple matter to extend him a line of credit to allow him to continue supporting his harridan of a wife in the manner to which she’d become accustomed while his business collapsed around his ears. Of course, Lord Slate would never know that his fall from power was guaranteed the moment his business interests intersected with his own. Well, one less obstacle in his way now and frankly he was far more capable of managing the Manehattan docks than Slate’s family could ever be.

“You also have three invitations to functions this evening. One is from Fancy Pants, I believe he is hosting a charity gala here at the Palace to aid those ponies recently affected by a landslip in Northern Equestria.”

“Send him the usual polite excuse note,” Blueblood replied, taking a sip from his glass. “But make sure and donate to the fund as well, so he doesn’t take it as a personal slight.”

“As you say, Highness. The next one is from…”

Blueblood tuned him out, turning his head to gaze out the window and over the rooftops of Canterlot. It was all about the game, the intricate dance of politics and position that his family had been playing for generations. Despite his best efforts, the Blueblood family were seen as little more than window dressing now, far beyond even the customary “heir and a spare” that most rulers demanded. What need was there for a Prince when the rulers of the land were immortal? He would die, as his father and grandfather did before him, as useless now as the day he was born.

He’d been second in line for the throne until Cadance’s ascension. Then third with the return of Luna and now that jumped up common brat Twilight Sparkle had moved him down another rung. Oh, her parents were minor nobility, but House Sparkle hadn’t been relevant in generations, not until Celestia had stepped in to claim the brat for her personal student. And then to allow her to ascend? Years of practice were all that kept him from grinding his teeth till his jaw ached.

“Highness, I know it’s not my place to go against your wishes, but I feel I should point out one thing I should have mentioned earlier. Fancy Pants’ event tonight, it is believed that both of your Aunts will be in attendance as they are seeking to garner extra publicity for this charity. If this is the case then you know that most of the other noble houses will send at least one representative in the hopes of catching their attention and furthering their own agendas.”

Blueblood grunted as he turned his attention back to the here and now. “A valid point,” he conceded. “Of the other correspondence, which of them were invitations to events this evening?”

“Two others, Highness. One from the Canterlot Philharmonic inviting you to attend a new presentation of “The Sun Will Ever Rise”. I understand it’s making quite a stir in artistic circles as it now openly makes reference to Princess Luna after centuries of all mention of her being removed.”

“Irrelevant. Send them the usual refusal letter. The other?”

“The other was from Captain Stone Aegis, intriguingly enough. A private request for an audience this evening.”

Blueblood’s hoof paused in its tapping, his mask of indifference replaced with a look of genuine surprise. “Aegis? Well now, that’s interesting. We’ve had little input with Shining Armor’s replacement since his predecessor swanned off to the Crystal Empire with that pink irrelevance. What do we know about him?”

The stallion shrugged. “Career military. He’s fifth generation royal guard. He’s kept his nose remarkably clean in his journey up through the ranks, almost suspiciously so. You know what soldiers are like, Highness, usually there are skeletons in their closets they’d rather keep hidden, gambling debts they keep from their superiors, fillies of dubious morals that are more than happy to lighten their saddlebags...but Aegis seems to have few vices of any note. He’s made one or two changes to procedure and policy since taking charge to better suit his particular temperament but he seems content to maintain the status quo left by Captain Armor. Quite why he would be seeking an audience with you is unclear at this time.”

“Mmm.” His hoof resumed its tapping as he mulled it over. There was little chance that Aegis had uncovered any of his particular enterprises or interests around Canterlot and he would be unlikely to ask for a private audience if he had. He wasn’t aware of owing the Aegis family any specific favours that might be called in. All in all it seemed he had little to lose from indulging the good Captain. “This merits more than the usual refusal. Make my apologies to him, and enquire when he will next be free to meet. I will be at his disposal for the rest of the week. Refuse all other engagements until we’ve confirmed the meeting with him.”

“Of course, Highness. I take it, then, that you will be attending Fancy Pants event after all?”

“Indeed. It would seem to be a perfect opportunity to renew some contacts, and remind other ponies that they shouldn’t overreach themselves when they think my back is turned. You did well to bring this to my attention.”

“Thank you, High-”

“However that particular detail should have been brought up far earlier,” Blueblood interrupted, “instead of as an afterthought. Still, you haven’t been with me long, so I’ll overlook it this time. You will, of course, make sure there’s a carriage waiting for me, and that I have a suitable female companion for the evening. Something younger, this time. Leggy. I want to make sure most of the attention is on her while I’m conducting business.”

“Y-Yes, Highness,” he stammered with a quick nod of his head, his ears angled back. “I’m sure we can find someone suitable for you.” Blueblood allowed himself a hint of a smile before he flicked a hoof dismissively, settling back into his chair, turning it about to face the window in clear dismissal. “You can go.”

1.30pm
Lunch with his Aunt. The less said about that, the better.

If he had to listen to one more lecture on his responsibilities, setting an example, living up to the family name… What would she know about any of that? Celestia’s ties with the Blueblood family might have extended back over twenty generations, but it had been even longer since she’d had any real involvement with the day to day activities of anypony bearing the Blueblood name.

He nodded and smiled in the right places, mouthed the customary platitudes that were expected of him while he chewed a mouthful of mostly-tasteless salad. Celestia, it seemed, preferred her food with few of the usual spices and herbs he was accustomed to at his own table. She barely even added any dressing, just a dash of some painfully generic vinaigrette from that damnable town, Ponyville. Now if ever there was a place that defied convention and common sense, it was that town. Little more than a speck on the map before the interloper, Twilight Sparkle, had moved there, now its ties to the crown only seemed to deepen by the day.

So lost was he in his musings, in fact, that for a moment, he’d thought he had misheard the words that had just left the alicorn’s mouth. He quickly finished his mouthful of food, levitating a napkin to his mouth to brush an invisible speck of food away. “I’m sorry, Auntie,” he began diffidently. “What was that you said about Fancy Pants fundraiser? I’m afraid I was quite distracted by this delicious salad your chef has prepared for us.”

Celestia beamed at that. “I’ll be sure to pass your compliments along, nephew. As for what I said, I commented that it was lovely to see Luna getting out and mingling with our little ponies on a more personal level since she began courting. Even so, I was quite surprised when she said that she would not only be attending tonight, but she was bringing Big Mac along with her. Quite a bold move, given some of the wild speculation in the press in Canterlot, but that’s my sister for you. She would never dance around a problem when she could simply charge straight through it.”

He hid his surprise as best he could as his magic wrapped around his glass of water, lifting it to his lips for him to sip. Luna would be at the party? Not only that, her country bumpkin of a mudpony would be there as well? A dozen different scenarios were quickly considered and then dismissed in the time it took him to lower the glass again. There was opportunity here, but only if he stepped lightly and quickly.

“Indeed,” he finally muttered, aware that his Aunt was watching him, expecting a response. “Bold indeed.” He finished his drink and salad and rose smoothly, bowing to the alicorn as was customary. “If you’ll excuse me, Aunty. I have some appointments this afternoon that I simply can’t put off. You know what it’s like around court.”

“Indeed I do, nephew. Good day to you.” Celestia paused, her mouth half-open, as if debating saying something more, but in the end she simply bowed her head slightly in dismissal and turned her attention to her own food.

He left quickly, thoughts whirling, barely paying any attention to where he was walking for the moment. It didn’t matter, he had to think, had to plan, had to consider all the options, mull over all the angles, all the potential consequences. So little time, so little. Luna was a frustrating individual when it came to her social calendar, and it had only got worse since she’d started dating that...farmer. She had no actual diary to speak of, not that any of his agents or contacts had been able to locate, and she made no long term plans that could be relied upon.

Celestia, on the other hand, was an open book. Literally. Her public schedule was published openly and frankly even her private schedule was common knowledge within the palace. Every moment of her day was marked, tracked, traced and accounted for, even her leisure time. It made her terribly easy to work around if one was patient and methodical. She had become, in her own way, simply another cog in the grand machine of Canterlot politics. Luna, on the other hoof, was still an entirely new element, one that had yet to find its niche. The squeaky gear that had the potential to upset the entire machine. Or perhaps one that had simply not yet been ground down into its proper place.

Blueblood smiled to himself. And that made her vulnerable in a way that Celestia was not. An alicorn she may be, but Luna’s position was far from secure. She was regarded with fear and suspicion by not only the populace but by many of the nobles, and even many of the Solar Guard. Her Night Guard were few in number and they were viewed with equal suspicion by the populace as a whole, their allegiances to the former Nightmare Moon more a hinderance than a benefit.

His attempts to garner contacts within the Night Guard had been unsuccessful so far, even attempting to exploit that fool Mourne’s actions and their loyalty to Princess Luna had gained his agents no traction in that tight-knit fraternity. In time, perhaps, he might be able to convince one of them to assist him but that was in the far future. Right now he had plans to make and contacts to reach out to.

He stopped a passing maid with an outstretched hoof. “My personal servant, where is he?”

“Argent Glow? I’m not sure, Highness. I believe I saw him in the Central Lobby.”

“Find him and have him sent to my chambers immediately,” he snapped. His frown deepened as the maid stared wide-eyed at him. “Well? What are you still standing around here for? FIND HIM.”

The maid jumped, her ears pinning back as she bowed quickly and hurried off down the corridor. Blueblood turned and strode back to his suite to wait, his mind abuzz with possibilities.

1:59pm

“My deepest apologies, Highness. I was taking care of a meeting with the Merchants Guild in town.” Argent Glow gently closed the door to Blueblood’s suite behind him. “I understand you needed to see me?”

“I needed to see you twenty minutes ago,” Blueblood growled, turning away from the window. “But this will need to do. Cancel my previous request for female company for this evening. Contact Lady Amber Shine and ask her if she would do me the honour of accompanying me to the fundraiser as my guest.”

Argent Glow paused a moment, reaching into his saddlebags with his magic and withdrawing his notebook. He flicked through the pages and hummed to himself, a barely noticeable frown creasing his brow. “Lady Amber is on the guestlist, but she had already sent her apologies due to other plans. Not to contradict your wishes, Highness, but would another unattached mare not be a better choice?”

Blueblood grunted. Well that was an irritating complication. He paced back and forth for a moment, flicking his thick blonde mane over his shoulders. There were others he could call on, but none that he was entirely comfortable with. The choice had to be made carefully, the last thing he needed was to raise too many hackles this early on. “No. It needs to be her. If she insists that she cannot cancel her other plans, then I will simply go stag. Lady Amber would be a...useful asset in the game that’s unfolding before us. She haggled bravely with me during my monthly poker game at her first appearance at the club, supplying me with some useful information before any of my usual contacts had heard even a whisper. She bears watching, and perhaps bringing into the fold.”

Argent nodded silently in understanding and quickly made a note in his book. Blueblood couldn’t help notice that his horn writing was as neat and orderly as the demeanour he projected. Nothing ever seemed to fluster him which was a trait Blueblood found both valuable and occasionally irritating. “I will impress the importance of this meeting on her, Highness, and ensure she understands what may be lost by refusing. Should I also make the customary enquiries into her background and connections?”

“Mm. Yes. Reach out to our ponies in the Merchants Guild and the rest of the Royal Court. I want to know where she gets her money from, which hooves she has in which pies before I bring her too far into my confidence. Allegiances shift in the noble court all the time and our dear Lady Amber is, at the moment, something of an unknown quantity.” Blueblood stopped pacing and turning back to the window, tapping a hoof restlessly on the sill. “Contact Red Tape. Tell him that his schedule is being moved up. If he has contacts he can exploit then he is to reach out to them NOW. If he is unwilling or unable to move then inform him that his services are no longer required.”

“Of course, Highness. Might I ask, however, what the sudden importance of his task is? Has something changed?”

“McIntosh Apple is to be informally presented to the nobility this evening,” Blueblood growled, doing his best to keep from gritting his teeth too hard. He’d give himself wrinkles if he kept that up. No. Stay calm, stay relaxed, stay in control. It was all just a game and it would remain his game to play as long as he stayed patient. He took a slow, deep breath, letting the stress wash out with the exhale. “He will be attending Fancy Pants Gala as Luna’s escort.”

Argent nodded thoughtfully. “Interesting. Rather like waving an emerald in front of a Diamond Dog and not expecting him to bite down. She must know what the repercussions of this will be.”

“Perhaps, perhaps not. Luna comes across as something of a blunt instrument, Celestia’s attack dog when she doesn’t want to play nice. How much of that is genuine remains to be seen. Those two ruled this land for generations together, she can’t be entirely naive as to how the game of court is played, much as she would like us to believe it. No, I have to believe that she’s playing her own game.” Blueblood frowned as he walked back behind his desk, his magic wrapping around a decanter of whiskey, pouring himself a shot and lifting the glass to his mouth.

He sipped, his expression distant as he turned back to Argent. “I suspect that, in this instance, the simplest explanation is likely the most accurate. Battle lines are being drawn. Luna has been rattled by some of the more outspoken voices in the press and wishes to see what support she has within the nobility. Fancy Pants is known to be sympathetic, even friendly, with some of the Ponyville rabble, so she assumes that she will have the tactical advantage at a benefit being hosted by an ally.”

“And will she, Highness?”

Blueblood’s muzzled wrinkled into a scowl before he conceded the point with a nod. “She will, for the moment, but ONLY for the moment. We are still in the opening moves of our game, after all, probing for weaknesses in our opponent’s defence. McIntosh Apple is a vulnerability, but one that must be carefully exploited before the window of opportunity closes and he becomes more widely accepted within. Some of my contemporaries would likely rush in at this point out of fear, showing their cards too soon. Not I. Tonight will be a fact finding expedition only.” He downed the rest of the whiskey and thumped the glass down onto the desk before settling into his seat, tapping his hooves thoughtfully on the wood. “Neverthless, my directive to Red Tape stands. We need to begin to exert pressure outside of noble circles, find where the weak links are. As for this evening’s entertainment, who on our payroll will be attending?”

Argent again paused, casting his eyes up as he ran through the list of guests. “Lord Slate and his current companion, Lady Hazel Summer and her husbands…”

Blueblood snorted in amusement. “How many does she have now?”

“Six at last count, Highness. All of them pegasi, as I understand it.”

Blueblood scoffed, “No accounting for taste, I suppose. Go on.”

“I believe it’s something to do with the wings, Highness,” Argent explained without missing a beat. “Some ponies find them quite...erotic. Also attending will be Dame Lotus, Baron Prancer and Dame Lime,” Argent finished, his attention returning to his lord. “That is everypony that could be relied on. There are others we have had dealings with, but their allegiances are open to question. These five are either willing allies, or their allegiance has been bought and paid for.”

“Mmm. Not as many as I would like, I’d prefer to tip the board a little more in my favour but we work with what we have been given. It’s no great surprise Fancy Pants would avoid inviting to many nobles known to be affiliated with me.” Blueblood nodded as he stood again. “That’ll be all, Argent, unless you have anything new to bring to my attention?”

“No, Highness. I will contact Lady Amber and Red Tape as you’ve instructed and reach out to our other contacts. Do you wish me to also contact those ponies I mentioned who will be attending tonight?”

“No need. They know enough to fall in line with me and follow my lead if it becomes necessary.”

“Highness.” Argent bowed low and left the room, leaving Blueblood alone with his thoughts. He paced to the window, gazing out over the spires and rooftops of Canterlot, a little smile on his lips. “The opening moves are always the most fun,” he chuckled to himself. “Celestia is painfully predictable in how she plays the game, but Luna? Oh, tonight should be entertaining.”