P.B. and J.

by TheAmazingMe

First published 25th of February, 2016

Blueblood has royally screwed up his life since landing in the lap of luxury. His foalhood dreams of rising to become ruler of Equestria grow more faint with every new princess. Can a blunt Baker be the pony that Blueblood didn't know he needed?

Princess Celestia finally has enough of the selfish Prince, but everypony has a story. Can an unlikely special somepony bring out the best in Blueblood? Some flavors clash. Some flavors mingle. Does a bit of sweetness make up for a lifetime of sour?

The lives of the pampered prince and the brash and brawny baker become intertwined thanks to Blueblood's uncanny abilities. Can this donut-doling darling deal with the prideful, persnickety Prince?

(I promise there isn't a ton of Alliteration in the story)

P.B. and ... Alcohol?

Cinnamon.

It's a common enough spice in Equestria. Canterlot certainly has enough of the stuff to bury a sizable portion of the populace. A pony of means wouldn't ever think about where it came from. There wasn't a single reason why it should be on my mind. Thanks to one pony, it was all I could think about. But that’s putting a cart in front of one disastrously handsome pony, don’t you think?

Perhaps I could blame my common upbringing. I wasn't born to privilege, as shocking as that may be. My parents passed away when I was young, leaving me to grow up in an orphanage. Without a doubt, I wouldn't have had much of a life were it not for my dear 'aunt.' Who would question the word of the ruler of Equestria? Certainly not the poor, misbred types in the orphanage.

I'd put the filthy place and the filthier ponies behind me. Celestia's strange act of kindness gave me a few new advantages. Friends, even the fake, disposable ones you could find under any rock in the capitol, were always close at hoof. When you’re the presumed heir to the throne, the lower bred and upper crust alike were easy to spread. Fillies, mares, even stallions, all vied for my attention.

“Blue!” The voice was insistent and annoyed, but I ignored it. There was something more important.

As I got older, I came to know the pleasures they would willingly give me in exchange for a few pleasant words or even merely being in my presence. Even as my star fell and others would ascend to Ali Ron status. The power I still had was intoxicating. My aunt could keep her court; I was the prince of pleasure.

“I swear by your aunt if you don’t get in my carriage this very instant!” This voice was truly grating. Did I come here with here? Where even was I?

These pleasures were short-lived. My appetite was insatiable at times and my attention even more fleeting than the flight of a hummingbird. Most ponies floated away like leaves in a whirlwind. Some blew up at me like fireworks. Those flashes could be entertaining.

“You need to get your sugar-daddy snatching hooves off of this stallion or I’ll ruin you and your family. Don’t think I can’t, I’m of noble blood!” Heather, that was her name! The pink, velvety coated beauty I’d been sitting with, or had I been talking this whole time? Well, she slinked away and Heather had my full attention now. She was very pretty, much like a firework.

Then again, some blew up a little too close to my perfect face.

“Carriage. Now!” She ordered. Ordinarily, I would have objected to being ordered around, but there was something very sexy about seeing her threaten another mare. I followed her out of the club and onto the street. She had to order her driver, Pansy? Parsley? Whatever his name, she ordered him to help me into the carriage.

I drifted in and out during her harangue. Even so, I caught the gist of it, belittling everything from my alcohol tolerance to my parentage. Given that I was too far gone to care, I well, didn’t care.

I think I’d been snoring, because the next thing I knew she was shoving my chest and screeching at me. "Get out of my carriage, you-you hedonist!" I'd been called worse. Although she was the most well-bred of any of my conquests. Also this was her carriage, I’d humored her when we went out even though the carriage I had use of was susbstantially nicer. And enclosed.

I wasn't sober enough to deal with her annoying orders. "Lighten up. Do you know how far it is from the castle? I’m freezing enough as it is in this open air contraption.”

She was apparently having none of it. I scrambled my admittedly less than sober brains to come up with a reason. "I'm certain I don't care! It would teach you to play with the emotions of a proper young mare." She huffed. She ordered the driver to stop. The subservient pony complied readily. The dumb bastard was too short-sighted to realize he'd likely take the brunt of it when her parents found out he allowed her to kick a prince to the curb. Literally. “Out,” she insisted.

"Lady Heather Fields, you just listen to me you silly mare!" I began.

She cut me off rudely. "Not another word. Out before I have the driver show you his skill with a whip!"

"'Druther see your skill with a whip—hey!" She actually shoved me. Me!

I stumbled, inelegantly landing half on the curb and half in the gutter. The sheer nerve of it all took my breath away. Her behavior far eclipsed that filly at the Gala! As I stood, I realized I'd landed in a disgustingly dirty puddle. Without another word, they were off again before I could do more than shoot her a withering glance. I shook myself, not dislodging the filth I'd accumulated one bit. From what I could tell in the dim streetlights, I might have actually made things worse. Cringing at my state, I stamped a hoof. Once again, I felt the splash of the puddle beneath me as my reward for the fit of pique.

Celestia! All this over a little flirting with another mare at the club. I remembered the mare in question now that I was cold and wet. Heather Fields was high born, but even she wouldn't have ever gotten into the club without me! That's gratitude for you. She only had to deal with the fleeting indignity, I'd be washing my mane and coat for a week to get rid of this smell!

Looking around to get my bearings, I realized swiftly that I had no clue where I was. I could hardly be blamed; I had ponies in charge of little details like locations. Not to mention I wasn't in my finest state of mind between the alcohol I'd consumed and the anger I felt at being shoved out into the cold.

Speaking of which, I began to definitely feel the chill of the night's air. It seeped into me through the wet spot on my front. I'd have to have words with my nightmare aunt for this freakish autumn cold snap. The weather had always seemed perfect before Princess Celestia allowed her evil sister to ascend to rule with her.

I pouted at the thought. I’d been chosen to rule, but the second other alicorns showed up, Celestia disinherited me. It was cruel of her to have ever declared me a crown prince before I’d had a chance to develop a talent that would earn me alicorn-hood. Celestia never taught me to raise the moon. Or how to make friends. Or how to love, even.

The filly who had taught me love-making had only made my life worse when I reminded her that I was a prince. She’d been good in bed but she was no peer.

Casting aside the thought, I lit my horn. With irritation, I noticed that my usual golden glow was blue. Magical color depended somewhat on preference and usually I preferred to make my aura golden as befitting a prince. In the blue glow I realized I’d had a few more than I thought. The cold and wet hadn’t sobered me up enough for this. I went with my gut feeling on a direction and stumbled through the dimly lit streets. There were bound to be ponies I could use to get directions or maybe even a ride.

Instead, a half a block from where I started, I heard a voice. "E-excuse me, sir. Are you going very far? You look about ready to catch a cold. What are you doing out this late?" I didn’t even turn towards the gruff voice behind me.

"I'm trudging." I answered spitefully.

"What?" He asked simply. Perhaps he was hard of hearing, or maybe it was that I was turned away from him.

I sighed, turned halfways, and spoke more loudly. "Trudging. You know, to trudge. The slow, weary, depressing yet determined walk of a stallion who has nothing left in life except the impulse to simply soldier on."

I quoted a line from a play about a tale of knights that some pretty face or another had dragged me to. It was the only memorable part of the evening; she was another of those 'proper mares.' Maybe I'd give up proper mares entirely. They seemed to be nothing but trouble. I'm sure my aunt Celestia would be scandalized, if she even noticed anything I did anymore.

"Well, if you wanna trudge into my shop and warm yourself, you could." I took a closer look at my would-be hero. He was a brown unicorn with an even darker brown mane. His muzzle was a bit rounder than most stallions. By his apparel, I'd guessed he was a baker; his apron, white chef's shirt and small hat gave it away. His rough accent wasn't any part of Canterlot I recognized.

He spoke again, interrupting my inspection. "I'll even throw in a donut and some hot chocolate. On the house."

I walked up to him and looked him over curiously. He hadn’t used my honorific. For whatever reason, perhaps it was my wounded dignity, protocol was very important to me just then. "I'm Prince Blueblood, nephew to Princess Celestia and...” I blanked on my other titles. Didn’t I have other titles? I couldn’t remember. “And a very important pony." I finished lamely.

Without a moment's hesitation, he stuck out a forehoof. "I'm Joe. Ponies call me Donut Joe or Pony Joe.”

“Pony Joe?” I asked, confused at the name as much as at his total lack of reaction towards the fact that a prince stood before him. I puffed out my chest and lifted my chin. From his expression, the effect was less than flattering.

He held a hoof to his nose. “Okay, maybe we add some coffee to take the alcohol down a notch. Now let’s get inside before we have a prince-icle to thaw.” He said with a smile.

I frowned, but started for the door. When I realized he hadn’t made a move to hold the door for me, I turned to stare at him darkly. Rudely, he slapped my flank. The contact startled me into opening the door (mostly with my face) and stumbling into the shop.

A combination of bluster and booze kept me from doing more than spluttering at him indignantly. It hit me as I stared at his smile. Either he thought I was some filthy crazed pony or he was into stallions. Or both.

"You wanna freshen up a bit? You look a little...messy." Ah, he thought I was a crazy dirty pony then. I lifted my chin again and stalked over to the common bathroom he pointed out. Were it not for the state of my dress, I'd have no doubt impressed him as a vision of perfection.

The smell of the bakery finally made its way through my booze-addled senses and I closed my eyes in appreciation. This proved to be among the many poor choices I'd made prior (and since), as I tripped over a wet floor sign and hit the ground.

Hard.

To put it lightly, that's when I called it a night.

Author's Notes:

Edited and expanded 5-20-18

P.B. and ... Pancakes?

I woke up with a terrible headache and a horrid taste in my mouth. Moaning, I rolled over and covered my head with a pillow. The covers weren’t as soft as I remembered, although I might’ve been addled by last night’s libations. Then, like a series of waves, it hit me.

This was not my bed.

I was not wearing a single stitch.

That shirt had been my favorite white one.

The scent of cheap soap meant I was clean.

A soft, stalliony chuckle told me I was not here alone.

Sweet Celestia.

“Welcome back to the land of the living.” A cheery, semi-familiar voice chimed.

Another groan. “’Druther be dead.”

A laugh. It was just a few notes away from painful. “Pain is supposed to teach you a lesson. What have you learned?”

I cracked an eye open to glare at my nursemaid. The pain from the light had me scrunching the lid back over the offended organ. It didn’t help much and I moaned again. “Oh, I’m never drinking again.”

“I have something that might help with that hangover.” A drink with ice rattled nearby. I resisted the urge to blast it.

My head pounded like I’d struck it against a wall. “If it's not at least 15% alcohol by volume, I don’t care.”

This elicited another chuckle. Eventually, I was sure he would either enrage me or destroy my head with just his voice. “So much for never drinking again. Do this often?”

I considered how to answer. My tutor always advised in awkward situations it was best to answer a question with a question. Of course, she never answered any of my most burning questions. “The drinking, the blackout, or waking up in a strange stallion's bed?”

He didn’t miss a beat. “Yes to all of those.”

I rolled over and sat up. Given that I didn’t immediately puke, I felt charitable enough to give a straight answer. “Yes, sometimes, and not as often as it seems.”

I opened my eyes to see Joe. Pony Joe the donut baker. “I called for a doctor when you hit the floor. While we were cleaning you up, we realized who you were…”

“Told you.” It sounded more petulant than I intended.

He shrugged and leaned back. “You were drunk and dirty. Not exactly prime Prince condition.”

I scoffed. “I could hardly be blamed for either.”

“Of course.” I didn’t appreciate the tone.

I narrowed my eyes. “And a tough guy like you just invited a drunk dirty stranger into your bakery?”

He nodded. “Yes. Homelessness is rare around here, but it does happen.”

I resisted the urge to shake my head at him. Real tough guy voice, but this guy was a pastry puff. “And you weren’t worried about a random lush causing damage to your business or worse, attack you?”

One side of his mouth quirked upwards. It was annoyingly attractive in a very unpolished way. “If you go around expecting the worst from ponies, that’s all you’ll ever see. I do my best to help ponies in need and I’m rarely harmed in the process,” he said as he stood. Retrieving an offering of a glass of hangover potion, he returned and set it on the table beside me.

“I find you annoyingly, foalishly optimistic.” I announced as I took the medicine. I'd tasted worse, but that was long ago.

Joe shrugged. “Guilty as charged.”

Shuddering at the taste, I finished and replied. “Well, at least I didn’t turn up at the castle like that. My aunt would be on my case all day today.”

“Oh, well, I might give you a heads-up then. I sent a message to the castle to let them know where you were.” I looked up at him balefully. He seemed completely unfazed.

Thinking about what Celestia must have heard, I tensed. “By ‘a message to the castle,' you mean…”

He smirked, taking his dear sweet time watching me squirm before he finally answered. “To the head of Princess Luna’s House Guard, who was the top guard on duty at the time.”

I heaved a sigh of relief. I’d just have to convince Luna not to tell her sister. Then again, that would be harder than it sounded. We weren’t exactly close. I had until Luna woke up around midafternoon, if I was lucky.

His eyes must have noticed some subtle change in my demeanor. He looked down, then back at me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want them to worry about you, so…”

“They wouldn’t have worried about me.” I answered tersely.

He frowned. “That’s a little rough. Princess Celestia…”

“Her Highness hasn’t spoken to me, except to express her disappointment, in quite some time.” I said stiffly.

“I didn’t know.” He said.

I sniffed. “I’m not surprised a nopony like you didn't. Nopony knows.”

He seemed to brush my rudeness off like crumbs. “If the rumors are to be believed about you, Prince Blueblood, then I would understand her disappointment.”

“You don’t know the first thing about me.” I said crossly.

“I'd like to.” Joe said boldly.

“Why? What game are you playing? Trying to get a job as the castle donut maker?” I asked accusingly.

He shook his head, that annoying smile back on his face. “I like travelling too much to want to spend my life in a castle.”

His words struck a chord. It was a sentiment I could agree with, although it had never been allowed. Even before I lost favor with my aunt, my tutor hated traveling. “Well, at least you have that much right.” The bitterness seeped through more than I’d intended.

For someone who ran a donut shop, Joe was remarkably perceptive. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

“Remind me of my gilded cage?” I offered.

He snorted. “That’s a bit melodramatic. Have you ever tried setting up a vacation outside of Canterlot?”

I scoffed. “To do what? I’m not the charity-shilling type. I’m not a patron of any reputable business or organization. Do you think royalty can just flit about without a reason?” I waved a forelimb dramatically. He didn't respond.

I sighed heavily. “I was born to privilege and with that comes specific obligations.”

His brows furrowed. “Horse shit. “Sounds like you haven’t tried very hard.”

“How would you know? You don’t know anything about me?” I repeated.

“Why don’t you tell me about you?” He insisted.

“I’ve told you about me and you either don’t believe me or don’t believe I’m trying.”

“You haven’t told me about you.” He stated calmly.

I crossed my forelimbs, trying and failing to regain my composure. Exhaling sharply through my nostrils, I gave up on trying. “What are you talking about? Of course I have!” I was suddenly aware of how petulant I looked. And sounded. This really was the worst, to know that I was acting improperly and yet be unable to control it. My tutor would have been livid.

Joe continued probing my emotions. “You’ve spoken of the Princess, of what you are not, and of what you are sure you can’t do. None of that is ‘you.’”

My ire rose. “I’m an elite. A prince. And I’m quite through with this useless conversation. Has my escort arrived to return me to the palace?”

“No.” Joe waved a scroll in one hoof. “In accordance with the orders of Her Royal Highness Princess Luna, His Royal Highness Prince Blueblood is to make an appearance at the Court of the Night on his own behest and at the open of court hours of the date listed below.”

He passed the letter to me and added, “It’s today’s date, by the way.”

“I can read.” I hissed. The letter had a second page addressed to Joe, thanking him for saving my life and dignity. No wonder he felt so comfortable being cheeky.

And there I sat, alive, yet most indignant. “I suppose you think this is funny.”

“It has a certain humor to it, but I’m not all that happy.” He admitted.

“Why not?” I asked venomously. His caring act was really starting to bother me. To all outward appearances, he should be gruff, reserved and easy to dismiss. “Most ponies would be giddy at the chance to see me in disgrace.”

He tilted his head and thought a moment. There, that was the difference between his looks and his personality. At some point, he’d learned to think. “I have a feeling those ponies might have their reasons for doing so. On the other hoof, I have no reason to be happy that my guest is upset.”

“I am NOT upset!” I roared at him.

“I can see that.” He said drily. “Just call a cab and you’re off to see the princess.”

“I don’t have any bits on me.” I admitted.

He snorted. “And the castle guard wouldn’t cover for you?”

“Under the circumstances, the note does say at my own behest.” I trailed off at the thought of Aunt Celestia hearing about me begging cab fare off of a guardpony. “And I really don’t want Celestia to know what happened last night.”

Joe looked down. That was it, I couldn’t have anypony pity me. “Hmm. You don’t think Princess Luna’s already told her?”

His question distracted me from his pitying look. “If she went through the trouble to summon me, no. If she’d told Celestia, I’d be dragged into the Court of the Day.”

"I'll go with you." Joe offered. "We can even get pancakes on the way."

"What?" I asked, stunned.

His lips curled up. "Pancakes are a flat, round, fried cake. Usually served with syrup..."

"I know." I said testily.

He shrugged again. "Well, unless you have another way to get to the castle. The castle is several blocks away. You might get there in time for Court. If you leave now, that is."

I narrowed my eyes. "Fine. I just have one question."

"Yes?" He asked.

I felt heat rush to my face. "Where are my clothes?"

Author's Notes:

Edited and expanded 5-20-18

P.B. and ... Chocolate?

"I'd say 'relax' if I thought you would listen to anything I have to say now." Joe remarked.

Unclenching my jaw, I hissed at him, "So now you aren’t going to say things I don’t want to hear? Where was this stallion when I was getting grilled at a bakery?”

His annoying smirk was really starting to frustrate me. “You can leave."

"I don't want to." He said, cheerfully.

Bad enough that I was forced to appear at my 'Aunt' Luna's Night Court. Worse, I had to wait in line. The guards seemed to get a kick out of making sure I waited as long as possible. Finally, the tooth-decaying icing on this flank-fattening cake was that HE wouldn't just leave.

"What are you--" I was rudely cut off by one of Luna's House Guards.

I took one look at this white coated pegasus and decided I wanted no part of him. Thankfully, he seemed equally uninterested in me. "Her Royal Highness will see you now. She requests the presence of Mr. Joe, should he be so inclined."

"Thank you, we'll be in presently." Joe said to the guard. He turned to me. "Ready to get this over with?"

"Beyond ready." I moaned.

We approached Luna's throne, making the appropriate bows as we came to stand before her.

"Ah, if it isn't Our Nephew." She said. "Our gracious subject, Mr. Pony Joe, We thank you for your service to Our Nephew. Please rise."

I spoke. "Aunt Luna..."

She held up a hoof. "That you would be so informal does not bode well for the idea that you have learned a lesson. Lady Heather Fields is a mare of gentle upbringing. Our Court has a complaint against you from her father. We—I hope you realize the seriousness of this action."

I nodded. A complaint against a noble could result in one of many scenarios. In the most extreme cases, banishment, being stripped of titles and imprisonment could be utilized. Luna and I were not on good terms. I didn't think she'd go that far, but I recognized the danger that she could.

Luna continued. "As I understand it, nephew, this is not the first complaint to come against you. That this complaint should come from another noble house only serves disharmony..."

The speech was so predictable. Luna must've studied Celestia's speech and memorized it by heart. Actually, Luna probably put more feeling into it than her sister.

"...a duty to Canterlot and her citizens..."

Idly, I wondered if I'd actually get sent to one of the House of Day holdings outside of Canterlot. It would put a serious cramp in my lifestyle, but it would allow me to get out of the city. So long as it was sufficiently civilized. With a sniff of disdain, I thought of Ponyville.

"DOST THOU ATTEND US, NEPHEW?" The use of the Royal Canterlot Voice caught my attention as it blew me back a step.

"Of course, Your Highness." I said.

"Well then, I do hope you have something to say in your defense?" She asked, eyebrow arched. She was definitely playing from Celestia’s playbook.

I shook my head. "I await your judgment."

She sighed. "That thou wouldst take an honorable mare out under false pretenses speaks nothing good of thy character. Were this but your first offense, We might rule less harshly. But since this matter happened during Our night, it falls to Us to make a ruling on the conduct of nobles. Even nobles of Our Sister’s House. Wouldst thou truly say naught in your own interest?”

Her expression left me no choice, it was time to break out the A game. I hated using it, but I'd screwed up royally by zoning her out completely. Bowing low, I let out a single tear and said plaintively. "I can only humbly beg your mercy, Your Highness."

I dared a look upwards. The show of emotion seemed to have an affect on my aunt. Unfortunately, it wasn't the desired one. "Our sister has spoken of your rare displays of emotion. Your alligator's tears will not work on me."

"Send me away then." I said boldly. "It's what Aunt Celestia desired since I reached adulthood."

Luna’s eyes twinkled. "Ah, now that show of emotion I believe." She said with a smile. With Joe and now Luna, I'd had enough of ponies smiling at me.

"So, what is it? Have I finally lost my title as prince? Shall I pack for the Badlands or the Frozen North?" I stomped my hoof, feeling decidedly less stallion-like and more like a petulant foal. I hated that.

"Believe it or not, nephew, your aunts love you. We, and by 'we' this time I mean Celestia and myself, want to see you as more than just a party accessory." She lifted her head. "You will serve the Court of the Night for six hours every session as an advisor. This Court needs a younger voice and you are well acquainted with the nobles and notables of the next generation. Is this clear?"

My ears flattened against my skull. Six hours would put an outrageous damper on my nightlife. "Can you do that? I'm of the House of the Day..."

She held a hoof up to silence me. "I can. The old laws from before my banishment made it clear that service across House lines was an appropriate punishment for those with a certain lack of harmony. I have also discussed the matter with the Master of the House of the Day. They agreed most readily to my suggestion."

My heart sank even lower. There was no way for Celestia not to have heard if her Master of the House was involved. "So, Celestia knows about last night." I observed.

"Indeed, nephew." Luna said softly. "We-I could order you, but I would rather you be willing. Prince Blueblood, wouldst thou serve in my Court?"

It was the first time she'd referred to me by my title and name. Maybe she respected me at least that much. That was a damn sight better than the disdain her sister had exhibited. Could I serve Nightmare...Luna?

"Yes, Your Highness." I answered formally. "For how long?"

She took a moment to think. "Considering the insult to Lady Fields, your lack of attention, your fit of temper and your general disposition, a term of one year and one day's service would not have been outside the norm back in my day."

My expression fell. Had I not had a healthy helping of pancakes, I would have fainted then and there. How would I ever lose myself in drink or find my special skill if I spent that long in a villain’s service?

She continued. “But Celestia has stated such ceremonial time limits are excessive. We would have your service for three moons.”

Just as I relaxed, Joe tapped a hoof on the ground. Luna looked at him sharply. To his credit, he didn't falter. She nodded. "The Court of the Night recognizes the input of citizen Pony Joe. Speak and be heard."

"One thousand thanks, Your Royal Highness. In your day, was it not customary for the Court to award a boon to those who saved the life of a noble?" He asked.

She frowned. "The law you speak of has not been invoked in centuries. What is your boon?"

"I seek an altered sentence for His Royal Highness Prince Blueblood." He stated.

"What?" I asked, incredulous. He could ask for anything in the kingdom, and he asks to change my sentence?

"Altered in what way?" She asked, guardedly.

"In a reduction to his service to the Night Court, I ask that he also serve as Apprentice Donuteer in my shop for two hours prior to his Courtly duties. To repay my kindness." He had to have thought about this all along!

"It is unusual to attach a noble to a craftspony's shop as an apprentice." She noted.

"But not unheard-of. I can also ensure that His Highness delivers a tray of donuts to your Court each session following his time with me." Joe offered, literally sweetening the deal.

"Deal." She answered quickly. "As long as there's chocolate." At his nod, she returned to a more regal bearing. "Then it shall be so. Your sentence is therefore ordered for a period of no more than three months. Two hours in the service of Mr. Joe and four in service to this court. Prince Blueblood, am I to order you to do your duty in serving this sentence?"

"No, ma'am." I said, bewildered at this turn of events. The start of Night Court was sunset and only losing two hours of the night instead of six would work out for me spectacularly.

Author's Notes:

Edited and expanded 5-20-18

Reduced sentence again from the last time. The year and a day threat still makes me laugh though, so added in the fakeout.

P.B. and ... Jelly?

The irritating bell on the door jingled as I walked in. In spite of my sunglasses, I drew attention. I expected as much; I am a glorious specimen of stallionhood. Heaving a sigh, I went to speak to my psuedo-employer, Pony Joe. The next three months would consist of trying to please him and my Aunt Luna.

Nose aloft, I ignored the glances and whispers. I kept my face neutral, but inwardly I despised these common, gossipping nags. My mood soured. Not that having to come here to satisfy my dear Aunt's judgment had me in a good mood anyway.

"Nice shades, Blueby. Ditch 'em in a locker and suit up quick. I'll need you in the back,” Joe said.

Pleasing him would be a taller task than I anticipated. Just who in Equestria did he think he was to call me Blueby?

"The back?" I asked, frowning. My good looks would no doubt impress fillies and gentlecolts into buying more at the counter. "I thought I was selling donuts."

He snorted rudely. "Are you kidding me? With that sour mug? I don't know which would go bad first, the donuts or the customers,” He asserted. "It's not a good time of the week to teach you the counter. I trust you can sort out a few donuts. Hope you've got good levitation practice."

The thought gave me pause. I hadn't actually exercised levitation since I was a foal. Just the thought of how much magic it would take to fill box upon box of donuts was daunting.

I trotted to the back and found an empty locker quickly. There was a uniform, with my name on it even, hanging up inside. After I changed, I spent some time ensuring it fit me right. Satisfied that I could at least accomplish that much, I turned around and bumped right into Joe.

"Ow." I said eloquently. "What, were you watching me change?"

Joe rubbed his head and rolled his eyes. "I just came to see what was taking you so long."

"What in tartarus are you talking about? I just got my uniform on." I posed a bit to show off the white outfit.

"All right, you clothes-horse, let's get to work already." Joe ordered, pointing the way to the kitchen.

As he spoke, he pointed things out. "I've laid out my kitchen so it makes sense. What you gotta do is take them from the racks and put em in a box, tissues below, between and on top. You have your powdered, iced, glazed, twists, sprinkled, rings, bars, and donut holes. Pay close attention to the filled; there's a hole that shows what's inside if you absolutely have no clue. Then we got ursa claws, crullers, churros, and conchas. Cinnamon buns come regular, iced, sugared and with raisins. Donut holes go in one of these special boxes and then they go in the big box if they're part of a bigger order."

He turned to me. "Do I still have you so far?"

A trifle overwhelmed, I concluded, "You sell donuts."

Joe smiled and patted my shoulder. "We'll make a baker out of you yet. I love the sense of humor."

He grabbed a slip from the counter. "Here's the order sheet. I only have eight for you to do so that you can get a good idea of where everything is."

"Last but not least." Joe whipped something off of the counter nearby and had it on my head before I could blink. "Health code says you have to keep your mane covered. I trust you get brushed well enough to keep from shedding. Also, wash your forehooves and wear the plastic gloves before touching anything with your hooves."

"I thought I would just levitate everything." I said.

Joe shrugged. "It's a lot of donuts. If you last, great. If not, the gloves."

"What if I'm not done by the end of our time?" I asked, expecting the worst.

He shrugged. His nonchalance was beyond irritating. "Work to the best of your ability. And I do mean the best. Your Aunt Luna wants a report from me as often as possible and I intend to have nothing but glowing praise for you as long as you deserve it."

I huffed. "What are you getting out of this? Why use a special favor from the Princesses just to have me work in your bakery?"

"I hope I can tell you soon." He said enigmatically. "Now get to work."

"Yes sir." I said, sarcastically.

***

Halfway through and one headache later, I washed my forehooves and grabbed the gloves. I nearly had the fifth box complete when it happened. I grabbed a jelly-filled donut a little too quickly and...

SPLORCH

The cursed pastry shot a hearty helping of jelly directly onto my apron. My magic kept me from getting hit before this, so the red stain was even more prominent on the otherwise spotless apron. In surprise, I dropped the donut.

Heading to the sink, I heard my old tutor’s voice in my head. 'A Prince must never suffer a single stain. How unsightly! You must be careful! I shoved the voice aside as I wiped most of the jelly off...and made a bigger stain in the process. Hooves shaking, I took a deep breath and tried again, making sure to use cold water. The stain faded, but the spot was still pinkish.

Frustrated, I gave up on the apron. Leaning against the counter, I inhaled slowly. I hated staining clothes. Had Joe's apron been dirty? I couldn't recall it being so. Would he be mad that I stained an apron? Surely, somepony could get the stain out. Shaking my head, I took a few more deep breaths and tried to calm myself. When a hot tear slid down my cheek, I realized I wasn't handling this well.

"It's just an apron, damn it." I said to myself, kicking a cabinet foalishly.

"Blue, are you alright?" Joe asked. It was remarkable how bad his timing was. Well, bad for me.

I nodded. "Just got a stain on my apron."

"And your shirt, too." Joe pointed out. I looked down in horror to see that the jelly had, in fact, gone through the apron and onto the shirt. "I've thought about switching to black aprons, but it just doesn't have the same visual appeal as a clean white one."

I rubbed my eyes. A lump was forming in my throat. I had to get a handle on myself before I did something embarrassing. I'd been through worse, like when that purple-maned mare shook her coat off on me. The memory didn’t help; I started shaking more.

"Blue, look at me." Joe said softly. He was close, almost too close but not yet touching me. I did, through teary eyes. "It's okay. I'm not mad about a dirty apron." He gently wiped my cheek.

I groaned. "Ugh! I'm fine! It's just allergies." I pushed his hoof away and headed to the bathroom.

"There's a new shirt on a hook in there; feel free to use it." He offered.

When I returned in the new shirt, I went straight back to filling orders without sparing a look at the donut proprietor. Thankfully, he didn't say anything and went back out to the front. The old apron and fallen donut was nowhere to be seen.

In spite of his outward appearance and rather coarse manners, Joe had a sweet side. It seemed he was not unlike his jelly-filled donuts. I shook my head. Not only was he coarse he was also common. He may have forced me into his world but he didn’t belong in mine. Even if he was nice.

Maybe especially if he was nice.

Setting that thought aside I looked at the rack of jelly donuts. That stain was a ridiculous thing to have gotten worked up about and I picked up another jelly donut and squeezed it. The stain was bigger. My hooves shook for a moment but I willed it away.

Joe poked his head in again at just the wrong time. “You okay? Oh come on! Next one is coming out of your aunt’s order!”

I smiled at him and set the squished pastry aside. “Sorry boss, just a little over-excited to work with such a purveyor of perfect pastries.”

Joe snorted. “Yeah we’ll keep the sweet stuff in the donuts, got it? And get back to work. It’s almost time for you to sit in at Court.

Entering Night Court, I was stuck again by just how empty it was. Aside from Luna’s staff, we had just a hooffull of petitioners.

Luna’s eyes focused on my shirt. “Thou hast a touch of preserves upon thy...”

I waved a hoof impatiently. “Thanks, I know. Baking accident. Can we get this started, please. Uh, Your Royal Highness. Forgive me for the...”

It was her turn to wave me off. “Formalities may be spared for the moment. The start of Night Court is nigh. Allow Us to raise the moon and then thou shouldst address Us properly.” She stood.

I moved to the side of the chamber. Luna looked up and with a flash, opened the skylight so she could soar out. With a flap of her wings she took to the air, circling upwards and outwards. As she lit her horn again, the sky changed. The sun went away as, on the other side of the palace, Celestia ended her Courtly duties. The moon rose in its turn and Luna floated down gracefully.

Shaking my head, I approached the throne. Luna took a few steadying breaths and then turned to me. “What didst thou think?”

“Impressive, Your Royal Highness.” I said flatly. “We need to work on your speech patterns.”

Luna nodded, a twinge of something running through her eyes. For a moment, I felt almost guilty for not complimenting her sincerely. It was just a nightfall, though, and I reasoned with myself that that was all there was to it.

“We-I have yet only begun to modernize Our-my speech. ‘’Tis a learning process.” She motioned to the guards to open the doors.

“I’m sure you will pick it up eventually.” I said, trying for a touch more sincerity in spite of myself.

“Thank you, Nephew.” Luna sat on the throne and motioned to a low-backed chair to her right. “Sit with us and perhaps we might converse with thee about modern speech between matters of business.”

I resisted rolling my eyes by the slimmest of margins. Admittedly, I did get a cheap thrill sitting to the right of the throne again. It was the wrong throne, of course. I’d have much preferred sitting in Celestia’s Court where I belonged.

But this was a start.

Author's Notes:

Edited and Expanded 5-20-18

P.B. and ... Pineapple?

Another day, another day sorting donuts. I ritualistically had gotten into the habit of staining my apron in some way or another. After the third time, Luna made me go and change. She’d said it reflected poorly on her. I didn’t feel like telling her that having no nobles attending her Court was worse for her.

On the fourth day, Luna settled in the throne and waited for me to take my seat before speaking. “Dost thou knoweth of a thing called pizza? And if so, shouldst one find it most disagreeable to place pineapple atop it?”

My brain took a moment to process the question. The difficulty arose both from her odd speech pattern and the mundanity of the question. “A pizza is a circle of dough topped with sauce and occasionally cheese. The Neaponytan version uses mozzarella and is usually topped with fresh basil leaves. One could put pineapple on top, but personally I prefer pineapple grilled with some vanilla and a side of coconut ice cream.”

“Thou dost not prefer to mix savory and sweet in such a manner as that?” She asked.

“Indeed not. Although I recommend you try it just for the experience if nothing else.” This almost felt like a very weird dream, but I knew it was real. Luna signalled for the petitioners to enter and we said nothing more on the subject.

Another day, another jingle above my head. Joe looked to be busy with customers, so I went back to my locker to change. Before I could do more than set my glasses down, Joe tapped my shoulder.

"Um, Blue?" He asked.

"Yeah, Joe? I'm not late am I?" We'd had that argument once this week. Given Aunt Luna's rather long-winded reprimand, I wasn't looking to repeat it.

"No. It's just." I turned around to look at him. He was smiling, but still managed to look concerned. "It's the weekend."

"What does that...oh!" I smacked my forehead. Luna's judgment stated that I had to work with Joe before every session of Night Court. Night Court wasn't held on the weekends. "I don't have to work. Ugh! And I sent off the guards and carriage before I set hoof in here!"

That explained why the guards had been so cheerful, though.

"Do you want me to call you a cab, champ?" He asked. His tone seemed to be lightly mocking. To my chagrin, I had no witty remarks with which to respond.

"I don't feel like hearing it from Aunt Celestia's House Guard." I sighed.

"Oh, well. I may have a solution to that." He pulled out a bag. By the clinking, I reasoned there must be bits inside.

"Normally, I'd be the first to take advantage of your kindness. But, I already owe you enough and I hate owing anypony anything." I said, waving a hoof.

"This isn't mine. It's yours." Joe insisted.

I frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"This is your earnings from the work you did." He explained, reaching out to give me the bag.

Still confused, I took hold of the bag. Joe smiled. "I wasn't expecting this. I thought I was working only to satisfy Luna's judment."

"No reason you can't earn money of your own. The judgment doesn't say anything against it. I don't run a charity, I run a business. Having you work for free would be too much like slavery for my tastes. So, take some pride in what you do here and enjoy the benefits of working." His explanation seemed solid, but earning my own bits was weird.

It wasn't much. After all, I only worked ten hours a week. But it was mine. Not my allowance from the House of the Day. Not given to me because I was a prince. My earnings from my work. It was a new and strange sensation. Before I could give it too much thought, I put the bag into a pocket and looked up at Joe.

"I actually close the store earlier on the weekend so, if you don't mind hanging around while I close things up, I'll take the cab with you." He offered.

"Alright. But, do I have to go back to the castle right away?" I asked, shifting on my hooves nervously.

"Only if you want to." Joe said as he turned towards the front. "I'm sorta responsible for you though, so wherever you go, I'm going with you."

Could I live with that condition? It was better than having one of Aunt Celestia's tattle-tale guards sighing at every stop. "Deal." I said with a touch of resignation. No reason to let him think I wanted him around.

"So, what do normal ponies do after work?" I asked casually as Joe locked the front door. He had two boxes of baked goods in his magical hold. I was not about to offer to carry one and for once, he wasn’t all that keen on making me work.

"We could go get something to eat." Joe pointed out. “I just have to stop by someplace first. I’ll lead the way.”

I shrugged and kept pace as we walked. "Do you know a place? I'm not familiar with the lower income districts."

"Lower—How familiar are you with Canterlot?" Joe asked, incredulous.

"I've lived here my whole life." I blustered. "Of course, I'm familiar with Canterlot. Very much so."

Joe's eyes narrowed. "What street are we on?"

"I-uh, don't see what this has to do with anything." I replied, defensively.

Joe leaned against a light pole. "That's what I thought. Well, Your Highness, it's time you got a crash course in Canterlot's...lower income districts." Joe said with derisive humor. "For starters, you're on Wagon Way, the main thoroughbredfare in the delivery district. Canterlot's Courier Center up the road is a big anchor of the district and it's a multi-million bit earning business. Not what I'd call low-income."

We hopped into a cab and Joe spent the trip schooling me on places we passed. It had never been part of my studies to learn the layout of the city. Well, it might have been, but I wasn't exactly the best student. I was starting to learn the practical value of knowing where one was going. Joe seemed to know that I was paying attention, although I mostly feigned boredom. I couldn't let him see that I was interested in something so common.

“And this is the actual low-income district. Homelessness and hunger are more common here in The Shade.” Joe explained.

Looking around, I could definitely tell. It wasn’t exactly a shanty town, but neither were the old buildings particularly well-cared-for.

One nondescript looking building later and I walked into my first orphanage in...many years. I could practically feel the same emotionally draining atmosphere. Glancing around, many of the foals here were too old to be adoptable but too young to strike out on their own. I walked through in a trance-like state.

“Hey Cross Roads, I got some treats for the kids.” Joe announced. By the thunder of hooves ahead, he’d been heard. In seconds we were swarmed in hungry little ponies.

“Yeah, thanks for spoiling ‘em again Joe.” Cross said crossly, although he smiled slightly. “Who’s your friend?”

“This is Blueby.” I almost corrected him before I remembered that I’d rather not be associated with this place. “He’s my new assistant.”

“Your last one was more pretty. What was her name?” Cross asked.

“Sue. But don’t let her hear you calling her pretty.” Joe cautioned with a laugh. “Well, we gotta scram. You guys doing alright?”

Cross shrugged. “Yeah, the crown sees to the basics. You know it’s the little things that make the kids happy. Like your donuts. Speaking of which, whaddya say to Mr. Joe, kids?”

A chorus of “Thank you Mr. Joe” rang out in the small space. Joe led me back outside and said our goodbyes for us.

“You okay?” He asked after a moment of silence.

“Yeah I’m fine,” I said, not convincing even myself. “Let’s go to dinner.”

"Here we are, delManeco's Bitalian Restaurant. Back in the high rent districts." Joe said with a flourish.

We walked into the establishment and were greeted by an orange pegasus with red mane and tail. The pegasus greeted us warmly. "Pony Joe! It's about time you show up! You son of a gelding, you owe me from that last hoof-ball game!"

Joe laughed. "Erede delManeco! Why you gotta bust my chops in front of royalty?"

"Royalty? Oh sweet Celestia!" Erede exclaimed. "Your Royal Highness! What an honor!"

"I'm sure." I said dismissively. "We're just here to have dinner. Joe seems to think your fare is fit for a prince."

"Well, Joe is correct. This restaurant has been in my family for many generations. We’ve served nobles and nopony's. Please, follow me to our private room and we'll prove our worth to you." Erede led us to a table.

As we perused the menu, an oddity stuck out to me. "Pineapple Newburg?"

Joe looked up from his menu and smiled. "It's seasonal, so we're in luck that we came now. This restaurant originated the dish and it is amazing. Trust me, you'll love it."

"Fine, I'll just be a moment in the restroom. Make sure to order something non-alcoholic. I don't need the Royal Guard on my rear about drinking again." I said as I stood.

My necessities taken care of, I sojourned down the hall and stopped as I heard raised voices coming from the private room.

Erede's voice came through loud and clear. The Bitalian stallion wasn't a quiet one. "Joe, you must be joking. I'm not even a creme-puff like you and I can see how attractive that prince is!"

“Attractiveness is one thing. He just doesn’t have the kind of attitude I’d like in a partner.” Joe sipped his drink.

“You tell me you look at this princely image of perfection and all you want is a friend?” Erede made a rude noise. “I don’t believe you.”

Joe laughed. "Red, his reputation is well-established. You want to see if the rumors are true, just you go and try it yourself."

I opened the door none-too-subtly. "So that's what this is all about, huh?"

Joe stood up. "Blue, let me--"

"No, I don't want to hear it." I spat. "I'm not some two-bit floozy who'll just jump into bed with anypony."

"Blue, you know that's not how I think of you." Joe said.

"I don't know how you think of me and I'm sure I don't want to know!" With that, I slammed the door between us and went to catch a cab.

Author's Notes:

Edited and expanded 5-20-18

Now with more pineapple

P.B. and ... Salt?

I walked into Joe’s Donut shop the next day before Night Court. My guards had gotten me there on time.

Joe saw me, but he was busy with a line of customers. I went into the back to change and start filling up the afternoon order boxes.

Every once in a while, Joe would pop into the back to pick up a box and start to try and apologize. I ignored him and the front was just to busy for him to stay in the back too long. Before I knew it, time was up and I was back in the carriage to attend Night Court.

"Prince Blueblood, I hope you are paying attention." Princess Luna remarked. Her voice snapped me out of my black cloud and I sighed.

"Sorry, Your Royal Highness." I answered.

Princess Luna sighed. In the voice just below her Royal Canterlot voice, she announced. "Court has ended. Guards, please escort all citizens and personnel out and take position outside the chamber. My nephew and I have matters to discuss."

"You're closing court early?" I asked, surprised.

She gave me a look. "What time do you suppose it is?"

I looked around. There wasn't a clock anywhere in the throne room, so I had no clue. My first instinct was to bluster, but Luna would see through that and call me on it. "I don't know, Your Highness."

"Blue, you and I are alone now. You may address me as you wish." Luna said. "To answer my own question, though, it is midnight. You overstayed your hours. At first, I thought you had taken interest in the cases coming before us, but as I checked on you, you seemed not to take much notice of anything."

I bowed, a bit stiff from sitting for so long. "I can only crave your pardon, Aunt Luna. My mind was...elsewhere."

"Perhaps it has something to do with this?" Luna asked. I looked up to see her holding up a letter with a familiar cutie mark stamped on it.

My ears flattened. "He told you?"

Luna set the letter down. "He makes it quite clear that he would not have asked for me to intercede if he thought he could handle the matter himself. However, a certain somepony isn't speaking to him." She said.

My anger was prodded. "Forgive my rudeness, but it is none of your business, Princess Luna."

She raised her eyebrows. "Petulance will get you nowhere, nephew. Why are you not speaking to Joe?"

"Isn't it in his letter?" I asked dismissively.

"I want to hear it from you." She insisted.

I clenched my teeth. "I don't want to talk about it. I just want to serve my time and be done with it."

"And then what?" Luna asked.

"Then it won't matter to you or anypony else what I do to fill my time." I retorted.

She tilted her head sideways. "What makes you so certain nopony cares?"

Looking away, I growled. "I didn't say that."

"Forgive me. Perhaps I read to much into what you were saying. What do you mean that it won't matter?" She asked, reaching out to me.

I took a step back out of hoof range. "It won't affect anypony else."

Luna stood, setting the letter alight and leaving it to burn to ash midair. "You're certain of that?"

"Nothing I did mattered before. Unless I insulted somepony." I pointed out.

"I do not think you give my sister enough credit." She began.

I cut her off. "Everypony gives her more than enough credit. What does my opinion of her matter?"

"We are family." Luna said simply.

My entire body tensed. "I ask humbly that I may be excused from your presence, Your Royal Highness." I said through gritted teeth.

"We're finally getting somewhere, then?" She asked knowingly. "Denied. We will speak of this situation until it is remedied."

I turned to leave, too angry to care about the consequences of disregarding her order.

She let me nearly reach the door before calling out. The hapless guard at the door had actually opened it. He likely would be reprimanded by Luna. "Blueblood. Please stop! I am trying to help you."

Turning back to face her, I let my anger loose. "Listen here, Princess Nightmare. Of all the creatures in the entirety of the kingdom, the very last and least of those I would confide in is you. Your sister may have forgiven you, but there are more than a few ponies who have their doubts about your true intentions, myself included.”

At the end of that initial outburst, her eyes widened. It was the biggest reaction I’d gotten from her. I continued. “You've forced me to sit by you and in all the time I've done so I've noticed just how little you do for this kingdom. If you think settling one minor noble dispute and even more minor claims between citizens actually has any bearing on the direction that Celestia is leading us, then you're delusional as well as lazy. Whatever you have planned for me, count me out. The day I do as you bid is the day I cast myself into the deepest pit of tartarus."

Somepony cleared their throat behind me. I suddenly had a wretchedly bad feeling about my lot in life. Taking a deep breath, I turned around to look at Her Royal Highness, Head of the House of the Day, my Aunt Princess Celestia. “It is quite tempting to say that such a thing can be arranged.”

“Sister, do not...” Luna began, but Celestia held up a hoof.

“I wouldn’t, of course.” She looked back at me.

Her expression was hardened. I wasn't sure how much she'd heard, but it had to be more than enough to get me thrown into a cell. I went down on one knee and bowed my head.

"I'd say I expected better, but I've had enough experience with your entitled attitude, nephew." Celestia said icily.

Luna was at my side before I knew it. "Sister, I provoked this response from him."

With my head bowed, my eyebrows shot up and my ears perked towards Luna.

Celestia persisted. "He was taught better, Luna. Provoked or not, he is an adult and must answer for his disrespect."

"Nopony else saw or heard this, Celestia. Only one of my guards who is sworn to secrecy. He has nopony to answer to but me," Luna asserted.

Celestia let out a short breath. "You can't let him off the hook like this, Luna. He'll only get worse until strong corrective measures are taken."

Luna stepped between Celestia and I. "This is my court, Celestia. It may be dismissed, but I still hold power until sunrise."

"Luna!" Celestia said, alarmed.

Luna wouldn’t relent. "Has 'strong corrective measures' worked on him before?"

Celestia shifted her weight and answered, "I've made more than enough excuses for him, myself. He has yet to find himself under such measures."

Luna drew herself up. She wasn't a match for Celestia physically, but her presence made up the difference. Celestia was caught off-guard by Luna's vehemence. "Princess Celestia. The insult was made against me in my own court. By our own rules, his punishment is mine to administer. Is that clear, sister?"

"You will punish him?" Celestia asked.

"Whether or not I do so is up to me. Will you deny me that right?" Luna asked harshly.

Celestia's expression softened. "You know I love you both. I'm only trying to do what's right."

Luna sighed. "Then let me take care of it. Not to put too fine a point on it, but your oversight on our nephew has yet to yield the desired results."

Celestia look struck. She turned to leave.

My mouth went off before my brain could stop. “Wouldn’t be the first time you left me in the care of another pony.”

She turned around, bewildered. “Excuse me?”

It seemed my reactions to the princess were either numb silence or flaming outrage. This was the latter. “You took me in, Princess, but I have a real problem with you insisting that you cared. It was clear from the first day in the castle that your priority would always be Equestria first.”

“I left you in the care of my most trusted advisor, did I not? She cared for you as she did for her own children!” Celestia shook her head.

I shook mine back. “Yeah And She was such a great mother and wife that she lost that husband and her children chose him over her.”

Celestia’s outraged look went cold. “You have no idea how much that divorce took from her. She retired and the only consolation i could give her was a lifetime peerage and a damehood.”

“She quit because I turned out to be anything but the heir you expected me to be,” I retorted. “As soon as it was clear I’d never be an alicorn—“

Celestia raised a hoof, but I ignored her. “No! As soon as you knew I’d never ascend to gain my wings, you turned your attention to the next likely pony.”

“Are you finished? Because I’m done hearing your ‘me, me, me’ routine. You’re always the victim, I’m always the bad guy. You haven’t changed since you were a teen.” Celestia’s anger seemed to snuff itself out. She turned a tired gaze on me.

“It is clear that I have never had the tools to deal with you, Blueblood,” Celestia finally admitted. “You deserve better than me.”

Luna gasped. "Sister, please..."

"Prince Blueblood, you are now a member of the House of the Night. You will give full respect to the head of your house, or you will answer to both of us. Is that understood?" Celestia asked coldly.

Kicked out of the House of the Day? I shook as I answered. "Yes, Your Royal Highness."

She turned and left without another word to either of us. As the door closed, I sank down to sit on the floor. Luna wrapped a wing around me hesitantly. My first thought was to push her away, but I just didn't have the energy. The shock had set in.

Author's Notes:

Edited and Expanded 5-22-18

Added Blueblood speaking against Celestia, altering her rationale for transferring him to Luna’s house.

P.B. and ... Donuts?

I sat in Princess Luna's quarters. She'd led me there, dazed from Celestia's decision to give me over to the noble House of the Night. It was a move unprecedented in living memory.

"Sh-she kicked me out." I said, realization slowly dawning on me.

Luna floated a cup of tea over to me. "To be fair, you are still a prince." Luna offered helpfully.

I took the cup and stared down into it. "In the house of a villain."

Luna sighed. "Branches and boulders."

I snorted. "I think you mean, 'sticks and stones.'"

"Those would not break my bones." I looked up at her. She didn't seem to be mocking me or bragging. She was just stating a fact.

I shrugged. "Fair enough."

Taking a sip from her own cup, Luna leaned back. "Celestia's decision was...spectacularly thoughtless."

"At least we can agree on that." I said darkly.

Luna set her cup down and focused on me. "I don't think my sister has done right by you in a long time."

I leaned my head onto a hoof. "Preaching to the choir, Lulu."

Luna smiled. "There's a name I haven't heard in a while. Anyway, she hasn't done right by you, until now."

I scoffed. "How can you say—well, okay I guess I can see that."

"Y-you can?" Luna asked, surprised.

I set my cup down and regarded her fully. "Yeah, this is quite a coup for you, actually. I'm a popular pony. You aren't. If nothing else, the curiosity factor should bring in a few more noble houses to your court. Since I've had the luxury of sitting in on it, don't think I haven't noticed how...sparsely populated it is."

Luna tilted her head and muttered, "Almost as if a lever was pulled."

I leaned back and put my hooves behind my head. "This political stunt is exactly the kind of magic Aunt Celly is good at. I should have seen it coming."

Luna shook her head. "Do you hear yourself when you talk? She loves you but isn't sure how to handle you. A thousand years of ruling alone haven't done anything to improve her familial relations. To tell you the truth, I don't think even now that she fully understands what led me to give into the nightmares."

An unpleasant part of me thought she might have a point. It was silenced by the experiences I'd had with my dear, distant 'aunt.' "How could you understand? You've been banished for a thousand years. Even an alicorn can change in that much time."

Luna's lips pressed into a thin line. She looked ready to yell, but then she took a breath and relaxed her jaw. "My sister does not always do things for political reasons, Blue. She adopted you as a nephew. What did that gain her? To all outward appearances, you are just a spoiled, trouble-making prince."

"It's not just an outward appearance, Luna. I'm the prince who used one of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony as a shield against getting splatted with cake. I'm the prince who left a mare of high breeding alone at a bar to go hit on some more visually appealing commoners. I'm the prince who insulted Luna in her own court in front of her sister!"

Luna took a sip of tea before replying. "You are also the prince who falls to pieces around Celestia. A prince who has thus far abided a stiff judgment with grace and humility. A prince who, until recently, even befriended a baker."

"Joe? Let me make this clear, Joe and I are not friends. Not now, not ever. That common, rounded, crass unicorn stallion is beneath my notice." The words felt strange in my mouth. It was certainly how I'd felt about Joe in the beginning.

"Your words lack punch." Luna decided. "Even so, you may want to keep your words sweet. You may have to eat them later. Now, before we argue about your diet, tell me what happened between you two that has you giving him the silent treatment."

I sighed, but relented. Luna listened attentively as I explained the situation at delManeco's. "My reputation preceeds me. Joe isn't a friend. He's a businesspony."

"I think you're wrong." Luna said flatly. "As your Head of House, I am ordering you to resolve your issues. If this is just a misunderstanding, I would like to insist on receiving a dozen death by chocolate donuts."

***

"Well, all it took for you to talk to me again was a special order from Princess Luna, eh?" Joe asked with a nervous smile. We stood in the bakery kitchen, one of his helpers had the front counter.

"And being kicked out of my house." I muttered.

"What was that?" Joe asked, his eyes narrowed.

I blanched, not wanting to have to explain that to him. "Nothing. Look. I'm not mad about you...judging me on my reputation. Plenty of other ponies have done the same."

"No, Blueblood, please let me explain." Joe interrupted. His hoof reached out and landed gently on my shoulder. "I...shouldn't have said those things to Red. I didn't mean them."

"Joe, it’s okay. Nothing I haven't heard before,” I said, waving a hoof.

"Shut up and listen," Joe said, cringing afterwards. "Sorry. I'm not always the nicest pony. I try, but it's tough for me. Especially when I care about somepony."

My ears perked up towards him. "What?"

Joe rolled his eyes and looked at me. "I...care about you, Blue. Like a friend.”

I really hated when one of my aunts was right. "You don't even know me." I countered.

"But I want to know you more." He replied. "I see so much good in you, Blue..."

"Well, you're seeing things. I'm spectacularly thoughtless, hopelessly self-involved, and my attitude toward the common pony is still leagues away from civil."

"I'm a common pony." He pointed out.

"And you think the same way every other common pony does about me. The prince of pleasure!” I threw my hoof wide, barely missing hitting a hanging pan. “A feckless, foppish, foolish member of a failed noble house!"

"Failed noble house?" Oops, he caught that. I hadn't meant to bring up being banished to Luna's House. Twice.

"It-That...I mean." I said eloquently.

Joe looked confused. "You're a member of the House of the Day. Aren’t you?"

"I...was. I've been given to the House of the Night. Luna is my Head of House. Celestia..." I wiped the sweat off my forehead. The kitchen was warm at the best of times, now it felt hot.

He looked down. "I didn't know."

"Nopony does, but everypony will soon. These things have a way of getting out."

Joe shrugged. "Blue, would you like to stay with me until this blows over?"

"Joe, I-" I stopped. I'd been about to turn him down, but something in the way he asked stopped me. It was a tone like the one Luna'd used, but there was something else to it. "If you don't think I'll be a bother."

"No more so than usual." He said, teasingly. The gruffness of his voice didn't match his expression. “Besides, my home might not be a castle, but it isn’t a hovel. You won’t be slumming it with a commoner and sleeping on my couch or a floor. I have guest rooms. You can get drunk and sleep on those floors.”

"Oh ha-ha." I replied drily. “So, friends then? This is what you wanted when you met me?”

Joe nodded. “But I knew that I couldn’t come out and ask you because you’d turn your nose up at me. So I used the system to get you to stick around long enough to get used to the idea of befriending a common pony.”

“And all it took was, what week and a half? Two weeks?” I almost felt like I’d been bewitched.

“Yeah, I didn’t expect you to come around that quickly either,” Joe admitted. “Especially with Erede’s big mouth.”

Author's Notes:

Edited and Expanded 5-22-18

Friends. Friendship. F—

P.B. and ... Cinnamon?

Joe's home was in one of the few areas of Canterlot that I knew well; Canterlot Heights. I tried not to let on my surprise, but the donut king of Equestria picked up on it.

"I own a chain of successful donut shops across Equestria." He reminded me. With other ponies, I'd say they were bragging or trying to impress me. Donut Joe merely stated it as a fact.

While not as large as other Heights mansions, Joe's home had plenty of room. His front yard seemed more like a small orchard. The house was old red-brick and two storied. I estimated at least five bedrooms as well as plenty of spacious rooms downstairs.

As we exited the carriage, Joe tipped the driver and sent him off. Turning back to me, Joe noticed my staring. "What?"

"How do you not have your own driver?" I asked.

Joe shrugged. "I know the pony who runs a carriage business. He helps me get around for a good price, I send him a few dozen to keep his drivers happy. Now let me show you the place."

He opened the door magically and I was given a visual feast. The foyer and living room were decorated in beautiful dark-colored antique wood and furnishings. It had a clean and warm feeling; it was the kind of place you'd call home almost instinctively. The dining room was a touch brighter, but no less comfortable. Everything was taken care of to the smallest detail.

The kitchen, on the other hoof, seemed like a transplant from the bakery. A massive brick oven took up a sizable corner. Stainless steel, polished to a mirror shine, glimmered under the light. Racks on wheels stood ready to hold dozens of baked goods and the double-door refrigerator looked like the top of the line. From a nearby coat rack, Joe handed me a black cloth.

"What's this?" I asked.

"An apron." Joe replied as he put on one of his own. "If it weren't such a tradition, I'd use black in my shops. Doesn't show stains or burns as easily as white. Luckily, I know a guy who runs a laundry business and we have a good arrangement going?"

I slipped the article over my head and tied it off. Looking down, I saw words written on it in red thread. Taking a moment to mentally turn the letters around, I felt my face get warm. "'Kiss the Chef'?"

"Maybe next time." Joe quipped. "For now, we're going to have some fun."

"You didn't bring me all the way out here just to bake?" I asked, confused.

"'Just to bake'?" I cringed as he pointed out my words. He laughed. I'd thought I'd offended him, but I should've known it wasn't that easy. "No. We'll be creating edible joy. Happiness baked up nice and fluffy. Most ponies call them Cinnamon Rolls."

"I'll never touch another cinnamon roll in my life." I moaned from Joe's couch. I'd retreated to the living room with a stomach full of the devilishly delicious buns. For once, I didn't even care about the icing on my muzzle; I just licked my lips absently.

"You didn't have to eat so many. I didn't know a pony could handle three, let alone an entire dozen." He laughed.

"It was better than I expected." I admitted.

"You're the one who made them!" Joe reminded me.

"That's my point." I replied. My tone lacked a certain dark quality this time around. I guess I was too full of 'baked joy.'

Joe sighed and smiled. Leaning against his arm-chair, he regarded me. "We'll make a baker out of you yet."

“Or just make me fat.” I pointed out, tapping my barrel.

“Never trust a skinny baker,” Joe said in mock severity. “Although I have a gym membership to keep me from having to roll instead of walk. Got a good deal on it too.”

I snorted. “Let me guess, you know a guy?”

“How’d you know?”

During the day, Joe and I went to work together. Luna had given me some time off of Court to get my wits about me. So instead of going to Court, we stopped by the orphanage a few times, and even played a few games with the foals. I was almost getting used to the name Blueby. Cross finally figured out who I really was, but assured me he would keep it secret.

Of course, that didn’t stop some of the kids from mentioning it and it got minor coverage in some tabloid and gossip pages. My service arrangement with Joe was mostly ignored because Joe refused service to any reporter who asked to talk with me. Fearing lifetime donut bans, the smart ones went in search of other stories. The dumb ones made up wildly inaccurate reports that were treated as gossiping wild rumors.

At night, I woke up drenched in sweat, my heart still racing from the memory of the nightmare. Finally, one night I hitthe headboard with one hoof, cursing softly. Rolling out of bed, I shook myself and headed for the kitchen. After a few days here I'd practically had the kitchen memorized. Unfortunately, I forgot about the rack of baking pans and managed to dislodge a cast iron skillet. It hit the floor with an awful clatter before I could even think to catch it magically.

Bending over, I picked up the pan and replaced it. A voice behind me piped up. "Wake the dead, why don't you?"

I jumped, hastily grabbed at the skillet to defend myself. Instead I succeeded in knocking it towards the floor again. Joe caught it before it could make a second impact. I let out the breath I'd drawn in and resisted the urge to take the skillet and hit him with it. "You scared me!"

"And you have gotten up in the middle of the night every night so far." Joe retorted. "Are you okay?"

I frowned, shaking my head. "I'm fine. I just needed a glass of water."

"Every night?" Joe repeated.

"Yes." I said, ears pinning back with how foalish I sounded.

Joe sighed. "Okay, I could see how you'd get a sore throat from screaming."

"I didn't scream!" I yelled defensively. Joe responded only by raising his eyebrows. "Just now doesn't count."

"What are the nightmares about?" Joe asked bluntly.

"What's it to you?" I replied snobbishly. "And who said anything about nightmares?"

"If you really won't talk about it, fine." Joe relented, turning around. He disappeared into the darkness of the living room. The silence closed in around me and it wasn't long before the nightmare flashed in my mind.

"Joe?" I called out, stepping forward to run after him. Instead, I bumped into him. Apparently, he hadn't gone far. "Oh, haha. Were you spying on me?"

"No, of course not. I was just looking at my bookshelf." He replied, a little too earnestly.

"In the dark?" I asked, disbelievingly.

"You called me back." He said, changing the subject.

"I-I'm not in a good place right now. Can we talk about it...like...friends?" I turned my head away, ready for him to object to being friends.

"Absolutely. You want some leftover cinnamon rolls while we do?" He asked.

I nodded. "Only if they have that icing."

Joe shook his head. "Sweet tooth."

Telling Joe about my most recent disgrace brought out a lot of the strong emotions I'd worked to push down. To his credit, he listened and even seemed to sympathize. By the end, I'd leaned my head into his chest and took some deep breaths while he rubbed my back.

"Princess Luna. If there is anypony who can help you, it would be her." He stated simply.

"How can you say that?" I asked, my anger rising feebly.

"To put it in your terms, because it's in her best interest to try." He said. "She's your Head of House, now. If you can start to resolve your problems with the nobles and the sisters, she'll have a young, resourceful voice of influence. And I do think she cares about you."

I had my doubts, but it might be worth a shot. "I'll...think about it."

Author's Notes:

Edited and Expanded (a bit like Blueblood’s waistline) 5-22-18

P.B. and ... Grain?

"How was your time away from home?" Luna asked, her grin spread wide across her features. The three of us, Joe included, sat together at the dais of the throne room. The current session hit a predictable lull as most ponies were at home.

"It...went well, Aunt Luna." I was loathe to admit it. I'd declined calling him a friend before, but he'd grown on me.

The mare turned her attention to the stallion beside me. "Thank you for your care for my nephew, Joe."

He shook his head, a matching smile on his face. "You might speak to him privately, Your Royal Highness. Blueblood picked up on some baking."

She glanced at me, her mirth seemed well-intentioned, if annoying. "Blue, you must bake for me soon." She said, clapping her hooves together excitedly.

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, Princess Luna."

She pushed my shoulder, laughing. "I believe the saying goes, 'lighten up.' I promise you I won't think any less of you, even if all you ever learn is to pour icing on cinnamon rolls."

I lifted my chin. "I can make both icing and cinnamon rolls from scratch, dear Aunt Luna." I informed her.

"I am proud of you." She said. Her voice seemed earnest enough and a part of me was unexpectantly touched by her words.

My eyes focused on a pony approaching the dais of the Night Court. There weren't usually very many ponies who regularly attended Luna's Court and the approaching figure was not one of them. On instinct, I straightened my posture and held my chin up. The glare I felt like putting on was neatly hidden behind a mask of indifference.

I was anything but indifferent. Her pastel-pink coat and blinding white curled-under bob-cut mane were enough for me to identify her. The crystal-sky blue eyes were politely focused on the diarch in the center, but I knew she was sizing me up on the side. She wore a white blouse with a pendant on the front right breast, the symbol of her status as a dame of the highest order for non-military knights. The Baroness Civil List, KS.

Turning to Luna, she curtsied exactly as properly as defined in the etiquette texts. She held it until Luna acknowledged her. “Rise and speak. We have not had the pleasure of having the presence of a dame of Our Sister’s Court.”

"Your Royal Highness, it is my pleasure to see you. My name is Civil List, former servant of Her Royal Highness Princess Celestia and former tutor to His Highness, Prince Blueblood. Might I add that you look quite well?" She nodded in practiced movements.

Luna regarded her civilly. "You may. To what do we owe the pleasure of your company tonight, Ms. List?"

Civil glances at me before answering. "Ma'am, I came to see for myself if the rumors are true regarding my former student, your nephew, His Royal Highness Prince Blueblood."

"What rumors are these?" Luna asked.

"I beg your pardon, ma'am. To be clear, is he now a member of the House of the Night?" Civil asked.

Luna looked at me. I shrugged and nodded my head. It had to come out sooner or later. Civil List was one of the biggest branches on the Canterlot grapevine in her prime. "Indeed, he is."

"May I have a moment with him, ma'am?" Civil asked.

I clenched my jaw and closed my eyes. Civil was sure to be disappointed at my current status. I could only imagine the thing's she'd say, given the chance. Luna held up her hoof. "My nephew does not need my permission to leave the court, so long as it is not for an extended amount of time. Prince Blueblood, would you like to speak to Ms. List in private?"

"Your Royal Highness, I think it might be best if I did." I answered, scrambling my brains to figure out what was going on.

"Then you are dismissed, though I expect you to return swiftly. Mr. Joe, I would speak to you on another matter."

Walking quickly, Civil and I exited the throne room and went into a nearby empty room. As soon as the door closed behind us, Civil turned her disapproving stare on me. "The House of the Night?"

My ears flattened. It was as if I was a foal again and used the wrong fork. "Yes, ma'am."

"You had every advantage a foal could ever ask for and you squander it.” Her time was deadly calm. I almost flinched, but my years of training with her prevented me from showing such a reaction. My gut twisted, though. The sensation of it was all too familiar.

“I’m an advisor to one of Their Royal Highnesses—“ In a rare show of temper, Civil rudely cut me off.

“You’ve never taken the time to develop your talents. You waste time fooling around and upsetting the other nobles. It’s a wonder the princess didn't banish you!" Her voice, normally devoid of emotion, picked up touches of anger.

I slowed my breathing. It wasn't as if she could punish me. "I've realized the severity of my actions--"

She cut me off. "Have you? I don't think so. A foreign princess and a common unicorn have both ascended into their positions as Princesses of Love and Friendship. You have nowhere near their drive to live up to their potential."

"What does it matter to you?" I asked coldly.

She sighed. Taking a moment, she calmed herself. "You thoughtless colt. Your actions have consequences beyond the tip of your horn. My reputation suffers thanks to you. With every tabloid article, my name is discredited. Every stumble you take drags my name through the mud."

"You got away with quite a pension, if memory serves, even if you had to split your income with your ex-husband.” Her glare nearly impressed me. But, I’d seen worse from more powerful ponies.

“I gave my life to try and ensure the future of the most noble house in all of Equestrian history and I lost everything.” Her voice was impressively understated. It almost hurt worse than the yelling. “My reputation was the last thing that mattered to me. And, like every other loss I’ve suffered, it’s thanks to you that even that is being tarnished.”

“This isn't about you and it sure isn't about me." I replied harshly. “This is about the ponies you associate with who think that any of this foolish pomp and circumstance means anything.”

Her head jerked upright. “You will rue the day you began having such an attitude. History is full of examples of those who throw away tradition and live just long enough to regret it.”

I shook my head. “I will never rule, Civil. I was never meant to be an alicorn. And everything I’ve done to disabuse you and Celestia of that notion has been for your own good.”

Closing her eyes, she took a breath and adjusted her glasses. Opening her eyes again, her gaze was the coldest I'd ever seen. "Don’t think I've forgotten the mudhole she pulled you from. Every action you've made only proves how much you don't deserve the kindness of the Sisters. It disgusts me to see you dishonor Celestia's charity and it's only a matter of time before Luna sees exactly the kind of ungrateful brat you are. Consider this friendly advice; what goes up must come down. I worked very hard to keep the inevitable from happening out of loyalty to Princess Celestia. But it seems you're bound and determined to return to your natural state."

"Civil." I stated softly, my body shaking. "Go to tartarus." I fixed my best glare on her.

A hoof knocked on the door. One of Luna's guards spoke. "Her Royal Highness has requested the Prince's presence with all haste."

I made to walk past her. As I did, she gave me her parting shot. "You are filth."

Ignoring the old mare's venom, I shook myself and walked back to the throne room. The handful of courtiers made plenty of room for me, avoiding my gaze like the plague. Was that new? I honestly had never noticed until now. Back at Luna's side, I nodded to Joe and took a shaky breath.

Before we could speak, another petitioner entered, seeking a judgment from Luna. Joe moved away from the dais and joined the onlookers, keeping his eyes on me the whole time. I turned my focus on the petitioner.

"You seek damages against my sister?" Luna asked, her tone even but her eyes incredulous.

The pony stamped a hoof indignantly. "Her sun schedule is unfairly decreasing the productivity of my farm. The strain of grain I grow is going bad thanks to the amount of sunshine over my land."

Luna tilted her head. "Is this not a matter for weather ponies?"

"I'm suing them too." The farmer pouted.

Luna seemed at a loss. With a laugh, I leaned over to consult. "Charges against Celestia must be brought up in her court first. If a ruling does not meet the petitioner’s expectations of fairness they may appeal. That appeal is filed to the Equestrian Council, not the Night Court. The rule was devised when Cadence became a princess to prevent suits between Noble Houses."

Stunned, Luna turned to me. "Thank you, nephew."

Author's Notes:

Edited and expanded 5-20-18

P.B. and ... Candy?

I was in the throne room, but it was dark. On the room's edges, shadows curled and wove themselves into a kaleidoscope of terrifying shapes. I focused on the petitioner. Civil List stood before the Night Court.

"There sits a traitor beside the throne!" She declared, pointing a hoof at me.

"Oh?" A low alto voice asked. "And how hast the prince betrayed us?"

"Luna, I would never--" I protested.

"Silence!" Luna hissed, her head wreathed in darkness, only two yellow eyes glowing back at me. I stiffened and closed my mouth.

Civil grinned. "The prince is unworthy of his crown. His heart belongs to a common baker stallion."

"It does not!" I roared.

The yellow eyes narrowed and the voice boomed. "We shall have order in our court. Do not speak again, unless spoken to. Continue, Lady List."

List curtsied. "Thank you, Your Royal Highness. In addition to his perversion, the prince harbors no love for either House of Day or Night. His behavior will surely lead both to disgrace. He is a worthless prince; no good has been done by his hoof or by his words. He is not even capable of succeeding either Head of House, let alone rule. I say that he should return to the muck from whence he was plucked and let worthier ponies stand in his place."

"Speak now, prince. Dost thou have anything to say?" Luna asked.

My throat nearly seized up on realizing the princess was very different. "Your Royal Highness, I honestly seek to improve my reputation. I ask only for time-"

"Time?" Civil scoffed. "Your Royal Highness, this ungrateful whelp had time in plenitude. Years, even. He only squanders them."

"And to the offense of loving another stallion?" Luna asked.

"Your Royal Highness, I don't love Pony Joe that way. He is...a friend." The words sounded wrong.

Luna’s yellow eyes narrowed again. "Then thou didst lie to us before, when thou didst say that he was not your friend."

I was at a loss. "Your Roy--"

"Quiet your lying tongue before I remove it myself. How canst I believe a word from that bedeviled mouth?" She stood, taller than I remembered and with a darker coat. The princess was clad in armor and her fangs glittered. Nightmare Moon! "I think returning you to the muck is too good. You will lie under it, in death!"

"Lu-Luna!" I cried, backing up. She was on me in a flash.

"Time to see if your blood truly is blue!" She said, cackling. Her mouth dove. I flinched, awaiting the fangs in my flesh.

And I waited.

Daring to open my eyes, I saw Nightmare Moon inches away, frozen in place.

"I have to say, that was one of the more...dramatic performances I've seen in a dream." A voice, much more like the Luna I knew, said.

I looked over Nightmare Moon's shoulder to see Luna waving and smiling. Inching away from the frozen villain, I looked at Luna and asked, "A dream?"

She nodded. "I needed to speak to you."

"You can influence dreams?" I asked. Then it hit me. "Did you send me this nightmare to teach me a lesson?"

Her eyes widened a bit, but then her expression returned to normal. She shook her head. "The nightmare was of your own creation. I merely stopped it." She started walking away, down towards the throne room exit. "Wouldst thou walk with us a while?"

I took one look at the frozen Nightmare Moon and Civil List. Whatever Luna had planned, it was surely better than this. I galloped over to her side before she'd made it halfway. The scene around us became hazy, but brighter.

"I can influence dreams, but all dreams start with their ponies. A pony dreams in order to distill the wide buffet of information that they take in each day. Your mind discards some of that information and focuses on others. Your dream tonight is in response to your encounter with your tutor, as well as the fears that plague you." The last part was not a question.

"Why are you here?" I asked, irritated at the petulance in my voice again.

She stopped and turned to face me. "To help."

"I'm not worth your time." I insisted.

She tilted her head. "Why not?"

"I'm a useless prince! I use ponies for my own gain and I have nothing to contribute to Equestria. You should just abandon me like your sister did." I looked down before I could cry.

Luna’s voice was soft, but persistent. "Why do you feel this way?"

When I looked up again, she was gone.

Turning around, I saw the scene change. A young white coated blond colt practically bounced with excitement. Shaking my head, I groaned. Civil List was back, standing beside the young prince and taking a minute to scold him for not standing still. "Have I taught you nothing?" She asked. "Behave yourself or we will turn right back around this instant!"

With a visible effort, the colt stood still, his energy now contained to a wide grin and bright eyes. Turning to his tutor, the colt asked. "Do you think she'll be proud of me?"

Civil sniffed, looking down her nose. "You'd better hope she has more of an idea what it means than you do. How can you not remember when you got it?"

"But, Civvie, I was so busy all day..." The colt started.

Civil silenced him. "Don't take that whining tone. You know how I feel about that." She rummaged in her bag and retrieved a wrapped candy. "Here, have one of these until we speak to the princess."

"Her Royal Highness will see you now." A guard intoned as the door opened. In numb shock, I followed. I knew what was going to happen, but hoped that Luna would change it again.

Celestia stood from the throne and smiled. "Prince Blueblood. Civil List. It is good to see you, but couldn't this wait until after court?"

Civil sniffed. "His Highness was quite excited and was insistent it be now."

Celestia looked at little Blue. "You're not giving Civil a hard time, are you?"

Little Blueblood shook his head, then remembered himself and bowed. "Your Royal Highness..."

"You could call me Celestia." She pointed out.

"No, ma'am, not in your court." Little Blue argued.

"Blueblood! Do not disagree with the princess!" Civil hissed.

Little Blue’s ears drooped. "But you always say..."

"What did I say about arguing?" Civil asked.

Little Blue turned his eyes on his aunt, who'd been sidetracked by an advisor. When she turned back, she sighed. "The delegation from Saddle Arabia is here early. Civil, please keep him entertained. Blue, behave and whatever it is, it can wait until dinner, okay?"

"But!" Little Blue protested, but Celestia had already turned away.

"Come now, Blueblood. What did I tell you about this?" Civil said, turning the little prince back towards the exit.

I turned to watch them go and Luna stood before me. "I think I understand things better now." She said quietly.

My anger flashed. "You did this! You pulled this memory up and made me relive it! I hate you. Get out of my dream, now, Princess Luna!"

A wind kicked up, strong enough that Luna seemed to be moving with it. "Blueblood!"

"OUT!"

I woke up in bed in my suite in Luna’s Wing of the palace. I kicked myself mentally for kicking her out of the dream. That last part hadn’t exactly been a dream, though. And if Luna could call up my memories, I shuddered to think what she might find there. Ponies in my time do things differently than they did in hers. It was one thing for her to hear of my reputation, quite another for her to relive it through my memories.

Standing up, I looked at my mirror. I was a bit disheveled from sleep, but my eyes were determined. I could not seek Luna’s help this way.

Author's Notes:

I did it. 10 Chapters, 1300 words each, 13,000 words total (so far)

I'd like to thank my mother and the academy...

*ahem* Now who's dreaming???

I hope you've enjoyed it thus far. I've taken this as far as it'll go...at this pace.

That's right. Business is about to pick up. 1300 is about to become a thing of the past.

Seeya next chapter.

Edited and Expanded 5-22-18