I never really gave Blueblood an outright answer to his offer, but he didn't seem to mind. On the contrary, the noble colt, much to my surprise and suspicion, seemed content to let me stew on the matter for as long as I wanted.

In the meantime, probably in an effort to win me over, he insisted I hang out with him and his cohorts until the Gala kicked off. Every fiber of my being told me not to go—told me that it was a terrible idea, but I was a shy and meek little foal.

Maybe not as shy and meek as a certain mare I'd meet later in my life, but it was enough that I was easily susceptible to peer pressure—a concept I had yet to truly experience up until that point. Reluctantly, but surely, I agreed, and spent the rest of the day, and most of the week leading up to the Gala, seeing just how the richer foals of society lived and acted.

I don't know how I managed to stomach it, even as a foal myself.

I suppose I just kept telling myself to do it for Crimson Gale and the Princess, the former of whom I still hadn't seen. In any case, I followed the three rich foals around as they wandered the castle and mingled with a few of the other foals as well as some of the more important adults staying at the castle for the Gala.

I listened as they talked about things I neither knew nor cared about, mostly things about themselves and their family's exploits, assets, or just general self-aggrandizing nonsense. I was more or less ignored for the most part, except when it was convenient for me to be brought up in the conversation.

Whenever I was spoken about, it was usually in the context of the incident involving the nearly catastrophic magic surge I'd suffered during the exam. The topic made me uncomfortable and self-conscious, and the more it was brought up, the more withdrawn I grew. Not helping matters was how I was talked about, but never directly talked to.

It was as though I wasn't even there, and I couldn't bring myself to say anything about it because of the guilt and shame I felt whenever they talked about the consequences of my actions. I learned just how far reaching the damage I could've caused, and in some cases, did cause, stretched, and it made me feel horrible.

It made me feel like I'd failed even though I'd gotten my cutie mark and become Celestia's protégé. It made me feel as though I hadn't earned it, and over time, I'd started to believe it. After all, what did I really do other than damage school property and put ponies lives in danger?

I put the Princess's life in danger, and laughed all the while like some crazy pony. I began to feel nausea mix with the odd giddiness I'd feel every time I thought about the incident, and the combination made me sick and miserable.

Blueblood did nothing to dissuade the insults and dirty looks of the other nobles—at least, not in their presence. It was only when we were all out of sight that he said anything about it, offering me words of apology and consolation, giving me his best encouraging smile, and like the naïve little filly I was, I wiped away my tears, smiled back, and thanked him for his support.

I've said it before, but I wasn't a social butterfly, and while I wasn't as bad as Crimson, I still had little experience when it came to how foals treated other foals, how the rich treated everypony else, and most importantly how somepony raised to know how to get what they want, manipulated the ignorant pony who had access to what they wanted.

I was that ignorant pony, and before I knew it, I'd gotten mixed up in Blueblood's machinations. He may have been a foal like me, but he was intelligent and cunning, no doubt due to his upbringing. I didn't know that, and the more he comforted me, the more I came to see him as a friend, a lifeline in the roiling sea of scorn and self-importance that was the community of Canterlot nobles.

I didn't even question the fact that he'd gotten rid of his two companions at some point. If anything I was grateful for it, as they hadn't been nearly as nice as the older colt. Winter Chime in particular seemed to have it out for me for some reason, and I was all too happy not to see her anymore.

The entirety of that week, at least when I wasn't with the Princess, was spent in the company of the wealthy, whether I was with Blueblood or not. As the Gala drew closer, more and more nobles could be seen hanging about the castle, and you couldn't go anywhere without seeing at least a few in the area.

The castle staff suffered at the hooves of some of the more temperamental of the nobles, and I did the best I could to help with the preparations, but as the week before the Gala neared its end, I found I just didn't have the time.

About two days before the night of the Gala, Blueblood approached me, his expression pleasant and unassuming. There was something in his smile that made me uneasy, but by this point, I'd fully considered Blueblood a pony I could trust, the only pony I could trust, besides the Princess.

To me, he was the first true friend I'd made since coming to the castle—not counting my foalsitter Cadence, and my older brother, that is—and so I ignored the feeling and listened to what he had to say. He caught me just as I was on my way to have breakfast with the Princess that morning, stopping me in the corridor just outside my bedroom.

"Blueblood?" I asked, giving the smiling colt a bemused frown, "what are you doing here so early?"

"I'm sorry for holding you up, Twilight," he replied, bowing his head apologetically, "I'd heard that it was common for you to dine with the Princess during breakfast hours, and I'd hope to meet you before then."

"Really?" I replied, wondering just what Blueblood could want now of all times, "what for? Did something happen?"

"No no, nothing like that," Blueblood assured, raising a hoof, "I simply wanted to talk to you about the little matter we'd discussed when we first met is all."

"When we met?" I furrowed my brow in thought a moment before realization struck. My ears flattened and I swallowed nervously before replying, "o-oh... right... that," I scraped a hoof against the floor and gave Blueblood an apologetic frown, "I'm sorry, Blueblood. You helped me a lot and I appreciate it, but I can't just ask the Princess for favors like that."

Blueblood's smile dipped ever so slightly.

"I see," he said quietly before taking a step forward, "I understand your hesitation, Twilight. You respect the Princess a great deal and don't want to feel like you're manipulating her into doing what you want. I get it, but won't you at least hear me out?"

"I..." I swallowed again and looked away a moment, checking to make sure the halls were relatively empty before returning a nervous gaze back to Blueblood, "a-alright, fine. I guess I can at least hear what you want."

"That's all I ask," Blueblood replied, his smile returned in full as he stepped away, "I'm sure you've met my father at some point, yes? Prince Blueblood VI, current Captain of the Guard?"

"I've met him," I replied, now fully on guard for what came next, "what about him?"

"Well you see," Blueblood began, leaning in close and speaking in a conspiratorial whisper, "my father is, as of right now, unmarried and desires to take a bride."

"Unmarried?" I repeated, surprised at the notion, "but what about your mom? They aren't together?"

"I'm afraid not," Blueblood sighed despondently, "my father's previous wife—my mother—was discovered in a, ah... compromising position with another stallion some time ago," his face scrunched up into a nasty sneer, "she and my father have since divorced each other, and we no longer speak."

"Oh... I didn't know that," I responded quietly. I wasn't quite sure what he meant back then, but I did know that ponies rarely severed the sacred bonds of marriage. For the Captain to cut off his marital ties to his wife, she must've done something heinous, "I'm... sorry you had to go through that."

"Please, don't worry about me, my friend," Blueblood replied, waving the matter away with a dismissive hoof, "it's all in the past now and I've moved on," his serious expression returned a second later, "my father wishes to do the same, and it's for that reason that I ask for your help."

"But what can I do?" I asked, bemused, but much more willing to listen now that I knew the details, "how is me being close to the Princess gonna help you with your dad?"

"After my mother's betrayal, my father fell into some... bad habits," Blueblood grimaced, as though remembering some particularly unpleasant memory, "for his sake I won't go into details, but believe me when I say he needs all the help I, as his son and sole heir, can possibly give him."

I mulled Blueblood's words over in my mind for a good few moments, searching his eyes for something, though not knowing what exactly. A week ago I wouldn't have been able to do such a thing, but another reason I'd grown to enjoy Blueblood's company was that he inspired a confidence I didn't normally feel all that often.

Looking at him, I could see his concern was genuine, and after another moment, I smiled and nodded. It was possible that the reason his father gave off such bad vibes was that he was still bitter about the divorce, I thought. Maybe he was just lashing out, maybe his off putting attitude was a mask to hide his pain.

"Alright, if it'll help your dad, then... I'll talk to the Princess for you," I replied, "what did you need me to say?"

"Excellent!" Blueblood laughed, his smile brightening, "I knew I'd be able to count on you, Twilight. Now then," he composed himself and spoke quietly, "my father has been searching for another mare to take my mother's place, and he's become quite smitten with a certain pegasus from his guard."

Something twitched in the back of my mind and my smile slipped slightly. A thought was beginning to form, but I ignored it as I continued to listen to Blueblood.

"I'm not sure if you're aware," he continued, "but during times of peace, and as long as there are others capable of filling their roles, Captains are given a certain amount of leave each year to do with as they see fit, and my father wants to spend his time getting to know this mare better."

"Okay," I replied, ignoring the small knot of unease in my stomach, "so he wants to... what, go on a date with the mare?"

"Something like that," came the cryptic reply, the quiet tone of which did nothing to settle my sudden unease, "the problem is, the mare doesn't have the same privilege, and even with his rank, my father can't simply excuse her from her duties. What I'd like you to do, is convince the Princess to allow my father to take the mare with him on leave."

"Um... well," I responded, growing more unsure by the second, "can't he... y'know, try to ask the Princess himself?"

Blueblood frown and narrowed his eyes slightly. I looked down at my hooves, unable to meet his gaze.

"He's already consulted with the Princess about the matter, but she refused," he replied slowly, "it may surprise you to know that, though our Princess is a benevolent soul, she tends to be a stickler for rules where the Royal Guard is concerned."

"Then—"

"But," Blueblood pressed, stepping in close and causing me to stumble backwards a bit, "as her personal protégé, you just might be able to convince her to give the mare some time off to be with my father."

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. The unease I was beginning to feel had grown into full on doubt, and I found myself wanting to back out of the whole deal. The older colt was coming on strong, his eyes flashing with something I hadn't seen before, and it was beginning to remind me of how his father looked when he addressed Crimson Storm.

And that's when it hit me. Deep down, I'd already known who he was talking about, but hoped I was wrong. I now had the feeling I wasn't, and in a moment of clarity, I knew what I had to do. The colt was intelligent, he was cunning, he was confident, but though I was younger and much more naïve, I had my moments of insight.

"Blueblood," I began quietly, "the mare that you're talking about, does she love your dad?"

"Of course she does," the colt replied without missing a beat, "she's fallen for my father just as he's fallen for her, and I only mean to make both of them happy by bringing them closer together," he frowned again, "why? Do you doubt my intentions? If that's the case I assure you—"

"One last thing," I interjected, looking Blueblood in the eye, "was the mare's name Crimson Storm?"

Blueblood's eyes briefly widened in shock before narrowing. He tried to hide whatever dark emotion he was feeling behind a mask of mild surprise, but the setting of his jaw gave him away.

In that moment, he looked just like his father, and that was when the spell broke. I saw Blueblood for what he truly was, and I found I didn't like what I saw. I could tell that he knew something was off about my reaction, and that he was trying to come up with a way to convince me to convince the Princess.

"Indeed," Blueblood finally replied, his tone somewhat clipped, "I... wasn't aware that you knew of her," he sighed heavily, "yes, she is the one my father has his sights set on. If you know Crimson Storm, then you know she can be a bit... shy. Believe me when I say she really does share my father's feelings."

"No, she doesn't!" I snapped, shocking Blueblood again, "she hates nobles, and she would never agree to something like that! She doesn't love your dad, and you know that, don't you?"

As I waited for an answer, Blueblood's expression slowly became inscrutable. He said nothing in response, and, spurred on by his silence, I spoke again.

"I'm sorry, Blueblood," I continued, shaking my head, "if what you said about your mom and dad is true, I really am sorry, but I'm not gonna ask the Princess to do this for you or him."

After what felt like ages, Blueblood finally replied, nodding his head slowly.

"So that's it then," he muttered, his expression still unreadable, "I suppose it was too much to ask for after all," he rose to his full height and inclined his head slightly, his next words spoken with an air of polite formality, "very well then, Twilight Sparkle. I guess that means our business ends here. I'm sorry it came to this, but I will respect your decision."

He began to trot past me, and I watched him go with wary eyes. Before he got too far, he stopped and turned to look at me over his shoulder.

"Just remember that you could've made some rather powerful allies had you cooperated," he smiled, "I bid you goodbye and good luck in your endeavors, and though we couldn't see eye to eye, I do hope to see you again at the Gala."

With that, he turned and trotted away, leaving me to fall to my haunches and finally let out the breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. I sat there for a moment, pouring over everything that had transpired, and found that I wasn't angry, but sad.

The one foal I thought I could call a friend had only tried to use me for his own gain. I was alone again, and though I wanted to cry, I didn't. Instead I frowned and rose back to my hooves before resolutely marching off towards Celestia's chambers.

In that moment I realized that Crimson Storm had the right of it, and though it may not have been nearly as strong as hers, I also began to harbor a deep dislike for the nobility from that point on. As I pressed on, I resolved to forget the whole experience altogether and focus on doing my best to help Princess Celestia prepare for the upcoming Gala as best I could.

It seemed she was the only one I could count on after all.