What Kind of Hotel is This?

Prince Blueblood was leading the way through Edmaneton, Ditzy and the others trailing behind, when he stopped at a nearby fountain and sat, waiting for the others to catch up. When Old Trail reached the fountain, he got the bag he was carrying off his back and walked to his leader.

"Sir, I'll find accommodations for us for the night, spared no expense for your tastes."

"Right, right, do that. Let the others rest for a while," the royal alicorn responded, looking at Ditzy again. He shook his head; he couldn't stop making glances at her. It wasn't just her physical appearance, Celestia had tried setting him up with dozens of pegasi, earth ponies and unicorns with various permutations of appearance. Blueblood was still impressed by this mare for having set her own wing without so much as a second thought. She was so determined to get that package to Stalliongrad, but why?

Ditzy walked to the fountain and lifted her forehooves into the cool water. Normally, if she had traveled that far a distance, she would have flown, but with her wing broken, she had to walk. At least it had been with other ponies.

Blueblood looked over his shoulder to Ditzy and asked, "Why are you so determined to get that package to Stalliongrad? It's not like it’s that important to whoever is going to receive it."

"It's not about the importance to the client, I need this job," Ditzy replied, lifting her hooves out of the relieving waters.

The grey mare dug into her saddle bags and fished out a photo. On it, Blueblood could see a grey, blonde maned unicorn foal, smiling in the hooves of Ditzy.

"That's my daughter. It's tough, getting enough money to support the two of us. With my lazy eye, almost nopony in my town will hire me, and those that do end up firing me when they get the chance." Ditzy let out a sigh before turning. She spoke again, "Thank you for letting me travel with you, but I need to get to Stalliongrad, and with this wing, I've got a long trip."

Ditzy started walking away and Prince Blueblood cried out, "Wait!" Ditzy turned to him and gave him an inquisitive look. "I intend to take a train the rest of the way to Stalliongrad, you could come with... us?"

Ditzy turned back around. To the pony who was looking, one might have noticed her tail tuck in between her legs as she shifted them closer together. "Why would you want me to hang around? I caused your carriage to break down."

"Auntie, er, Celestia tells me that it is good to get to know one's subjects on occasion and I figured that seeing as how we've already met, I'd like to try out her advice." Blueblood tilted his head. Oh, auntie, please let her agree. She's right, her trip would be long, and dangerous. I can't just let her go like this.

Ditzy's eyebrows lifted slightly and she nodded.

Blueblood sighed with relief. For the first time in centuries, he felt a connection to somepony. Ditzy was willing to do what was necessary, pushing her limits, to ensure those she cared for remained safe, no matter the distance.

Old Trail walked back then and bowed to the prince. "Sir, I've found a hotel for us to stay at. They have a royal suite and a variety of services for you to make use of."

Not thinking on the matter Blueblood spoke. "Sounds agreeable. Lead us to the hotel. Once I am settled, you can send a telegram back to Canterlot and inform Celestia of what has happened."

"Right this way, sir." Old Trail led Blueblood and the others down the street and into the hotel.

Blueblood was talking with Ditzy, and so neither noticed the sign marking the establishment. Blueblood had frequented places like it before, but always alone, and always to the purpose of spreading ill repute about himself across higher social circles. The sign read: 'The Jewel, Gentlestallion's Club'.

~~~

Sworn Gem, hotel owner and proprietor, was looking over his account book, scribbling with a fountain pen into his book.

"Six hundred bits for electricity, nine hundred bits for water and sewage, three thousand bits in food costs for the mares, one thousand bits for the restaurant food, two hundred bits to pay the barkeeps, one hundred fifty bits for the porter," the earth pony mumbled. "And fifteen thousand bits in total revenue. Fan-bucking-tastic!" the earth pony concluded, smiling triumphantly and spitting his quill into his inkpot.

His brown vest covered his back and chest, but left his cutie mark of a large amethyst in full view against his spotted white and black coat. Just then a knock sounded at his door.

"Yeah? What is it?" Sworn Gem yelled. The door opened, revealing his barkeep Hacksaw the unicorn. The unicorn was built like a Clydesdale but could whip up a spell for any kind of situation security called for.

"I got two pieces of news, sir. Which do you want first: the good or the bad?"

"I'll take the bad news first. Very little could put me in too foul a mood right now," the earth pony replied.

"Well, you see, you know all that trouble that's been going down over in Stalliongrad?" Hacksaw asked.

"Yeah, the diamond dogs have been barking at the lizards again, what about it?"

"The Stalliongrad line is down, sir. Turns out some diamond dogs were doing some illegal mining, dug right underneath the foundations for one of the bridges. Train drove over it and the whole thing came toppling down, not many survivors." Hacksaw lowered his head, examining a red hoof.

"News like that is bad for drinks, but great for selling the company of fine mares. You should know that news is neutral at worst. Still best to take advantage of the situation; I'll make an announcement soon. Now what's this good news?" The black and white stallion looked over to his barkeeper and bodyguard, smiling.

"Prince Blueblood's just come in."

At this Sworn Gem immediately brightened. "Fan-bucking-tastic! That boy's always good for the brothel he visits! Hires two or three mares, then does nothing with them. Leaves em' nice and fresh for a second customer right away, if my cousin is to be believed."

The hotel owner trotted to the door before donning a serious expression. "Now to tell the customers the bad news, and make a few suggestions to everypony's favorite playcolt."

~~~

Blueblood was sitting at a private table, as Ditzy had declined and instead was sitting at a separate table by herself, insisting on eating alone. Blueblood was willing to oblige; he would have plenty of time to talk with her on the train ride. Just then, from a staircase leading upwards to a balcony overlooking the restaurant, the sound of hoof steps echoed across the lower floor. A black and white earth pony with a large gem on his flank was standing over the crowd that was now looking up at him.

"Mares and Gentlecolts," the earth pony began.

"I am Sworn Gem, owner and proprietor of this fine establishment; and I have an announcement to make. Just recently I have learned that there has been a terrible accident on the rail line to Stalliongrad." Sworn Gem paused to let the muttering die down.

"There were many deaths, yes, let us take this moment to be thankful for the brief span of time we have to enjoy in the embrace of others." Another pause. "Ah, yes, and in honor of the victims, the mares' services are twenty percent off for the evening."

This last statement shocked Blueblood out of his thoughts, and he looked around and noticed that most of the mares in the club were acting rather suggestively towards the customers. ‘Buck!’ was all Blueblood could think. Just then, two mares, a black earth pony and a white one, sat at his table.

"Hi!" The white said. "I'm Yin, and this is my sister Yang, what brings you here, big colt?"

"Nothing you can help with, now if you'll excuse me."

"Hang on a minute!" Yang reached out a hoof. "I'm sure there's something we could do for you... to you?"

"Yeah, how can we be of... assistance?" Yin asked.

Blueblood looked over and saw Ditzy being approached by a stallion with an unbuttoned jacket and a slight stumble to his step.

"You can help me by leaving me—"

"Prince Blueblood! Pleasure to meet you! Sworn Gem, owner and proprietor of this fine establishment, and I see you've already met Yin and Yang, very nice mares if I do say so myself—"

Prince Blueblood shoved a hoof into the owners mouth when he saw Ditzy buck the drunk customer in the chest as she leaped from her chair and bolted out of the hotel. Wasting no time, Blueblood chased after her. She was dashing along the streets, weaving between ponies and stalls.

He was trying to...! I can't believe I let myself fall for some fancy-mouthed stallion again! Ditzy thought to herself before taking a sharp right. Out of the corner of her eye as she turned, she saw Blueblood, which compelled her to put even more effort into her hooves.

IDIOT, IDIOT, IDIOT! Blueblood mentally reprimanded himself as he galloped after Ditzy. Nearly bowling over several ponies, Blueblood shouted. "Ditzy, wait! Let me explain!"

"Leave me alone!" she screamed back.

Ditzy knocked over a fruit stand and an orange splattered itself across her eyes. She squinted and tried to see, but between the stinging in her eyes and the returning pain in her hooves, she couldn't focus. She made a blind left turn, cutting off a pegasus couple cantering down the street. A faint double image swam across Ditzy's vision, then she started shaking her head, shutting her left eye and continuing to gallop. She took a right and charged past a trash dumpster, not noticing the garbage bag on the ground in front of her and tripping, tumbling head over hooves for twelve feet, bashing her bad wing and setting the bone askew once more. Ditzy lay on the ground crying as Blueblood rounded the corner. She stared up at him with indignant fury in her eyes.

"So is this what you do to get to know your subjects?" she yelled, "What were you planning to do to me? Slip something in my drink? Get me drunk, do your business with me and then leave me here? Are you just going to take me here and now? Tell me!" She was screaming at this point.

The grey mare's tears fell to the ground in anguish for having been betrayed, pain from her broken wing, and sorrow that she had failed to keep herself out of harm's way for Dinky.

Blueblood walked up to her and sat down. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean for that to happen," he began, as Ditzy continued glaring at him. "Like I said before, back on the road, I don't like the ponies at Canterlot. So I just act like a slob, pretend to sleep around, gamble, drink, that kind of stuff. That way, nopony ever tries to get close to me."

A hoof reached out and struck him on the face and Blueblood looked at Ditzy, who now cowered in fear, immediately regretting what she had done.

"I suppose I deserve that, I haven't been doing a good job at ensuring safe passage." Blueblood inclined his head to Ditzy's wing. "You asked me what happened when I was... when I still reached out to others. I'd like to tell you what happened now," Blueblood stated.

Ditzy looked up at him, his eyes were watering up. She decided to give him a chance, and nodded.

“Seven hundred years ago, when Nightmare Moon was still banished. The diamond dogs invaded the province of Stalliongrad. It was then that an alliance of ponies, gryphons, and even dragons allied against the khanate that had been formed.

“With Auntie Celestia having to tend to the kingdom it was my duty to lead the pony divisions. I lost a lot of good mares and stallions on the long march in the dead of winter. But through all of it, I was able to keep myself together with the help of one mare, Constant Vigil. We were together, but we agreed to wait, with the war going on... there... there wasn’t a time after the war, I...”

Ditzy extended of hoof to Blueblood. “If you don’t want to tell me what happened to her, it can wait. Celestia knows there are things in my past I’d rather not have others know.”

"After that, I just started slipping. When all my friends who were still alive at the end of it all started dying of old age... I swore I wouldn't let any pony close," Blueblood concluded. He looked at Ditzy who was staring at him.

"This Constant Vigil, what was she like?" Ditzy asked.

"She was like you, I suppose, tolerant of pain to a fault, always doing what was necessary for those she cared for." Blueblood let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Ditzy continued, her voice’s tone less infuriated than it used to be.

"But you didn't know that about me when you first talked to me. What led you to open up?" the grey mare asked.

"Well... my cousin, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza? She married the captain of the royal guard recently. She had a bit of a crisis of faith herself and it just got me thinking and..." Blueblood winced a little at this point.

"And what?" Ditzy asked, the anger in her voice no longer present.

"You... look like she did, Constant Vigil, I mean." Blueblood shut his eyes. Please don't think I'm shallow.

The next feeling Blueblood felt surprised him, and made him open his eyes. Ditzy was laying her head over his neck, both eyes closed happily.

"You're not angry anymore?" Blueblood asked.

"A little concerned that you've acted this way for so long, but... what about... I'm hardly anypony important." Ditzy opened her eyes, her strabismus gone for the moment.

"Well, there isn't really any precedent to break, Auntie Celestia and Luna never married, and Cadence is a first." Blueblood smiled, no doubt dozens of Canterlot families would think he was defying convention, but in truth there was none.

"What about my daughter?"

"Again, no tradition to follow, save Auntie Celestia's tendency to take on pupils. I suppose I could do the same. You'd both be welcome at Canterlot castle." Blueblood shifted his head out from underneath Ditzy's and looked at her. "But first..."

"You have to settle your business in Stalliongrad." Ditzy then smiled, "And I have my boss's package to deliver."

"You'll hardly need to—" Blueblood was interrupted by the grey mare.

"I know, but now that everything's going to be alright, I can at least leave that crab of a boss of mine on good terms. A final insult to show he didn't break me. Besides, I've left Dinky in good hooves, Twilight's a good sort."

Twilight? Auntie's pupil? The one whose friend I met at the gala? Well, that's going to be awkward. Blueblood smiled briefly, then looked at Ditzy's wing. "Do you want me to do it or shall I?"

Ditzy looked at him. "You may."

Blueblood's horn glowed a soft white that encompassed Ditzy's wing. "Fast or slow?" he asked.

"Fast, no point in dilly-dallying."

Focusing on the fracture, Blueblood set the bone again and Ditzy grunted, but remained conscious. Her breathing was steady and she closed her eyes, laying her head against Blueblood.

Just then, Old Trail rounded the corner and exclaimed. "Oh, thank Celestia! What happened?"

Blueblood looked to Ditzy and whispered, "Just a minute."

The white stallion walked up to his carriage driver and took him back around the corner.

"Old Trail, I understand that you thought I wanted that kind of excitement, and I forgive you." Blueblood spoke flatly. "So realize what I say next is only to instill upon you the gravity of my request." The God of Safe Passage leaned in an inch. "If you ever book me in a place like that again, I'll do to you what that Ursa Major would have. Understand?"

"Yes, sir, sorry sir, I thought that what with what you said, that is—!"

"It's alright, just ... don't do that again, find a different hotel." Blueblood said.

"Separate rooms." Turning, the two stallions saw Ditzy standing by the alley entrance. Looking at Blueblood, she continued. "I'd like to take this slowly, if you don't mind."

Blueblood nodded. "All the time in the world."