Friday, September 12th, 1000 C.D.V., 0 S.R.
Canterlot Palace
11:34 P.M.

hEll o'clock

Blueblood walked down the darkened halls of the palace as he made his way to his chambers. As he walked, he had the strange feeling as if he was being followed. He hurried his pace as he made his way to the room. The tall pillars of the hall cast long shadows that caused him to grow uncomfortable. The flickering candle he held was of no help in providing him a sense of security, as the shadows of the hall distorted with each gentle breeze. Looking behind him, he made sure as if he wasn't followed.

Blueblood knew that his life wasn't in danger, yet at the same time there was an unsettling air that went about came the night hours. He feared the shadows as they reminded him of the phantoms of past lives. Lives that he was responsible for. Usually in the day, he would wander the halls freely due to the abundance of guards posted at every sector. But as the night fell, the guards grew scarce, especially in his hall.

Still feeling as if he was being chased, he sped up his walk to a trot. The candle flickered as he made a left turn, to the hall his room was located. Blueblood continued his trot as he watched the shadows of the pillars stand tall above him and reach into the small globe of light. He was not much of using his magic for illumination. It only worsened his fear.

Finally reaching the end of the hall, he pulled out his keys and inserted the key to his room into the lock while he looked behind him, making sure he wasn't followed. He didn't hear hoofsteps make their way to him, but they were there. The ethereal sound of ambient hooves clopping down the halls haunted his imagination as he frantically jumbled the keys into the lock. The hoofsteps grew louder. He felt a chill run down his spine. Blueblood didn't want to be in that hall for very much longer. Before his fear completely drove him mad, the tumblers of the lock clicked, notifying him that the room was now open. He dashed inside before the sound of the hooves caught up with him.

As he slammed the door behind him, he held a hoof to his chest in relief that he finally made it back to his room. He walked over to the bed and sat the candle on the nightstand. Finally in the comfort of his own room, he released a held breath while he made his way over to his vanity. Relief soon embraced him as he sat before the large mirror. As he stared into the mirror, he noticed something that troubled him. He had a gray hair in his mane. As he looked down to the drawer to find his tweezers, a cool breeze swept his room. He looked up to see what it was, only to notice that his window was slightly cracked open. He shrugged it off and looked back to the mirror and levitated the tweezers to his mane. But before he started, something managed to catch his attention.

In his mirror, there was something amiss. Not the gray hair in his mane, but rather something in the background. He squinted his eyes and saw a strange figure on top of his bed. It appeared to be a red mare with a black mane and eerie yellow eyes, staring directly at him. Blueblood jumped at the sight and immediately turned around to see who was on his bed.

"Who goes there!?" He shouted to an empty bed. The sheets that appeared to be wrinkled from the mare sitting in his bed were not as they were in the reflection. Instead the bed was free of all discrepancies, smooth and wrinkle free. He figured it was his mind playing tricks on him and turned to the mirror. What he saw caused him to jump out of his chair and assume a position of attack. In the looking glass was the face of the same mare that laid on top of his bed, smiling a sinister grin at him.

"Oi... Look what we 'ave 'ere, me dearest son is scared of a little shadow."

"Who are you!?" Blueblood screamed at the face in the mirror.

"Why Ollie, I'm offended. How could ye forget ye own mum? The one who raised ye an' gave ye a home to stay in for fourteen years." The mare said as she held a hoof out, pointing to the cowering prince.

"You... You're dead."

"Aye. Still am. And still smelling the scent of ye urine. Don't think I 'aven't noticed due to me current... disposition." She said, whispering the final word.

"Why are you here!?" Blueblood asked, flaring his horn full of magic.

"Well why not? I haven't 'eard word from ye in like, what, ninety-nine years?" She responded with a hoof to the chin.

"Leave me, be! I am not some child for you to induce to bed-wetting. I am strong and I am successful now. Go away." The prince commanded, causing the mare in the mirror to laugh.

"But I don't wanna. I wanna feel the bulging muscles of me own flesh 'n blood. Ye are truly me child, just look at ye. Proud, strong, resilient, independent, corruptible."

As a breeze gently caressed his body, the prince shook in fear that it was indeed his mother, haunting him from beyond the grave. He denied her statement, screaming back at her. "I AM NOTHING LIKE YOU!"

"Ye say that, but the fact of the matter is... ye more like ye own mum. Ye act like me. Ye walk like me. Ye even addicted to sex like me. Ye taken in so much from me..."

"Shut up. Shut. Up. Get out of my room. Get out of my mind. Get out of my life. I am free from you. Get. Out. Get. Out. Get out."

As Blueblood chanted his words to himself and shaking his head, she shrunk her size to where she could stand behind his reflection and whisper into his ear. The cool mountain breeze swept across his ears and took the shape of actual words. "And I couldn't be any prouder, my little Ollie."

"GET! OUT!"

He screamed, firing a bolt to the mirror. The glass shattered into multiple smaller fragments as he stood in front of his vanity, panting heavily and his heart beating nearly out of his chest. He was further startled as a knock sounded from his door, followed by a voice.

"Sir, we heard screams and noise. Is everything alright?"

Blueblood sighed as he realized that it was just one of his maids checking in on him. "Yes... just a spider. Foul beast took residence on my vanity, is all."

"Do you need anything, sir?" The mare asked through the door.

"I will need a new mirror come dawn. As for now, I require some much needed rest."

"Right then. Goodnight sir." She said as the sounds of hoofprints faded into the distance. Meanwhile, the mortified prince stared at his vanity mirror, or what was left of it. Looking at the fragments he thought of the well wish of the maid that just left the area. He stood alone, in his dark room, broken glass strewn across his floor.

"...Goodnight? What a joke."

The Evening of the Next Day...

"Your royal highness, how may I service you this evening?"

"Your presence is not required for this evening."

A maid stands in shock as she watches the prince prepare himself in front of his new mirror. She is left stupefied as the prince rejects her offer. "Sir?"

Blueblood continues to look into his mirror and fixes his collar, using the reflecting glass to look at her. "I plan to seek another to add to my harem. And I couldn't possibly find another that would be an interest for me besides one of the mares who would attend the Grand Galloping Gala."

"Oh. Well I hope that you find what you are looking for, your highness." The maid says bowing before him.

"Thank you. I couldn't carry on without your support." He lied as he started to tend to his mane, checking for any more gray hairs. "I suppose an evening off is in order."

"Well your highness... An evening off?" She asks, even more confused at his suggestion. Usually she would never be given an evening off so casually. Under most circumstances, she would find herself buried in the pillows of his bed while he had his way with her. Though she never complained too much, as her main duty was to relieve the prince physically. For him to grant her a night off was almost discouraging. She hasn't had a night off in nearly two years.

"Yes. Are you hard of hearing?" He asks.

"No sir. It's just that hearing you say that is rather... unexpected."

"I would say so."

As he continued to fix his mane and collar, she remained silent for many minutes waiting for him to finish. As he summoned her to polish his horn, she finally summoned the courage to speak once more. "Sir, one question. If your attempt to add yet another to the harem fails, wouldn't you be in need of company?"

Blueblood grew tired of the conversation as she started to scrub away at his horn. By the time she started to apply the wax, he corrected her on her statement. "My dear. I never fail at what I do. There is only setbacks, and that is all there is to it."

"Forgive me. So to say if there was a setback of some sort, would there be any need for me to... relieve you?"

Blueblood rose from his seat slowly and turned to the maid. She started to back away, fearing that she may have said something wrong. He ignites his horn to stop her dead in her place as he moves within mere inches of her. His voice grew to a hissing whisper. "Your attachment to me has become an issue. Am I to assume that you have forgotten your place?"

She pleads for him to consider mercy as she clarifies her statement. "No sir! Please! I'm just saying that I am here for your use whenever you so desire."

Releasing the mare from the clutches of his magic, he waived her off, dismissing her from his presence. "Very well then. You will know if I have found another."

As she made her way to the door, she calls back to the prince. "What am I to do to prepare the newest member to your harem, your majesty?"

"Leave your belongings at the door." He says harshly. The mare stops walking as she heard the statement that she tried so hard to avoid. She was being retired from her duties.

"But...sir."

Blueblood turned his cheeks to check for any blemishes and marks, his glistening coat freshly groomed to an ivory glow that rivaled that of Princess Celestia herself. "She will be replacing you. Your services will no longer be needed. Now I suggest you seek the comfort of one of the guards or something. I am certain that your set of skills will be most pleasing to them, considering that they never had a mare so adventurous."

"...Yes sir." She said, swallowing much of her anger at his disrespectful suggestion.

"Feel free to thank me at any time."

The maid looked at him with folded ears and started to feel sadness that he would consider her to be thankful for the years she sacrificed for him. Over time she found that her anger drove her into a different direction. "...no."

"Excuse me?" Said Blueblood, tilting his head and cutting an eye back to her.

As she opened the door, she felt a courage to tell the prince off then and there. But in doing so, she would end up stooping to his levels. Instead she decided to hit him with a moral blow. "No. I won't thank you for the sex, albeit great sex to boot. I will thank you, however, for letting me go free in search of a stallion who would at least appreciate what I have to offer."

The prince waived off her blow with one of his own. Only this time, he would hit low and fail to miss. "Though I'm afraid it isn't much by now, considering how many times I've used you on a daily basis. Are you even able to please another stallion with that loose set of lips?"

Hearing the words he spat forth so crudely sent her into silence. It took seconds before she was reduced to tears. Her heart ripped to shreds as her mind tried to process the damage that his argument may have caused to her self-esteem. It was true that she was used on a daily basis; up to five times a day on occasion. But to hear him announce it so openly and to add an insult to the injury was completely disheartening. Her words gradually found their way to her lips. "You... are... absolutely disgusting."

As she ran into the hall, she slammed the door as hard as she could. Blueblood sat in his chair unmoved and taking a listen to the loud weeping that took place as the ex-maid continued to gallop down the hall. He didn't care how long a mare served under him. He had much bigger fish to fry. He scoffed off her attempt at an insult and resumed his grooming.

"Indeed, I am. On to the next."

"Guards, attention."

The guards dressed in their usual protective gear as they lined up in front of their captain, who wore the same uniform to avoid any unwanted attention. The only difference in his uniform was that there was a purple star and a blue shield at the front of his chest plate. Meanwhile, the others stood as they awaited further orders.

"Our job is to ensure that the Grand Galloping Gala is a safe and secure event, free from all sources of possible harm. If there are ponies seen disturbing that cycle, I want them arrested on the spot. Is that understood?"

"Sir, yes sir!" The small squad of twenty called out in unison.

"Very good then. Fall out!"

As the guards made their way to their assigned posts, Azure and Poindexter stayed behind to speak with Shining Armor. Longshot was unable to attend due to him already scheduling a day with his family in Ponyville. It made Shining chuckle a bit because as he would leave for his family, Shining's younger sister made her way here from the same place his friend left to. Azure tapped Shining on the shoulder and asked quietly.

"Hey Shining, tell me again on why we're on duty when it's supposed to be our night off?"

Shining turned back to the unicorn guard and spoke low. "Because Blueblood's going to be in attendance, and with that fact, we should be expecting some sort of trouble."

Poindexter gave the captain a sly smile as he thought of a different reason that the captain would summon them both on their night off. "You think so? Are you sure it isn't the fact that your little sis will be here tonight?"

"Princess Celestia has already stated that her time will be devoted to Twily. So I don't have to worry too much. Besides, it's not like he's going to try and find some poor, unfortunate mare to add to his collection."

Azure twisted his lips as he remembered a rumor that was brought to him earlier during the day. "Um, I not so sure."

"Why you say that, Azure?" Shining asked.

"He just fired another one of his maids today."

Shining arced his head back in surprise as he heard the news. Poindexter asked the informant of the rumor on more details. "Which one?"

"The one that willingly sleeps with him everyday; the one they call Sweet Relief." He answered in a quiet tone, trying not to say the mare's name out loud.

Poindexter tapped his chin as he spoke about her. "I met her once before. She's a very nice mare too. Not to mention a little on the thick side, if you know what I mean. But I don't mind no weight."

"Poindexter, now is not the time to be thinking about which maid you're going for next." Shining scolded.

"Well sor-ry. Shit."

"I swear that you and Azure traded places since you two been in the guard."

"Hey, I didn't trade jack-shit!" Azure exclaimed, letting his ego do the talking for him. "Meaning that I'm preoccupied with the princess doesn't mean that I'm not the complete mare-oholic that I was since high school."

Poindexter giggled and shook his head. "Okay then. Riddle me this: when was the last time you stuck your dick in something? Hard mode: no magic or hooves."

"Shouldn't we be getting to our positions, Captain?" Azure asked as he tried to take the conversation into a different direction.

"HA! Trying to change the subject signifies that you are still trying to get to first base." Said Poindexter as Azure still tried to change the subject.

"My, aren't the fireworks pretty tonight?"

"Still avoiding me."

"Enough you two. Let's get to our posts. And that's an order." Shining commanded, breaking up the idle debate in favor of attending to their duties.

"Aye-aye, Captain." Poindexter saluted.

"Oui, Capitaine." Said Azure, performing the same gesture.

As the two turned away from the captain, they walked off still arguing with each other about how Azure hasn't been laid in months. Meanwhile, Shining Armor looked at the dying fireworks display in the night sky and though about his little sister.

"Twily, I hope... No, I pray that you don't just so happen to run into Blueblood while you're here. He's the type of rose whose petals are made of thorns. I don't want you to get pricked or I might have to pluck him out myself."

"Well this is most disappointing. All of these mares here and none of them have yet to catch my eye. I can't believe that there is nopony here who could catch me gazing at them. And besides, most of these other mares are either the rejects from last years Gala, some prude mares who want to talk gossip or the old mares seeking a stallion for a quick tumble in the hay. Disgusting." Blueblood thought to himself as he sat on the far end of the room, near the back entrance to the royal garden.

He moaned a quiet 'ho-hum' as he scanned the room. There was no mare that seemed to pique his interest, as many of them he saw once before. He wanted a new face that wasn't so familiar with him. He needed a mare that didn't know anything about him or heard any rumors of him. If they were to hear word of his activities, then it would make the process of breaking them a lot harder. But as soon as his eyes scrolled across the room, he saw something that caught his eye. Perhaps it was the dress that she wore or maybe even the beauty of her appearance in general, he knew then that she was what he had to have.

"And there she is, my next addition to the harem. Indeed this is going to be a treat."

The unicorn walked out with a stunning pink gown with gold trim and jeweled accents. She also wore a set of glass slippers. Indeed she was a face that was pleasing to him. She was also one that he had no recollection of seeing, not even through his common tours of the city. She was magnificent, brilliant. She was, indeed, an elusive jewel. Rarity had entered the room.

"Just look at that luxurious mane, those long, flowing curls, those impeccably polished hooves, that dress, those gleaming sapphire eyes, that perfectly-toned body, that... that... that derriere. Just look at her... she'll be a fine weeping mess when I'm done with her." He thought to himself while he gained the attention of the mare he sought to add to his collection.

"Hurry, Rarity... Oh, but not too fast. But don't wanna lose him... WAIT! Have to play it cool. Oh, but don't be cold!" Rarity whispered to herself as she pursued the grinning prince.

As she made her way across the room, he walked outside to the garden where none could see the interactions between the two of them. He knew that he had lured her from the beginning. In his mind, this was going to be easier than he thought. "Look at her carry herself like she has some sort of class. How amusing. She thinks that she's going to be all that. Well, fortunately I have ways of breaking her into realizing that she is nothing more than a filthy whorse. Come, my dear. Follow me into my web, allow me to feast upon you for this night, your night with the prince."

"I can't lose him, I can't! He's everything I imagined!" She scolded herself as she gave chase to the prince. As she made here way out to the garden, he stood before a rose bush that held some of the most beautiful roses in all of the land. He smiled as he watched the mare become lured by his charms.

"And now for my next trick, I will sweep this unicorn mare off of her hooves with my rather dashing good looks." He tossed his head as a gentle breeze swept his mane and looked at the beautiful young mare. "Well that random breeze was a nice touch. Now bite the rose." He said as he levitated a rose to his mouth and sank his teeth into the stem. Fortunately, the roses in the garden were already clipped of all of their thorns, making them easier to access. "Quirk the eyebrows a bit with a seductive smile..."

Rarity gasped at the stallion before her. She felt a rising heat come over her, nearly causing her to fall to the ground. But she kept in mind that her pursuit could be easily considered as a failure if she were to fall before him, risking an opportunity for another mare to have a chance at him. The stallion of her dreams stood before her, and she was not willing to risk what exceeded her expectations.
With a calmed demeanor, she made her way to the rose bush. "Even better than I imagined."

As he watch the mare walk over and sniff a rose, he praised himself for his success for the completion of the first phase of his plan. "Hooked, lined and sunk. Works every time. Now onto phase two; it's time for her to see who's really the one whom should be served. Once she gets that out of the way, we can move on to phase three: break her into a sex-crazed slut for my use only. But this can't be done in a single hour, oh no. Breaking mares into the harem is a tedious process that has to be done in small increments. Baby steps, Blueblood. Baby steps."

"Well, hello. I am Prince Blueblood." He said with a wide smile as he thought to himself. "But you may call me 'master'."

"I am... Rarity. Oh my, what a lovely rose." She responded as she eyed the rose, causing Blueblood to scoff at her subtle yet obvious gesture.

"She intends for me to give this rose to her? Pushing it already. But, of course it is high time for me to demonstrate who this rose truly belongs to."

"You mean... this rose?"He asked as he picked the rose and showed it to her. But soon after, he tore the leaves off and set it upon his collar, leaving the mare somewhat confused. "Thank you. It goes with my eyes."

"Oh...my. I...suppose it does." She mutters as she felt a little rejected from his actions. But she still remained optimistic that her stallion was still going to prove himself to be the one she long-since dreamed of. Meanwhile, Blueblood had different ideas for her in mind.

"That's right. You're in my camp now."

"Come get yer apple pies! Apple fritters fer sale! Ah'm certain that y'all would love sum of these here candied apples, straight from the sweet, sweet produce of Sweet Apple Acres!" As a salesmare stood in the center of the courtyard, the other patrons of the Gala made their way to the inside as a means to avoid talking with the solicitor. Applejack dipped her head and folded ears as she felt discouraged that nopony was buying anything. "Oh horseradish. They wouldn't take an interest in sumthin' that was sold by sum farmer filly."

"I beg to differ." A young male voice called out to her.

"Pardon?" The salesmare asked as she looked up to find a royal guard standing before her. An armor-clad, cream-colored earth-pony stallion with brown eyes stared directly at her with a bright smile set upon his face.

"I would like six apple fritters, please." Poindexter requested as he started to reach for his sack of bits.

"Well most certainly. That'll be twelve bits." Applejack said, feeling herself become uplifted by the sale. But she soon found herself wearing a scowl as she watched the stallion before her look for his source of payment.

"Uhh... I... Kinda don't have my sack on me."

Applejack raised an eyebrow and tapped her hoof behind the concession stand as she watched Poindexter give a weak smile. "...Uh-huh. And Ah'm supposed ta let ya hold on to these until ya get yer sack, right?"

Poindexter continued to smile as he tried to cover the damage of his embarrassing situation. "No! Not at all... But I did manage to get your attention."

"Not interested." Applejack said flatly, shooting down the stallion immediately in his poor attempt to woo her.

"What?"

"Ah'm gonna be honest with ya. Though Ah've dated colts before, Ah don't take a strong preference to stallions." She admitted, causing the guard to retreat.

"Oh. Sorry. Well do you mind holding my order while I go get my sack from the barracks? I promised my friend that I would treat him on the account of a bet." He asked while he turned around to make a quick dash to the other side of the palace grounds.

"Well hurry on up. Ah ain't got all night and these here fritters won't get any warmer."

"Thanks!"

Applejack kissed her teeth and rolled her eyes as she watch the stallion run off. "The nerve of some stallions, thinking that they could just walk up to a mare and seduce 'em into gettin' what the want. That's why Ah made a decision to swing my door both ways. At least Ah can still try to get her attention. But Ah can't seem to shake the feeling that she might not see me... Oh the hell with it. Ah ain't got time to be thinking about that now. Ah gotta make sum sales."

"...And I been making dresses ever since."

"Interesting." Blueblood lied, bored that Rarity would continue to be so long-winded on her story of how she became a fashionista. At the very least, he knew what else he could assign her to do. "Would you care to sit with me?"

"Why, I would be delighted!" Rarity exclaimed, jumping at the opportunity to speak with the prince in a more relaxed setting. Blueblood summons a waiter to send him a cushion while the young, elegant mare waited along side him. As the waiter arrived with a pillow, the prince took the pillow from him.

"Allow me." Blueblood spoke as he laid it across the ground.

As Rarity watched him place the pillow on the ground, she smiled as she thought that he was being chivalrous. Instead, the resulting play of 'chivalry' was done for him as he sat on the comfortable pillow. Rarity felt disheartened by the fact that he didn't cater to her before himself.

"This isn't at all what I imagined." Rarity mumbled to herself. Thought she chose to see this as a sort of test. Her optimism, though considerably reduced, held fast as she dismissed any means of foul play. "No! I've waited all of my life for this moment. And I'm not going to let it slip by. If it's the last thing I do, I'm going to make this the best night ever."

Blueblood chuckled as he overheard the words that left her. "Sure, you keep saying that. If you pass my little test, then you could consider it the best night ever or the worst night of your life. Either way, it doesn't matter to me at all. You are just an addition to my harem and nothing more. I hope you like fishnet stockings, because I can see you wearing that a whole lot more often."

"So Miss Rarity, is this your first time in Canterlot?" The prince asks.

"Goodness no. My father used to play hoofball for the Canterlot Chevaliers. He played up until the following season after his injury."

"Injury? What kind?"

"I know that he suffered from a broken leg from a rather rowdy player. I think his name was Southgale, Southwind or something."

The name Southwind rang a bell to the prince. Blueblood kept his outward composure calm and collected while his mind exploded with possibilites as he thought about the group of assassins he sent out to Shining Armor eight years back. "Wait a minute. This is MAGNUS' DAUGHTER? The legend of hoofball hall of fame? And if I'm to assume that she is a Belle, from Ponyville, her name being Rarity Belle, carrying resemblance to one of the mentioned names in one of our Harmony Meetings, then that means that her middle name should be Andalusia. Then connecting the dots would lead me to deduce... SHE'S A BEARER OF THE ELEMENT OF HARMONY, GENEROSITY TO BE SPECIFIC! Blueblood, you sly dog. You've landed one of the closest things to the grand prize. Oh, she will be a fine addition to the harem and an even more suitable mare to bed. Glad I got rid of the one I did earlier. This is a much better payoff. That means I have to make this quick. This is one reward I have to reap this instant."

"So my dear, do you wish to take a walk with me?"

"Of course."

Blueblood rose from his seat and ushered beautiful Rarity to the direction of the door to the inside of the ballroom. "Right this way, if you will."

"Yes."

As she started to make her way to the door, Blueblood walked beside her, whispering into her ear. "Can I tell you my most cherished desires?"

Rarity felt a blush grace her cheeks as the warm vapors of his breath fell upon her, becoming somewhat erotic to her. "If it isn't a problem."

"My desire from a mare is to serve me as I perform my royal duties. And as I perform them, I find myself in a peculiar mood to be generous to the mare whom assists me on a daily basis."

The beautiful, young mare felt a very small yet evident hint of her arousal work it's way to her lower body as her stomach filled with butterflies. "Well, sir prince, what would be your means of 'being generous'?"

"What I meant was to... *ahem* ...be of service to you."

Rarity secretly shifted her hind legs, not wanting herself to become enticed by the prince's words. She laughed nervously as she spoke. "Oh my dear. Um... do you mea-"

"Oh you know exactly what I mean." Blueblood whispered in her ear once more.

"Okay! Next subject!" Rarity interjected, trying to distract herself.

As the time went forward, she felt the small growth of her arousal become none-existent. She also grew uncomfortable with how he was acting. To her, this wasn't how he acted around eight years ago. Though she was discouraged, she still held hope for what was to be. "Just give him a chance, Rarity. His princely side is sure to come out if you're just patient."

"Miss Rarity, stop!" The prince yelled, holding her back from stepping into a puddle of muddy water.

"Oh Prince Blueblood, how chivalrous!" The unicorn mare said as she thought to herself. "I knew that he would pull through."

"One would hate to slip." Blueblood said in a low voice.

"Yes. One certainly would." Rarity agreed.

"One's cloak should take care of the problem." The prince added as he eyed the cloak on Rarity's dress.

"Oh of course it will." Rarity cosigned, unaware that the prince had actually meant her cloak.

The two stood still for what appeared to be hours as a gentle breeze blew by the two. Seconds later, Blueblood felt himself grow angry as he rolled his eyes and flared his horn with his magic. "Get a clue, you indigo-maned dunce!"

"What in the-" Rarity thought as the cloak she wore became enveloped in a golden aura and placed on the puddle. Blueblood finally walked past the puddle as he spoke to the now-angered mare.

"Thank you, Miss Rarity. Your assistance is greatly appreciated. Let us carry on, shall we?"

As Rarity picked up the soaked cloak and placed it back to her ensemble, she held her temper as started to realize that this wasn't the prince that she longed for. "And my optimism is now circling the drain. This couldn't the prince that I imagined, could he?"

As they finally made their way across the yard, they came across the door that lead to another part of the courtyard. Blueblood stood beside the door and looked to Rarity, who also stood next to the door opposite of him. Blueblood eyed her and the door, trying to give her a hint on what she was supposed to do. "Okay, open the door."

Rarity looked back at the prince and tilted her head to the door. "Ladies first? Why thank you. I am sure that you can open this door for me and we both can be on our way."

Blueblood returned her expression as a frown formed on his face. "Did you just... No... You open the door for me. I am the royal figure here."

Rarity started forcefully nodding her had to the door, emphasizing that he had to be the one to open the door. "Of for the love of Faust, CAN YOU NOT CATCH A CLUE? I am a lady and should be first. That is how my prince would treat me."

Blueblood felt offended that she would be so stubborned as he mentally cursed at her. "You... YOU POMPOUS BITCH! Fine Blueblood... Just give her a pout and watch her open the door for you. She'll be more than willing if she sees you're unwilling to carry on throughout the night with her."

While the prince shook his head and pouted, Rarity grew infuriated with the intolerable prince. "YOU ARE WORKING MY PATIENCE, PRINCE!!! And my optimism has circled further into the drain. I will oblige you one last time, but after this I will expect to be treated in a more respectable manner."

Rarity opened the door and allowed the arrogant prince to walk through before her. As she stood in the doorway, she felt the door push her forward as it slammed back on her flank. Blueblood watched her through the corner of his eye and wore a light smile as he saw the mare hit the ground with a grunt.

"It's good to be the prince."

"It's been a whole hour since mah first sale and it's been more than thirty minutes since that freeloader tried to talk me out of somethin'. Somethin' must be gettin' their interest for them not to see the appeal in mah home-baked goods."

Applejack stood at her kiosk, frustrated that she wasn't making any sells. She tapped at her kiosk seeming bored with the night so far when a voice called out to her.

"Hey!"

"Oh. You again." She said as a familiar guard trotted back to her.

"Couldn't find my sack in time, but I managed to scrape up some bits. So will two apple fritters do?"

"Ya got four bits on ya?"

"Yeah." The stallion said dumping the bits on the counter.

"Okay, then it's a sale." Applejack said as she gave the stallion two fritters.

"Thanks. I'm starved."

"Figures."

Before he took a bite out of one of the fritters, he asked the salespony a question. "So... what's a mare like you doing in a place like this?"

"Oh ya know... The Grand Galloping Gala." Applejack said as she tried to take inventory.

"You don't sound like you're from around here with that accent. Where are you from?"

"Little ol' town south of here. Ponyville. Pretty sure ya heard of it?"

The answer caught Poindexter by surprise as he answered the farm mare. "Oh! So you're one of the one Shining sent the tickets to."

"Beg pardon?" Applejack asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Me, Longshot, and the stallion I mentioned earlier chose not to go. So we sent in our tickets to see if Shining could get his little sister and five of her friends to come out tonight." Poindexter finished.

Applejack held a slight blush as she thought about the possibility of the stallion in front of her giving her his ticket to the Gala. "Oh... Well that's mighty thoughtful of y'all. Thanks fer the tickets. But I would like to ask somethin'."

"Ask away." Poindexter said as he bit into the fritter.

"SINCE WHEN DID TWILIGHT HAVE AN OLDER BROTHER!?" Applejack yelled, surprised that her friend had a brother and didn't bother telling her.

"Oh she didn't tell you that? I figure she would've. But if you want to know, his name is Shining Armor. He's not only a member of the Royal Guard, but he's also... oh shit."

Applejack felt offended that the guard cursed in front of her. She never was much to profanity, ever since her grandmother washed her mouth out with soap for a week. "Well ain't that rude. Mind fillin' me in on yer colorful language there?"

"BlueDouche is coming. I gotta go. You didn't see me here."

"But... Hey!" As the prince started to arrive at the kiosk, the guard ran to the opposite direction. As he ran, Applejack took notice that he paid her five bits rather than four. "Ya gave me one bit too many!"

Dismissing the colt, Applejack turned her attention to the mare and her date that stood in front of her.

"Two apple fritters, please." Rarity asked.

"Two apple fritters comin' right up. That'll be four bits." Applejack responded as Rarity turned to the prince.

"Ahem."

"Ahem." The prince verbated, trying to get Rarity to do it.

"A-hem!" Rarity emphasized as she tried to have her date do something chivalrous for the first time for the night.

"Ahem-ahem!" Blueblood said loudly as he threw her suggestion back at her.

"I'm going to have to pay, aren't I?" Rarity deadpanned with a frown on her face.

Blueblood smiled to himself as he watched the mare beside him try to take out her bit sack. "Look at that. We're learning. There may be hope for you yet."

Applejack denied her fried as she took out a tray of two fritters. "It's okay Rarity, Ah got ya covered."

While Blueblood blindly placed the food item in his mouth, Rarity whispered to her friend. "Thank you, Applejack. At least somepony here has good manners."

Just as Rarity finished her statement, Blueblood spat in disgust over what he was eating. "Fritters, dumplings caramel apples? My royal lips have touched common carnival fare!"

Applejack and Rarity looked at each other as the prince rudely walked off. "I'm going to the buffet for some... hors d'oeuvres."

As the annoyed mare took after her date for the evening, Applejack stood at her kiosk finally realizing that the ponies had no interest in what she had to offer. "Well, no wonder nopony wants mah food. They're fillin' up on those fancy-schmancy vittles. Well, mah down-home apples are plenty good enough fer this crowd. Ah'll just dress 'em up a bit and prove it to 'em."

Applejack started to move her kiosk when something got caught in the wheel. As she looked down, she saw a brown sack caught on her wheel with a note attached to it. When she pulled the note off, she accidentally knocked over the sack and saw that there were a bunch of bits lying across the grass. "What in tarnation?"

Applejack opened the letter and started to read to herself.

Don't quite know your name, but I noticed that you were soliciting food where they have snacks in the main hall. Don't get me wrong because your stuff is damn good, but I think ponies would prefer free over buy. I'm sorry you're not selling well, but to at least make it up I left this for you. It may not be that much, but just know that there as at least something to show for your time here in Canterlot. I hope your business will do well in the future.

~Poindexter

P.S.: Keep the change.

Applejack smiled warmly at the letter, seeing that the guard had no intentions to take advantage of her, but rather help her. She muttered to herself as she thought about the guard that left her the generous tip.

"Darn guard."

"Captain, the ball is secure. There are no interruptions aside from a pink mare trying to make everypony dance."

Shining sat at a table in a closed off room. He played a game of solitaire to himself as he spoke. "Is the mare hurting anyone?"

"No sir, just annoying them."

"Riiiiiight. Just another drunkard going all in. Let her have her fun. There's no need for concern."

"Copy that."

Five minutes later...

"Um sir, there seems to be a patron that refuses to leave Princess Celestia undisturbed." The guard said as he walked in to give his report.

Shining was now playing fifty-two pick-up after he seemingly flipped the table and brought the cards fluttering to the floor. "My little sister. Student of princess. Mentor-pupil stuff."

"So, old news?"

"Yup."

Five more minutes later...

"Sir, there's some unknown mare in the V.I.P. booth."

Shining once again sat at the reset table, this time magically holding a card as he tried to place it gently against another, building a house of cards. "Are there any complaints from the booked party?"

"No. According to them, she was invited."

"Groupie hanging with her idols. Next report." Shining said, annoyed that his concentration was being broken by the pegasus guard.

"Sir, are you alright?"

"Yes!" Shouted the captain, unintentionally sending the finished house tumbling into a pile of rubble. He sighed deeply and admitted to what was bothering him. "No. I'm bored out of my mind."

"Understandable, being in charge of security can be a boring job when there isn't much of a need for it."

Shining levitated the sloppy deck into the air and started to shuffle the cards. Shortly after, he placed a neat deck at the center of the table and invited the pegasus guard to sit. The guard obliged and sat in front of the captain and drew five cards. Shining pulled five as he answered his opponent. "Yes, but the princess is in attendance. So the security is very much appreciated. It is in our job description after all. Three's?"

The guard knock on the table, sending the captain to pull another card out of the deck. "Sir, something seems to bother you. Five's?"

Shining shot over the card he just drew and sighed. "Just bordom, Silverleaf. I could only wish that something would happen. Something interesting."

"But sir, I thought that simplicity and peace is what you strive for. Jack's?"

Shining knocked on the table, sending Silverleaf a signal to draw a card from the deck. "Yes, but it's a party. An over-glorified, over-financed, dress-up, no-fun-allowed party. It's disappointing to not find someone dancing with a lampshade on their head or some random colt dropping a really expensive vase in the process. Whatever happened to the parties we used to have? The ones where we had to lie to our parents and say that we were going over someone's house for a game night. The ones where we had to run from the police if they came to bust the party. The parties you didn't want your siblings to go to but they would find their way to anyways. Those are the parties that we had, not this fru-fru bullshit. Queen's?"

Silverleaf pulled a card out of his hoof and placed it on the table, leaving Shining to pick it up as he spoke. "Well it's fun to the older mares, to say the least."

"So being dragged in by some mare who's twenty-plus years older than you and fucking you into the drywall is fun? Ace's?"

Silverleaf gave his answer as he tapped the table. "Well... speaking from personal experience, it does have it's advantages."

Shining pulled a card but not before looking at the guard with a sickened expression. "...Ew."

"Too much?" Silverleaf asked as he watch the captain pull another card out of his possession and coupling it with the one he just drew.

"That should have been level-five classified material. Way too much."

Silverleaf looked at his hoof and thought about what suit to ask for next. "Sorry sir. I just thought-"

The door opened wide to reveal a third guard who seem to have something important to say. "SIR! We have a report of various wild animals filling the dance room. Apparently they were all chased in by some yellow pegasus mare wearing a green dress."

"Anything else?" Shining asked, finally feeling relieved that there was something worth his attention.

"Blueblood is covered in cake, thanks to a mare who... really let him have it."

The captain held his enthusiastic cheers as he gave his order. "And the party just got started for us. Let's move!"

As the captain walked into the hall, a group of guards walked beside him as he continued to issue out his orders. "Team one, take the ballroom and see that those animals are cleared out. Team two, your orders are to extract the princess from the fray. Team three, take the garden and make sure that all of the patrons have evacuated from outside so that the animals can relax. I'll take the main hall."

"YES, SIR!"

Three minutes earlier...

"You, sir, are the most uncharming prince I have ever met! In fact, the only thing royal about you is that you are a royal pain!"

Rarity angrily stared down a disgusted Blueblood after he used her as a shield from a flying cake that was the result of a particular pink pony performing a stage-dive into a desert cart. Meanwhile, the prince tried to avoid all contact with the enraged mare.

"Ewww! Stay back! I just had myself groomed!"

At that moment, Rarity felt everything in the world around her grow into a rumbling volcano and unleashed everything at the prince with just the sound of her voice. "AFRAID TO GET DIRTY!?"

The dirtied mare shook some of the cake residue off of her and onto the intolerable prince before her. Blueblood backed away as he received the frosting-fueled assault. Multiple chunks of the cake landed on him as he backed away from her, only to stumble on a large statue and causing to tilt.

A rainbow-maned pegasus flew over to prevent the large alacorn statue to land on the ground, but the weight proved too much for her to handle as she was sent wobbling into the decorative pillars. The ponies around the room watched as they all fell like dominoes and landing in a large pile of rubble. Soon after the dust cloud cleared, the statue that was on the cyan pegasus' back broke into multiple pieces.

Twilight and Princess Celestia entered the room and gasped as they saw the damaged that was caused. Twilight cringed as she whispered to herself. "Well... it can't get any worse."

And it got worse.

Suddenly, the doors to the garden busted wide open to a flood of fleeing wild animals, followed by a rather angry pegasus.

"You're... going to LOVE ME!!!"

As a disgruntled yellow pegasus with a tattered green dress and a disheveled mane broke through the doors, the animals she followed throughout the majority of the night fled to various areas of the ballroom, trying to take shelter from her. Twilight Sparkle, who stood next to her mentor, was even more confused as to what she should do for the time being.

"Run." Celestia whispered to her student.

As Twilight whistled for her friends, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash immediately ran over. Fluttershy had to drop a squirrel off before she could depart after her friends. As they made their way out of the ballroom and down the stairs, Rarity dropped a slipper on the ground. Pinkie paused at the slipper and shouted out to her friend.

"Ooh! Rarity, your glass slipper! Now your prince is sure to find you."

The captain ran down the hall as he tried to secure the area. But as he ran, something caught his attention. As he ran past the entrance hall, he saw a mare run up the stairs to crush a glass slipper.

"No! Let's go!" The mare shouted loudly as she tugged at her pink friend.

Shining watched the mare as she ran. Something inside of him started to ache as he saw the long flowing curls of her disheveled, frosting-coated, indigo mane. The large luxurious curls, the beautifully flawless snow-white coat, the eyes that glowed sapphire. She resembled the very mare that haunted his thoughts. His heart started to beat loudly in his ears as he was stuck in stare. Her running motion started to gradually snap him out of his trance as he realized one crucial detail: she was getting away.

"STOP!" Shining shouted to the top of his lungs.

He ran after the mare with a heavy beating in his ears that sounded like a war drum. His chest ached as he watched her escape from him. The weight of his armor drug him down greatly as the mare looked back to him. As the pools of gleaming blue stared back at him, he could only run towards her.

"I ORDER YOU TO STOP!" He shouted.

"This way, Rarity!" A voice with a twangy accent shouted back to her, causing the mare to take flight.

"NO! COME BACK!!!"

Shining ran after her as she shut the door behind her. He flared his magic, readying himself to teleport. With a blinding flash of light, he ran through the door and suddenly appeared before the door, causing the mare to look back at him.

Rarity was speechless at the familiar flash of light, immediately recognizing what spell it was. "How... did you... know that spell? I thought that only Twilight could-"

"No time for questions! Let's go!" Rainbow Dash shouted as she flew over and grabbed the mare's hoof and took her to the carriage that awaited for them.

Shining ran down the long flight of stairs and tried his best to keep up with the pegasus. He tossed his helmet to the ground as he tried to lighten the weight. But as soon as he found himself free of the helmet, the carriage had already started to take off at breakneck speed.

"STOP, PLEASE!"

Shining arrived at the bottom of the stairs and started to gallop after the cart. But he found himself unable to catch up as the cart was being pulled by two stallions over his lonesome self. He panted hard as a head poked out of the carriage and looked back at him. Rarity looked at the shrinking stallion guard with bewilderment, realizing that the stallion had actually performed the same teleportation spell that Twilight would cast on occasion.

"Who was that stallion?" She asked herself as the figure seemed to reach out for her.

"I... didn't even get your name." Shining moped as he felt himself grow into sadness. His chest burned as he tried to recover his breath, but the pain was also because of his heart, that longed for her to return to him. Deep in his mind, he knew that it was her. She wore everything as the mare in his dreams. But he felt the cold embrace of the ground below him as he sunk his head. His ears folded onto his head as he still tried to reach for the carriage.

The mare of his dreams, the mare that plagued his dreams for over three years now, had managed to escape from his hooves.

"Who... are you? I have to know."

Author's Note

Ah... hell o'clock. You would think it would be 666, but sadly clocks don't go that high. Now if you don't know what I mean, look back to the time at the top of the chapter. Now if you have a basic calculator, type 189 (1 prince in 89 years of rule from the start of the story) multiplied by 6 (the number that is considered as the number of corruption, incompletion, or laboring) would equal to 1134.

Now flip the calculator upside down.
4=h
3=E
1=l

So literally, it is spelled hEll or Hell for those concerned spelling/grammar nazis ~~seig spell~~ Remember when I said that I would try to throw in some random easter eggs? This would be one of them.

Remember to leave a comment ~~or a sacrificial first-born child~~ in the section below. Thanks for reading.