Friends Stick Together

Stallion Prince BlueBlood stood at the top of the stairs, greeting guests as they entered the Gala.

"Hello. Hello. Hello. H-"

He looked down over the railing, astounded.

"Is that?"

There, in a simple yet beautiful dress, stood a pancake-colored mare with a down mane and tail. Her mane draped over her shoulders, strands here and there. Three spikes hung in front of her face. She had green eyes and small square glasses.

"It can't be."

BlueBlood raced down the stairs to get a better look. He walked over to the mare and tapped her shoulder.

She turned around.

"Why, hello!"

"It is you..."

"Excuse me?"

"Scritch, it's me...BlueBlood."

The mare's magical grasp on her drink died and the cup fell to the ground.

"It can't be..."

BlueBlood took her hoof.

"It is. Look."

BlueBlood pointed to his collar and tie.

"I finally grew into it."

Scritch was still breathless and pulled a heart shaped necklace from under her dress collar. She opened the locket and looked back and forth between BlueBlood and the picture inside. She shut it and put it back.

"It is you."

Smiles spread across their faces.

"Dude!"

"Whoa!"

"I haven't seen you in forever!"

"I'd missed you so much! A day didn't go by that I didn't think about about our adventures!"

By now, Celestia had walked over to see what was going on.

"BlueBlood, who's this?"

"Aunt Celestia, don't you remember her?"

Celestia leaned in a little closer and gasped.

"Scritch?"

"It's me, Madam Celestia."

The white-pink alicorn brought the mare in for a hug, of which she returned.

"Sister, what is the problem?"

"Luna, look!"

The midnight mare walked over and gasped.

"Is it really thou?"

"Yes, Madam Luna."

Everyone was brought in for a group hug.

"BlueBlood, show her around the castle."

"Yes, Aunt Celestia! Come on, Scritch-"

"And, for old times sake, I'll have Spectro and Moon Flash go with you."

BlueBlood let out a groan. His head made a thunking noise as it banged against the wall.

"Aren't you a little old for them?"

The two, slightly elder, stallions flew down the steps. They walked closer to BlueBlood, but stopped when they saw Scritch.

"Moon Flash, is that who I think it is?"

"It's Madam Scritch!"

The two stallions ran over and gave the mare a hug.

"I can't believe it's you!"

"You've grown up so much!"

"Yeah, it's me!"

"Yes. It's my best friend. Can we go now?"

Scritch chuckled and nudged BlueBlood.

"Impatient as ever."

BlueBlood laughed and nudged her back. They began walking away, Spectro and Moon Flash following.

"Hey, kids, listen."

BlueBlood and Scritch turned around lazily.

"I know ya wanna catch up and all, so go on ahead and do so."

"Me and Moon Flash have some...business to attend to."

Moon Flash blushed and bit his smiling lip. The two stallions walked away from the slightly confused mare and stallion.

"O...k. Let's keep walking."

"Good idea."

The two turned around and continued walking toward the garden, talking all the while.

"So do you still live in the jungle?"

"Sorta. I stopped nomading about it and finally found a beautiful place to settle down in. It is quite a lovely part of the jungle. I should probably take you some time."

"Sounds wonderful."

"What have been doing?"

"Not much. Aunt Celestia says I'm not allowed to leave castle grounds, so I often have to practice my 'princely' skills. I remember at last years Gala, there was this white unicorn mare that tried to hit on me. The entire time, I pretended to be this stuck-up, pompous, prince because I knew she wasn't the right one for me."

BlueBlood paused his speaking for a second.

"Then she shook cake all over me."

BlueBlood and Scritch laughed. Scritch began running, causing BlueBlood to chase after her. He tackled her, knocking them both to the ground, sides adjacent, laughing.

A shadow loomed over them.