Prince of true blue blood

Mark opened his eyes once more, rather annoyed at the sunlight pouring through his window and hitting him directly on his face.

“This must be a joke, Celestia. I think she’s doing this on purpose to wake me up.” Mark thought as he started to get up.

Meanwhile, on the royal castle.

“Rise and shine, my little ponies, just like the sun!” Celestia said cheerfully as she gazed upon the land of Equestria. Suddenly, a hissing behind her sounded.

“*Hss* Too bright!” Luna said as she covered her eyes.

It wasn’t exactly that she couldn’t stand the sun light. It was just that, somehow, Celestia arranged the sun so it would be directed straight towards all the faces of those who would be still asleep or in a poor mood so it would cheer them up.

In Luna’s case… she was just getting sleepy, seeing as it was nearing her nap time.

Enough to say, Celestia wasn’t exactly too aware of the annoyance it became sometimes. After all, she loved seeing how her sun rose absolutely ALL the mornings. Why wouldn’t anypony?

Luna merely rolled her eyes as she teleported away.

Back on Blueblood’s manor.

Mark turned around, not really wanting to get up. He had to get up eventually, but there were many things on his head. Like how Shining seemed to want to strangle him when he saw him, even when the memories of what he had done to him hadn’t yet returned to him.

There were still some memories out there in his body’s mind that somehow seemed to return to him every now and then, like the ones of the piano, somethings related to Celestia, a few ones from Luna, and even some other that he had no idea what they were about. After all, those were merely glimpses. Just one image of a full movie, if you’d like.

As he finally got up, his eyes focused into a black object laying on the bed right in front of him. Fully focused, his eyes revealed the form of Nightmare, she was laying on her stomach in his bed, with her head supported by her hands looking at him with a rather expectant look, her legs alternating going up and down.

“Hi.” She answered simply as she kept looking at him.

Mark blinked a couple times before he groaned loudly as he rubbed his eyes.

“I’ve already told you not to get in my room when we’re alone.”

“I know, and I didn’t get into your room when you were asleep. I was here way before you entered.”

Mark couldn’t really understand how a filly could be as cute as mischievous as he looked at her with a curious look.

“Can I make you a question?” Almost immediately, the filly’s ears turned to the front and her eyes widened, showing exactly how much attention she was putting. “Why are you so insistent on trying to sleep with me?”

Nightmare’s hooves stopped their movement as they simply fell to the bed. On her face, gone was the attention reflected on it. Instead, now it had a thoughtful look as she merely looked at the side with a curious look.

“I don’t know.” She said with a shrug. “I just feel like it.”

Just before he could ask what she meant, Nightmare suddenly moved towards his chest, took his arm and wrapped it around her.

“I just feel so warm and comfy like this. I don’t know why, but it’s true.”

Moments passed as both ponies didn’t move, seemingly just fine with being like that. While Mark was still getting used to live with her, seemingly until she’d be revealed, he actually enjoyed holding her like that. There wasn’t anything sexual involved. They were just lying together.

“Hey?” Mark turned his sight towards the filly on his arm, noticing something strange. It had been at least five days since she was “born”, but she seemed to be growing up. “What do you think of me?”

That question definitely threw Mark off.

“I’m sorry, but I think I’m lost?”

“What I mean is… will everypony like me? Will All the world like me?”

Mark could feel the tension on her voice. He thought about it for a few seconds, trying to come up with an answer. Too bad for him was the fact that he couldn’t find one that could satisfy her.

“No.” He answered simply. Nightmare turned her head just enough to look at him directly, worry growing on her face. Yet, that worry became confusion as she noticed the stallion’s face showing sadness. “Not really all the ponies will like you.” But then, his face formed a small smile. “But you shouldn’t really be concerned about all of them. Just think about those who actually care for you.”

Nightmare lowered her sight towards the bed, still with many thoughts invading her mind. The more she thought about it, the more she became nervous.

Her worries vanished as she felt a hand on her head, softly massaging her mane on it.

“Don’t worry too much. There’s no use in worrying about something that hasn’t happened yet. If something bad happens, then we’ll deal with it.”

“You mean it?”

“Yeah, don’t you worry your pretty head too much.” He said while ruffling her mane, causing Nightmare to giggle.

When they finished, Nightmare turned around and wrapped her arms around his torso. Mark simply obliged to copy the action. Both ponies closed their eyes, each one enjoying the sensations the hug brought to them.

“Thanks.” Nightmare said as Mark hugged her back.

“You’re welcome.” Before Nightmare could answer, the door was opened.

“Dear Blue? Dost thou know where is-?” Mark turned his head slowly towards the door, where Luna stood shocked with her eyes as wide as dishes.

“Good morning.” He said casually while Nightmare never broke her hug.

Luna merely turned around quickly.

“What in the moon’s name art thou doing!?”

“We were having a relaxing and comforting moment.” Mark said in a calm voice. He already knew not to anger the princess of the night. Mere moments after that happened, he let go of Nightmare, who only whinnied in annoyance.

“A comforting moment?” Luna asked with a raised brow as she turned around just in time to see Nightmare slipping off of the bed. With a loud huff she passed right at Luna’s side, not even bothering to look at her.

“Yes, a comforting moment, She’s just-”

“Never mind, Caeruleo.” Luna suddenly cut him off, using her magic to get him out of bed.

“Hey! What are you doing!?” Mark asked in a panicked voice. Since Luna had used his full name (or rather, his body’s name), he already knew he was in troubles.

“Thou art late for thy early training.” Luna said as she conjured some clothes for him. In a flash, his pajama pants were gone and were replaced by his usual white suit.

“Late? But it’s barely seven o’clock!”

“Sooner is better.” Luna stated simply as she used her magic to levitate him.

“Hey! I can walk, you know!”

As loud as the declaration might have been, Luna simply ignored him, instead going towards a large room, where they usually practiced. Mark gulped as he noticed Luna wasn’t wasting a single moment as she sat him down rather painfully.

Mark barely had time to recover from the harsh landing before Luna’s finger touched his forehead. In a bright flash of light, both of them were once again on the same white void.

Mark turned around, looking for anything. Just as before, a bright sword lay before him. Taking it in a hand, he turned around, expecting to see the door, as always.

Minutes passed, and no door was in sight, even when Mark had started to walk aimlessly, trying to find it.

“What the hell is going on? It seems like it has been hours.” Mark groaned on the inside as he still looked around. “And what is wrong with Luna? She seems to be on edge each time she sees Nightmare. I understand why, though. But Nightmare is a completely different pony right now.”

While Mark was still pondering about Luna, he kept walking forward, not really bothering to see where he was going. That being said, it wasn’t really a surprise as he suddenly got plastered in the face by a big door.

“The hell? What is this doing here?”

As he got closer, he felt a sudden chill rising through his tail towards his neck. With time, much his own amusement, he found that ponies’ bodies seemed to still have some instincts, like the sixth sense almost every animal has. Therefore, trusting his guts (literally) he drew out his sword as he took a step back.

Swirling around, he kicked open the door.

“What the?”

Mark found himself in some sort of coliseum, which was almost empty, except for him and another being in the center. Said being had a very robust armor, seemingly impenetrable, and a sword as hard looking as its armor. It resembled more a statue than a warrior.

The armored being turned to him slowly, finally noticing its adversary.

To say Mark was surprised was an understatement. Luna had put him through almost everything she knew, going from some of the most skilled warriors from her old times to almost every dangerous creature she knew (which at some point even included dragons). But now, something akin to a living armor made its way towards him? What else did Luna have in mind for him?

Suddenly realizing he had been thinking too much, Mark glanced back at the armor, which was an instant away from slashing him in two. Dreams weren’t real, but Luna made those so they would feel as realistic as possible, therefore the quick action of dashing away from the armor’s weapon range.

Once he was at enough distance, he drew his sword as quickly as he could, blocking another incoming attack. The two swords clanked loudly, colliding against each other, even producing sparks.

As Mark was sent flying a couple feet merely by the strength of the hit, he realized this one wouldn’t be as relaxed as last Luna’s elite guards. Sure, they had beaten the heck out of him, but hey! One victory at the end is better than none at all, right?

Unfortunately for him, it seemed as if… whatever the heck it was, wouldn’t really give him any chance of success at all. If winning this would somehow lift up Luna’s mood, then he would take the risk. She seemed to cheer up a little every time he won a conflict.

With that idea in mind, Mark started to make a plan as he watched closely the armor’s movements. They were coordinated, unfortunately. Upon seeing that, Mark immediately knew he was in some very deep troubles.

The armor stopped its attacks, but kept its sword out, circling him much like a predator would prey upon an injured animal. But he was no animal (mostly), and as such, he started to plan a counterattack.

As soon as the armor lifted its sword to strike down, Mark stood defiantly in front of the sword. Mere moments before the sword reached its destiny, Mark sidestepped, avoiding the sword by inches. If the armor had eyes, Mark was debating if its eyes would be wide with surprise.

As he was about to turn around to deliver a hit, Mark suddenly noticed something strange. The armor’s sword wasn’t even near the ground. It wasn’t a deadly hit. Mark’s eyes widened as he figured it in an instant: the armor wasn’t out to kill him.

Stepping back, the armor prepared once again for another attack. Mark stood once more, firm and in place, ready for whatever the armor might give him. If it wasn’t its purpose to kill him, then what was it?

Once more, the armor brought the sword down, but Mark didn’t try to avoid it. Instead, he watched intently as the sword stopped once again inches away from his face. Mark was actually moments away from losing it, but kept his face as hard as he could, trying to look like a stone. Somehow, it seemed to work, as the armor drew its sword.

Instead of surrendering, the armor simply aimed the sword at him once more while it suddenly took him by the neck and lifted him. Mark weakly grasped the armor’s arm to try and get a better grip. Once he did it, he noticed the armor still aiming its weapon at him.

Maybe it was the lack of air or something else, but he reacted in an unexpected way.

“C’MON!!” Mark shouted loudly. “DO IT!!!”

Much to his surprise, Mark watched as the armor actually cringed, almost as if it were doubting to do its purpose.

“…”

“Come on! Do it! Do it if you have the gills!”

“… We cannot.” Mark’s eyes widened as the armor suddenly dropped him to the ground, followed shortly by the armor’s sword. Mark got up in a few moments, the voice the armor spoke with still sounding in his head.

“… Even when tis just a dream… We can’t bring ourselves to hurt thou in any way.”

Even with all the armor on, Luna still felt a hand softly lying on her shoulder. Turning her head, she watched as the prince looked at her with a face she couldn’t read.

“You know? That was kind of stupid.” Luna almost felt insulted by that, but as she looked more at the prince, she couldn’t help but wonder what he meant.

“What dost thou mean?”

“You know exactly what I mean, Luna. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the training and your concern upon the recent events. But there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask. Why are you so upset with Nightmare?”

“Give us at least one reason why we shouldn’t. She’s our darker side, a living reminder of the tragedy We almost caused, just because We couldn’t control our anger and jealousy.” Luna said as she started to take off all of her armor, starting with her helmet.

“Because that’s the very same thing you’re doing right now.” Luna stopped immediately what she was doing to look at him with a raised brow. “I mean, you aren’t exactly being all pure and saint while being around her, you know?” Mark exclaimed with raised arms, giving her a disapproving look.

“What are you exactly proposing, Caeruleo?”

“You don’t have to like her, you know? Just… try to get along with her.”

“What do you mean?”

“Get to know her better. I mean, you can never know what will happen when you get to know her better. Maybe you can find something you both like? You’re the same pony, after all.”

“We aren’t the same, Caeruleo.”

“I know, but… listen, just go out there and see what you can do, alright?” Mark said as he crossed his arm.

“We will not do such a thing.” Luna said as she finally disposed the last patch of her armor, turning her head away in a stubborn way.

Moments after, Luna turned her head slightly, curious as for why the prince was so silent. When she saw him, she was surprised to see him with a serious look, not having moved from the same place.

“Are you done with your act of foalish manners?”

“We aren’t foalish!” Luna said as she turned to him, giving him her coldest glare.

“… Once again, are you done?” Mark said as he raised a brow.

Luna was about yell at him her thoughts, but stopped when she remembered something.

“Are you done with your foalish attempt, Luna?”

Lunar remembered Celestia saying that to her when she tried to overthrow her. She also remembered how her anger almost drove her to destroy Celestia, her own sister! If not for the elements of harmony, she would have surely killed her.

“… We will try.” Luna said while her arms dropped to her side, her shoulders slumped.

Luna’s eyes widened as she felt a hand taking hers. As she turned, she saw the prince giving her a reassuring squeeze on her hand while also smiling to her.

“That’s all I ask.”

Luna smirked as she let go of his hand, lit her horn and vanished from that place.

“… WHAT THE HELL, LUNA!?” Mark asked, seeing as he was left alone. A low howl behind him told him he wasn’t actually alone. “Ah, shhh-”

Luna opened her eyes, looking at the sleeping form of the prince, whose face was contorted in some sort of suffering.

She smirked, upon seeing that. After all, he dared to call her plan to make him realize the reason she had “stupid”.

A while later…

Luna found herself in front of a door with the sign “do not disturb” hanging from the doorknob. Inside was the nightmare filly, judging from the sign at the door and the growing power inside of the room.

Luna sighed heavily while looking at the door. She had had the braveness to engage in combat with thousands of angry gryphons before, not to mention her own share of dragons that needed to be dealt with. Yet, the simple task of knocking on the door seemed to terrify her to no end. Every fiber of her being told her it was a stupid idea.

Yet, as she thought on the seemingly still asleep form of the pony a few rooms away, the more she steeled to honor her promise.

As she closed her eyes, her hand retracted into a fist as she knocked lightly into the door a couple times. As she was about to knock for a third time, she opened her eyes as a gasp sounded.

“Oh, my!” Luna retraced her hand, realizing she had pecked at Nightmare’s eye.

“Hey! What’s your problem!?” Nightmare yelled as she rubbed her eye.

“We assure you it wasn’t our intention to do so! We merely wanted to knock on thy door.”

“Is that the reason you have been standing in there for a while?” Luna’s eyes widened as Nightmare said that. She soon realized it was a bad idea, as a stinging pain coursed through her eye.

As much as Luna wanted to retort, she merely looked at Nightmare, who was looking at her with a childish glare while holding her index up.

“Yes, we made a promise to try and improve the near non-existent relationship between us, in favor of… how did he say it?... Get along?”

“The prince asked you to come, right?“ Nightmare said as she turned around, going deeper into the room.

Luna made her way in, seeing her room for the first time in the couple days she had been born. It made Luna’s mouth to fall in surprise. Except for the most expensive items (product of a raid from the treasury from herself), it was mostly the same than hers.

“Nightmare, this room looks beautiful.” She said, catching the filly’s attention.

Luna turned her head up, seeing strange greenish lights on the ceiling. Upon a closer look, she could discern the forms of the ursa mayor, the ursa minor, the canis mayor, and many other constellations.

Nightmare noticed that and turned her head up.

“How did thou do this?” Luna turned her head when she heard a loud flap, instantly noticing the pair of wings on her back. “Oh, that is true.”

“What is your favorite one? Mine’s the Pegasus.”

“That is mine, too.” Luna said with a light on her eyes, which was mirrored when Nightmare turned to her.

“No way, yours too?”

“Of course! It seems so beautiful!”

“Yes, but it seems so much beautiful when the Sea of stars is behind it. Don’t you think?”

Luna nodded, not paying attention as her horn lit. The room seemed to darken as the greenish lights started to change their colors. From green, the lights became a wide variety of blues, reds, yellows and whites, instantly filling the dark room with an exact copy from the night sky.

Luna smiled at her work, always admiring herself with how beautiful her sky was. Her smile was erased as she felt a hand on hers. Turning to her side, she noticed Nightmare holding one of her hands while making small jumps of excitement.

She would never admit it, but she had to admit Nightmare was actually a cute filly.

With that thought in mind, she turned ahead, holding slightly tighter the filly’s hand.

“Would it be to your liking to see how the Night sky is made?”

“Can I do something, too. I want to do another version of the Pegasus!” For the first time since meeting her, Luna smiled.

“I’m sure it will be great.”