Distraught over not being reinvited to the Grand Galloping Gala, Prince Blueblood search for something to preoccupy himself with. He found himself in the royal library. He began to shift though some books. He figured he'd find something to help him fall asleep, so he searched through the history section. While he was flipping through the shelves of books, he found something that caught his eye. The battle of Stablecourt. He remembered hearing something about it in his tutors a number of years ago when he was a colt. He pulled it out with his magic and brought it before him to look at the cover. His eyes lit up at the sight of it. He now remembered, it was the battle that won his house the war for the princess' favor. The loser house was none other than House Sparkle. The same house Princess Twilight Sparkle belongs to. He knows Twilight suggested to his Aunt Celestia that he be left out due his behaviour last year to Rarity. This book details the time when his house was respected. Rather than sleep through the gala, he can spend his night relishing in the good times. He trotted up to his chambers, rested on the bed, and proceeded to read.
415 Modern Equestria, 584 years ago.
Several noble houses claim to be the descendants to the princesses. The houses waged war on one another to test their skill. The most skilled was to claim their lineage to Celestia. The series of battles became known as the War of the Century, for it took one hundred and twelve years to reach its conclusion. Only two nobles remained, Twilight's ancestor, Duke Charles of House Sparkle and Prince Blueblood's ancestor, Duke Henry of Blueblood.
House Blueblood led by Duke Henry was the only remaining force that stood in the way of House Sparkle led by Charles Albret, Duke Charles of Sparkle's constable. House Sparkle was marching to Canterlot to claim the princess' favor as her descendants. Though the numbers change from source to source, Blueblood likes to think the six to one statistic was more accurate. This statistic states that six thousand soldiers under Henry was massively outnumbered by some twenty to thirty thousand of Sparkle's ponies. If House Sparkle's soldiers get through, House Blueblood will vanish into obscurity. Henry needs a plan, a grand plan indeed. By the small village of Stablecourt, he had the opportunity to strike a powerful blow to Sparkle. The farm fields are freshly plowed and a heavy downpour turned the exposed soil into mud. The fields were also enclosed in by thick forests. Henry's army also was mostly equipped with ice arrows, a new invention that is still used in Equestria today. Henry positioned his ponies at one end of the field opposite to Sparkle's camp. He put his archers along the sides of the field into the forests. In the centre, he put his earth pony knights and his ponies-at-arms. With winter coming very soon, most pegasi are off preparing the snow and are not in sufficient service to provide aerial attacks on either side. Henry had his men drive wooden stakes into ground to keep Sparkle's earth pony knights from charging them. The plan was to wait for them to wait and let Sparkle's troops to come to them.
In the morning, Charles Albret was eager to strike at Henry. He ordered his some twelve hundred earth pony knights to charge at the archers. Unable to flank the archers through the forests, the knights charge through the thick mud. The mud becomes a great struggle to overcome. The ice arrows are unable to pierce most of the armor at long range, but freezes up the joints of the steel plate. By the time the knights got to the archers they were exhausted and now can't get past the spike barricades. At closer range, the arrows can now pierce all but the barrel plate and the top of the helms, the thickest sections of the armor. Soon, the knights began to flee. As they fled, they ran into the ponies-at-arms who were already on their march. Now Sparkle's troops are now exhausted, in disarray, and under fire. The Blueblood archers are also armed with the legendary longbow. The longbow may not have the armor penetrating power of Sparkle's crossbows, but they have superior range. The massive Sparkle force is being shoved into the narrow fields. When they reach the Blueblood's force, they are so tightly packed together that they are unable to use their weapons. Soon, the archers entered the melee. Sparkle's army crumbled and either fled or surrendered. House Sparkle loses a large number of troops, seven to ten thousand, including Charles Albret, struck down in the melee. House Blueblood lost only around one hundred and twelve.
Henry of House Blueblood then marched into Canterlot and claimed his birthright as a descendant of the princess. The now Prince Henry of Blueblood was resected for his cunning and bravery. The Battle of Stablecourt is a legend in military strategy and serves as a monument of power and pride for House Blueblood.
Prince Blueblood put the book up and got under the covers. He slept and dreamed of being in Henry's place. He saw himself being the hero, being loved, being praised, being respected. He is descended from the princesses themselves and no one is to forget that. He made a promise to himself, that he will not let Twilight Sparkle overshadow him. She's already is his aunt's protege and is now a princess, an alicorn princess no less. He must not be forgotten. Blueblood remembers that Yakyakistan will send its prince in a month or so to judge whether or not Equestria is worth him to reopen his borders. The one thing Blueblood can remember only one thing about the yaks from his tudors is that they are hard to please and are quick to act irrationally. Perhaps Equestria and his aunts will call for help from his house once again. Perhaps he should prepare for such an opportunity. First thing in the morning, he will go down into to the library and study up on military strategy.
***
The librarians were rather taken back on how much time Blueblood has been spending reading through military books. He had completely dedicated his time to his studies. It seemed to them that he has finally grown up. That's partly correct. Blueblood has not been his normal greedy, lustful, selfish self. But he is still only doing this to inflate his ego. His pride is at an all time high. He relished in the fact that Rarity was briefly in the nude at the gala, though most ponies are naked most of the time anyways. Heck, he himself only wears a tie and collar, he still was satisfied that she felt humiliated. Also, Twilight feels humiliated as well. Apparently, Discord brought a slime monster for his guest, and Twilight feels ashamed that she let it get out of control. Even though Celestia didn't mind, that doesn't change other ponies minds about it. The thought of disgusting, sticky, magic resistant slime in his mane and coat sends shivers down Blueblood's spine. For once in his life, he was glad that he wasn't invited. Now he hopes that the yaks do act hostilely so he can make his final blow to rise to his once high pedestal. He will be Equestria's hero and champion. He must follow Henry's hoof steps to prove he is still worth the time to be admired by all once again. Victory is his by right!
