The December morning was cold, cloudy, and miserable, not at all suited for the mood of all of Equestria. All around the queendom, ponies and all manners of sentient beasts were abuzz with excitement. It was not every day they had the chance to witness a coronation.

Noble Heart’s stomach knotted painfully and his heart pumped quick and hard, as if he had just done a long, hard run . “Princess?”

“Yes?”

“Was your coronation this big?”

Blueblood shook her head. “Nay. It was perhaps a fourth this size, and there were very few foreign dignitaries invited.”

He looked down at his perfectly hooficured hooves. “I see.”

“Do not sulk, colt,” she reprimanded him. “As much as the queen and I (and you apparently) loathe pompous and vainglorious events such as this, she needs to make a statement today. Equestria needs to know that you are the crown heir to the throne; Equus needs to know that you are the crown heir to the throne. So are you ready?” the princess asked, her tone barely carrying a modicum of concern for him.

“Y-yes,” he lied. He immediately berated himself for sounding nervous.

Blueblood raised an eyebrow. “Try not to stutter through your vows,” she stated.

He swallowed, forcing his quivering throat to open up. “Yes, ma’am,” he said, trembling all the while.

She looked down at him impassively. “Do not forget, boy: dignitaries from all over the world are here, and while many have come simply to enjoy the Equestrian air, others have come to gauge you, to see how weak you are. You are the horn of the queen; everything you do is reflection of her will, so be unwavering, be steady, and remember that she is here to support you.”

Noble Heart started to do breathing exercises to try and quell his trembling.

His aunt went on, ignoring his nervousness. “Also remember that all of Equestria is watching you through their mirror pools and crystals. You are to become their prince today, and in twenty years, their king. Show them your strength now. Show everybody your strength now, because you will one day have to challenge a god for them. If you balk before a few cameras and recording crystals now, then how can you possibly handle the nightmare of the moon?”

He closed his eyes and breathed. Slowly, he willed himself to stop shaking. When he opened his eyes again, he gave her a hard gaze of determination.

She smirked. “That’s it, colt, keep that fire in your eyes. It may one day be the world’s only light. Are you ready?” she asked again.

“Yes.” And Noble Heart meant it.

“Now hold still while I put this on you.”

He had heard of Princess Platinum’s cloak before, but never had he seen it. It was absolutely massive and beautiful, one of the few remaining testaments to both her influence and love of splendor. The silk shimmered, its iridescent threads dancing in the dim light of their sparse candles. When Blueblood threw it over him, it felt as though he wasn’t wearing anything at all, but nevertheless, he felt undeniably warm despite the bitter December chill. The enchantments that Starswirl and Clover had woven into the fabric clearly hadn’t faded after all these centuries.

He really wished he was wearing Princess Platinum’s crown to go with her cloak, but alas, the coronet was simply too large for a foal to wear.

“I must take my leave, colt,” Blueblood announced. “I will see you once you meet the queen. Try not to make a fool of yourself.”

He nodded wordlessly as he watched her go, soon to join her.
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
The drums began to roll and the trumpets started to blare out a regal fanfare. The moment the colt appeared, the orchestra began to swell a procession march.

All around him, cameras flashed with blinding lights, massive crystals hummed with power as they transmitted the coronation to mirror pools all over Equestria, and ponies, donkeys, sheep, et all started to watch in wonder as Noble Heart Platinum, soon to be Prince Blueblood CIX, dutifully walked ahead with Princess Platinum’s cloak billowing out behind him.

He glanced at the crowds gathered at the edge of the red carpet. The moment felt surreal. Twenty years from now, the sun would not rise, and all of them would wonder why. Twenty years from now, he would face a god who they all laughed at and spurned during the harvest moon. Twenty years from now, they would be his to protect, and by the gods he would.

At last, Noble Heart stood before Queen Celestia, who sat silently on her throne. She did not bear her usual benevolent smile.

She flexed her wings and the music fell silent. Now, all that could be heard was the occasional click of a camera and the shifting of the crowd.

“Noble Heart Platinum, when I first met you, I was highly doubtful. You are young, you are inexperienced, and not too long ago, you didn’t so much as have a cutie mark. And yet, the more I got to know you, the more I realized that you were indeed worthy of being my crown heir, for I have seen many things in you that is all too often not present in ponies who are far older and more experienced than you.”

And in a move that nopony, not even Princess Blueblood, anticipated Queen Celestia removed her tiara from her head and placed it on his.

“Leadership is a heavy, heavy burden to bear, my child, and so many times, I have seen ponies stumble and fall because they simply could not handle such a responsibility.

“But I place my very crown on your head in the good faith that you will be a king for Equestria in the event that I am no longer able to rule. Turn around and face your subjects,” she commanded.

And he did so.

“Equestria will hear your vows when you are ready,” Celestia stated.

Noble Heart stared at the crowd before him. The queen truly had spared no expense for his coronation. Many different dignitaries sat, some bored, some stolid, some calculating. There were zebras, giraffes, griffons, caribou, Hindis, and other different species he didn’t even know the names of. The ponies in the crowd were more attentive than the foreigners, though a lot of them still looked tired and ready to begin the party. He looked at the Platinums. His younger cousins (and brother) were either sulking with envy or uninterested in the event. Their parents were not much better, but they at least had the good graces to appear somewhat composed. His mother on the other hoof was practically glowing with pride, ready to begin bragging the moment the opportunity arose. His father simply gazed back at him, his expression indiscernible.

Noble Heart wanted desperately to look at the princess for assurance, but unable to see her, he simply closed his eyes and remembered her words.

At last, he looked at them again and started to speak.

“Citizens of Equestria.” The cameras started flashing and clicking with more frequency. “I stand before you a humbled pony. Humbled by the title I am about to accept and all the responsibilities that goes along with it. I cannot say what the future holds for our nation or even the world,” he lied, “but what I can say is that I promise that no matter what, I will do my duty as Blueblood and protect our nation just as our eternal queen has these past centuries.

“The earth ponies have a sacred oath they teach their foals that I would like to recite to you:

‘We are servants of the earth. We are born to protect and nurture the world and its creatures regardless of form or gratitude. We toil to ensure that the land remains alive and well, and to guarantee that the world never again breaks into a lifeless husk. Our duty, now and forever.’

“I am not an earth pony, but I take that oath to heart as I stand before you. I do solemnly swear to be a servant of Equestria and to put the needs of my nation above the needs of my own life. My duty, now and always.”

And Noble Heart fell forward on his front knees, bowing till his horn tip touched the floor.

When Prince Blueblood CIX stood, Equestria exploded into celebration.

Author's Note

Please point out any typos.

Prince Blueblood CIX is the 109th Blueblood. The title he bears has been around for a long time...