The coronation lasted ten. Long. Agonizing. Hours. Hoof after claw after hand was shaken, dance after twirling dancing was had, and conversation after meaningless conversation was spoken.

But at last, Celestia, clement and sweet Celestia, called the celebration to close.

Prince Blueblood sat with Queen Celestia on her throne, watching the last ravages of the party meander and leave. He wanted so desperately to complain and moan, but since there were strangers (and even worse, cameras) around, all the colt could do was close his eyes and lean on her.

“They’re not all this bad, are they?” he murmured to her, just barely concealing his exhaustion.

The alicorn chuckled as she cocooned him beneath her massive wing. “This was probably the worst party I’ve been to in this past century, perhaps even the one before that, so no, they’re not all this bad.”

He sighed softly in relief.

“But they’re not much better either,” she finished.

He couldn’t help but groan.

“As Blueblood, you are under the expectation to attend every function I attend, as well as those that I simply cannot due to other more pressing obligations. But… you are still young. I’ll see what I can do about sparing you from as many as possible, at least until you are of age.”

“Oh thank the gods,” he breathed in relief, happy to take whatever scrap she could spare.

“You are most certainly welcome,” she smiled. Celestia then yawned and flexed her wings to stretch them before setting them down again.

“Well, Blueblood, I don’t know about you, but I’m sick of this place. Would you like to leave with me?”

“Yes, please,” he told her, barely concealing his excitement.

“Alright, let’s go,” Queen Celestia nodded in agreement. Her horn lit up and in the next instant, they were in her apartment.

She immediately got up and started to undress.

“Oh, my work never ends,” Celestia bemoaned. “Tomorrow I have to deal with cleanup and meetings with some of the dignitaries, then the day after I have start approving the plans for the Hearth’s Warming Eve party. You’ll go to that one, won’t you, Blueblood? From today, it’s abundantly clear that you don’t like parties, but the Hearth’s Warming Eve party is usually the most wonderful of them all, and it’ll be (dare I say?) fun. Blueblood…? Blueblood?”

She turned around to look at him and burst out laughing. Her heir sat frozen in place, muscles completely rigid and his eyes contracted to pinpricks.

“Oh, Blueblood, I’m so sorry!” Celestia snorted. “That was your first time teleporting, wasn’t it?” She walked over to him and gently touched his neck with her hoof. “Next time, I’ll tell you when I’m going to teleport us.”

His eyes rolled to look at her. “Promise?” he whimpered.

She kissed his temple. “Promise.”

He got up to go sit at her vanity. Blueblood examined himself and was not impressed with what he saw. Princess Platinum’s cloak was large and would dwarf any mare or stallion who wore it, but it made him look and feel especially small. Queen Celestia’s tiara, while not particularly massive, was not made for a foal in mind. Blueblood truly looked as he felt: a foolish colt trying to be king.

He pulled off the tiara and examined it with his hooves. Even though it wasn’t physically heavy, he could already feel the immense weight it bore.

Celestia appeared behind him, no longer smiling.

“Queen Celestia?”

“Yes?”

“How do you stay strong?”

She exhaled softly, studying the golden trinket in his hooves. “It’s an ongoing battle, Blueblood.”

“But how do you do it?” he pressed. “Just today, you had to do so much. I saw you and I became worried because I’m afraid that I can never be you.”

Celestia embraced him from behind and pressed him snugly against her barrel. “You’re right: you will never be me, but I do not say that to be cruel. Blueblood, I have lived a long, long life, one that I would never wish upon anypony.”

“How do you keep pushing forward instead of giving up?”

She sighed again. “I think about my ponies. I think about how much they need me to be strong for them. If I cannot get up for my own sake, I get up for theirs.”

Blueblood set down the tiara on the vanity and looked in the mirror. There they were: a young and confused colt with far too much responsibility, and an ancient, tired god with far too much pained wisdom.

She at last pulled away from him and made her way to her bed.

Blueblood unfastened Princess Platinum’s cloak and hung it on a corner of the mirror. He considered treating the ancient heirloom with more respect, but considering that his grandmother braved the wilds of Equestria and faced windigos in it, he figured that it would survive a night without a hanger.

“Why don’t you come join me, Blueblood?” Celestia asked from her bed. “Today was so taxing and I know that you’re tired.”

Without saying a word, he made his way to her. Once he was in bed, Celestia put out the fire in the fireplace. Now, the only light came from the soft glow of her mane and tail.

“Queen Celestia? Do you think it’s possible for mortals to defeat gods?”

“Possible? Yes; I’ve personally seen it happen.”

“Really?”

“Mhmm,” she nodded. “But a mortal probably wouldn’t be able to do it alone. They would need help from others if they hope to even stand a chance of challenging a god.”

“Who do you think will help me defeat Nightmare Moon?”

“I cannot say,” Celestia admitted. “Perhaps everypony will band together to help you with your task, or maybe another god will pledge their aid, but let us not worry of such things now. Nightmare Moon isn’t coming tomorrow, even if she were, we would need to sleep to even stand a chance against her.”

“Good night, your majesty.”

She kissed him and pulled the covers over them. “Good night, Blueblood. Your training with the princess begins tomorrow.”

Author's Note

Please point out any typos.

If I knew how to draw, I would make a picture of Blueblood and Celestia sitting at her vanity, just studying their reflections.