Philomena lazily preened herself on top of the back of Princess Blueblood’s arm chair. The princess herself sat silent and still with her eyes closed, as if she was asleep. Blueblood the Younger considered walking up to her to check if she had actually fallen asleep, but based on his past interactions with her, he knew that would be a terrible idea.

At last, Blueblood the Elder opened her eyes and looked at him. He wanted to make a wise crack and ask if she enjoyed her nap, but prudently decided against kicking the hornet's nest.

“Why are we here?” she finally asked, gazing down at her nephew with a stolid façade.

“Because you summoned me here?” he answered with uncertainty.

The princess shook her head. “No, colt. Why are the Bluebloods here? Why do we even exist, despite an eternal and immortal queen?”

“Oh! Oh, well, because—”

She held up a hoof, effectively silencing him.

“You are a prince now. Each word you say must be certain, each move must be deliberate, each thought must be calculating. Choose your answer wisely, boy, and never be afraid to admit your ignorance, for to be ignorant is far more preferable than to be stupid.”

Blueblood the Younger pondered her words for a minute, trying to understand the meaning of his lesson. But eventually he gave up, not getting the point she was trying to make.

“What do you mean when you say ignorance is better than stupidity, princ—?”

“I did not say that,” she cut in, displaying a surprising amount of patience in her tone. “Bear in mind that the most powerful thing in the world are words. Do you understand?”

He nodded.

“Speak when spoken to, boy.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“As I was saying, the most powerful thing in the world is words: they can inspire, they can kill creativity; they can save lives, they can destroy them; they can be your greatest ally, and they can be your worst enemy.

“Though you are young, do not underestimate the malice of others, as many, many, many souls will try to manipulate you or trick you for their own gain, and use words to do so. Am I clear?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Raw!” Philomena cried as she hopped down from the back of the chair to the princess’ foreleg.

“I see she approves.” Blueblood the Elder gave the phoenix a genuine smile as she stroked her feathers. “Now then, you quoted me saying that ignorance was better than stupidity. Did I actually say that?”

“No,” he admitted.

“Then what did I say?”

“I, I don’t—” he stammered.

“Say it with conviction,” she emphasized.

“I can’t remember what you said exactly,” Blueblood the Younger confessed.

She nodded, not bothering to turn her gaze away from Philomena. ”Fair enough. I said that ‘ignorance is preferable to stupidity.’ Why?” she asked rhetorically. “Because it is better to address when you don’t know something rather than to try stupidly blather on about things you don’t understand. Am I clear?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Though he didn’t show it, the prince felt extremely uncomfortable by their conversation. It seemed like everything he was doing was wrong and needed to be critiqued.

“This gets me back to my first question: why are we here?”

He mulled over the question again, taking his time to be as calculating and deliberate as she asked. At last, Blueblood the Younger came to terms with the fact that he didn’t understand what she was trying to say, and spoke.

“I don’t know, ma’am.”

Princess Blueblood smirked at her nephew right before tossing Philomena in the air. “We are here because of her.”

In a time that has been almost forgotten, there were once ponies who resided in the forbidden forest Everfree. Back in those days, the Sun Queen, eternal and beautiful, had made her castle there to rule over her queendom with compassion, generosity, and joy. But despair had taken over the Sun Queen’s heart, a final stroke of darkness that her banished sister, the jealous and haughty Moon Queen, had cursed her with twelve years earlier.

Ponies from every corner of the queendom had journeyed to see her, each hoping to make their belovéd Lady smile again. Bards sang to her comedic ballads filled with gaiety, but still she did not smile. Explorers galloped to the farthest corners of the world, bringing back rare gifts and tales of wonder, but still she did not smile. Goldsmiths toiled away at their forges, crafting the most exquisite jewelry and baubles that made everypony coo with delight, but still she did not smile. At last, the greatest mages in the land wove powerful spells filled with the most wonderful things they could think of, and with their combined might, cast them upon her. But still she did not smile.

All the while, an earth filly, who was as lovely and blue as the bluebell flower, watched as each attempt failed to make their Sun warm again. She turned to her parents and asked

‘Mother, Father, why does everypony visit our Lady bearing gifts?’

‘They do it to make her happy,’ her parents answered.

‘But she has everything she could want and more! Why isn’t she happy?’

‘Because they must not have given her what she wanted,’ her parents said before going back to tend to the castle gardens.

Unsatisfied, the bluebell filly went to see the happiest soul she knew: the kitchen dog.

‘Old mutt, every day I see you, you always have a wag in your tail and have a smile in your mouth. Why are you always happy?’

The dog laughed. ‘Because of all my friends! They make me fat with table scraps, they scratch me where my fleas itch, and they make sure I am never lonely!’

‘Is that what happiness is, old mutt? Friends?’

‘Of course! Everyone is happy when they have friends! Why do you ask, little pup?’

‘I ask because the Sun Queen is sad. Do you think you can be her friend, old mutt?’

For the first time in her life, the bluebell filly saw a dog who was not smiling. ‘Believe me, little pup, I have tried. But regrettably, she nudged me away and asked that I go back to guard her larder.’

‘But you are the happiest soul I know and you said that happiness is friends! Why would she push you away?’

‘I am afraid that she does not want me as a friend. Maybe she will never accept a friend in her heart again.’

‘So how can we make our Sun Queen smile?’ the bluebell filly asked.

‘I am many things, little pup, but I am afraid that I am not smart. Go find the cat. She knows many things, so perhaps she knows the answer to your question.’

And she left to go seek the cat.

The cat looked down at the bluebell filly with disdain, as cats are wont to do, but she nevertheless listened to her story.

‘The dog (though it pains me to say it) maybe right about the queen having need of a friend, but he is wrong about her never opening up her heart again. If she doesn't, it will be her demise, and she loves this world too much to do anything so selfish. The Sun Queen, eternal and beautiful, needs a friend, but her friend must be as eternal and beautiful as her so that she may be spared from the pain of loss.’

‘But where can I find one who is as eternal and beautiful as our Sun?’

For the first time in her life, the bluebell filly saw a cat experience chagrin. ‘Alas, little kitten, if only I knew, but sadly I have never left these castle walls, so I would not know where to find such a friend. Ask the goose. He has traveled much of the world, so maybe he knows where to look.’

And she went to go seek the goose.

The goose paddled in the pond while she told him her story, but he nevertheless listened.

‘I am sorry to admit this, but the cat misplaced her trust in me,' the goose said with a sad sigh. 'I'm afraid I cannot think of anything as eternal and beautiful as our Sun, save for the Moon, and the mages now forbid us from even mentioning her, lest we break the Sun's heart again with her memories.’

‘But if you don’t know, goose, what can I do?’

‘Now don’t you fret, little gosling, for Hearth’s Warming Eve is approaching and Sinterklaas will come galloping in on his frosty mist to provide all the little ones in need with gifts. Though you are a bit older than those who he usually visits, perhaps if you wish hard enough, and if he sees your need as great enough, he may come to see you.'

And the bluebell filly did as the goose instructed and waited for the arrival of Sinterklaas, the most generous of spirits.

It was nearing Hearth’s Warming morning when the bluebell filly had finally given up on a visit from Sinterklaas. Perhaps he did not perceive her in dire enough need, or maybe she did not wish hard enough.

But then, just a few minutes before the Sun Queen began the new day, the great stag of generosity materialized before her in his frosty mist. Before the bluebell filly could even speak, he silenced her, so as to not wake her parents.

‘Sweet child, I have heard your wish and see in your heart that you are in dire need. However, I am afraid that I cannot give what you ask of me.’

‘But if you cannot give the Sun Queen a friend, then who can?’

‘If only I knew, my little pony, if only I knew.’

She pondered her situation for a moment. ‘Sinterklaass, no matter who I turn to, nobody has a proper solution for the problem. So for my wish, instead of giving my Lady a friend, could you perhaps take me to Vortigem the Librarian?’

‘Vortigem?’ he asked in surprise. ‘Why him?’

‘I need an answer for this question. Perhaps the god of knowledge will know what to do.’

‘Very well,’ Sinterklaas agreed, 'I will take you to see Vortigem, and I shall petition him on your behalf, but by dusk, I will take you back home.’

And he took her to Vortigem’s Library.

Vortigem, like all dragons, was extremely covetous of his hoard, and like all dragons, he was equally as impatient.

‘Had Sinterklaas not spoken on your behalf, I would have shut my doors in your face in the hopes that they would crush your muzzle to pulp. But since he has beseeched me so eloquently, I shall listen to you. Now tell me, brat: what do you want?’

And the bluebell filly told him her story. When at last she finished, Vortigem the Librarian simply told her that what she sought was just outside his doors and to leave him alone with his books.

The bluebell filly wandered through the land that surrounded the great library of the world. Finding nothing that was as eternal and beautiful as the Sun Queen, she lay down to weep.

After some time, a wild bird, hearing the filly's sobs, fluttered down next to her.

‘Oh sweet bird, whose feathers are redder than even the robin’s breast, perhaps you can help me. I spoke with the dog who directed me to the cat who directed me to the goose who directed me to Sinterklaas who brought me to Vortigem the Librarian who told me to go look out here for what I wanted. But there is nothing that is as eternal and beautiful as the Sun Queen. Please, lovely bird, show me what to look for, or at least tell me if Vortigem has played a cruel trick on me!’

‘My little chick,’ the bird began with a voice full of sweet, soothing song, ‘Vortigem, despite his cantankerous nature, has not led you astray. Indeed, I am quite so flattered that he would hold my race in such great esteem.’

‘You are what I am to look for? Oh sweet bird, I do not deny your beauty, and I dare say that you would catch the Sun’s eye if she were to see you, but how are you eternal?’

‘Ah, little chick, your strength is most admirable, but I am afraid your mind is not quite up to par! But do not fret, for I have the solution to your conundrum. Take me back with you to your lands and you will see my true nature.’

And when Sinterklaas came to deliver the bluebell filly back to Castle Everfree, the sweet bird, whose feathers were redder than even the robin’s breast, followed her.

The foal made her way to the Sun Queen, who lay despondent with despair. Nopony even bothered to shoo both filly and bird away from the Sun’s bedchambers. They’d let her try and fail just like everypony else.

‘Your eminence, I have spoken with the dog who directed me to the cat who directed me to the goose who directed me to Sinterklaas who took me to Vortigem the Librarian who told me to go look outside, and I have found this sweet bird, whose feathers are redder than even the robin’s breast. I did so to find you a friend, my Lady, to find you someone who was as eternal and beautiful as you. I do not know what this bird is, but I hope that my journey has brought you your heart’s desire.’

And the moment the bluebell filly finished speaking, the bird, whose feathers were redder than even the robin’s breast, leapt forth. In a blinding flash of light that rivaled even the brilliance of the dawn, the bird burst into flame and fell into a pile of ash at the Sun’s hooves.

‘Oh, my Lady! Please forgive me!’ the child wailed. 'I see now that Vortigem and this bird have played a cruel trick on me! I'm sorry!'

But the Sun Queen did not seem bothered by the loss of the bird. Instead, she nosed through the ashes and when she stood, a naked and ugly chick was resting on her muzzle.

‘Great god who guides our heavenly lights through both the night and day, this filly has shown me your plight and I must say that I am terribly sorry for your loss. Though there is nothing in the world that could possibly ever hope to replace the love of a sister, I ask that you accept my offer of friendship, as eternal and beautiful as you.’

And at last, the Sun Queen smiled.

The prince lay on the rug, listening to the story and enjoying the feel of Philomena’s beak grooming his already immaculate mane.

“Princess, why doesn’t our family tell this story to us?”

“I suppose they have forgotten,” she sighed. “Or perhaps they do not wish to remember.”

“But why?” he asked, practically purring under the ministrations of Philomena. “Bluebell impressed Celestia so much that she adopted her as her niece and heir, starting the whole lineage of the Bluebloods in the first place.”

“That is true,” the decrepit mare agreed, “but there are many reasons why the story is spurned in the first place. The most blatantly obvious one being the Platinum propensity towards racism. Bluebell was an earth pony peasant who managed to succeed where allegedly superior unicorn mages had failed.”

“Are you sure it’s that?” the colt questioned. “My parents aren’t too fond of the other races, but I can’t imagine them denying an important part of the history of our House.”

“Then either your parents are closer to modern thinking than I presumed, or perhaps they haven’t had any reason to flaunt their master race theories to you. In any case, I suppose another reason why this story is forgotten is because of how Bluebell’s story ended.”

“She married a Platinum, didn’t she?”

“Oh indeed she did, colt, but the way that Platinum managed to weasel into her skirts and treated her is a source of great shame for our family. Her husband used her, lied to her, and manipulated her for his own gain until the queen herself stepped in to cow him. It was a great source of mockery for House Platinum: a once regal and strong family resorting to petty ends just to remain relevant in the changing times.”

Philomena hopped onto the rug to join the prince, affectionately rubbing her beak against his fur.

“But I believe the final reason why nopony has told Bluebell's and Philomena's tale is because of apathy.”

“What’s apathy, princess?”

“Apathy is when somepony simply doesn’t care. Many of the noble houses are apathetic to everything save their indulgent lifestyles and their belovéd sport of incest. What would your cousins care about this story? It’s not like knowing it will land them even more exclusive parties or opportune spouses.”

Prince Blueblood sighed softly and went to change the subject. “Why did Queen Celestia name Bluebell her heir?”

“After her battle with Nightmare Moon, Celestia realized that her title as god-queen of Equestria was more precarious than she initially thought. After meeting Philomena and listening to Bluebell’s journey, she decided that in the event she should fall, there would be somepony to take the throne in order to prevent ponydom from regressing back to the weak, squabbling tribes of Hurricane, Platinum, and Puddinghead. Luckily for us, such an event has never occurred…so far.”

The colt swallowed. It seemed like everything led back to Nightmare Moon. “Princess, why did you choose to warn me about Nightmare Moon instead of warning everypony else?”

She closed her eyes and leaned back into her chair. “Because you seemed the least incompetent out of all the Platinum’s I’ve seen.”

“Is that it?” he pressed in incredulity.

“Essentially,” she confirmed, sounding nonchalant.

Author's Note

Please point out any typos.

Ta da! And now you know how Philomena came into Celestia's possession and why the the title of Blueblood even exists. Bonus cameo from Sinterklaas the stag and an OC god I made up. I'll probably include him in later if he fits within the narrative.