Humility Counseling

The next day, shortly after raising the Sun, Celestia set out for Ponyville. As she sat on her flying chariot, with only a few hunky stallions of the Royal Guard to keep her company, she wondered why she rarely ever chose to simply teleport to her next destination.

"Oh, but then I'd never have an excuse for being late, now would I? Besides, the Equestrian Teamsters Union would have my rump if I dismissed all these guards."

Not long after, the chariot set down on the outskirts of Ponyville. Almost instantly, a small crowd of ponies surrounded the Princess, gazing at her with typical expressions of awe and admiration. Celestia smiled benevolently at all of them, but inwardly she had long gotten tired of the constant adoration she received for raising the Sun, an action that was as effortless and mundane for her as defecating.

"I can endure this. Just smile and wave, Tia. Smile and wave."

After a few minutes of fawning over their fearless leader, the ponies seemed to realize that she had business to attend to and slowly filed away, leaving her alone with her guards. She looked them over briefly before speaking, her tone commanding.

"I expect word of my arrival will reach Twilight Sparkle very soon. Do whatever you must to misdirect her, so that I may have enough time to do what we came here for."

Silently and in unison, the guards saluted. Celestia nodded to them before closing her eyes and casting a teleportation spell. When she opened her eyes, she now stood in the middle of Carousel Boutique.

Strangely, the clothing store seemed to be empty. Celestia briefly glanced around for Rarity or anyone else, before noticing that the Element of Generosity was quivering on the ground at her hooves. She felt a pang of guilt, realizing that she had accidentally teleported directly in front of the poor mare and given her the fright of her life.

"P-Princess... p-please... never do that again!"

Celestia frowned in remorse as she helped Rarity up.

"I am terribly sorry, my dear. I did not mean to scare you."

Rarity tried to brush it off, but the fear and adrenaline were still clearly present in her eyes as she backed away slightly from the Princess.

"Heh... it's fine, really. So, uh, what brings you to my boutique today?"

Celestia cleared her throat before responding, gazing at the fashionista seriously.

"I came here because I need your help, Rarity."

Rarity was visibly surprised, but not unpleasantly so.

"You need my help? I mean, of course I'd love to, but... um, what for?"

Celestia continued, preparing to drop the bombshell.

"I need you to seduce Prince Blueblood."

Due to her previous experiences with Rarity, Celestia half-expected her to faint from shock. Instead, however, her expression simply turned from one of surprise into one of disgust and anger.

"Never in a million years. I would rather kiss Discord!"

The Princess swore she heard the trickster god distantly cackling as she faced Rarity down, her tone sympathetic.

"Believe me, I understand your reservations, and I would not ask this of you lightly. The Prince has become more than just a nuisance of late, and I need somepony to get close to him and find out what makes him tick."

Rarity looked puzzled.

"Wait, you want me to spy on him? Is that what you're asking?"

When Celestia nodded in response, she let out a small huff. She turned around, her voice quiet as she replied.

"I would never have expected you to stoop to this level, Princess. I may not like Blueblood, but that doesn't mean I want to hurt him."

Celestia shook her head, even though Rarity couldn't see the gesture.

"No, you misunderstand me. I don't want to hurt him. I want to save him."

Rarity laughed humorlessly, not turning around.

"Oh, sure. And how exactly is gaining and then exploiting his trust supposed to save him?"

Celestia let out a deep sigh.

"If there was any other way, I might consider it. But the truth is, we don't have much time. There was a... diplomatic incident two days ago involving Blueblood and the Caliph of Mareocco. It ended very badly, and I expect the Prince is already concocting some foolhardy scheme to exact his revenge."

Although the Princess could not see it, Rarity's eyes softened slightly.

"What do you mean? What happened?"

Celestia looked at the floor, pawing at it with a hoof.

"Suffice it to say that Blueblood's disdain for others nearly got him killed."

After a long pause, Rarity finally turned around to face her again.

"...Oh, horsefeathers, fine. Let's just get this over with."

Celestia smiled gratefully.

"I'm glad you understand. Get your things in order first, and then meet me at the edge of town when you're ready. Don't take too long!"

Rarity opened her mouth to reply, but the Princess disappeared in a flash of magic before she could even get a single word out. Now alone once again, she grumbled to herself.

"I am so going to regret this..."

Prince Blueblood waited alone in the private meeting room of his ostentatious Canterlot mansion, tapping his hooves against the floor with rising impatience. It was supremely undignified for a stallion of his pedigree to be kept waiting for anyone, much less a lowly ruffian such as the one he was currently awaiting. He muttered irritably to himself as he paced around the room.

"Perhaps I should have threatened him more. Maybe then he wouldn't have been so willing to waste my time!"

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity to him - a whole ten minutes - a scraggly little stallion entered the room, quickly closing the door behind him. He walked slowly over to the Prince, his faded brown fur glistening with terrified sweat as he lowered his head in supplication.

"My Prince, I am so sorry. I did not mean to keep you waitin-"

Blueblood interrupted him with a painful smack across the face, leaving a noticeable red mark.

"Do not waste my time further with this pathetic sniveling, Swindle. I would have thought after I saved you from the prisons, you would show me the proper respect. Or do you not wish to be there when your little fillies grow up?"

Swindle whimpered a little as he shook his head, trying desperately to resist the urge to cry.

"N-no... of course I do. It will not happen again, I promise."

Blueblood snorted as he turned away, staring out through the large window that offered a panorama of the city. His city, at least as far as he was concerned.

"See to it that it doesn't. Now, as for why I called for you..."

Swindle swallowed, pawing anxiously at the ground.

"Y-yes, my Prince?"

An evil smirk grew on Blueblood's face as he replied.

"I have had... difficulties... of late, with the so-called Caliph of Mareocco. He has seen fit to cross me, and has my aunt's backing in this. I will not stand for such treachery, not from anyone. You shall travel to the Caliph's court and put the old cretin out of his misery, by any means necessary."

Swindle's eyes widened in shock, which was also evident in his stuttering tone.

"M-murder? But, Prince, you can't be serious!"

Blueblood turned around, glaring at Swindle with ferocity.

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

Swindle averted his eyes from the Prince as he shivered in terror.

"P-please, I'm not an assassin... they'll kill me for sure!"

Blueblood shrugged, entirely apathetic to his plight.

"In all likelihood, yes. But would you rather risk dying at the hands of the Caliph's guards, or have you and your family spend the rest of your miserable lives in the darkest dungeon I can find?"

Swindle moaned softly, choking out his response.

"O-okay... I'll do it... just please don't hurt them!"

Blueblood grinned.

"I'm glad you've seen reason. The preparations for your departure have already been made. The train to Mareocco leaves in fifteen minutes."

Swindle's features became even more colored with dismay.

"You mean... I don't even get to say goodbye? B-but-"

Blueblood smacked him across the face again. Swindle cried out in pain as he fell backwards onto the floor.

"Whine about your family one more time, peasant, and you won't have a family anymore. Now begone!"

Whimpering pitifully, Swindle quickly got to his hooves and ran out of the room. Alone once more, Blueblood returned to looking out the window at the bustling city below, his eyes vengeful and brooding as he smirked cruelly to himself.

"This is the last time anyone will doubt my resolve. I will make certain of it."