A Tale of Something New

“How long have we been waiting?” I ask out of boredom. Standing around at the mansion’s entrance didn’t leave a lot in terms of fun.

“If I had to guess,” Azurinne spoke up, “I’d say we’ve been here for about fifteen minutes.” She got closer to me before getting into a more defensive pose. “I don’t like this, he said it would only take a moment.”

“I agree,” I say with just as much worry, “but we can’t back down now. Knowing Teacher and Mom, they probably got Princess Cadence to send the palace guards to come pick me up.” It was only a moment after those words left my mouth that we started seeing figures heading down the stairs. “It’s now or never. Azurinne, remember, anything happens, and we run away.” She nods as Well Manners comes into view along with a red stallion with a literal fiery mane and tail. “He’s hot.” I can feel Azurinne’s deadpan. She definitely doesn’t approve the joke.

“Honored guests,” Well Manners says, “may I present the lord of the household, Count Conflagration.” He gestured to the stallion in question who took one look at me and begins to laugh. His voice sounds really strong.

“My, aren’t you a pleasant surprise. Well Manners said he found a suspicious filly in the market place, but never did I think he’d have found that old mud stick’s toy.” Old mud stick? Toy? He’s talking about me? “Tell me, what are you doing here, my little doll?”

“I’m looking for answers to where my parents are? They were taken away from me, and I want them back.” He began to laugh even louder at that. “What’s so funny!”

“You are,” he said as he was trying to stifle his laughter, “do you honestly expect me to believe that you are actually capable of such emotions? You aren’t even a real pony, and yet you claim to have parents. Who? Love Potion and Cross Potion? The idiots who thought they could escape us, and our view for a better Equestria?”

“Don’t call my parents idiots!” I can feel the anger rising, but something about him is making me hold back. He’s on a completely different level than Comet Blaze. Is he a full Archmagi? I turn to Azurinne, who’s fur is standing completely on its end.

“I call it as I see it, and you are no different from your ‘parents’. Isn’t that right, Comet Blaze?” He calls out and a small colt comes out. He had the same grey coat and Cutie Mark as Comet, but his mane and tail were and now a combination of orange and red, as if it was on fire.

“Yes, Master,” Comet said in a dull tone. His eyes were void of any emotion, and he looked as if he was malnourished.

“Comet?” Is what escapes my mouth the moment after he says that. “Comet Blaze?” Both my calls were answered with silence. “Comet, it’s me, Cherry Blossom,” more silence, “you know, the filly you fought at the train station?” Why won’t he say anything? I turn to Conflagration who is holding back another one of his laughs. “What did you do to him?”

“What does it matter to you?” he responds. “He’s my servant, and student. That old mud stick was a fool to think I wouldn’t try to keep such promising amount of magic near me.” How could you let this jerk control you? It shouldn’t matter to me. It was confirmed he worked for the ones that took my parents. I shouldn’t care.

You like him, don’t you? I don’t know anymore. How can I like him now that I know he’s my enemy? Why should that matter on how you feel about him?

“It matters because…” I say in a shying voice.

“Because?” Conflagration repeats.

Is he cute? Is he handsome? I take a good look at Comet Blaze. The fiery style mane and tail definitely made him look a lot more handsome than cute. I bet I can get you to admit it. I won’t take that bet. Mom’s right, as much as I want to hate him, I can’t.

“It matters, because I’m in love with him!” I shout loud enough to echo. Every pony in the room was silent. Azurinne holding the same wicked grin she had on the night Sugar Belle had convinced me that I might have feelings for him. “I know he may not like me, I know he works for you all who took my family, but I can’t help falling in love with him.” I look at Comet Blaze with those dead eyes, and then turn to Conflagration. “Release him, please. I just want a rematch with him to prove I’m at least worthy of him.” He was silent. Then a terrible smile appeared on his face.

“No,” he said flatly while still smiling, “I won’t. This is rich. You expect me to believe that you have feelings for this brat? You? A failed doll that can’t even realize she’s fallen into a trap? No, I think that facing him is too nice an end to you. I’ll end you myself.” His mane and tail suddenly flared and the surrounding fires in the room began to roar as if to answer his call. “I, Count Conflagration, Arch Mage of the Flames, shall rid this world of your pathetic existence here and now.”

“Cease and desist!” Was a call that was made from the entrance of the mansion as the doors flew open. Many royal guards suddenly stormed the room and stood between the count and myself. One in particular stepped forward, an orange pegasus with a blue mane and tail, began to speak. “By the order of her royal majesty, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza-“

“Princess Cadance,” I correct.

“- Princess Cadance, I am here to collect her guest. The young filly, Cherry Blossom, and her pet, Azurinne. Count Conflagration, I hope I do not have to remind you of how dangerous it is to attack a guest of the royal palace.”

“As if I would attack her,” he added with an obvious lie, “I was merely planning on entertaining her. Apparently, she is quite smitten with my son and I merely wanted to see if she was worthy.”

“Be that as it may, you know that the laws of the Empire state that only the potential suits may challenge each other for a chance to court,” added the guard, much to the count’s visible annoyance. “As this is a concern, I will take it up with the princess, and a fair ruling shall be made for both parties involved. Now if you excuse us, we must return with the guests.” With that we left the mansion and returned to the castle. Great, now the Princess of Love is going to be getting involved, can today get any worse?