“This party is insufferable. All of these fools are nothing but show. Do any of them truly believe they’re worthy to be in the presence of the Queen?” I asked. I was attending the Queen’s Half Centennial ball with my date, Pristine Finish, another noble from a house in the north. She’s been a friend of mine ever since our parents had arranged for us to be married long ago when we were children, and I’ve found her at my side ever since.
“Oh Blue, be nice. This is something your aunt loves, surely even you can see that, can’t you? When was the last time you saw a smile like that on her face?” Pristine asked. It’s true, the Queen rarely smiles these days. Celestia, ruler of Equestria, mother of my great ancestor, yet far too distant from my tainted blood to be called my own grandmother. If only I were more pure, then maybe…
“I see that the lecherous Queen is looking for new blood again. What a tragic figure head she is.” I heard somepony whisper nearby with a laugh. My anger flared and I drew the sword at my side, causing all but Pristine to back away from me.
“You know what you did, where are you so I might put you in your place!” I called to the crowd around me. I felt Pristine tug on my suit.
“Blueblood! You’re making a scene, put that away!” She whispered furiously. I glared at everypony around and pointed my sword at all the mares in fine gowns and luxurious jewels.
“Know that you life was spared out of the kindness of my betrothed’s heart, whoever you are. If I later hear another insult to my Queen’s name, then you shall feel my cold steel against your bleeding heart.” I sheathed my saber in it’s ivory and gold decorated scabbard. Quickly, Pristine pulled me to the back of the ball room as I watched my Queen blissfully dance with the many prospective suitors that came to visit her. I reared on my hind legs and leaned against the wall, closing my eyes and opening my ears to listen for the scoundrels that might besmirch my aunt’s name again.
“Blueblood! What in the world has gotten into you!?” Pristine asked, nay demanded. Her violet locks against her dark blue coat nearly shimmering in the gala’s lights. Oh, what a beauty she is, yet her temper… “You simply cannot go around threatening ponies like that! How will that look on your aunt that you so ‘heroically’ claim to champion for?” She further interrogated me.
“I simply cannot allow one such as this rabble to speak poorly on my Aunt’s name. How dare they say something so foul as to smear dirt on the image of the Queen? Who are they to judge one who has lived through countless ages, leaving Equestria in the prosperity and power she sits in now?” I retorted. Pristine rolled her eyes.
“Yes, you can, especially if it makes your Queen look worse in the process! You cannot threaten other nobles just because you don’t like what they say. Your family is falling out of favor as it is, if you want to keep your position, I suggest you act with a little more tact than this.” She said, gesturing to my posture. In turn, I rolled my own eyes.
“I am quite literally of the Queen’s blood, I highly doubt my family will ever fall from our position, especially to these garbage ponies who claim themselves nobility on something as simple as having owned land for years.” I flicked my blonde hooves at the trash as they danced and made mockery of my aunt. I know what they all say about her behind her back. The mother of a million different lines they call her, the Queen of progeny, the Princess whore, The royal mistress, the names are endless. Such baseless rumor has no place in the castle, and the Queen herself deserves no such mockery! Who do these ponies think gave them their freedom to act so horrid? Who do they think leads their armies and brings their spoils of war home? Your prosperous life is all because of her, and how do you treat her? You mock and jape at her behind her back. Worthless fools. Burn in hell, all of you.
“Blueblood, I don’t know if you know this or not, but that is how nobles came to be! You are a noble because your family has owned land for generations! I am a noble because my family has owned land for generations! You become a noble when you earn land from the Queen!” Pristine stated. I furrowed my brow and went back to standing next to her to meet her bright blue eyes.
“Wait, really? Pfft. I am a noble because it is my right as blood of the Queen. None of these fools deserve the title.” Pristine sighed.
“Does that mean I don’t deserve it either? My family just owns land after all, I can’t claim I’m related to the Queen like you can.” Damn it.
“Um… well, you’re to be married to me… and, and that is why you deserve the title, my beloved!” I hastily responded. Her frown half straightened and one brow lowered, while the other raised.
“I see. So, knowing this, you do realize that nearly half the ponies here were ‘married to your family’ at some point and that is how they obtained land, right? You know. Becoming nobles in the process?” She stated. Damn it again.
“I grow weary of this conversation, let us say our goodbyes to the Queen and be away from this place.” I said as I hastily made my way away from Pristine. She huffed and sighed, then slowly made her way through the crowd to me as I watched the Queen dance. This is the first Half Centennial I’ve been able to attend as only in the coming spring do I attain true adulthood at the age of twenty-one. I won’t see the next one till I’m old and gray, but the Queen will still be here, just as beautiful and radiant as she eternally is. Ah, how amazing she is to watch. Her mane of the morning sun dances in green, blue, pink, and violet as she spins and twirls with the poor stallion brazen enough to attempt to keep up with her majesty. As large as she is, towering over the average male, it looks almost as if she dances with a toy as she spins and sways in her vibrant red dress. Her white coat glistens in the brilliant lights around, the sun emblazoned on her flank dazzling as the one that hangs in the sky. She passed the current dancer along, tired and dizzy, the poor fellow looked green in the face against his tan coat, and the next suitor came to take his place in stride, clearly having the gall to try and court the Queen and the skill to back it up.
His coat gray, his Mane jet black with a few hints of blue, and his eyes a sparkling green filled with fire for the Queen. For the first time in the night, the Queen was matched step for step with her new partner. They waltzed, twirling and spinning along, the stallion more than capable of keeping up with her majesty’s centuries upon centuries of practice. He danced swiftly and gracefully, even managing to take the flow of their choreography and lead the Queen unlike any of the suitors before him. It was no longer the Queen playing with a toy, but a dance between two souls truly connecting in a moment of music. Their eyes met, and for the first time in my life, it looked as if the Queen was truly enjoying herself. In a grand leap, the Queen took hold of her new partner and took to the sky amid their dance, the unicorn unable to use wings he didn’t have, made himself platforms of dark red magic to keep himself afloat as the two continued to dance in the air.
“Oh my, it looks like the Queen has found herself another breeding stallion. I wonder how many foals she’ll toss aside this time?” That same mare’s voice appeared near by, and this injustice I would not stand. I found her this time, and just as I took a step forward, Pristine had taken me in her magic.
“I will not let you ruin this moment! Sit tightly, or we can leave!” She said quietly and angrily. Already captive, there was nothing I could do with my own magic to free myself from her grasp.
“Surely you heard what that foul wretch is spewing from that filthy mouth of hers, I cannot let this go!” I said in my anger. Pristine concealed her magic as best she could and quickly took us outside the ballroom. “Put me down Pristine, I must go settle this with that doddering old buzzard of a mare!”
“Blueblood, that’s enough! Don’t you realize how happy the Queen was? Think back on all the time we’ve spent with her, she’s never looked at somepony like that before!” Pristine said. I realize that she would not let me go, so I thought back on her words as I gently floated in her aura. Has she really never…? What was I seeing, right then? It’s true that the Queen rarely smiles, and sure I’ve seen the occasional odd stallion in the castle, but surely… that look wasn’t what I think it was, was it? No… how could the Queen show some random stranger love when I…
Cheering could be heard as the music came to a stop inside. I peeked through the window nearby to see that, while breathing and sweating heavily, that Stallion had made it through Celestia’s ‘infernal’ dance as many ponies call it. She moved to the stage and it looked like she was about to give her closing speech.
“Okay, look, I won’t try anything, can we at least just hear her speech before the ball ends?” I pleaded. Pristine rolled her eyes.
“You have to promise me, Blue. I mean it.” She said sternly. I took a bow in her white aura.
“Of course, my beloved.” She released me, and I managed to catch myself just before I hit the ground. “You don’t have to toss me out like that.” I remarked, but she’d already opened the door. I’d caught up just before Celestia started to speak.
“I would like to thank everypony for coming out to the Half Centennial Ball. As you may not know, we hold these gatherings on the winter solstice every fifty years to honor the passing of my beloved sister, Princess Luna. Your generation is centuries too young to remember her, but my hope is that this night, when you look to the moon, you may think of all the… all the… all the wonderful things she’s done for us.” She started to choke up. “Thank you all for coming, and I hope you have a great rest of your evening. Be safe on your travels home, everypony.” The Queen quickly darted behind the stage curtain, and her aide began to give directions and information to the nobles around as to when the next gathering would be.
“There, you got your speech. Now let’s return to our chambers. I don’t want to stick around and give you another chance to put somepony to a witch hunt.” She said as she took one of my ears in her magic.
“Ow! For the Queen’s sake Pristine, that hurts!” I yelped as I tried to keep up with the force of her pull.
“As it should. You’ve embarrassed me one too many times tonight, and I won’t have any more of it.” She said as she huffed. I remembered that she hadn’t taken over my horn, and forced her magic off my ear with my own. I then quickly caught up with her to make sure she didn’t do it again.
“I won’t apologize. That old bag deserves what’s coming to her.” I huffed. Pristine pursed her lips and raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, is that so? That’s too bad then. I thought you looked quite handsome when you were defending the Queen’s honor earlier and thought you might just be deserving of something… special for your loyalty♥” She said. It took a moment to process, but then I got the hint.
“I am deeply sorry.” I said as I bowed my head.
“Now that’s the spirit♥”
“So, did ya hear?” My fellow knight Pommel and I were amid training when he posed me this question. It was April, four months after the winter solstice, and one month since my wedding with Pristine. I’d seen that dark unicorn around the castle a few times since then, but not any time lately. The things those old mares said back at the ball still weighing on my mind.
“Did I hear what?” I asked.
“The castle staff think that the Queen is pregnant again.” He stated. I reared my head back
“Excuse you?” I said in disgust. The Queen would never…
“No really. The head maid, Mrs. Raven, said that this happens every couple of years. She has an odd sway in her walk, and every now and again, ya can catch a glimpse of her coatin’ herself in her own magic. Nopony has the skill to tell what she casts in that split second she does it, but everypony is sure that it’s some kind of cloak ta hide her belly.” He said. What does this fool think he’s spouting? I grabbed the pale yellow coated stallion by his shoulder.
“Blatherskite. Speak such lies to me again and I’ll have you gelded! The Queen would never do something so… unsavory.” I said. Right?
“Woah, not cool. I still need those. Fine sure, the Queen is pure and perfect, just like in yer little world.” He remarked after pushing me off.
“Pommel!” I called his name, drawing it out to the very last syllable. He turned to see my sword aimed at his loins, then bolted full speed in the opposite direction. His strong commoner legs that got him into the royal guard making their show as he darted. “Get back here, you mud pony rat!” I yelled as I chased him around the courtyard.
“That’s racist! And hell no, not until that sword goes away!” He yelled back. Eventually, he’d out paced me long enough and I collapsed in the weight of my armor. He came over my vision breathing heavily and I half heartedly swung my saber in his general direction.
“You… can’t… evade… me… forever…” I managed to stutter between breaths.
“No, but ya can’t chase me forever either. Come on, Blue. Ya’ve seen that dark unicorn around the castle haven’t ya? Ya’ve gotta know better by now.” I dropped my sword and laid on the ground breathing heavily and staring into the clear blue sky.
“So what if she’s… taken a lover. Even the Queen deserves to enjoy herself, doesn’t she? It’s not as if this is the first time I’ve seen a well built stranger around the castle.” I admitted. Seeing that stallion without the formal attire made it quite apparent that his body was made to do a particular task, but who cares, right? It’s not as if I’ve never heard the stories of the occasional guard being sworn to secrecy by the Queen before. But pregnant? How would that even be possible? There’s no better birth control than unicorn magic, so why…
“If that ain’t the truth. I swear, the stories ya hear in the barracks from the vets get pretty crazy sometimes. ‘No war could ever compare to the night I was called upon by the-’” I planted my hooves squarely on my ears.
“Stop, stop, stop, please quit talking about this. Can we just… can we just get back to the p- the pre- that other thing you said? I just don’t understand how that could even happen. There’s not another pony alive more adept with magic, so… It just doesn’t makes sense.” I said. Pommel set down his own sword and laid on the ground beside me.
“Well, as the rumor goes, the Queen is a very lonely pony.” He started.
“Lonely? How can she be lonely? Not a day goes by when she isn’t surrounded by as many as ten ponies at any one point and time.” I replied. He shook his head.
“Well, ya see, The Queen has been around fer a long time right? She never gets any older, she always looks like a mare you’d dream about gettin’ in the sack with, and she’s about as smart and talented as a pony could get and then some. She’s got the wealth and power to do whatever she wants, so why would she be lonely? Most ponies figure it’s that she always watches a generation go off and die without her. When Princess Luna contracted that virus had had to be put ta death because she got outta control, the Queen had lost the last of her blood family.”
“And that’s when she married my ancestor over a thousand years ago.” I stated, knowing the story of my own blood.
“Right, but what you probably don’t know was that she had a goal when she did that. As the story goes, Celestia hoped that she might give birth to another alicorn, like herself. As she and her sister were the only ones of their kind, she thought that maybe she could just kinda… make more. But after a whole freakin’ litter of kids with your ancestor, not a one of them was anythin’ but a unicorn. So, the legend goes that after her first and only publicly known husband died, she started takin’ new suitors every couple of years in an attempt to breed more alicorns into the world so that maybe, she might not have to watch somepony go. It’s a kinda sad story, really.” He said. More like her? Somepony else who could share her pain…
“How cruel. But if that’s the case, what happens to the foals? I’ve never seen a child around the castle, save for those from my family.” I asked. Pommel shrugged.
“That’s a good question. She hides it so well, that only her most trusted would ever be the ones to know anything was even going on. Of course, there are a few guesses. Oh wait, you might’ve seen some of em’. Y’all went to that school she teaches classes at right?” He asked.
“I still attend if that’s what you’re asking. She teaches one class a week to several grades at Canterlot University.” I stated with pride. Celestia’s class on magic practice and application is the one thing I look forward to every semester. Between training with the guard and Pristine, I never get any time to really experiment and test my power outside of school.
“Right, so, that started after her first husband and generation of kids passed away. The only ponies she teaches are unicorns, because it’s for those gifted with magic, so duh. But the ones that get in to that class come from all over, and nearly all of em’ end up really powerful unicorns. It’s not uncommon for them to have gold magic, and they usually resemble the Queen in some way. Like, ya ever notice that the Queen has those real pretty, sparkly eyes that kinda look like they got flecks of gold in em’?” He asked.
“Well, of course. It’s always said that ponies with that trait end up as… very… powerful… unicorns…”
“Exactly. Some of the bigger ones tend to have that bone structure like her, others have the same kinda horn. Like, it’s usually pretty subtle, but it’s always just not subtle enough to not notice after a long time. Why she does it? Nopony knows. The guess is that maybe she thinks they’ll turn inta one of her as they grow, but as ya can see, it’s yet ta happen. I guess if she’s screwin’ around again, she’s still hopeful it might.” He said. Then he got up and started heading to the barracks.
“Well, it’s lunch time, so I’m off the clock. I’ll see ya later Blue.” He said as he waved at me. I finally got off the ground and simply sat in thought. Is all of this really true? But… she’s always acted like a mother to me, there’s no way she would just… have so many children and toss them aside like that… right?
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Dusk Glimmer. Back again to challenge me for the top seat in the class, are you?” I said with my chair reclined and my back hooves on the desk. The violet mare with the dark blue mane with pink and purple stripes pushed up her glasses and scowled at me. Those eyes... the very same flecks of gold hang within them... no matter. she's the daughter of a common mud pony, there's no way she would ever be capable of surpassing me.
“My name is Twilight Sparkle, and I will not let you keep bullying me! You used torrent in our last sparring match! You’re not allowed to use dangerous spells in a mock battle, you cheated to win!” She claimed. Ugh, this low born, talentless mare and her straight laced attitude gets on my nerves.
“What spell isn’t dangerous when cast by a high quality thoroughbred like myself? Besides, the Queen found no foul with my performance, so who are you to say I did anything wrong? It’s not as if you could even cast such a spell yourself with whatever pathetic ability you have. Maybe one day your sub-par magic will form a fire powerful enough to light a candle. Come talk to me when you have real skill, you talentless commoner.” The next thing I knew, she’d thrown one of her forehoof gloves at my face.
“I challenge you to a duel! If you lose, you’ll take back your words!” I could feel a snarl building on my face.
“Oh, a duel is it!? You really want to go at me after what happened last time!? You’ve pissed off a soldier of her majesty’s army, I’ll show you no mercy, wench! Your studies will get you nowhere if you don’t have the skills to back it up, bookworm!” She took a step back but held her ground.
“I-I won’t be intimidated by the likes of you! I-I’ll make her see that an arrogant fool like you doesn’t deserve the Morning Star!” She shouted back. I got out of my desk and walked to her face till my snout was just inches from hers and she couldn’t escape my gaze. How dare she even suggest that that prize is anything but mine and mine alone.
“That award is my right and my privilege. My family has earned the Morning Star with every generation by showcasing our superior talent to lowly commoners like you with each new ladder in the family tree. I will crush you beneath my hooves into the mud where you belong and dance on your grave with the Morning Star around my neck. Better draw up your will so whatever filth that bred you can take on your debts for being here. I’ll see you on the dueling grounds, common refuse.” I huffed in her eyes, making her flinch, then stormed my way up to the dueling grounds atop the university building. I waited for not but ten minutes before she arrived, quite literally, quaking in her boots.
“I-I’m here Blueblood! Are you ready to eat your words!?” She said. I rolled my eyes.
“Surely you jest. You’re so afraid right now that I can see your legs quavering. Come now, little girl. Run on home while I give you this act of mercy, lest I really become angry with you. I know that commoners don’t typically understand their place, so I’ll do you this act of grace.” I stated. She leered at me, then lowered her horn.
“Fine, have it your way. When this coin hits the ground, we start. Here, you can toss it since you’re so afraid of me cheating!” I took a gold piece, likely something she’s never even held before, and threw it to her with my magic. Her violet aura took hold of it, then she lowered it to the ground.
“One…
Two…
Three!” She tossed the coin in the air, and we both watched it spin. The coin started to come down and I prepared a shock for the moment it landed. Tink.
“Thunder!” Pale blue lighting shot directly at the mare across from me, and just as quick, she’d prepared a shield. Tch, this wretch.
“Ring of flame!” Her violet horn quickly erupted in pale orange fire that started to spew in a cone upward, then all around the courtyard. In a second, I was surrounded by a wall of glowing red, yellow, and orange flames. How did she master such a high class spell in only a few months? She's not been able to produce so much as a candle flame before... Whatever, her fire is nothing to my water.
“Torrent!” From my horn, a bright blue light began to emit, then like a cannon, shot a waterfall at the mare. She was quick on her hooves and darted away, moving just fast enough around her flames to keep from being hit. An entire section of her flame covered barrier died with the torrent that passed through it, and once my spell ended, she took position in the hole it created. No… she didn’t plan this did she?
“Fury of the storm!” She shouted. That can’t be! She wasn’t even capable of using a basic fireball, how did she learn a wind spell!? The gale erupted just inside her burning barrier, taking portions of the flame with it and surrounding me. The razor like winds cut into my coat, and the flames burned me at the edges.
“Gah! Heavenly rain!” The wind and fire subsided as clouds formed and rains fell just on this particular rooftop. Damn it, when did she get so much better? No, I refuse to submit! “By the goddess in heaven, thine enemies shall fall with the sound of the roaring skies! White Lighting!” Oh, damn it all, I didn’t want to kill her! My temper is going to get me into trouble for this...
“Aegis!” My bolt of pure white light shot down from the sky directly at her, and just when I thought she was good as dead, several layers of bright violet shields began to spin above her head and catch every ray of light that my attack had sent down. She has Aegis too!? If I don’t strike now, she might actually have a chance! I ran at her quickly while my spell was still going and charged one more spell that required me to touch the target.
“Paralysis!” White Lightning stopped just before her Aegis was canceled by my Paralysis spell, sparing her life and a blemish on my record. I grappled her to the ground and placed a foreleg over her neck. “You are dead where you lay, yield!” I ordered her. Her eyes started to fill with tears as she had no other way to struggle to fight back.
“I lost...” She cried. I got off of her, then straightened my uniform.
“Cherish this memory, commoner! Your life was spared out of the depths of my kindness! Challenge me again and I will not hesitate to kill you next time! You are a disgrace on this University! Return to the mud where you belong!” I spit on her hooves and proceeded to return to class. How could she have improved so much so quickly? It doesn’t make any sense… Nopony gets that good out of nowhere… could she be… a direct descendant? No… No, the Queen… wouldn’t just… she wouldn’t toss aside a foal of her own, that’s just… that’s just not possible…
“Damn it, damn it, damn it all!” I cursed to the sky. It was supposed to be me! I’m the one who’s worked so hard! I’m the one who’s trained for this all my life! Why? Why, why, “Why, Why, Why, WHY!?” I stomped the ground as hard as I could over and over again until finally the pain throbbing in my hooves was too much to bear. “Everything is her fault!” A warm sting at the corner of my eyes let me know that one of two things had happened. One; I’d legitimately hurt myself in my furious protest, or two; it was getting worse.
“Good goddess, what is all this noise about? Oh my, what did you do? Are you bleeding? Sweet Celestia, what am I to do with you? Come on now, let’s get you all patched up.” Perfect! Another mare just waiting to prey on my weakness, just what I needed!
“Stay back, wench! I’ll not have you coddling me like another incompetent fool!” I spat at her. I finally looked down at my hooves and realized just how much damage I’d done. You worthless, pathetic, useless piece garbage! Is this the extent of your durability? So frail that even a simple outburst is enough to damage you so? The goddess looks down on you, the masses look down on you, the rabble looks down on you, yet you claim yourself a noble! A fool and a failure, that’s what you are, nothing more! You’re worthless!
“How could you lose to a commoner! How can she be the true heir!? What am I even here for if she’s the one the Queen has been waiting for all this time!? Damn it!” I stomped the ground once more, this time the skin around my hooves breaking entirely, letting my inner crimson flow free from the new wound. “Goddess! Everything is out to get me! Is there not justice in this world? Who is it that deserves the respect they command and, who is it that doesn’t!? Has all my training, all my raising been for nothing? Of what value am I If I am not even her equal? How can that fool of a mare be better than I? Raised by the Queen herself, trained to be the best of the best, yet here I fall to some common born mare of an unknown bloodline with no title to call her own! How can this happen? How can this be possible? Why, why, why, Why, WHY, WHY!?” The other hoof smashed thoroughly in the ground, my own crimson beginning to pool around them both, staining my hooves with their perfect red.
Anguish flooded me and I could no longer ignore the burning sting in each hoof. I fell to the ground and writhed as I bit my legs to alleviate some of the pain. Pristine came to my side and began to heal my hooves, but I batted her away.
“I told you to stay back! Don’t come near me!” I yelled in her face.
“Blueblood, what has gotten into you? You’ve been acting strange for months now, I can’t help you if I don’t know what’s wrong!” She pleaded, at a much calmer volume.
“Strange!? Into me!? I am not the one at fault! She is! She’s lied to me all my life, treated me as if I was something special for being part of her line, yet she goes around spreading her genes to every stallion who can handle her, dropping spawn after spawn, year after year as if the population is in danger of fading out! Why am I here if I am nothing more than a testament to ideals she no longer cares about!?” I yelled as I tried to stop the bleeding myself. Everything I’ve been taught is a lie! I was never special, it was all just a ruse!
“Who is she? Blueblood, I don’t know what you’re talking about… you’re scaring me…”
“The Queen, you imbecile! Have you not been watching? That low born mare was declared a princess! She beat me in the last battle for the Morning Star, and upon receiving it from the Queen she sprouted wings! I was the one who was supposed to be given that award! I was the one who had been groomed my whole life to believe in her, to be loyal to her, yet she goes off and has a daughter raised by some hornless mud ponies just to beat me and take away everything I’ve worked for!
I’d won one last time… then she beat me… and she beat me again… and she beat me again… and when it all finally came down to it, I couldn’t compare to her! I trained till my eyes bled, I practiced till my hooves were run to the nib, I worked and worked and worked and for what!? All of that effort, all of that time to be wasted so some filthy urchin born of a whore and a mud pony could rise above me!” I screamed out in anguish till my lungs could no longer produce breath. I gasped for air, and once the feeling in my hooves had numbed completely, I came to a conclusion.
“No… No, I won’t accept it… I can’t accept this! I won’t live in this world where she can best me at every turn! I shall not be worthless, I won’t be a side character in somepony else’s story!”
“Blue? Blue, what are you doing!? Blueblood, we’re in a spire!” I had walked to the window in my room and stood by the balcony.
“I’ll make her remember me… she will never forget what she’s done to me this day… Just as I have, she will suffer this disgrace for as long as she lives, and in my grave I will haunt her with all of the hate and all of the malice I can conjure from my being… Of blackness in the void, I beseech the…”
“Blueblood, stop! Your life isn’t worthless! Please, you’re not worthless, you are not worthless, stop saying that! Blue, I love you!” Pristine called to me, but I would not listen.
“And what is your love to me!? I can’t even find worth in the last twenty one years of my being, everything I’ve ever done was invalidated in mere moments, wiped away by the self righteous smile of that… that whore’s spawn as she flaunted her wings to me! I’m not worth anything, not even you! The injustice done to me this day will never be righted, and I will make the world suffer for it! I offer this blood of mine as a gift for a contract! Return from the dead and plunge this castle into chaos! Take this life as your own and seek vengeance and retribution on those who’ve wronged me! Into the Nightmare! I watched one last time as tears streamed down my beloved’s face before I jumped from the window.
The darkness began to swirl around me and ever quickly, ever closer did the castle’s glass ceiling to the foyer grow. I waited for it to come, but just as I looked, I found myself surrounded in a faint white aura. Pristine Finish grabbed me and the fall continued.
“My darling, why would you do this? You still have worth in this world...” I asked. With tears in her eyes, she shook her head, leaned close to my ears and whispered,
“You damn fool. Without you in it, this world is worthless to me.”
