Dragging herself out of bed with only a few hours of sleep was something Twilight had done all her life. She and Shining only needed a few hours, after all - and dad was the same.

Even if she didn't have this fortunate power that enabled her study habits she would have had to rise. After all, Twilight has 'Blueblood???' written into the schedule in the early afternoon, and she would not be tardy.

Her - Luna's - bedroom was large and circular, separated from the rest of the suite. There were no windows, no lights, and the domed ceiling had no decoration except for odd circles and runes were hewn into the smooth, black stone. The bed was large enough for a few alicorns to fit on it, so Twilight had absolutely no issue curling up against a few of the pillows in a mound of blankets. As tall as she was likely to get, she'd never get big enough for a bed like this - but it was almost unbelievably comfortable anyway.

Still, it didn't feel like her bed at home, even now.

She began her usual afternoon trek off of the bed, more swimming through the veritable ocean of blankets than walking. She crawled off the edge, her hooves now easily touching the ground compared to when she first got here, when she had to bring a stool in to get on and off her own bed.

Hooves now firmly on solid ground, Twilight made her way into the large bathroom. To say it was a bit much for her was an understatement, really. The tub was more like a small pool, and she still needed a stepping stool to look square in the mirror. Everything was purpose-built, custom made for an Alicorn of Celestia's size. Not for a filly like her. It made every morning something of an adventure, though. And she could swim around in the tub.

Twilight turned on the hot water for the tub, six spouts beginning to fill the bath swiftly with steaming, scalding water. She left it running and moved over to the counter, clambering up to brush her teeth.

It was halfway through the familiar motions when she caught her own eyes in the mirror. She took in the image that lay before her; Smooth lavender fur, purple mane with her familiar pink stripe, and sparkling purple eyes shining with the light of magesight. She thought her muzzle looked thinner, her filly fat starting to fade. She knew for a fact she had gotten taller, and her legs thinner, more delicate. Twilight wondered if she was pretty? She knew she was a nerd, and looked a little like Celestia and Cadance, but when she looked into her own eyes she knew the thoughts that lay beneath.

Did everyone else?

Twilight slowly shook her head, remembering some of the encouraging words Celestia had told her when she first moved to the castle; 'You are a brilliant and talented little pony.' She focused on those words, and the thought of her mentor's reassuring presence. She took a few breaths and met her own gaze once again.

Twilight forced herself to smile at the pony in the mirror, slowly relaxing from the expression and resuming her brushing.

When she finished, she moved over and turned off the half-filled tub - still enough for her, moving down a set of steps embedded into the side and moving into the steaming water. The heat hit her slowly. She knew it would scald a normal pony, but for Twilight Sparkle it was just perfect.

She closed her eyes and floated in the tub, her thoughts more positive than normal after her gaze into the mirror.

Today was going to be a good day.

Blueblood had insisted they meet again after their brief foray in glancing over the books Twilight had been bringing back to her room. He told her to choose, so she picked Celestia's garden.

Today was sunny and bright, warm with a breeze allowed to flow down and into the garden. The skies were mostly clear, and only a little cloudy. The grass rustled in the wind, the small pond sat almost as smooth as glass. Twilight could see a few signs of Celestia not being awake to tend to the small area. The flower bushes were getting a little wild, their branches going untended. The grass was starting to get rather tall and the graven path was becoming a little uneven. There were a few weeds growing up through the gravel.

The only plant that looked just as it had the year before was the Mallorn tree. Its smooth grey bark flowed like smooth water, its the bottoms of its broad leaves silve, the tops green. It stood higher than the second story of the castle, and Twilight could see the tea room that Celestia had welcomed her to the castle in. She smiled at the memory.

The tree began to rock slightly against the breeze, branches groaning lowly, leaves fluttering. A light blue aura began to seep from it like sap, an expression of the tree's inner magic as it acknowledged her. Twilight knew it was speaking, but couldn't understand it. Celestia had promised to teach her but said it took great patience to truly communicate with a tree. That, of all the mysteries of magic, surprised her the least.

As the tree was, presumably, speaking out its greeting Twilight thought back to the previous night. The basics she had gleaned from the book of Necromancy... The first of the black tomes of forbidden magic. She thought she understood that, at its heart, necromancy was the unnatural animation of dead tissues and the art of altering the very magic that made up ponies, and all creatures, or using it to power other spells. Twilight was, as of yet, unsure of the exact difference between powering magic with such energy and blood magic, but her mind ached to find out.

For now, though, Twilight had to be ready for a meeting with Blueblood. The thought made her heart beat a bit quicker with worry. What did he even want to talk about? He hadn't seemed all that interested in magical studies. Was it political? Maybe he planned to -

"Sparkle, I see you arrived early." Twilight whirled, her saddlebag jangling - a shape within it pokes at her side, one she didn't put there. She narrows her eyes at the alabaster-white unicorn, his golden mane clean and well-styled into a few braids - Twilight thought it looked a little ridiculous. He had a servant with him, a grey, blue-maned filly a few years older than the both of them, carrying his saddlebags. She could immediately tell that she wasn't a castle servant, she wasn't wearing the uniform for one, her skirt was far too conservative. Professional, though, she seemed to have the same talent as the castle staff - almost fading into the background.

Twilight focused as Blueblood made his way up the path, speaking very carefully, forcing her mouth to obey her, "No. You're late."

"Fashionably," He replied, climbing onto the nearby bench, eyes searching the garden before he focused on the tree, looking the mighty mallorn up and down. He doesn't seem terribly impressed, to Twilight's annoyance.

"Whatever gardener they're employing to tend to this one should be fired," He drawls out, "It's quite untended, look at the poor exochordas, and the grass, tsk - everything needs a good trimming. That tree is something though, isn't it?"

Twilight's initial aggravation at his words faded as he gave everything a critical eye. She hadn't realized he would care about gardening. She decided to educate him, "It's Celestia's garden," she said, slowly. "She... tended to it herself."

"Ah," Blueblood said, frowning a little less, he glanced at her with more softness in those eyes, and curiosity. "Well, when Her Radiance sees the state of it I expect she will be displeased."

Twilight shrugged a shoulder. She had never actually seen Celestia do work in the garden, but she could imagine her mentor happily donning mud shoes and a wide-brimmed hat, declaring; 'Time for a more practical lesson, Twilight'. Of course, Blueblood would have no such knowledge of Celestia. It made Twilight feel special. She continued explaining, "A-nd the tree. It's a mallorn. It's... very old. And can comm-u-nicate."

"Hmm," Blueblood regarded the tree again, a new interest in his eyes, "And it can see us? How fascinating."

"Not really," Twilight almost rushed to respond, eager to share her knowledge. "It senses emotion. Sees magic. Like magesight."

Blueblood nodded slowly, "Can you understand it at all? I can tell you have magesight, what with the stars in your eyes, but have you learned to understand its language?"

"I haven't," She admitted, minding her stuttering very carefully. "But I can see... when it feels something. Right now... It's blue. I think that's... joy."

"It probably misses Her Radiance," Blueblood drawls, motioning with a hoof for his servant to put his bags on the bench - the filly immediately withdraws afterward. "In any case, I brought my toy soldiers, we will be playing with them sometime, and I expect you to at least know the basics by the end of today. I have not had a proper playmate in some time, and if you are clever enough to be the Princess' student, then you are clever enough to learn how to roll a dice."

Twilight's thoughts were immediately derailed, Blueblood starting to levitate small figurines from his bag. Legionnaires, Royal Guard, War Unicorns, Pegasi Vanguard, and then a few other races... Griffons, Zebras, even Minotaurs. All of them were painted in loving, if not at all skilled, detail. Twilight tilted her head, leaning in closer.

Blueblood declared as he continued arraying a few more, "I painted them myself, of course. I nearly hired someone, but it would remove a little of the fun, I think. You can play the Royal Guard, it's fitting. They even have an Archmagus hero, Captain Valiant Star. One of your ancestors, but I expect you know that."

Twilight didn't, and that irked her. She didn't comment as he withdrew the little model, a proud unicorn with purple fur, clad in gleaming teal adamantine war-plate, his horn shining with an amaranth glow. The sight of the model jogged a question that had been lingering in her mind, "Blueblood," she asked. The colt looked over expectantly.

"When you... First spoke to me. You asked if... I was in court as Archmagus. I'm not the Archmagus. Celestia is." She took her time to enunciate the words, doubly wishing for this to be clear. She had read the histories of the Unicorn Hierarchy and while many apprentices slew their masters, it generally required that they be dead before the position was stolen.

"Oh," genuine surprise showed on his face, then confusion and sympathy. "I would have thought you'd know. I suppose it is an old law, but it is relevant in this case - even if it was unlikely to occur, given Her Radiance's nature. When the Archmagus, or any ranking member of the Hierarchy really, is incapacitated and without a named champion, it falls to their prime apprentice - you - to oversee their duties and defend their honour. Or slay them in their weakened state, as was often the case. I can't imagine you had done the latter, so I assumed you were testing the waters of political power. It would have been a daring move, I am certain that a few of the Magus from up north are already moving to challenge you to duels for Her Radiance's position as Archmagus, or for access to her magical tomes. If I were you, I would name a Champion very swiftly. Perhaps the Regent? If she is willing, of course."

Twilight was left a little stunned, mind racing with the political statement she had inadvertently made with her first appearance in court since Celestia's incapacitation. Blueblood, though, kept speaking, "Really, I should have guessed the moment I met you. You are many things, Sparkle, but I would have to be struck blind, deaf, and dumb to mistake you for a political schemer."

She didn't know whether or not to be offended by that, settling instead with confusion. "I - I... How do you... Know this?"

"Don't you know?" Blueblood was once more surprised, giving her a critical look. "Are you toying with me, Sparkle? You're making yourself the fool more than me if that is the case."

Twilight shook her head, still stunned. Blueblood seemed to take it at face value with a few more seconds of critical examination, continuing to levitate out his models. "Well," he begins, "My family is, of course, from the Old Hierarchy. They were quite prominent, in fact - one of the few major Houses to break away and follow Her Radiance south to the Third Subjugation. Of course, it was controversial at the time, given our leader was the daughter of the Archmagus that Her Radiance slew to seize the Hierarchy. Quite politically astute, but controversial. After all, we had lost much to Her Radiance. I would say it turned out in our favour in the long run. The Hierarchy may have a wealth of magical knowledge and power in its ranks, but it has very little political capital and remains a rotting corpse of its former self. Meanwhile? We received a Duchy, prominent court positions, and a place in modern society."

Blueblood finished his little lesson by placing down several robe-clad Magus models on the bench, "Really, you make me think your parents never had you study your family history, Sparkle. Or anyone else's. Unlanded, poor, half-extinct near-beaurocrats your family may be, you are still of one of the noble lines of Equestria. Direct descendants as well. With your position, you could raise the family to prominence again, perhaps even regain the Everfree Duchy, given you are Her Radiance's student. It's all very elementary."

Twilight's mind was racing with his new knowledge, and immediately setting priority on getting ahold of some family histories - and asking her parents why she was never told about any of this. She knew the family was old and was once prominent, but Dukes? Blueblood's explanation of his own family history made her pause, though, "A-a-and your d-dad, Duke Redgrove..." She began, ignoring his scathing glance at her stuttering, "Is he... here to challenge me?"

Blueblood's scathing look died away to one of amusement, "My father, challenge you? I love him, of course, but he's never cast a combat spell in his life. Neither have I, of course, but it's the principle of it. In addition, he has a cracked horn. No, even if he wanted to, I'd convince him otherwise. What a foalish thing to do... I said the Magus would consider it, not any sensible Equestrian. The issue with challenging you to a duel, Sparkle," Blueblood leaned closer to her, those intense blue eyes meeting her square on, "Is that while a unicorn with decades of experience would wipe the floor with you, and permanently maim or kill you... That same unicorn would not survive when Her Radiance returns. The Magus sit so long in their coves and towers that they forget consequences exist to their constant challenges and duels, and they especially forget that Her Radiance used to not spare the ones who challenge her."

Twilight blinked as Blueblood turned back to his bags, the logic certainly made sense - from the standpoint of a 'sensible Equestrian.' She didn't get the chance to directly respond as Blueblood continued speaking, levitating a few thick looking books from his bag, "Do not worry about my father, or any of the nobles, trying anything in these trying times. Oh, yes, they might complain and whine, and disrespect the Regent... But all of us are very, very well aware of the power Her Radiance and the Solar Throne hold, Sparkle. Her Radiance has outfoxed all of our combined efforts for the last thousand years. She has reduced our numbers from two-hundred-and-eight to forty-one, all without lifting her hoof from the Palace against us directly. Little laws here and there over centuries, generations-long political manoeuvering, every house has fallen into one of her traps at one point - and for many? It was their demise."

"No," Blueblood shook his head, "We nobility may be prideful, arrogant even, but we have very long memories. We know that we might get away with running roughshod over the Regency and yourself for the short-term, perhaps even a few years. We could claim all sorts of titles and lands and ancient rights, perhaps even forcibly install a regency council of our own number. But... All of us born with half a brain know that eventually, Her Radiance would return, and our victory would turn to ashes - perhaps literally - and spell the demise of all our houses."

"Really," he said in the stunned silence after his continued lecturing, Twilight flabbergasted, caught completely off-guard by the depth of thought he - and apparently all the nobles - had put into this. "If I were the Regent I would spend less time being annoyed at us and starting foreign wars, and pay more close attention to the Royal Guard and Intelligence Service, perhaps some parts of the Legion, too. They're the real dangers, of course. I expect she is making moves, of course, she is an Alicorn after all - no doubt she has more ruling experience than all of us put together, wherever she has been all this time."

That managed to pull Twilight back to reality, and made her frown, doubting Blueblood for the first time. "R-royal Guard? Legion? I-intelligence? They're loyal, they've served Equestria for... A thousand years, longer. They defend Equestria."

"Tell me," Blueblood looked back at her, finally abandoning his soldiers and books, meeting her eyes again, "Who is the ruler of Equestria, Sparkle?"

Twilight thought it might be a trick question, but she answered, "Celestia."

Blueblood nods and waits, his blue eyes boring into hers like shards of diamonds. An expectant grin grows on his face, satisfaction as his lesson finally drives home for Twilight. Her mouth opens, then closes. She gulps, and continues, "You're saying... They don't serve... Equestria. They serve... Celestia."

"And who sits on the Solar Throne, Sparkle? Is it Her Radiance, or is it a strange alicorn seen perhaps a few dozen times in the last six hundred years. Whose mysterious reappearance happens to coincide with the incapacitation of Her Radiance? According to rumours, they even found the Regent standing over the weakened Radiance, and she was casting some horrendously powerful spell. And, of course, some may not have such noble intentions... Some may just want to take the opportunity that the nobility so wisely avoid. The Director of Intelligence was recently removed from his position for incompetence by Her Radiance, experienced generals grumble and gawk at the military actions taken, and that the Regent does not keep so up to date with them as Her Radiance did. The downside of these commoner-ran organizations is their short memory. They continue to survive after betrayals and failures, not like us - our houses lose everything when we cross Her Radiance. We learned."

Thankfully, Blueblood stopped speaking, waiting for her response. Her mind was racing, panic gripping her thoughts, running over everything Blueblood had told her - an entirely new angle entering her consideration, one she had never even considered. It was still almost alien to her, she felt her hooves shake slightly. She planted her flank in the dirt, staring at the lines of miniatures lined up on the bench, now imagining them as potential real threats. "I... Never thought of... It like that..."

"Really?" Blueblood seems less surprised now, just mildly disappointed. "Your parents really failed in your education, Sparkle. It's all very elementary. It's why my father is here, in fact. He is sure that the Regent has her own plans and plots, but we can't divine them from afar, so we came here. I was quite surprised to learn that the First Century of the Royal Guard were sent overseas, given the Captain's presence would have been stabilising. We're here to support her in any case, and I'm sure more houses will step forward when the Regent's plan becomes more obvious. Have faith, the Regent is an alicorn with six-hundred years of experience, I expect she is well-used to political plotting and rulership by now. All will be in hoof and my father will meet with her in the next few days to try and coordinate."

Twilight nodded slightly... Right, that made perfect sense. Cadance may be a bit overwhelmed, but she, ultimately, had to know what she was doing. Twilight let out a few shuddering breaths, trying to calm her heart and thoughts.

Cadance had it all under control.

Twilight turned her attention to her own saddlebag, levitating out her chosen few tomes - all relating to some relatively simple enchantment matrixes and warding. She was surprised to discover, though, that at the bottom of her bag was the knife from the carpentry table. Enclosed in a beautiful banded sheath, unassuming except for the fact that she hadn't put it there, or even knew it had a sheath. No one had put it there, she was sure she remembered seeing it on the table as she was leaving earlier.

Maybe... Maybe it felt a little reassuring to have it, though. Even if her magic failed her, a hoof could hold a knife. And Blueblood's revelations had left her nervous and a little paranoid, glancing toward a guard patrol passing by several windows.

She resolved to keep it, and turned back to Blueblood as he began to open the first of his books, "Moving on from your dreadful lack of preparation, these are the main rules of this little game, and -"

Twilight spent the next several hours with Blueblood, first learning the rules, then playing the game using the bench and gravel as terrain.

Soon, Twilight's worries were forgotten as she played with her first friend.

She didn't stutter a single time.

Author's Note

Woooo, another new chapter. This is the part I would have put with the last one but didn't think it fit the tone. Maybe it doesn't matter? In any case, I finished it today and gave it a good few go-overs. Hope you enjoyed it!