PROLOGUE
Up near the great Canterlot Mountain in the northern sky, a glimmer of sunlight reflected off of something golden in midair. It was Princess Celestia’s royal chariot being driven by two pegasus guards with the princess inside along with her nephew, Prince Blueblood. Behind them was another smaller chariot with two servant ponies seated inside: one was a slim and well-dressed male earth pony with a moustache and a monocle and the other was a young female unicorn maid wearing a dress.
Celestia, happy as always, sat smiling warmly in her seat staring at the view of Ponyville just a few short miles away in the distance where they were heading. Blueblood, however, seemed somewhat distraught. He sat, not saying a word to Celestia and she finally decided to cheer him up.
“Blueblood, my nephew, why so melancholy?” she asked him “You’re on your way to receive your first royal crown.”
“It is not the crown, Aunt Celestia, it’s the fact that we have to travel all the way to this drab little town, Ponyville, in order to have me oversee the molding of it and to bring it back to Canterlot.” he said grumpily.
“The royal crown-maker lives in Ponyville Blueblood, he has no choice.”
“But why? Why should he not just come to Canterlot where the royals live, at least just to make my crown?!”
“He’s always lived in Ponyville, and it isn’t that far of a distance to travel from Canterlot.”
“Still, I am not too excited about going to this town to receive it. I have always lived in Canterlot, the home of the elite and the royal. Ponyville is just……well, it’s dirty and full of commoners and paupers and all sorts of miscreants I do not wish to be around!”
Although the prince was being so immature and argumentative, the kind princess moved close to him with her wing around him as he pouted and tried some words of encouragement.
“You will adjust to this place, Blueblood. The ponies here are very likeable and you will make friends fast. I have already told my faithful student, Twilight Sparkle, and I am sure you will receive a warm welcome from her and her friends.”
“Twilight Sparkle? Is she not the one you said who used to live in Canterlot?”
“That’s right; Twilight was born and reared in Canterlot.”
“Well……at least there is one pony I already know of who must know the Canterlot way in some sense. But I am still not excited about this place and I do wish the crown-maker would move to Canterlot.”
The chariots were now only yards away from the ground and moving down into the center of a clearing in the streets of Ponyville. The guards put their legs down and curved their wings to the front to make a light landing. The chariot sat on top of the ground with ease and Blueblood turned to leave the chariot but he did not get out until his maid rushed over first to dust the ground he was about to step on. She did her job and waited for him to get out but first he swallowed hard and put his first hoof on the ground nervously.
“Well, the ground doesn’t seem to be quite as horrid as I expected.” he said looking down observing the dirt beneath his hooves. “Alright then. Horatio, my luggage if you please. HOP HOP!”
“Yes, of course, Your Majesty!” said Horatio, the tall stallion with the monocle as he rushed back to his chariot to grab the parcels and suitcases that Blueblood brought along. The maid went to help him carry some of them on their backs. The load was heavy, but they dared not complain to the brash prince.
“Do we have everything?” Blueblood asked sternly.
“We…we most definitely do, Your Magesty.” Horatio said with much effort in his voice under the pressure of the luggage.
“Very well then.” Blueblood then turned to Celestia to bid her farewell. “Farewell, Celestia. I do hope this does not take forever, but I will see you shortly.”
“Farewell, nephew.” Celestia said warmly. “Remember to be positive, you will have a wonderful time here.”
“I do hope so…”
And with that, the two chariots left the ground and were directed straight back to Canterlot.
Blueblood stood still for a moment and looked about. He saw ponies just like some he had seen in Canterlot, although none were dressed quite as exquisitely as Canterlot folk. The roads were rougher and the grass grew taller and thicker in some areas. The housing wasn’t as pristine either. Small thatch-roofed cottages and asymmetrical buildings stood everywhere. Everything seemed so out of place and old-fashioned, almost as if he was in some village full of beggars. To a royal pony prince who had been raised in the capital all his life, this was the farthest thing from home.
“Well, let’s get this over with…”
He started walking with his nose held high and eyes closed as Horatio and the maid followed him closely behind. Suddenly he stepped on a small rock in his path and nearly stumbled over it.
“I SAY!!!” he shouted flinching backwards. “MAID, GET OVER HERE THIS INSTANT!!”
The maid rushed over and bowed her head to the prince.
“YES, YOUR HIGHNESS?!” she said with fright in her voice.
“REMOVE THIS WRETCHED THING FROM MY PATH NOW!!”
The poor young maid wanted to tell him that he should have watched where he was going, but saying such a thing would not end well for her. She did as she was told immediately.
“RIGHT AWAY, YOUR HIGHNESS!!”
She ran in front of the prince and picked the rock up with her magic and tossed it gently into a small patch of grass nearby.
“Now do the world a favor please and stay in front of me and make sure my path is free of any such hindrances!!
“As you command, Your Highness!”
Blueblood rolled his eyes and continued walking.
“These next few days will be the longest of my life…”
TO BE CONTINUED...