Blueblooded Torture

...Strange. Something about this morning seemed strange. Blueblood wasnt feeling so hot. His belly hurt, his head swam and he was definitely not feeling alright. Come to think of it, maybe thats why he was in the castle lasaret. He lifted his head, or at least tried to. Sudden move had caught somepony`s attention, apparently, as the nurse appeared in his field of view a second later. At least, he thought it was a nurse.

"Hush, dont move so much." - she muttered, adjusting his pillow and covers, - "Everythings OK now." Blueblood blinked. He recognised the voice. That was Fluffy Pillow - a head nurse of castle lasaret. What happened? He attempted to talk. KHAAAA! Oh Celestia, how much that hurt. He tilted over the edge of bed, spitting out the foul fluids filling his mouth down on the floor. Well, actually into the basin that Fluffy Pillow managed to stick under his face. Bile, blood and something else he didn`t even want to recognise. A hoof appeared in front of his snout when he stopped blaring, dabbing the bitterness off his lips. "There, there..." - she muttered, laying him back on the bed.

"Whu append?" - he finally managed, curling up a little as the pain in his belly intensified. Nurse sighed softly - "Youve just been in surgery, your highness. Apparently, you had an ulcer... Which perforated yesterday. Youve collapsed in the middle of evening court hearing, with obvious sighs of abdominal pains. Thankfully, doctors Silk Loop and Sharp Cut managed to find and suture the ulcer rather quickly. How are you feeling, by the way? Does it hurt anywhere?"

"Awuul." - he replied, - "By stobach uwts." Nurse nodded, as she adjusted the pillow - "Well, that is to be expected. Try not to move so much. You will be feeling very tender for a few days. Now, please, try to get some rest." He glared at the nurse sullenly. "I houbt I can oblige." - he offered at last, relieved that he could at least regain his capacity to speak clearly, - "Can I get some water?" Fluffy Pillow nodded, gingerly lifting the beaked cup to his mouth. First gulp of water brought great pain. It was also the foulest gulp of water he ever swallowed - and yet, Blueblood could not recall a time when he desired anything more.

Panting, he leaned back on the pillow. "How long I was out of it?" - he demanded, looking around for a clock. Nurse shook her head - "Dont worry about that for now. Just relax. You need to get better." His temper flared. "I said, HOW LONG I WAS OUT OF IT?" - he snapped off, glaring at the nurse. With a soft sigh, nurse conceded - "Over a day. Youve been brought in two hours before midnight, lost consciousness half an hour later during examination and havent regained it when you were taken to surgery three hours later. It lasted just over two hours. Anaesthesia had been wearing off all day and the following night since then until just now. Its half to eight in the morning, currently."

He nodded. "How long until Ill be able to move?" - he inquired dully, looking around the chamber listlessly. Fluffy Pillow vanished from his field of view briefly, returning with thermometer - "Please, open mouth.... As for moving, I cant imagine you being able to move without significant discomfort until two weeks later." He allowed the tool to be placed into his mouth, begrudgingly - "...So, a week, then." Nurse snorted - "Your highness, I believe I said two weeks. Do heed my words, please. I am well aware you have little patience for idleness, but attempting to rush your recuperation will reopen the stitches. Which, if youve very lucky, will put you back on square one with the whole surgery. And if youre not very lucky, it will leave you bed-bound for months, maybe even permanently. Please, do allow yourself to rest. I assure you, we will do all that is scientifically and magically possible to expedite your recuperation in safe manner."

"I have state businesses to attend to." - he retorted irritably, - "If I cant move, then my office will have to come to me." The door opened, letting in a smooth - "That wont be necessary, my dear nephew." Celestia herself. Nurse immediately backed out of the room, bowing all the way as Celestia trotted over to Blueblood, and sat down by his bedside. "Im very very sorry, Blueblood." - she offered quietly, her face serious and a touch sad - "Youve been pushing yourself way too hard for the benefit of Equestria. I should have recognised the signs earlier... It was rather obvious you were having health problems, in hindsight."

He snorted. "What, how? Its not like I was aware something was that wrong. Howd I expect somepony else to notice, if I couldnt see it myself?" - he offered dubiously. Celestia leaned closer, nuzzling his cheek briefly - "No pony expected you to have an ulcer, Blueblood. Ive been talking with our royal doctors, and they are certain its been caused by stress you put yourself through each day. And Im afraid I havent made things easier by relying on your help so much." He sighed - "Someponys gotta do it, auntie. Might as well be me, seeing as Im the only one who isnt torn up about saying no."

Celestia shook her head - "Im afraid that Im really overdue for saying NO myself, dear nephew. As we can easily see, you did get torn up about saying no, in the end." She sighed, and placed her hoof on Bluebloods belly - "I never wanted that to happen. If only I could see it sooner, Id put a stop to it. As is... Please, Blueblood. I know you wanted to get out of palace for a while. I know you miss Twilight too. Take a vacation at the very least. Recuperate. Go visit her in Ponyville. Take a trip to Hoofwaii or something. Id never forgive myself if youd work yourself into early grave for my convenience."

"What about my duties?" - Blueblood knew when he was defeated, but he just couldn`t let go of the issue without doublechecking things. Celestia chuckled softly, and kissed his forehead - "Between me and Luna, I think we have the big decisions covered, and Brass Tack will handle the routine." Prince frowned. His secretary was good when it came to organising efficiency, but lacked the insight to make calls on the matters where facts were not on hoof. But then again, Celestia said she and Luna would handle the big issues.

Blueblood leaned back, pondering. Celestia had her hoof on the pulse, that much he knew. Still, if he was to go suddenly absent, her workload would be quite gruesome. Luna... That was the big question. He knew that Luna was working on reintegrating herself into Equestria, and that included taking on her share of statescraft as well, but... Was she ready, yet? "I`m not sure about it, Auntie." - he mused - "Brass Tack does not handle calling the shots well and aunt Luna might not want to make any important calls just yet..."

Celestia snorted. "Nephew, I somehow managed to handle things before you were born, didnt I?" - she offered, tussling his hair - "Youre a big help, Blueblood, and I really don`t want you to burn out that soon. This is a warning bell for you - and for me. You need to take it easy for a while, and I need to pick up the slack and stop shuffling all the unpleasant tasks to you." Prince sighed. "Very well." - he offered - "I will take a sabbatical for, hm... a month? Yes, I believe that would be quite enough to recuperate."

His aunt shook head slowly. "No, I find that suggestion sorely lacking." - she responded sternly - "And I insist that you take off a year, at the very least." Blueblood recoiled as much as his pose allowed - "A year? Auntie, surely you jest. Id climb the walls! Please. Three months is as much as I am ready to offer." Celestia wasnt budging though - "Half a year, and not a day shorter, Blueblood. You need that rest, even if you don`t want to admit it."

"...Mm. Ill agree to that... but with understanding that I can cut the vacation short if I deem it necessary." - offered Blueblood after a moment of consideration. Celestia snorted - "Most certainly not. Youll cut it short as soon as youll be able to get out of bed... Hm... Tell you what, nephew. If you will deem it necessary, youll present your reasons for cutting your vacation short to me - and if I deem them sufficient, you may do as you see fit. However, if presented argument fails to convince me, you will not be allowed to make another such petition until the next month." Prince heaved another sigh - "I suppose thats as good an offer as Ill be able to wring out of you, auntie. Very well, I agree to your terms."

Celestia nodded, and raised her hoof - "One more thing, Blueblood. I want you to move out of palace for the duration of your vacation." Blueblood rolled his eyes - "Because every Tap, Buck and Berry would go to me even when Im publicly on sabbatical... Youll get no argument from me here. Maybe Ill go on a tour around Equestria. See the sights, annoy the dukes, pick the fillies... yknow, the whole vacation experience."

"Thats the spirit, nephew." - Celestia offered with a laugh, standing up - "Now, get well. Luna wanted to come visit you as well, so expect her to be here in the evening." She trotted out, leaving Blueblood alone. Prince sighed. It seems that only a few days ago, he was musing idly about leaving the palace behind. Now, when he was committed to doing so, Blueblood found the notion suddenly disturbing. Still... Twilight. It should not be problematic to erect a summer house in Ponyville... And truth to tell, he did plan on building himself a summer residency for a good long while now. Why not in Ponyville? 'I guess Ill see you soon, Twilight.' - he thought, falling asleep again.