"A missive." The maid set down the scroll at her door. "At your pleasure, madame."

Blue Belle paused with her bowl of berries to take in the scroll. She opened it slowly, finding it was from Princess Cadance. "Dear Princess Blueblood," she read aloud. "We are pleased to hear that you are settling into your new role. Is everything as you hoped?"

She turned to her staff, motioning for them to remain at their distance. "Hmmph, Cadance dear, that is not what you should be asking." But she pressed on in the words, "Thank you for what you've done. Shining Armor and I are properly betrothed."

Blue lifted a single eyebrow. "That is good news. Should I invite them? To see how happy I am with all they've done for me?" She giggled lightly. "Perhaps I will. Maybe she can help with all these silly etiquette questions I'm having." She imagined Cadance being about as clueless on the local culture, though watching her stumble might, itself, be amusing.

Blue Belle turned in place. "Word has reached us that your magic has shown growth." She paused, considering that. She had shown more magic, but then, she had never been asked to try as much before. "While we cannot promise to assist you in expanding that gift, we offer you a warm welcome to Equestria whenever you should feel it time to visit us again."

She licked her lips gently. "Sincerely, Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor." Blue hummed softly, looking up at her staff. "How very fascinating." She set her scroll aside, popped one last berry in her snout, then stood up properly. "Do you know what duties Sand has today?"

The maid Blue had been looking at startled. "Is that directed at me?"

"Who else would it be?" Blue approached with a chuckle. "Do you know?"

"You had been speaking to yourself, ma'am. Prince Sand is leading the guard on some training rounds today." The maid pointed in the direction that should happen in. "Or perhaps they've started already. I do not know."

Blue Belle closed her eyes and drew a deep breath. She started for the door, stepping out into the sunny day outside. With each step, she felt a bit of new excitement. In the time she had been there, she had not spent much time watching the guards, but now it seemed like an ideal thing to do. She trusted her future husband and his words, but that was a different matter from seeing them for herself. "Sand wants me to be happy," she mused softly as she set off.

"Ma'am." Her eunuch, Riddled, closed at her side. "You should not be alone." He trotted easily at her side. "Allow me to accompany you. Where are we going?"

"Sand is practicing with the guard today. I thought I would watch. To see my future husband in action." She put a hoof over her heart as she blushed faintly. "Isn't that something a good wife would do?"

"Verily." He didn't sound especially agreeing, or disagreeing. "He should be right here." He took a turn, guiding Blue towards a wide field. "Perhaps you will find it a worthy experience."

They went past several other guards who had been staked out at different spots along the way. They nodded in unison as Blue went past. At the field, Sand was speaking firmly to several more guards. They were lined up before him, their spears at attention before them. Sand trotted up and down the line, checking their posture.

Riddled nodded once and called out. "Sir, your betrothed wishes to witness."

Sand perked an ear, eyes moving to Blue and Riddled. "She is welcome to watch." He turned back to the guard he had been inspecting. "Now, spearhead." The guard raised it to bear against Sand. He nodded once. "Well done. Now, strike me, if you can ."

The guard twisted his body, aiming the spear right at Sand. He was on target, but the thrust was weak and slow. Sand batted it away easily. "Again." The guard attempted several times, each thrust missing or being deflected easily. "I see you cannot harm me. Withdraw."

Sand moved to the next guard. "Can you do better than your peer? Are you afraid to strike a prince? I have invited it. I will have only myself to blame. So, strike me." The guard's hoof shuddered with fear as he raised his spear. Sand opened his arms, turning his head away. "You know what to do."

The guard shut his eyes, taking a deep breath before leaping forward, bringing his spear around to point at Sand, but Sand was already dodging away with a laugh. "Better. I could feel some intent behind that one. You are the defenders of the realm, and what you defend it against can take many forms." He looked past the guards at Blue Belle. "At times, those you must protect from can be right next to you. Be ready for it."

He trotted down the line of guards. "What is the worst thing you could face?"

One of the guards shuffled nervously. "Sir, would we ever have to, against her? She's so small, like a child."

Sand waved Blue closer, waiting until she was within earshot before he spoke. "She may be small, but she has her ways of defending herself, does she not?"

Blue colored, but still turned to face the guards. "I am ready to try." She glanced about. "Riddled, be my example. I want you to approach me. Attack me with all you can, using only your body."

"Madam?" Riddled glanced back at Sand, who nodded slowly. "As you command." He took a slow breath, then galloped at her with dreadful speed.

"Such simple tricks!" Blue Belle lifted a hoof. "Cover your eyes, it is time for a lesson."

Sand did so, but the guards didn't have time to obey before she went into action, horn and magic flaring so brightly at the oncoming Riddled that he stopped short with his own hoof over his eyes. She stepped forward to slam him back with a kick. He fell to the ground and rolled back. "Take a few moments to catch your breath. But you see, I am small, but I can protect myself."

Sand applauded the defensive measures of his wife-to-be. "Lovely! You have more fire in you than I had expected, my little flower. I approve." He turned back to the guards, lowering his hoof to face them again. "You see? Even the smallest among us can defend herself from attack. But if it should come to it, to protect our people, we will be there for them. And in the same breath, we may have to fight them. Hesitation means ponies get hurt, or worse."

He turned away. "Anyone who volunteers as a victim, step up and give us your best." Sand pointed at a guard, motioning him forward. "Attack me."

The guard dropped his spear. "Sir." Unlike the others, he came for Sand with hooves rather than a weapon. He didn't bother trying to hide his intent as he swung hard at Sand's head. He expected Sand to move away, but the prince stood his ground. The blow connected with his nose, sending a spray of blood into the air.

But Sand laughed, rather than show discomfort. "That! That was more like it. My nose hurts now, and will be sore for some time, but that is a minor price to pay." He raised a hoof to it, feeling how it was bleeding. "One day, we may be called to fight our own family, or friends, or perhaps somepony you love. When it is time to battle, you cannot doubt yourself." He pointed to the spear the guard left behind. "Don't forget that."

Sand stepped aside as another guard approached. This one held their spear properly, gripping it in their mouth. They lunged for Sand, who sprang aside, moving away from them. They twisted in place, following his movements. They continued to do so, hooves stirring up dirt as they followed him from side to side. It was a proper dancing spar. The doubt that had held them finally shattered.

The guard jabbed again and again, trying to find an opening in Sand's defenses. Each time, he dodged with fluid grace. When the spear got close enough, he used his hooves to slap it away. "I can feel your intent, but we need to practice harder on your technique. Next!"

Riddled moved behind Blue Belle, whispering softly into her ear. "There is something I must tell you. You were correct about your room being not up to your station. I spoke with the steward, and he agreed to have it remodeled. Tomorrow, it will be a fine and regal room fit for your position."

Blue blushed, fluttering her eyelashes. "Why thank you, Riddled. But I've already handled that with my own hooves. The room is perfectly lovely, now. It took a little care to get it there, but I am quite pleased with it. It's perfect for me, as it is."

He bowed his head to her. "Wonderful! You truly are an excellent princess, ma'am. Much more dedicated to our customs than many of the others I've met in my time. It's good to see that we picked well for our future princess."

Blue Belle glanced up at him. "What was your life like before?" She paused, shuffling her hooves. "If it is proper for me to ask. Otherwise, ignore it."

Riddled laughed at her permission. "You are learning. I admire that. A clueless foal, but with your eyes open and ears up. Stay alert, madam, and you will do well in your new station."

She turned away from the display, frowning at Riddled. "You never answered me."

"I'm not sure it matters much, Ma'am. All I have ever known is serving royalty." He dipped his head. "That is why I am what I am, physically, that I could be trusted entirely around females of noble standing without a hint of worry. I was raised in this manner for the purpose of being what I am. And my devotion to my cause is such that I would never disobey the traditions I was born into."

Blue Belle smiled at that. "Truly? You were born to be, uh." She glanced furtively. "Marked in such a manner?"

"Oh yes, madam." He shifted his scarf to show his chin. "A noble lady, a princess in fact, proposed to me long ago. I said yes, but when she found out that I was infertile, she could not go through with it."

Blue blinked with clear shock. "Did she not know you were a eunuch?!"

He nodded softly. "She had known all along. But it was only when she learned of my physical shortcomings that she could not follow through. After we broke our engagement, I decided to serve the realm directly." He motioned to his scar.

Blue frowned, pondering that situation. "She blinded herself to what was inconvenient, until pressed. How unkind of her. I'm sorry."

"It is fine, Ma'am. In a way, it brought me closer to my dream than I could have been otherwise. When the head of the eunuchs retired, they put me in his place." He dipped his head just as a shout went up.

One of the guards had been knocked onto his side, Sand holding them down. The guard rolled on his back and let out a defeated huff. "Alright! Alright! I yield."

Sand let him go. "Well done. Now take care of your brother in arms. He is bleeding."

The guard scrambled up and moved to the fallen one, lifting his head up carefully. Blue watched as the practice started up. "Sand is quite the warrior, isn't he? Was that always the case?"

Riddled shrugged slowly. "He was the eldest son. Such a position is almost required for any such leader. But we have never seen anything like you, ma'am."

Blue colored, feeling in the spotlight once more. "Am I that unusual? I am but a unicorn. Surely there are others in your fine realm."

"Perhaps, ma'am, but they are not of a noble house." He pointed his hoof back at her. "I say this not to cause alarm, but to let you know that I expect things to be different for you. Besides, most ponies in Saddle Arabia are Saddle Arabians. Tall, powerful, but without horns, nor wings. Any unicorn we have is an oddity by default."

Blue Belle chuckled lightly. "Yes, I suppose I should be prepared for that. Well, maybe I can make some sort of impact. Let's say a pony wants to study the stars and make maps of them. What would they do?"

Riddled tilted his head, pondering that. "They would use a telescope, ma'am. Do they do it differently in Equestria?"

"No, that exactly." Blue thought of a telescope she had seen before. "Is there one in the palace? Can we see it?"

"I will speak to the guards and have you taken there, ma'am." He slipped away from her side, returning a short time later. "I have secured permission, but visiting it during the day would be fruitless. If you are willing, we can visit it come this evening, and you may look on our stars."

Blue Belle sat on her haunches and clapped her hooves in glee. "Wonderful! Will you show me where to go? I must admit that this place is still strange to me."

Riddled bowed formally. "Certainly, ma'am. Would you like to take some refreshments first?"

"In a little while." Blue stepped back as Sand approached, taking her head in his hooves. "Lovely, my dearest!"

Sand smiled at his smaller wife. "Your approval warms me, just as the sun blazes down on us." He kissed her at the end of her snout. "How was the demonstration?"

"Mmm, quite the show, dearest." She touched her hoof to his nose. "It was well worth coming to see. But we are going to go look at a telescope."

"Truly?" He glanced towards Riddled.

Riddled quickly nodded. "Come the evening, m'lord. When the sun sets and the stars begin to appear, we'll have a look at them."

"Wonderful!" Sand stretched his arms over his head. "So long as you get permission from my father."

Blue Belle scoffed at that. "Why does he have any say in it?" She paused an instant later. "Other than being the king, of course. Does he care who looks through the telescopes?"

Sand grinned with mirth. "He is King because he cares who looks through the telescopes, at least here. Just go to him and ask permission, my little flower." He took her chin in his hoof and leaned in to plant another kiss on her lips.

Blue went stiff in surprise. She could smell him, the work he'd put into training, and just him, all of him. She melted, pressing back against the kiss with burning cheeks for that moment that felt far longer than it was. "Warn a mare before you do that."

Sand laughed again. "As you command, my dear." He stood up properly, lifting her back onto her own hooves. "Ah, and here comes our meal." He turned, eyes on several servants coming with a repast for all the guards and Sand to recover from their hard work. "Let's see what they brought us. Shall we?"

Blue Belle settled into a nearby patch of grass, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched him join the guards to eat. Even though he was obviously one of them, his demeanor and words were enough to make him stand out. He was their prince. He was also her prince. Her chest tightened at the thought. "I have a prince." She giggled at her own words, even if it made her more giddily nervous. She was supposed to be the prince, before. Now she had one.

How life had changed.

Author's Note

Warriors need to be able to fight, no matter who they are set against.

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