Sand marched out to the main room. From her perspective, Blue Belle could only see him talking to a shadowy figure. "The fires?" That question came through the walls, almost quivering with alarm.

A male voice responded, but not one she could recognize. Part of her considered retreating. The words were clearly important ones, and likely one beyond her ability to tackle personally.

Sand spoke up louder, forcing her thoughts to shift. "A few deaths."

She swallowed heavily, trembling hard enough to hear it herself. Something terrible had happened in Saddle Arabia. What was more, the prince sounded upset, maybe even devastated. She was to be his wife. A wife did not hide when trouble came. She got up and stumbled towards the door, wanting to support him. She wanted to reach out to comfort him in the way a princess should. Instead, when she stepped out into the antechamber, her eyes locked onto the guard that stood there. She'd been wearing something else, earlier. She blushed brightly and ran to try and dress herself properly.

"Blue." Sand glanced at her.

The tone wasn't cruel, but the bite was a sharp as a whip. She hesitated, considering hiding to dress. But then, he was already familiar with every intimate detail of her. "Sand. Can I help?"

He looked towards her with concern and hesitation. But she remained naked to his eyes. She doubted he would be bothered, but her naked body wasn't why he had frozen. "It seems my kingdom is in distress. A fire rampages, and fires do not break out often. Somepony is likely to blame, possibly several." He stepped towards Blue, holding his arms open wide for her.

Blue Belle didn't hesitate further. She dove into his embrace, cuddling into him as hard as she could, kissing his jaw. His scent was different, as if his distress were coloring it. "I'm here. You must speak with your father, yes?"

Sand squeezed her gently. "You're learning quickly."

She blushed harder, wiggling against his grip. "My love, we will attend the fire issue. But you must promise me you won't fly off in search of vengeance first. It does none of us any good if our king and prince are slain seeking retribution alone."

Prince Sand raised a brow high. "My little bell, when did you begin spouting wisdom's words?" He laughed gently. "Tell me, do you have a unicorn trick for battling blazes?"

"Me?" She perked her ears up. "Why, I do."

Sand snorted. "Of course, my magical one." He dipped to her side, kissing her neck gently. "Then give succor to my people, Belle. We will do the rest for you." He swept up a robe, setting it about her shoulders. He nodded for the servant to escort them, Blue Belle riding in regal silence.

When she reached the location, smoke rolled from one building to another. She was flanked by guards, as if they feared for her. She shivered despite the heat of the fire, thinking of what they would need to protect her from. The city itself was busy around her. All the guards were scrambling to fight the flames consuming one of the tallest structures.

Blue Belle flared her horn as she looked over the buildings below her. Smoke poured from one, heat searing at her, though the unicorn barely noticed it. The acrid scent brought tears to her eyes and filled her with dismay. She looked around for water. There! A fountain burbled, undisturbed by the chaos around it. She focused her horn on it.

The unicorn closed her eyes as she felt the magic start to flow. She focused on the fountain, drawing forth a single droplet of water. But that droplet expanded, becoming larger. It hovered in the air, pulled towards the flaming inferno as she guided it there. Her ears folded as she focused on it, teeth grinding.

With a loud pop of some immense bubble, the water exploded forth as if from a broken dam, pouring towards the blaze and crashing with full force upon it, flooding it as if from a dozen hoses at once.

The crowd cheered at the miracle, seeing the water vanishing into steam and clouds. Ponies rushed out, stamping out the remains with cloths before they could reignite and renew the blaze. One building was saved, and she was already working on the next.

She focused her magic again, struggling to pull from the fountain once more. As she tried, something interrupted. Several somethings. One small glob of flame soared through the air towards the bucket brigade of ponies, several of whom were struck by the burning bits. She backed a step, sending a fresh drop of water in her place to bathe those brave firefighters. The building was smoking anew, but she had given them time.

The flame was like an angry warrior, and her battle just as true as any duel. She did not waver, clashing with water and determination, trying to beat it away step by step.

The flame raged on in fury, challenging her at every turn and counter strike. She sent wave after wave of water, slamming them into the fire to defeat it, blow for blow. Water against fire, life against death, good versus evil.

She let out a tired laugh, amused by her own internal thoughts of the grandness of her battle. In the end, she was smokey, exhausted, but the fire was coming under control. "By Celestia, we've done it." She wiped her brow with a hoof. She looked around to find Prince Sand, eyes searching as the area began to fill with more panicked guards.

One of those guards hurried to Blue's side. "The blaze is calming, Princess. Thank you for your aid." The mare looked over her shoulder at the structure Blue Belle had just spent so much magic quenching. "What caused such a thing?"

"I don't know, but—" Before Blue Belle could fully speculate, one of the nearby windows shattered open, shards of glass bursting in every direction.

Smoke billowed out of the building. From it came a pony in dark leather armor, armed with a pair of sharp daggers. In one fluid motion, the pony flung a dagger right at Blue Belle.

A guard drew a blade just in time to connect with the dagger as it flew, knocking it aside. "Halt! Assassin!" Guards descended on the attacker in force. In seconds, they'd surrounded him with swords drawn.

The pony showed no hesitation at being outnumbered and charged in the fray. Swords clashed, blood stained the ground as the assassin refused to back down.

Blue backed away from the scene, eyes wide. Never had something like this happened in Equestria. Never had she imagined so many ponies fighting at once. The air carried the thick and rusty smell of blood mixed with smoke. A stallion fell back, clutching his stomach as red stained his fur.

She had never had to battle, to fight for her life. She did what felt natural for that situation, she fled, back towards the castle at a full gallop.

She kept running through the city. She fled back to the palace, though every step felt like she was betraying Sand, herself, and the citizens. At some point, a few royal guards realized Blue Belle had vanished. She stopped with a snort and cough. Heaving for beath, she fell against a wall. Ponies were asking her questions, but she was in no condition to give them many answers.

"You fought hard, Princess, but what happened back there? We must protect you! An assassin in broad daylight!" The guard looked quite upset, enough to not bother with the fact that it was night, not day.

Blue Belle collapsed to the ground, drained physically and emotionally. Her muscles burned from the galloping marathon and her mind buzzed with fear from her narrow brush with death. "I-is the fire out?"

The guard inclined an ear. "Oh, yes. You did quite well." He saluted sharply. "Thank you again for your aid. This is our failing, ma'am. No princess of ours should have to fear assassins in her own city!"

Blue Belle nodded faintly and gave a vague murmur. "Yes," She blinked a moment later, realizing she'd agreed without meaning to, then looked around again. "Has anyone told Prince Sand? His majesty?"

The guard nodded sharply. "Indeed. Both of them know you are safe." He inclined his head. "I expect his majesty will wish to speak to you later. Until then, we've doubled your guard and I would advise retiring to your chamber until tomorrow."

She was glad she didn't have to argue that point. "Good. Tell Sand to come to my bed tonight." The words escaped before she could think about them. "Not for, ah. We should speak, about the fire, and the attack."

"Of course." The guard marched away to tend to other things.

Blue Belle made her way through the palace to her chambers. The curtains had been closed around the tower, blocking out the moon and stars. Everything felt more claustrophobic than comforting that night. With the doors barred, the windows shut, and the fireplace covered over, Blue Belle prepared for bed.

But sleep felt miles away. Some evening. She let out a sigh as she thought over it, from the wonderful start with Sand that brought color to her cheeks, to the raging battle against the fire to followed by a battle of her own life.

She bathed in silence, lost in thought. Her muscles were sore and her mind numb with exhaustion. Eventually, she found the bed, curling up and sinking into it.

"Little Bell?" She opened her eyes to see Prince Sand coming into the room with worry on his features. She trembled faintly. "They told me. I was so worried. Little Bell, I cannot even begin to explain my gratitude for you, or my horror. No pony has tried to kill any royal family members since the last war!"

Blue Belle sat upright, "Sand." She felt relief washing over her. He was a safe place. "Are you alright?"

"Me?" He laughed at the very notion. "You are the one that spent time in danger, my love." He went in to touch noses, rubbing his snout's end to hers. "I am fine."

She embraced him, hugging him around the neck, clinging to him like ivy. "Come to bed and tell me what you know." She knew they were supposed to be apart until after marriage, but the entire world had gone insane. "The fire was a thing possessed. It did not want to yield."

"And yet, you forced it." Sand sank next to her and drew her to hug next to him. "The rumors are already spreading of our Equestrian angel, covered in soot as she rode to battle against the inferno." He laughed softly. "My little one is a hero."

Her blush warmed him. She coughed weakly. "Hardly heroic. I saved a couple of buildings. That's all I really did." She settled onto her belly as she rested next to the strong stallion, inhaling his scent, taking it deep into herself. "Did I really help?"

"You did." He nestled with her, some manner of calm returning after that excitement. "My guards say you prevented a city block from becoming so much as ash." His hoof thumped once in pride, the floor vibrating. "If they are correct, you did more than expected in preventing loss of life. More importantly, you've shown yourself to them."

She nodded slightly as she accepted that, looking at her own hooves. "I am still but one mare." She bowed her head forward. "Though if the city needs me, I will do what I can."

"A fine sentiment from any princess." He nipped her closer ear. "You look tired, and for good reason. Come to bed and rest."

Blue Belle shook her head and swallowed heavily. "Sand, I wish to ask for you a favor. Would you..." She bit her lower lip, wondering how bold she should dare be. "Would you stay with me tonight?"

Sand nuzzled Blue's cheek gently. "Tonight? Of course. And I will hold you, and kiss you until we sleep, my bride-to-be." His large nose touched to hers, a gentle bump of affection.

Sand climbed into bed behind her. Whatever chaos brewed in the city beyond, they were there for one another, and sleep came for them.

Author's Note

Can't a mare just enjoy an evening with her stallion? Sheesh.

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