"Running away?"

Blue paused in her walk down the hallway. One of many state functionaries had addressed her. "Pardon?" She turned towards him. "Who's running away from what?"

"The assassinations. Your engagement to Prince Sand is well known by everyone of standing, madam. The attack upon you has only added to the awareness. Now that Princess Cadance is arriving, surely this is part of the process of returning to Equestria." The functionary inclined their head faintly. "You had no intention of going through with this, I imagine. A fine time to stop this charade."

Blue Belle froze in alarm at the implication. Was she ready to abandon everything she'd done in Saddle Arabia?

A surge of emotion rose inside her chest. She pivoted and stalked back to confront the servant, leveling a glare. "I am most certainly not fleeing. Prince Sand will escort me to Equestria, where we will attend, together, a lovely wedding. Afterwards, we will return, and our own wedding will be attended by that same couple. This is a chance for our countries to grow closer, not for me to tuck my tail like some common coward!"

The retainer recoiled as the anger hit him straight-on. "Apologies, Princess. I did not intend offense."

She drew near, forcing him to tilt back and look upward to her. "The mere notion that I would flee from danger is beyond insulting. My life is not the most precious thing to me, do you understand?" That she had forced the taller pony to be below her was notable, though the shaking stallion wasn't thinking that through.

"P-p-please forgive me."

"I will," she hissed softly. "But never forget again that I am devoted to this country, and to its prince. I expect you will still be available to oversee my return to this place, when we are done in Equestria?"

"Of course, ma'am." He bowed and turned away. "I should hurry to my tasks."

"Yes." She stared at his receding back with a thoughtful air about her.

Cadance popped her head out from the doorway and gave a wink. "Aren't you supposed to be packing?"

"Ah, Cadance, cousin dear." Blue closed to rub snouts gently. "Your presence warms the day. Yes, I should get to that. Apologies for the delay. Speaking of, I thought you would be ahead of me? Why are you still here?"

"Oh, I'm just waiting for my guard escort and taking a moment to catch my breath," she said. "It's funny, Blue Belle, seeing how much you've changed since coming here." She drew Blue closer with her glowing horn. "You've really grown, in ways I would not have predicted." She leaned in to whisper, "Little Blueblood, neither of us saw this coming, but you have become quite the noble mare."

Blue Belle swallowed, recalling her original thoughts on how nobility worked. How she had treated others. She had deserved to be stripped of that rank and privilege. How low she had fallen, and how high she now stood. "Thank you." She chewed the inside of her cheek. "For believing in me, enough to send me here, despite everything."

Cadance nudged Blue. "Don't act as if I didn't benefit. You saved me. If it weren't you, I'd be here. And this Prince Sand seems lovely, but he isn't Shining. I would have been quite devastated. You are my hero, now and forever."

Blue Belle blushed as the title got assigned to her. "Hardly a hero, Cadance, merely someone willing to put myself into a situation from which another could not escape unscathed."

Cadance burst into soft giggles, a hoof held up to cover her face. "That is exactly what a hero does." She kissed Blue's cheek and fled away with her head held high.

Blue Belle shook her head in mock defeat and turned back to her room to pack.

***

"Is my mane alright?" Prince Sand ran a brush over his neck. "I don't want them thinking us backwards because I did not look perfect."

"Dear." Blue set a hoof on his leg. "I am mildly biased in this regard, but you look absolutely stunning. Aside that, Celestia has fine servants that will see to your every need when we get there. They're quite good at their work, just like the servants here." She kissed his chest.

His grooms were making finishing touches, so they couldn't comment as she complimented them. "Good. Let us finish preparing."

Blue Belle focused on finishing preparations for their departure. "I have little in the way of possessions I simply must bring. Just a few outfits to switch between, really." She tapped at a suitcase packed with just that. "And you? Anything you intend to bring?" She scanned the large chambers filled with the wealth accumulated over decades.

Sand finished having his bags packed by servants. His gaze wandered over all his personal belongings. "What we cannot take will be protected for our return." He grabbed his case in his teeth just to drop it on a cart, then took Blue's and added it to the same. "You are right. I should trust Equestria to be a fantastic host, should other needs arrive. Then, when they attend our wedding, we can offer the same quality they provided us. Do you agree, Little Bell?"

Blue smiled as she was turned, nodding at the cart. "Exactly. This is, beyond a wedding visit, a chance for a little diplomacy just by merit of us being there. They shall see your majesty, as do I, and it will elevate relations between our lands." She peered out the window at the world beyond. "It is exciting, and frightening." She hugged him around his neck. "They've not met you, not personally, and certainly not with me. I feel certain they will bombard me with questions about this."

He patted her head gently. "Then let us depart." He led her away with a smile. "Together. Two kingdoms united as one."

The two strode among the train of guards and servants towards an airship. It was an elaborate wooden ship covered in magical runes. Some kind of artifact used for long range flight, presumably by magical means.

Servants went aboard to store baggage for the trip to the Crystal Kingdom. Sand offered a foreleg, which Blue accepted. Linked, the two took purposeful steps up onto the ship. It felt solid under her hooves and she looked around with interest.

"Amazing." She nodded with approval. "I have not ridden airships very frequently. Every time is a delight. To soar so high over the lands, a true treat for the senses."

"My little wingless bird." Sand pecked her neck lightly, sending tingles through her. "Come, let me show you around." He seemed quite happy to show her about the ship. The vessel was larger than Equestrian ones, clearly designed to house the larger ponies that rode them. They had smaller servants for the finer jobs, however.

Sand and Blue explored the airship before finding seats. "They must launch quickly if we wish to land early enough."

She nodded quietly. "That makes sense. When will that—" She lurched as the room moved around her. They had just taken off. "Never mind that question, the answer arrived before I could finish it." She laughed at her own foalishness. "We'll be there in no time at all."

He touched noses to hers. "Precisely. We are to meet with Shining Armor and the princess that left just ahead of us, I am told."

She rubbed up against him affectionately. "Both of them! But Princess Celestia will also be there. A chance to share words with her is certainly worth the trip, even if weddings don't interest you." She sat back in the cushioned seat. "This whole venture will prove interesting indeed."

Prince Sand grunted as he got comfortable. "Are they not similar, Cadance and Celestia?"

Blue considered that question. "They are both princesses of Equestria, yes, but Celestia is the one truly in charge. She raises the sun, and she sets the laws we abide by before any other. The bit, as it were, stops with her. In a manner of speaking, of course, since I would never use such crude phrasing to her directly. Or Luna, for that matter."

"I've heard much about her sister, but never met Luna." He took a slow breath. "Princess Celestia I have at least seen. My father took me once, to visit Equestria. She stood tall and powerfully, as large as any of us. I was amazed at how much she towered over her subjects, and me. I was but a foal at the time."

Blue nodded. "I've lived there for most of my life. Her castle has always been that regal. You cannot help but respect her, unless you are simply awful." She chuckled weakly, remembering her past. "Like me." She felt the pang of guilt strike within, as she compared herself to a true monarch. "But she is a good ruler, just as you will be, my prince." She leaned against him.

"It is strange." Sand wrapped a foreleg about Blue. "I've never thought about the future like this. Before you, it was training, feasts, parties. All the usual things." He drew her closer. "Now I think of the future, and our place in it. I am told the princesses, the ones with wings and horns, do not age. You are not one of those. Perhaps for the best, the idea of being outlived by magnitudes by my queen? Difficult to accept. My only choice in the end would be to join you in the dirt, where I would belong far sooner."

Blue swallowed hard. "If there was a way to extend our lives, or return youth to an aged body, I would have read about it." She rubbed at her neck. "But let's not belabor that thought. We are both normal ponies. We will live a normal amount of time, a long normal amount of time, I do hope. More than anything, I desire a lasting peace and friendship with my old land, while we rule my new one."

"I love that about you." Sand bumped muzzles with her. "Let's change topics before I start crying."

Things became quieter, but companionable. They could hear the soft rumble of the rotors spinning about, keeping the airship aloft and pointed in the right direction.

Blue perked suddenly. "Why don't we go to the deck? I mentioned the view, and we can't see much from here. A lovely view to occupy the mind and bedazzle the senses."

"As you desire." Sand followed as Blue pulled him out from the comfort of their lounge seats. Together, they walked until the floor turned to railings and wind caressed them both.

From the bow of the ship, they watched the desert landscape rush beneath them. She pointed ahead of them, into the wind. "And that's where we're headed. I can't wait to show you around. Canterlot is a true delight, with all manner of places to be and ponies to bump into. It's going to be quite crowded, with this being such a major event."

"Yes." Sand squinted at the horizon. "There are days when I envy you, Blue."

"What? Why?" She whirled on him, eyes up at him and her head tilted faintly. "You're royalty, why would you possibly envy a transplanted unicorn?"

"I've lived my life in comfort and security," explained the massive prince, drawing a hoof through the air as he gestured and explained. "You've tasted freedom. While you are of noble breeding, clearly, you speak as if you were allowed to largely go where you wished. To find a path and follow it without having it paved ahead of you from birth. The joys of a commoner, where we come from. Those of noble birth must attend to their duties, and those duties do not often take breaks."

"Not often." She leaned against the railing with her forelegs wrapped around. "But this is exactly one of those times. You will be with me, dear Prince, and I will not judge you harshly if you simply smile and enjoy what Equestria will gladly share. Come now. Enjoy the breeze upon your mane and fur. Feel the sun on your face."

He tilted his face towards the warm light. "You are too wise for me, sweet Belle." He smiled broadly, arms splayed out atop the railing. "This trip feels more enchanting by the moment. I can barely imagine what things you have in store for me.

Author's Note

Yay, Equestria! I hear that's a nice place. Where do you want to see Sand visit while he's there?

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