Blueblood Household : The Darkest Dungeon

Chapters

A letter long overdue
The Duke's diary : First entry
The Duke's diary : Second entry
Reminiscence of past events
The Duke's diary : Third entry
The Duke's diary : Fourth entry
Return of the Duke
Meeting with national Heroes
The Duke at the Galla

A letter long overdue

It was a very long and exhausting journey for princess Mi Amore Cadanza, the kind of journey she hopped to never have to face again after the disaster that almost was her wedding. At least this one was to be expected, the resurgence of an entire empire in the frozen lands of the north after a thousand years was a major event. An event that both Celestia and Luna had prepared for since the empire originally disappeared. With a powerful tyrant bend on enslaving the last mentioned empire with dark magic, you take no risk.

She could not had resented her aunt Celestia for sending her and her husband to help deal with the threat, they knew that her power over love was the best weapon they had for the situation. It's just... why did it have to happen so soon after that cursed day who should have been the best in her life ! Anyway... Now, thanks to the help of Twilight sparkle, her dragon assistant and the other elements the crisis was averted, Sombra was defeated, and she was now in charge of an empire.

Cleaning up the mess that Sombra left behind and getting the Crystal ponies back to a normal life was not that difficult, the event with Chrysalis and her changelings had long prepared her in that regard. Plus, as the princes of love she had inherent experience for helping ponies in despair. Besides, a festival being the event needed to vanquish Sombra made them start in the right direction. Unfortunately, this was only half of the problem.

When Celestia told her that she should become with her husband the new monarchs of the Crystal Empire, she had barely manege to not instantly flee and bury herself 7 feet down. She was absolutely not ready to be a ruler, nor was Shining Armor who had had been soldier for most of his life. Directing soldier was completely different from ruling civilians, and as the Alicorn of love, ruling and telling ponies what laws they had to live by was not her thing. She thought that she made it clear when she had left her Blueblood heritage to her brother...

Cadance stopped her dark line of thoughts, smiling as she just remember about Vladimir. She could not prevent her gaze from reaching an old family portrait she had recently hang on the left of her new royal bedroom. It was simple photo of her and Blueblood sitting and smiling on the old family courtyard, sitting proudly over the ocean below the manor. She was really missing her brother, for all his seriousness and dark vision of the world, he was still a loving brother.

In fact, she could really benefit of his help and guidance right now. He was the born political leader between the two, his ability to manege any kind of politic/bisness problems and dealing with the pit of vipers that was nobility will one day be the reason for his ascension. It is just... very sad that Vladimir's relentless dedication to his role as an heir, tainted his vision of the world in such a sad shade of black.

*Toc toc toc*

"You may come in !" Said the princess as she turned around to witness her husbund, Shining Armor half opening the door.

"My love ? Its me ! Diner is about to be serve so you can come down now. Unless you are too occupied ?"

"humm ? Oh, no ! I'm ready, I was just... thinking about my brother."

"Oh... are you okay ? I can bring you food here if you want..."

"I'm fine my love, I promise. I'll be her in a minute, okay ?"

Shining Armor nodded after he was reassured by his wife's reassuring smile. He left shortly after, leaving Cadence taking one last gaze at the family photo before sighting in sadness. During his long absence, Vladimir had barely keep contact with the rest of his family and his friends at the capital. His letters were sparse and mostly brief, but they were always filled with love each time. How she longed right now for a new letter from her dearest brother.

It was almost 10 pm now, and the new royal couple was peacefully eating in the dinning room of the crystal palace. They were finally enjoying a long enough moment of peace and quiet, where they could finally rest and truly enjoy the beauty of the crystal empire. Both took this opportunity to tell the other a summary of their respective day. Once done, Cadance told her husband how her trains of thoughts brought her to reminiscent about her older brother.

Armor was always eager to ear about the mysterious yet well known brother of his wife. He has never met the prince until now, since he had already departure for the Blueblood estate when he met Cadance for the first time. Of course, as the captain of the royal guard he was well aware of him, his reputation in the castle preceded him after all. But like most of the ponies he never knew the real Blueblood, or Vladimir as his wife would call him. And now that they were related, they would have to meet and know each other one day.

As Cadance explained how she missed her older brother, especially now as his help would be really appreciated for their current situation, they were interrupted by a guard who came in to inform Cadance that she just received a letter. Curiosity took over the princess as she had no idea who could send her a letter right now. It would not be Twilight as she told her that he next letter would come tomorrow, as for Celestia or Luna they had no reason to send one so soon after the event. However, she soon jumped in existment as she saw the blue and yellow compass seal of her brother on the letter.

"Its a letter from Vladimir ! Incredible, I was getting desperate with one and a half year of waiting since the last one ! I cant wait to see what he is up to !"

"Then, how about we read it together ?"

"Good idea !"

For Princess, Mi Amore Cadanza.

My dearest sister,
I send you this long overdue letter with many regrets filling my mind, knowing that I have failed to provide you with proper updates about myself for almost two years. It has now been five years, since I left the luxurious and duty full life in Canterlot to claim our ancestral lands that I rightfully own. You know well that I take my responsibility as the sole heir of our glorious family heirloom, with the utmost seriousness and dedication it deserve.

The reason for my long and regrettable silence, while not justifying it is as follow. I bare hope that this justification will be enough to quell down you resentment towards me, dearest sister of mine. I have dedicated the last year and a half to greatly improve our domain, from our Manor and its surroundings to the Hamlet below that you are so found of. The old road as now come to see better days.

Now, after many months of hard and restless labor, my work is finally reaching its culmination. Many ponies, from all places and professions come to inhabit and prosper on our lands. I have great plans for our home, and I have an unwavering certitude that it will reach highs only achieved back before the princesses. In three days, I will journey back to Canterlot so I can present to our Aunt, my vision of the Blueblood's house opulent and imperial futur.

The upcoming grand gala that will be hold on that fateful day, shall be perfect for this announcement. I hope that it shall be as well, for our well deserved reunion. Meeting you again, with your recently earned husband will be my greatest pleasure. Besides, I think that in person congratulations are in order, your majesty.

Sincerely,
your beloved older brother,
Duke Vladimir Blueblood.

Author's Note

Greetings, everyone !

This, is my very first fanfiction on this site, but not my first ever. I have been writing a lot more on wattpad under the name of HectorDeTroie. I must warn that I'm not an expert when it comes to MLP by far, but I do think that I read enough on this site and done enough research to have a good enough overall idea.

I kindly ask you to be merciful with me, and not be too mad that I take a few liberties when it comes to the lore and what is canon. I'm also french, so my English may not be the best. Anyway, enjoy this story !

Sincerely,
A new writer on this site :)

The Duke's diary : First entry

27th of January, 996 post somnum lunam.

My new life begin this faithful date, as I start my long journey back towards our family's lands. Here, aboard a luxurious and yet unsteady carriage, I write the first lines of my diary, away from the confort of my private quarters inside Centerlot Castle. It is with a tormented heart that I abandon my dutiful yet enjoyable life back at the capital, surrounded by my family. But alas, the grim news of father's death brings me responsibilities that I cannot ignore nor run away from. Not that I would ever dream of doing so !

Still now, I see the last gaze given to me by my younger sister and aunt before I depart. The eyes of my beloved sister were filled with sadness, yet shined with the light of her infinite and everlasting love for her brother. I could only promise her to keep in touch as best as I could, and to come back when possible. As for Celestia, she kept her usual facade of stoicism during public events, as we had taken care of goodbyes before my departure was publicly announced. Her last words were enough to make me know that it was hard for her.

"I will miss you dearly, Vladimir. Your help and personality had help me keep going far more that I could have ever hopped alone. Luna would have loved you so much."

Their absence in my futur years will be hard to surmount. But now, the number of responsibilities falling upon me demands an unwavering determination. More than ever, I'm ready to take over the mantle of Duke left behind by father's passing. Besides, I would lie to say that I'm not entirely happy to leave Canterlot behind. For all its pristine houses and cobblestone streets, for all the pearly marble and gold sublimating the city, it was still home to rot. The capital city was home to both the best and worst that Equestira had to offer.

The noble class of our kingdom, a despicable community of luxurious depravity and a theater of oversize egos. This place, in which I had the displeasure of living in, is nothing but a nest of parasitic bugs endlessly feasting on the good of society. This entire journey back to the family manor, could be spent reminiscing about all the great projects Celestia and I had to battle over because of those richly dressed parasites, giving us outrageous reasons and arguments to hide their petty greed. And still, it would not be enough to cover it all !

A sudden bump from a misplaced rock on the road and the panicked excuses from my coach driver brings my mind back to the present. I simply dismiss his attempts at apologizing and order him to concentrate back on his job. Thanks Celestia I was not writing when the bump happened... Whatever, at least this accident chased away those distracting thoughts. from what I can see outside we are nearly reaching the Old Road, I must steady myself for what is about to come. I can only hold to the hope that things are not as bad as I think.

----------------------------------

Here we are, after 3 days of rough traveling the Old Road is greeting us. As soon as we start using it my eyes witness the results of years, going by without proper care being given to this path. Misplaced paved stones and potholes are all over before us, forcing the coach driver slalom between these road defects so we not risk to destroy a wheel and have us continue on hoof. This was already a foal omen of what I could have expected from father's latest works. Since the lost of our Beloved mother, the patriarch of our family had fallen low.

Never my sister, Celestia or I would have ever anticipated what had become of him. One of the most serious and dutiful pony you could ever meet, had fallen into many vices as he mind withered away like a burning candle. He was convinced that mother was cursed, that "a vile and ancient dark magic had risen from bellow the manor to drag her into the abyss". After that, h became alcoholic and demented, forcing Celestia to put him in house arrest. Keeping father's decadence out of the public was a hassle, and would be the greatest humiliation that our family ever faced.

After fifteen minutes of following up the Old Road, we reached the surveillance outpost who marks the beginning of our family lands. There, a dozen of royal guards assigned to defend our home were waiting for us. They greeted us in an almost ceremonial way, and the captain in charge of the garrison told me how my arrival would go. First, they would pass through The Hamlet where its inhabitants would greet me with "hopeful joy and eagerness", then we would go straight to the Manor. Those words really did not bode well...

We soon reached The Hamlet with our new found escort, and thankfully it was not as bad as I had envisioned. While the little town had clearly depopulated, the houses and communal buildings still held firm and sturdy. What saddens me is the somber atmosphere reigning over this place. I remember days when the sun shone, and laughter could be heard from the tavern. Now, by coming here you would believe to have found a refuge, barely standing in the middle of a crumbling world. I will not stand for this in any capacity !

When we passed through the streets, a light seemed to have pierced the veil of darkness that had befallen on those poor souls. They looked up at me, ceasing their activities to witness my presence, and all came rushing to meet their new land's lord. They bared the same look many pony would show in the presence of my dearest aunt Celestia, and its making me dread reaching the manor, for it is where I will witness the extend of father's failings. No, I shall not let my mind descending into despair, for it is hope that these ponies dearly needs.

For the duration of us passing through The Hamlet, I passed my head through the window and with all assurance and determination I could muster in my voice, I hereby vowed to them : "Fear not, ponies of those noble lands ! Your darkest times comes to an end !" Ten minutes later we reach the manor, and it has clearly seen better days. How can things had gone to this ? I remember our venerable home, it was opulent and imperial. Now, it is but a shadow of its past self. I shall settle down, bury our father, send a letter of my safe arrival back to Canterlot, and get to work.

Author's Note

A very good chapter, if I say so myself. Quite proud of it !
But, what do you think ? worthy to be narrated ?

The Duke's diary : Second entry

Author's Note

Hello everyone,
I took more time to write this entry for I had a hard time deciding
how to go with it. I hope you will enjoy this one as much as the others.

Have a nice read !

The Duke's diary : Second entry

30th of January, 996 post somnum lunam.

The manor stay pristine, unyielding despise the rot brought inside by my father's decadence. When I first laye my eyes on our family home, I was scared to witness in what state the interior was left behind. From what I've been told by my escort, when father was not lamenting mother's death while spewing occult and prophetic nonsense, he was indulging himself into all the luxurious and scandalous frivolities nobility was know for. He hosted numerous parties where all guests and him included, lost themselves in drunkenness and other activities I dare not name.

While I was to be first escorted into my old bedroom before being brought to our family's crypt where my father's coffin was held, I decided to took 30 minutes to have a look at all the rooms in the mansion. It was clear that the manor had seen better days, cobwebs and dust had claimed most of the interior while many objects littered the floor as if a battle had taken place inside. When asked about the meaning of this mess, the captain told me that father still hold a few events even after loosing the servants who left after being unpaved for 3 months.

I cursed my father's idiocy as I was standing over the sorry sight that was the manor's main hall, where the debauchery must have taken place most of the time. The Blueblood household and name had always pride itself on a righteous and clean image even in the most dires of times, all of us were taught since the youngest age that appearances in the unforgiving and cruel wold of nobility was always the number one priority. Looking over the leftovers of the surely repulsive events who took place her, make my shudder to know how many times our family's name must have been soiled.

However... this is not the time to mindlessly fume over my father's mistakes, anger over past mistakes do not build a better futur. Besides, there is must work to be done and inventorying the damage caused can wait when we plan to undo them. My belongings were brought to my new yet temporary private quarters, before father join our ancestors in death and that I officially inherit the title of Duke. Finding myself back into this old bedroom always manege to bring a nostalgic smile to my face, I fondly remember when my sister and I used to live here.

At least father did not brought disorder to any rooms he usually don't go into, nor any of his guests found themselves in our old bedroom to defile it with their disgusting needs. Now, I must pay back the servants for their last three months services
and bring them back. I sit myself on my desk mother had brought me when I reached my first university year, starting to fill bills of exchange with a simple letter of excuse signed by my name attached to it. Once done, I started to meditate on futur solutions before I was interrupted by the captain of the guard coming in.

"Thank you for bring me here safe, captain. Though most of my gratitude is for you keeping order and peace for the brief period when our house was leaderless. A shall take an hour to recover from this draining journey now, please make sure that a full report about the estate's situation is ready for after I payed my last respects to my father."

"Of course your majesty, is there any problem you need dealt with as soon as possible" ?

"Yes, please take those bills of exchange and send them to be posted to our old servants. They should cover their three unpaid months and make them come back. I suppose that they should already be aware of the succession, but those letters attached to it shall prevent any possible misunderstandings".

"Very well your majesty, consider it already done".

"Please captain, do not forget you and your men to take a well deserved rest. Those next days, month and even years will be exhausting, and everypony will have to be unyielding in body and spirit".

I looked at the officer bow down in thanks and reverence before going away, only hopping that he has taken this order seriously. I took my own advise and made basic stretching exercices before unceremoniously throwing myself onto my bed. After around 45 minutes of laying there, using many relaxing tricks aunt Celestia taught me for recovering quicker while not completely keeping the current problems out of my mind. Once I had gathered enough strength back, I decided to go for a stroll in the manor to keep my legs from going numb.

I walked through the ancient yet study stone corridors of our family house, richly decorated with old armor and weapons themselves complemented with luxurious tapestry and grand paintings, all depicting an older age where war was still a very important part of life. I passed the library after refraining myself from staying in with great difficulty, and passed through the hall of remembrance. This place was a time machine, in the center of the most far away wall was our family tree graved in marble and gold. The rest of the surfaces were decorated with the respective portraits of my ancestors, complemented each with their armory and war gear.

I choose the family's head office as my last destination for this walk, as it was soon to be my futur place of work and where I will pass most of my time in the near futur. To keep my mind occupied on the rest of the way, I took up a little exercice that father gave me when I reached the age of ten. I was to find and later recognized all the secret passages disseminated in the manor. As our family predate the current age of peace, those kind of passageways were a must have for all powerful and rich families and of course, the Blueblood house did not escaped the rule.

The main and most important secret passage was hidden in the grand chimney of the master bedroom, the mechanism to open it was very complexe and brought you into a very long spiral staircase, leading into a hidden alcove directly at sea level. There, a secret dock and ship was waiting for evacuation. I finally reached the office and, for the very first time in my life entered it. The family's head office was a very important and special place, for nobody except the current Duke of
Blueblood, Celestia and her sister Luna 1000 years ago was ever allowed to enter.

The room was by far the most in disarray, mountains of papers and books were littering the floor. Many decorative objects seemed to have been thrown away as if a tornado or a violant magic discharge had happened inside. As I started to put away the mess a peculiar set of things got my attention. In the far right left was standing one of many bookshelves in this room, which was in complete disorder like the rest. However, five books in random places were still standing perfectly in order while it shouldn't be the case. After a few trials and errors, I manege to open the obvious secret passage they were made to open. It brought me into a secret archive holding many very ancient books and scrolls.

Reminiscence of past events

It was an excruciating week for the solar princess of Equestria. While the upcoming grand galla had quelled down the nobles constant need to pester her with selfish needs, the preparation for the event always took all of her energy. Besides, this year has been particularly eventful to say the least. The first major event being sending away her dear student and pupil Twilight Sparkle in Ponyville, so she could start learning about friendship, stopping Nightmare Moon by gaining ownership over the elements of harmony and bring her beloved sister back to her.

To this day, Celestia bare guilt for informing Twilight of her hidden agenda concerning her, or that sending her pupil to this town when Nightmare Moon would return was not a coincidence. But she had no choice, for Sparkle and her friends had to face this challenge alone or the elements may not have accepted them. Besides, she had a few backup plans if the situation was to go south. She was far from careless, and as Vladimir responded her when she had explained him her plan via writing him a letter :

"Putting all of your faith into unprepared individuals and ancient artefacts even you can't fully understand, is no more than pure foolishness and an irresponsible gamble. One which in case of failure would results in five meaningless sacrifices at best, and the end of this kingdom at worst."

Words could not describe all the joy she felt when her faithful student and her friends came out victorious of this endeavor, even more when Luna returned to her. When she had finally joined the fray, she explained to the new five bearers how her sister Luna and Nightmare Moon were connected, how they had fulfill the prophecy told in the history books by defeating the terrible Nightmare moon and freed Equestria's lost princess of the night. This was also a lie she had invented to forever save Luna's reputation and accept her own past failure in the matter.

After that, she had send them away to finally embrace her beloved sister once more, to give her the apologies she rightfully deserve. They took a few minutes to put their feelings and hearts out, promising each other than never again they would be separated by repeating the same mistakes. The hours following their victory over Nightmare Moon, both the new element bearers and the return of Luna were celebrated throughout the kingdom, and the princess of the moon was reintroduced to her ruling place with promises to never be ignored again.

The return of her sister had also greatly put weight out of Celestia's shoulders. Since her nephew had to depart to bury his recently deceased father and inherit the title of duke, taking over the Blueblood's legacy she had to take care of the nobles alone once again. She would never have been able to take it for an entire millennia without the assistance of the Blueblood family. In fact, it is only thanks to Vladimir's otherworldly ability to dominate those "parasitic leeches" in their own game, as well as the councils he provided that she made it out alone those last years without murdering one of them.

It was only two weeks later that the changeling invasion happened, and what a terrible mess it was. Cadence's wedding with Shining Armor as been used by queen Chrysalis to infiltrate the castle, allowing her hive to feast on the love of her beloved ponies. The worst of it was that she had been partially to blame for this mess, a thousand years of undisputed peace had soften her to the point of keeping the event going despite the obvious threat looming over their head. Her sister had almost killed her for that, and Vladimir's letter after the event made it clear that he would had finished her off had he been present.

But again, her biggest guilt and regret was towards her dearest pupil. When Twilight had declared time and time again that there was something truly wrong with "Cadence" which she had knew since she was a filly, none of her friends had believed her. They all told her that she was over reacting, and while her brother had the excuse of being mind controlled by Chrysalis disguised as his fiancé, she did not. The truth is that she was so exhausted by everything and on edge with the changeling threat, that she denied her student's warning in the faint hope that there would be no problem. She even refused to see the obvious uncharacteristic horrible personality of the fake Cadence, something that her nephew didn't take well.

"Your exhaustion and desperation for normalcy, had rendered you blind to the shadows lurking in your own home. Have I not told you, that evil and death waits for the slightest lapse of concentration ?"

Finally there was the return of the crystal empire and it's tyrant. This was the last major event that happened this year, and this time Celestia had learned from the two last events. She send Cadence, Shining Armor and Luna in advance to reach the empire and assess the situation of the crystal ponies. Once they had a clear picture of what state the empire and its citizens were left in, she joined them with Twilight and the other element bearers equipped with their most powerful weapon. From there it was only a question of buying her student enough time to find about the crystal heart, take it back from Sombra and using its power to take him down.

At first, she had expected Blueblood to not be happy about sending his sister like that on the front lines, especially so soon after what happened with Chrysalis. She was expecting him to be even less thrilled with the decision to give her the position of new monarch of the crystal empire afterwords, as she was clearly not ready for such a job nor would she want to have it in the first place. But to her astonishment, her nephew was surprisingly lenient with all of this and very understanding with the fact that Cadence's power over love was giving them no choice in that matter. In fact, there was something in Vladimir's letters that unsettled her quite a bit.

He wished to have their encounters with Sombra and their battle against his dark magic told to him. He wanted to have as much info about him as possible, telling her that the more details he had about it the better it would be. He even asked her to be informed if they could find knowledge or artefacts kept secret by the dark king, all that under the pretext that many rumors about dark arts usage has been spread on his family's lands, that the Blueblood's household was involved and he wished to verify those claims.

She really didn't like her nephew's new found interest for dark magic, even if it was for verifying simple rumors. At least she will be able to interrogate him about this directly during the upcoming galla. She just received his latest letter informing her that he would actually be present, since he had made enough progress on his family's estate to get a few days of vacation. She was glad that he would be there, her and Cadence really miss him and many new faces would be thrilled to finally meet her nephew. Luna will loved him for sure, they are quite the kindred spirits after all.

The Duke's diary : Third entry

17th of March, 996 post somnum lunam.

A new dawn is upon our old family's mansion, and with it comes the ceremony to put my beloved father to rest. Many of the estate's common folks came to be present at the funeral, most of them being ponies of advanced age who had known father for at least a decade. They came to pay respect to the dutiful and righteous stallion my father always was, the one who could still proudly represent our family's name. As for the few ponies who were present, while they had never knew who this dead stallion was before his fall of grace, they had come to help me getting over this tragedy.

To be truthful, I am quite torn between gratitude and shame when it comes to their sweet words of encouragement and the condolences offered to me. As the eldest child I should have been at father's side during his most difficult, last moments. He should have not be left alone to rot in this luxurious yet isolated place, while his sanity was withering away and he was falling pray to depravity. Aunt Celestia had told me herself that duties must never come before family unless very dire circonstance. she had herself payed dearly for making this very mistake.

Yet here I am, facing rightful guilty clawing at my heart after doing the exact same misstep. How pitiful. Now, I can only move forward knowing that in due time, I will know the tragic extend of my failings. As I was reading the condolence letters sent by my family, I could already hear them berating me for being too hard on myself, that drowning myself in responsibilities and always taking th full blame when failing was unhealthy. Preposterous ! Trying to smooth down the edges and downplaying your mistakes is nothing short of pure folly, it is asking for any scratchs to turn into open wounds !

... I, for once, appreciate having my mind plagued with distractive thoughts. The secret archive of ancient documents hidden behind father's office, are allowing me to not lost myself to much in self loathing. As hunting the implications of the scrolls content are, they provide me a great deal of mystery and academic interest that I had not know since my days back at the old Canterlot royal university. Alas, I cannot devote more of my time to this topic. Before I knew it the ceremony had ended, my father was berried, I was now officially duke Blueblood and there was considerable work to be done.

After all ponies except the guards and the Caretaker of our family's estate have left, the two of us made our way back to the manor escorted by the captain of the guard, to strategies and plan our restoration and development projects. I asked first and foremost a report of our financial report and the state of the estate's infrastructures. To my plaisent surprise father did not diminished our fortune too much, giving us with the wealth I brought back with me from the capital a very generous treasury. It seems that we will have more freedom than anticipated.

For now, the main priorities brought to my attention were the state of the roads as well as a lack of guards and ressources to maintain security. The captain even informed me that he and his fellow guards have become wherry of an infamous groupe of griffon bandits and pillagers, forming in the outskirts of the estate particularly in the forest around the old road. This new information brought me a mixture of revulsion and great concern for the well being of my subjects. Fortunately it seems that no attacks of this group have been reported yet.

As for the road problem, the caretaker made it quickly clear that we lacking in terms of workers. In fact, if it wasn't for his arrival being this early they would not even have a blacksmith anymore. Those problems it seems, will not be taken care of before I can request ressources to the princess. I have asked the captain to determine if those griffon ruffians can be bribed to stay low and unhealthful with money until we receive help from the capital. As for the old road, it can wait for now. Until we can make progress in those regards, we must concentrate on our more primal needs.

Water seems to not be a problem thanks to the lake coming down the mountains, bringing fresh water directly at the foot of the hamlet. I will still like to see if an access to an underground source through a well could be possible. As for the food, while we posses a farm near with wheat, hay and a few cereals fields, it seems that the farmers are also in need of workers. We can only hope that cleaning the mess father left behind and the news of my new leadership will bring to us new faces and hooves to work with.

For now, those problematic are more than enough to muster our full attention for the past month. I send the Caretaker and Captain away to deal with there respective tasks. The former will bring a report of all logistic dilemmas for the hamlet and all the needs my subjects may direly need. Meanwhile, the Captain will bring together all of the guard to start organisation on a much greater scale, seeing if potential new recrutes can be taken in and trained, as well as getting new information about those bandits. For me, there is a few letters that must be written and send away.

As I sat in front of my new working desk who before me belonged to our family leaders for generations, I realized that there was something still parasitizing my thoughts. With a new found immediate objective and many other important problematic at hooves, I would be able to centralize all my attention on the futur of the estate. But the more time passed with my mind working 100 miles an hour, the more I realize how those accursed secret documents hidden behind with their ominous content was relentlessly bugging me !

Before coming here, I swear on my honor and name that I would never fall in the same folly and paranoïa that Father fell victim to... But the more I try to ignore the oppressing presence of those artefacts and scrolls hidden behind me, trying to suppress my relentless curiosity about the tales they wish to communicate... I am more and more persuaded that they are whispering to me. Celestia, give your pour nephew the strength to overcome all darkness...

The Duke's diary : Fourth entry

25th of March, 996 post somnum lunam.

One week has now passed, since I received aunt Celestia's answer to my request for additional workforce. It was with great relief that I was standing with the rest of the estate at the Hamlet's center, witnessing them reaching my family's estate. This extended delay had troubled me greatly, has my dearest aunt had been more then happy to comply with my demand, even assuring me that our precarious situation would be solved as soon as possible. After the six day, my pessimistic mind had started to envision the most dreadful scenarios and reasons for this dreadful delay. Some were downright absurd.

It seem that the lingering fear ever so present in the back of my mind, may have already been proven not as irrational as I once thought. No matter, my vow to stand strong where and when my father had fallen shall not be broken. No everlasting or otherworldly whispering shall change this fact. Besides, there was no reason to doubt our solar monarch, and the results of my trust in her were now once again proving it to be rightfully earned. It appear that the additional time needed for their arrival was needed because my dearest aunt Celestia took the time to blow me expectations.

Here, before the eyes of everypony present, passed a formidable convoy of joyful yet serious workers, experience and hard work carved in their body. With them came a great abondance of supplies, machinery and every tools needed to achieve our goal. While the captain of the guard was escorting the leading heads of this workforce towards me and the Caretaker of our family Estate, everypony present gave a warm welcome to the workers, showing them how excited they were to see them at work. Dearest aunt, you shall soon receive my praise through mail.

The presentations between me and the lead workers were quick and formal. While I never met any of them in person, all of those stallions soon to be in charge of every construction sites in my estate, their reputation back in the capital were clear. They were the best of the best. As for the other way around, they obviously knew me and my own reputation quite well, so I did not bother with a long monologue about myself. There was work to be done and enough time was already wasted.

Me and those gentlecolts reach my office soon enough make ourselves confortable to discuss important matters. First, we discuss and plan all major objectives and establish a priority order to be as efficient as possible. Then they proceed to give me an expectation of the time needed to accomplish everything. The result is approximately three years of well organized effort to reach all principal goals, which is a delay I am content with. However, while those endeavors will take care of most infrastructural problems it will still leave us with a major setback.

Planning the betterment of our family estate with a very long term vision, means making projects while caring about their aftermath. Consequently, I do not wish to see all this workforce going back to the capital, leaving us again with a lack of professional workers in all architectural and engineerings fields. So, I brought my concern over this fact to those leading workers with hopes that some of their employees would establish here more permanently. Words could not describe my relief, when they told me that a non negligible amount of their more experienced workers had volunteered for this project, with this very objective in mind.

It appear that the terrible state of my family lands were more common knowledge that I originally thought. Because of this, when ponies learned of my ambitions to restore their lost glory, they knew because of my reputation that it was a golden opportunity to start their own bisness in our estate. With everything settled and my worries about keeping workforce put to rest, I dismissed them with the last task of sending me the workers in question when there was time. I would make sure that they keep their ambition of staying here intact.

Not long after there departure, the captain of the guard joins me to report about our griffin outlaws dilemma. While most of the Hamlet residents view this alliance in a negative light, (neither do I) it is unfortunately our only option for the time being, as dearest aunt Celestia cannot spare us any military forces at the moment. Luckily for us, it seems that those pests are far more interested in money that any kind of moral codes or principles. So, they have accepted to become mercenaries for the estate as long as they are paid enough. While legally reprehensible, it will have to do for now.

With all plans set in motion, I would spending the rest of the day in my office drowning in seemingly endless stacks of paper work. Curse father for lousing our family treasurer in his decadence and folly ! I can only wish that finding and bringing him back will not become a quest of its own. It seems that I am in a desperate need of a good distraction or else I will end up like father. Classical high class activities for nobles are already forgotten, as I have already long be bored of those meaningless and conventional distractions.

The familial library came to mind, history and grand magic discoveries had always fascinated me and my interest in them has yet to fade. However, I fear it will not be enough to distract me this time. Then I remembered another interest of mine, one that I keep secret because of its nature being shunned upon, occult knowledge. When this memory came back to me, something incomprehensible happen, an event that I still cannot fully understand. The otherworldly, everlasting whispers in the back of my mind became... soothing.

In an instant, my mind was now sully focused on the secrets lying behind the bookshelves in the back of my office. Like a mere puppet guided by its strings I abandoned all my current work and made my way inside the secret study behind. Once inside I mechanically used my magic to lit up the candles inside and sat down to study those ancient scrolls and documents. Fueled with an interest and thirst for knowledge the like I never felt since back my old university years, I was completely immerge in those old papers, reading and studying all they had to offer.

Three hours passed as I printed in my mind words and masterfully drawn symbols and sketches on every last documents and scrolls present. They were speaking of a giant gateless gate buried deep below the manor, a door separating us from a world and creature beyond our understanding. They call it the heart of the world, progenitor of life, mother and father, the alpha and the omega, origin of all things. They say that any living being who would stand in front, could heart the relentless beating of Equis heart. Was it calling to our family ? As it chosen us ?

Suddenly and without warning, the whispers in the back of my mind vanished. With their disappearance came back most of my lucidity, and blink a few times before understanding my current situation. I was confused and started panicking once I realized all the time I had lost, but then I remembered that I still had time to finish my work. Besides, I had now found some thing healthy to keep my mind distracted. If they were there, aunt Celestia and my sister would be happy about it. Diner will give me the occasion to reflect a bit.

Anyway, now that I think about it... do we posses in our newly acquired workforce all the materials and tools necessary with enough workers to complete a major excavation operation ?

Author's Note

There we go ladies and gentleman, things are starting to get spicy now !

Return of the Duke

The Grand Gallopa Gala has always been one of the most important and prestigious event in the kingdom, the attraction and passions it braught never fading despite the ages. This fact was curently reminded to Blueblood as his carriage was passing throught the last major town before the capital. While their temperary presence did not go unnoticed and brought its fair amount of attention, most ponies where most focused on trying to win invitations for themselves. In the end they just made their way through the main avenue, only stoping a few minutes to have a formal discussion with the mayor.

Vladimir was quite glad that it went this way, as since he and his expedition team had finally reached this accursed gate deep under his family's mansion, the voice beyond the gate had wormed itslef in the depth of his mind. Because of this, he desperently needed to put distance between himself and this outwordly place and fast. Unfortunately for him, while getting getting away from this dreaded place did diminished its influence, it was clear that it had already taken root deep into his very psyche, clenshing his soul like a hawk its prey.

However, when he informed his sister about it via letter a few days ago, she brought out a proposition that could help him relax. Knowing that his brother would pass near Ponyville on his way to reach Canterlot, he proposed him to stay there the night and take the opportunity to meet her fillyhood friend Twilight Sparkle and the rest of the elements. Desperate to have his mind distracted from the oblivion growing in his head, he agreed to her proposition as he would have the opportunity to finish his travel via the Equestrian express.

While a small smile crept on his face with the prospect of finally meeting the elements of harmony and Miss Twilight Sparkle himself, a long tired sight escaped his musle as he took a look outside. Remembering with disdain the frivolous event he will have to attend to at the capital. While The Grand Gallopa Gala has always been one of the most important and prestigious event in the kingdom, it was also the one he despised he most. Originally princess Celestia had created the event to give the commoners a chance to mingle with aristocracy, hopping to lower the social gap a bit between both classes.

Needless to say that it only achieve the exact opposit that what she had hopped for. This gala became nothing more than a grotesque theater play where both sides build up their ego as much as they could : the commoners acting and pretending to be part of nobility, while the nobles came to look down upon the poor and show how superior they were. As for him ? His experiences of the event was alwys the the same, trying to enjoy the festivites and the music in peace while having to deal with commoners and nobles alike, trying to get compliments or his support for projects by endlessly licking his hooves.

The worst, and by far were the mares. He was pretty sure that if the Gala was not public and this open, he would end up in an orgy, with dozen succubus like demons crowling all over him. While many stalions would have considered themselves in heaven in his place, their feable egos catapulted higher than any montain pics, he saw better. The world of nobles is a giant viper pit, a place where actual love between individuals is as rare an precious as the most looked out for crystals. Thankfully his ancestral house was righteous and truly worthy of being called a "noble" house, all of its members are well trained into seeing through lies and mind games, to break through masks and reach the truth in the eyes and the words of liars.

By virtue of being chosen as the heir since the young age of 5, his sister already making clear back then that she was not interested in the position, he was quickly trained for his future and mastering those kinds of arts. And what a master he has become ! It was not for nothing that he was known by his family and royal guard as the pest killer. In fact, Celestia once told him that he was almost getting to the level of her sister when it came to reading through her own mask. His answer to her was that, if it was indeed the case she should start getting more receptive to the idea of having another family member to to serve as a consultant, to talk to about her mental turmals and stress, to stop trying to keep all her problems for herself.

I know how important your image of an unshakable ruler is, but this eternal excuse disguised as a justification is getting on my nerves now. You admited yourself that you are no god, and while I doubt than that psychological tourment of yours will ever make you blow up in flight, it can lead you up to make mistakes. You should know better than anypony else how disastreous of consequences your failures can be. So please ! For the love of equus ! Act as the responsable ruler and older sister you supposedly are !

Vladimir will always foundly remember this discussion he had with Celestia. He never hidded the fact that, getting that face of pure shock and then look of pride from her, for being the only pony who ever dared to rase his tone against her beside her younger sister, was one of his proudest achievment. He was really not the kind of stalion to endlessly brag about his achievments. But right now ? As he was seeing the outskirt of Ponyville starting to appear far away ? Let just say that meeting the rest of his family after so much time will be the perfect opportunity to jab at her aunt again with that...

And of course, as he was finally enjoying a bit of time without thinking of what was waiting him back at the estate, the voice struck back with a vengence. Blueblood took a deep breath as he massaged his head, trying to diminish his headache. How ironic that he was proud of calling out his aunt Celestia for acting selfish and keeping troublesome secrets for herself, when he was doing the same with something he knew would change the world forever. How pretentious, dishonest and fake was it making him now ? Did he not vowed to never bring shame to his family's name ?

*sight* The truth is, he was terribly afraid. His morbid curiosity and the growing influence he know the voice exert over him had brought to this path and makes sure he continued to follow it. Was it shame, his fear, the will to protect his family with the proespect of a noble sacrifice, or like his aunt the foolish idea that he can face his biggest problem alone, that keep him from revealing his discoveries and asking for help ? The answer to this question, was unfortunatley not known to him. For now, he can only hope that his life will not end like his father, in endless regrets and despair.

Author's Note

Vladimir of the present is near his first interactions with the protagonists !
How do you think it will go ?

Meeting with national Heroes

Vladimir's stay in Ponyville went deilightfuly well and quite uneventful, as this little town proved to quite peaceful. At least... as peaceful as it can be for a little town standing right next to the dreadful and dangerous Everfree forest, while also being home to the 6 bearers of the elements of harmony. Since the arrival of princess Celestia's personal student and protege, the little town have experienced its fare share of important and terrible events, such as the return of Nightmare Moon or a revengeful, itinerant magician, possessing a powerful relique made by the nefarious tyrant of the north, who came with the goal of banish miss Sparkle and turn this town into her playground.

To his contentment, this made his arrival in Ponyville a less "big" event for the residents than in previous towns, where he had to temporarily settle down for the night. His imposing and luxurious carriage garnered him and his escort a few curious glances and widen eyes but nothing more. After an express trip to the town hall to have a meeting with the mayor, he got all the information he still lacked about Twilight Sparkle and the other bearers, his little sister Cadence having forgotten to give him descriptions of the mares. Once he had received assurance of food and beds for his escort, finding Miss Sparkle's household was colt's play because of its nature.

A library made from a tree ? What a peculiar household for Celestia's prized pupil. He had mused when finding himself in front of it.

It would only be the day after that he would finaly meet the other bearers, as Luna's celestial body was already dominating the skies when his carriage had reached the little town. He was first received by the mare's baby dragon that he had heard about, the poor fellow was frighten by him at first. He could not blame the young reptile, with his luxorious and expensive clothes and towering build forged from years in military school. All of this supporting a face everlasting severe and somber, with a gaze, dark, heavy, forever haunted by terrible discoveries. Most ponies would have gone mad long before they ever could rech the same point he was now at.

It took all the gentleness he could muster into his tired, deep voice to put young Spike at ease. Fortunatly, the mention of his little sister and annoncing his family connection with her was all it took, to overcome the fear and uncertainty clawing at his heart. This brought shortly after his long awaited meeting with the leader of the harmony bearers. While Miss Sparkle was undoubtedly delighted to finally get to know her new half-brother, Blueblood was in a delicate balance between unease and hope. He already knows what his expedition in the other side of that hellish gate will unleash, all signs are already there and he as gone too far now to go back.

He could already feel how this young, carefree yet steadful and brilliant mare, would be the leading factor in fighting against the unfathomable horrors he's about to unleash onto this world. But what they have faced until now, pales in comparision to the coming consequences of his sins. The horrors beyond this otherworldly doorway will not be the only dangers that await them, for he has delve into dark and unnatural arts so vile, that even fiends the likes of Sombra and Grogar would be horrified. As for himself ? He was unredeemable, unsavable, while the voices where silent now because of distance he was marked beyond liberation, tainted beyond salvation.

When the time for bed had come, Miss Twilight brought him to the guest room she had gracefuly prvoided to him. She even apologies for not giving me a bedroom of royal standards ! Reassuring her that it would not be problematic for him, as his few years back in miltary school made me sleep in far worse than that, he watched her depart with immense guilt building in his guts, tearring them apart as his worst sins still linguering at the back of his mind. As he stepped in his bed whith hope of a restful night, a thought came to him.

Her genius and kindness are indeniable there is no doubt in that regard. Cadence told me that Miss Sparkle was incredibly insightful and perceptive... is she at risk of discovering the sea of putrid darkness now filling my being and my soul ? *sight* My she not, for the good of us all...

Tomorrow morning come far sooner than Vladimir would have liked to. Though the breakfast with Miss Twilight and young Spike, who I now know was hatched by the latest and serves as her assistant. They even seemed to share some kind of Son Mother bound, even though they apparently do not realize it fully themselves. Dear aunt Celestia did not lie in her letters, her student is indeed full of surprises. A few hours later, Miss Twilight, her assistant and myself with two gards of my escort whent to the train station to meet up the rest of the element bearers and imbarc on the express for the capitol.

The team of six mares forming the harmonial bearers was... eteroclit, to say the least. A pegasus harboring a rainbow mane and a preposterous ego, another shy and cowardly one with undeveloped wings and an obsessive love for animals, (may she never now or meet my failed experiments in the Warrens) a righteous earth pony farmer with unpredecendent disdain for lies, an oblivious and overactive party maker with complete disregard for danger, and finally a delusional seamstress parading as nobility.

Their reaction to my presence and who I was were mostly good, mostly curious and full of question which was expected, as his duties and work kept him far away for years now. Long discussion were made between him and them, exchanging many informations with out revealing too much nad allowing them to pass the time of travel in a pleasant way. Well... mostly in a pleasant way, the obnoxious way of the rainbow pegasus to take the retelling of all his achievements as a challenge and the seamstress fawning all over him got infuriating very quickly.

Thankfully, he was skillful in dealing with those two kinds of ponies without becoming an "asshole". They were making most of nobility after all, and while Blueblood was not pretencious or full of himself like the most of them, royal etiquette was still deeply ingraved in his mind and body, making him always act as such even when really didn't want to. *sight* He really is not looking forword to the galla.

The Duke at the Galla

Twilight Sparkle's pov

The last two days have been incredibly eventful to say the least. The first big one being the princess sending her and the other elements bearers, invitations to the Grand Galopa Galla at Canterlot. Which is a descision she had yet to make sense of, since it is mostly some king of exibition tournament for the nobles to show how superior they were to the "commoners" while those ponies of lesser status tried to look like them. She really could not see any kind of good friendship lesson she could get out of it, especially with the description of the event given to her by Cadence.

Well, in reality, it was the description of her brother Vladimir Blueblood, about the event and the nobles. One that she had relayed to her. And what a description it was ! Cadence had always told her that Vladimir was a master orator and brilliant with words, something he had herited from their father. She had even showed her some letters she had previously received from him, and they were indeed quite beautiful. But this speech about the Galla and the nobles ? That, was something else. She never thought that somepony could verbaly demolish an event or a social class like that, while still keeping a high level of refinment and poetic class in their elocution.

One thing was sure, Blueblood did not held his own social class in high regards. Which, without a doubts, made her secretly even more enthousiastic about meeting him.

Speeking of her fillyhood friend's brother, he ended up being the second big event of those last 31 hours. While meeting him at the Grand Galla was expected, him knocking at her door at late afternoon the day prior the event, was certainly not. When Spyke had barged in her bedroom in panick, informing her of their new guest, she was not prepared at all. Words could not described how akward and clumbsy she had been when greeting her guest, if he had not been so understandable she would have died of embarrasment multiple times. Fortunately, Vladimir prooved to be far less severe and unforgiving that his posture, look and gaze appeared to be.

In fact, now that she had all taken the time to know Blueblood better, she had discovered many things about her fillyhood friend's brother. Although all the qualities and flaws that Cadence had listed about him revealed themselves quite quickly, It was clear that meeting him face to face was very differed from what she had originally imagined. Now, in the train Express to Canterlot with her friends and Vladimir, the young prince has shown unexpected traits since their original meeting. And to be truthful, he was making her... very... very warry, unconfortable and unsetlde.

Most ponies would probably overlook them, as Blueblood was impeccable in his manners, polite, and without a superiority complex like all the other nobles, which was incredibly rare. But she was not most ponies. It is hard to truely describe it, but her new stepbrother felt... distant. His manner, his way of speaking, his gaze... they were haunted, distant, dark. When there were a few moments of silence or when he was left alone, I could see him staring out with his eyes fixed on nothing... with the same look you have when you are trying to forget a nightmare that haunts you.

But putting herself asside, she was mostly worried about his well being. Cadence and Celestia had told her many times that he was a pony of many responsabilities, a workaholic with a very grim view of reality, and a stalion that always put too much pressure on himself. She had no idea of how bad it really was. It has been 8 hours since he arrived now, and she has yet to see him show even the shadow of a smile, despise her and the other girls best efforts. Now with the express just reaching Canterlot and knowing that he will despise the Galla, she can only hope that Cadence and the Princesses will be able to help him get better...

Vladimir Blueblood's pov

Here we are... Canterlot, the heart of the princesses kingdom, the center of ponykind, and where the most persistant kind of filth swarm and camouflage themselves behind their immense wealth and the most luxurious clothes. When the news of the changeling invasions reached our household and were brought to my attention, it would be lying to say that I found the situation quite ironic. A literal kind of parasitic bugs, fattening themselves on another kind of vermin. Telling you which one of the two is the most harmful to Equestria is quite a challenge.

At least, I can boast of having traveled this morning in good company, even though the elements of generosity, loyalty and laughter proved themselves to be mildly tiresome. I would not condemn miss Pinkamena's endless positive and cheerful energy, but the two others are a different story. I asked myself if miss Dash's obnoxious boastering was due to a dire need to prove herself or overconfidence, both being incidious poisons of the mind by their own. As for Miss Rarity and her disturbing obsession with me, it remains to be seen whether it comes from genuine admiration and love, or from a desire for my fortune and family legacy.

My utmost thanks to provide me great company in this trip to Canterlot, ladies of Harmony. Twilight Sparkle, dearest stepsister, you have my deepest grattitude for hosting me last night. I will ensure that you are compensated in proportion to your generosity.

There is really no need fo that Vladimir, helping a member of my familly is the least I can do !

Once again, your generosity honors you, dearest stepsister. But when aspects of harmony are put in actions, a reward is to be given, to inspire others and protect them from their own inner darkness. Evil and violence appeals to us by being the easy way, and all beings are selfish by nature. Only with greater rewards can we keep somepony on the righteous pass.

Wow... that was one badass way to say it !

What an ellegant and beautiful talent, you have to put thoughts into words your Majesty ! But... isn't calling out everypony to be naturaly selfish a bit too much ?

Ye-yeah... nopony is naturally b-bad... right ?

Y'all be suprised of how right he is, girls...

Miss Rarity, if you do wish to be appart of the "noble" class of this diarchy, I suggest you embrace this truth before we reach the castle. This part of society is a viper nest, a vicious, despicable war field where apperence is your armor maneurism your shield, and oration your weapon. Once in their presence, you'll quickly see how those pompous individuals dressed in gold and silk, are not so different from the insectoid vermine that ruined my sister's weading.

I could see the seven of them shudder at the recall of this disastreous and unforgivable event. As we proceed to resume our walk towards the castle of the capital, I secretly sight in desperation at how much this event ha marked them. I must make sure that Celestia never send them out to rectify my mistakes and end the cataclysm I'm about to unlish on our world. What will came out of this infernal gate combined with the results of my experiments would break them.

Arriving at the castle, seeing all the guards bowing to me and the amount of attention already provoked by my presence as some buttlers were already sprinting inside to annonce my arrival, I mentaly prepared myself. The "nobles" would not be a problem as I have dealt with them countless time before. In fact a great groupe of them coming straight manehattan had come in our estate to participate in a party I had organised. While they lost themselves in luxure and all vices known to ponykind, I used the dark rituals and a sacrifice to turn them into what they truely are, insects of the plague that ravages this society ! while the original reason was because they had suspicions on my nefarious deeds, I could not denied the dark satisfaction this horrible act brought me.

No, the problem would be my royal aunts and sister. They are unfathomably perseptive and knowledgeable, and while the darkness and nightmarish horrors inside my being are burried deep, they are thousand times more pottent that whatever Grogar at his worst could ever produce. They cannot found out before the time is right, before my work is done and the void rightfuly claimes me. I will endure their hate and disgust over me, but what must happen must occure as it should be. I would not have it any other way...

Author's Note

Re everyone !
Sorry for taking so long but I really needed some holidays.
Anyway, happy new year and enjoy this chapter !