A Princess Wish Come True

With a groan the princess of the night woke up for the second time that evening. "Agh my head," Luna complained. She brought a hoof to her forehead to find a damp cloth.

"Hmm?" Luna removed the cloth to stare at it for a couple of seconds, confused as to its origins.

"Oh, thank the stars you are awake." Celestia called out before appearing in her field of vision with a relieved expression. "For a second I thought I would have to go into the dream realm to find you."

"Tia?" Luna closed her eyes and slowly sat up. "What happened? I had the strangest dream. Our nephew…"

She opened her eyes only to see said nephew playing with some toys on the balcony of her room with Flurry Heart.

"…had a drastic change of heart." Luna sighed and gave her head a shake. "You were right, sister. I needed to see him to believe it."

"Don't feel too bad, Luna. You took the news better than I did." Celestia pat Luna on the shoulder.

Luna nods and then noticed something. "Where is our niece and Shining Armor?"

"Night court was about to begin and you had an appointment with the mayor of Baltimare. They generously offered to cover for you while you were indisposed."

"Oh pony feathers, the meeting," Luna mentions in embarrassment. "Please tell me that it's not too late. I can probably still make it."

"Luna, relax," Celestia chided her "It has being taken care of. There will still be plenty left for you to do in night court, but first," Celestia look over to her nephew, "There is another matter that needs to be addressed."

"You are right, sister." Luna slid off the couch and stood up. "It's just like you had said, our wish actually come true. Our nephew acts like he is a brand new pony."

"Back when he was pure." Celestia smiles "Just watching him play with Flurry reminds me how cute he was as a little colt."

"Focus, sister. Now is not the time or place for nostalgia," Luna glared at her.

"Whatever do you mean, Lulu?"

"What I mean is this blessing we received could be a double edged sword. It is true we got the nephew we want, but a what price? He is now a blank parchment who doesn't know how to read, write, or use magic. With no idea on how Equestria works and who he can trust, he could easily become a puppet for any politician or nobles to use to get to us. Or worse, they could shape him to be even worse than the old Blueblood."

"I would never let that happen," Celestia frowned.

"Of that I am sure, but restricting Blueblood to stay inside the castle was what made him like he was in the first place. Doing so again will only bring us back to square one!" Luna points an accusing hoof at her. "And do not tell me you will not let it happen either because I know you, Tia. You have always had difficulty saying 'no'."

"I disagree," Celestia replied before relaxing with sigh. "But I understand what you mean. If we really are going to raise him like I should have from the start then we will need to find some sort of middle ground. Some way to ensure that he will not regress back into his old ways while allowing him to explore the world. A way to help him understand that there is more to life than what can be found inside this castle."

"Exactly! And that is why we will need to be extremely careful with what we do next." Luna told her sister as she trotted to the closet.

"Did you have something in mind, dear sister?" Celestia asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Yes, you could say that I have an idea." throwing open her closet, Luna began to remove several items; a graceful black dress, a rubber chicken which was tossed across the room to land with a 'squawk', a well worn buckler shield, more items joined the others on the floor until "Ah ha!" she found what she is searching for. From within the closets depths, Luna levitated an ornate wooden chest as long as her foreleg. Rejoining Celestia with her cargo floating beside her.

"I say that since we will be taking this opportunity to reteach magic to Blueblood." Luna began while opening the lid and reaching inside. " We will start with basic combat," from the boxes depths a finely crafted, ruby encrusted falchion emerged, held fast in Luna's hoof. "Then advance to complete enemy obliteration," Luna rose up and moved the sword through a simple flourish, the blade swished through the air and immediately ignited into a corona of magical fire. The princess of the night squealed in delight while she expertly twirled the blade around with a casual but excited grace like a little filly with a sparkler. The improvised display of swordplay continued until Celestia took the sword in her magic and stowed the weapon back inside the chest from whence it came.

"While I do agree that he should relearn magic," She floated the chest back to the closet "I disagree with giving him a fire enchanted sword. We are raising our nephew Luna, not preparing him for a war," Celestia scolds.

"Oh come, Tia. How can you expect him to defend himself against the world if he doesn't know how to properly incapacitate his foes?" Luna argues back.

"By using his wits," She responds "And for pony's sake, Luna. He doesn't even know how to levitate objects. A filly still in magic kindergarten has better control than he would."

"That is another thing. How will we find the time to teach him the basics? We both have our schedules to keep and they are completely full. If we reschedule events for time off, the nobles will begin to ask difficult questions. And we surely can't send him to a public school. Not only would that be social suicide for him, the moment the nobles find out, they will descend upon him like the Element of Laughter would a cake."

Celestia began to ponder the situation, her mind rapidly forming and discarding ideas until her eyes went wide in realization. "You raise a good point but I may have an idea."

"Shall I fetch the fire sword again?"

"No! Return that sword to the armory. That thing is a hazard and I will not have you setting another fire in the castle. Perhaps it would be better if I show you. Please look after Blueblood until I return. This should only take me a few hours."

Luna just waved her off, "Those drapes were needing to be replaced anyway. What will you have me do about young Flurry Heart?"

"Cadence and Shining Armor should be finishing up with the mayor if they haven't already. When they return, take Blueblood with you to night court. I promise I will try to be as quick as possible."

"Very well, but do not take too long, sister" Luna mentions. Celestia gave a sharp nod and teleports away leaving Luna with her the rest of the family.

She trots across the room and exits onto the balcony. Blueblood notices her approach and rises to greet her, much to Flurry's displeasure. "Aunt Luna, are you feeling better?"

"Indeed I am, nephew. I apologise for making you worry," She replied with some guilt.

"You certainly gave us all a scare. Your face nearly landed on your coffee cup." Blueblood commented and then looked to his side when he felt something brush up against his left leg, discovering Flurry wanting attention. He smiled and picked her up in his hooves. "Was I really that bad before?"

"Perhaps worse than you may think. Some moons before my return, a group of nobles had brought forth a petition to have you banished from Canterlot. Their displeasure was so great that they wished a young colt to be cast out into the Barrens."

Blueblood expression dropped like a brick upon hearing her response and sighs, "I don't even remember."

"Perhaps that is for the best, nephew," Luna smiled. She brought his head up with one of her hooves. "Indeed, you used to be horrible, insufferable, egotistical, obnoxious, loathsome, stuck-up..."

Each word spoken caused Blueblood to wince and she just kept going, rattling off each word like a thesaurus dedicated to hate.

"... nasty, detestable, foul big-mouth," Luna boops him on the snout. "But that part of your life is now past. No pony is perfect, nephew. We all have made mistakes in the past, including myself and my sister. For you to actually want to atone for them, I couldn't be more proud."

Blueblood looks to the side wish a blush, conflicted by her word and actions, before looking back at her "Auntie, I…"

They both hear a yawn and when looking down they find Flurry eyes gowing heavy as she tries to remain awake. Luna chuckled and gives her grand-niece a nuzzle. "It looks like it's somepony's bedtime," She mentions before retreating. "The meetings should have ended by now. What do you say we go see your parents so they can tuck you to bed, dear Flurry?"

The filly just yawns again, getting comfortable in Blueblood hooves and using her own wings as a makeshift blanket.

"Could she possibly be more cute?" Blueblood tells incapable of looking away.

"I believe she would bring the most adorable doom to us all." Luna jokes before turning around. "Let us go see how Cadence and Shining are doing."

"Lead the way, Aunt Luna," Blueblood said as he follows the princess of the night out of her room

"It's magic, by the way," Luna says out of the blue, catching Blueblood off guard.

"Adorable baby ponies?"

Luna shook her head. "Perhaps that too, but I am referring to our flowing mane and tail. I recall that you never received an answer," She looks to him with a smile. "There is no special shampoo in our mane. It is a property of our magic leaving our body."

"Wait, your magic is leaking?" Blueblood asks with a raised eyebrow.

Luna hummed, "Mmm, in a small way, I suppose. You see, usually, ponies have good control over a small amount of magic coursing through their body. In general, it gathers where it is most needed; unicorns in their horn, pegasus in their wings, and earth ponies in their hooves. As an alicorn, my sister and I are an exception. Our bodies have the properties of all three races. We gather so much magic that it is simply impossible for our being to contain it all. The state of our mane and tail is the end result of that overflow. We are just releasing that excess build up energy."

"That explains the two of you, but why not Aunt Cadence or Flurry Heart? And why does it tickle when I touch it?"

"You are full of so many questions, nephew. My niece and her daughter have yet to fully mature into their alicorn-hood. As for tickling, much in the same way a unicorn can feel the weight and texture of an object when levitated, our mane can retain such sensation," Luna mentions "That is why we are a bit ticklish there, my sister in particular."

"Wouldn't that mean when you walk it will tickle every time your tail touches the floor?" Blueblood ask with a raised eyebrow.

"Hooves can also be ticklish, nephew. That does not mean we laugh each time we take a step." Luna mentions with a smirk.

"Okay, point taken," The prince chuckled.

To their luck, just as the meeting room was coming into view, the double doors opened and from within Cadence and Shining Armor stepped out.

"Greetings again, dear niece. I have once again returned to the land of the living." Luna called out to her with a cheery tune as they approached the royal couple.

"Aunt Luna," Cadence called back, "Are you feeling better?"

Luna nods "Much better than my favourite coffee cup. I fear it may have not survived the ordeal. You have my thanks for filling in for me during my absence. I hope the mayor of Baltimare didn't give you too many troubles."

"Oh, none at all. Just another mayor asking for the usual help," Cadence casually explained as she levitates Flurry away from Blueblood's hooves. "And here is my sweet little angel. Thanks for look after her, Blue."

"Not a problem. She was a real angel."

"I have to say, I'm impressed," Shining chipped in. "We didn't hear any commotion, yelling, running around, or even a single explosion while we were at the meeting. How do you manage to keep her so calm?" Shining ask with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh you know, keep her occupied, constantly change what we were playing so she doesn't get bored, used some imagination in role play. Wait, did you just say explosion?" Blueblood asked, not sure if he heard correctly.

Cadence gave snoozing Flurry Heart a light nuzzle. "This little troublemaker has nearly brought the Crystal Empire to its knees twice now," Cadence tells before yawning.

"Three, dear," Shining interrupts. "You're forgetting about her magical surge shorting out the Empire's shield."

"I hardly think a little snow storm counts as certain doom," Cadence scoffs.

Shining brings a hoof to his head to rub his horn. "I had a headache for weeks after that."

Cadence leans over to him and gives him a kiss on his forehead, "You will always be my big, strong, stallion." Cadence turns back to Luna, "I think it's about time Shining and I call it a night. We will see you in the morning, auntie?"

"You can count on that, dear Cadence," Luna smiles at the couple, "Have a nice evening and I thank you again for your assistance tonight."

Shining gives a quick bow, "Any time, Luna. Please, take care." Cadence just gives a brief nod before the royal couple makes their exit.

Once they were out of sight Luna turned to her nephew. "Tell me, Blueblood, would you like to accompany me for night court?"

That catches his attention, "Would that be okay? I don't wish to bother you during your duties."

"Do not worry nephew, there are only a few short hours of night court remaining. Many of our subjects are currently asleep so I do not expect many petitioners. I would very much appreciate the company."

"Well, if that's the case, I wouldn't mind. Just don't expect me to be of much help if it comes to taxes or laws, or, you know, reading or writing."

Luna gave a merry chuckled at that, while they both walk beyond the threshold of the throne room, "I shall keep that in mind."

Sometime later, in the throne room...

Celestia walked into the throne room, her hooves giving sharp clicks on the stone tile floor. What she discovers warms her heart. Luna and her nephew were not on the throne as she assumed they would be, but rather leaning against a nearby open window, looking up into the night sky.

"Now, follow your hoof to the right and complete the image."

"I…I think I see it, auntie! Wow, you were right. It does look like a pony with claws and the body of a scorpion as his lower half."

"It is one of my favorites. I designed it to help lost ships find their way home. Do you see the three stars that make up its tale? The red star at the tip is pointing north. The blue one on his claw is pointing east. The yellow one on his hoof points west and the biggest one on his muzzle leads south. If a sailor doesn't know in which direction they need to go, they only need to find the scorpony and they will soon orient themselves." Celestia could hear the pride in Luna's voice.

"Am I'm interrupting something?" Celestia asks with a knowing smile as she approaches.

"Oh, hello dear sister. Not at all. There were no further petitioners tonight, so I took it upon myself to showcase some of my finest works to Blueblood."

"I'm glad you two are having a good time," Celestia's smile only further warms. "Sister, may I have a moment of your time?"

"You shall have it. Blueblood, will you excuse me for a minute?"

"Of course," The prince replies and goes back to looking into the night sky.

Celestia leads Luna closer to the throne and out of earshot, "So, did you find what you left to seek?"

Celestia nods and levitates out from the small of her wing a golden medallion necklace embossed with the blackened image of a pony with a crooked, wickedly sharp horn. "The enchanted changeling necklace?" Luna whisper-shouted in surprise. "Tia, you can't be serious!"

"Now Lulu, please hear me out. This necklace could potentially be the answer to our problem with Blueblood's education. If Blueblood can be taught how to use this, he could shapeshift into a little colt and learn the fundamentals of writing and magic in any school in Canterlot without the nobles suspecting anything is amiss."

"And instead you propose to give a pony with memory loss a dangerous artifact. How is this any different then my own wanting to give him a dangerous artifact?" Luna argues back. "Would it not be more logical to just requisition some private tutors or some well-experienced guards?" Luna frowned, "Honestly Tia, I am beginning to think you do not like my fire sword."

"I say no combat training!" Celestia glared back. "Blueblood can't stay at the castle or else we'll be facing the bubble problem again if just let him have his studies in here."

"You are not fun, sister. Honestly, it's a mystery how Twilight Sparkle ever learned how to defend her…" Luna went eyes wide in realization. "I have had the most brilliant idea," She looks back at Celestia. "We should send him to your student!"

"What?" Celestia asks confused. "Luna, I believe Twilight is busy with her own projects. We needn't bother her with our own little one here."

"Tia, we are talking about the mare who built a school dedicated to further studying friendship," Luna argues "Besides, is she not the Princess of Friendship? I can personally attest to your former student should knowing about giving second chances. Do you not remember that I was once Nightmare Moon?" Luna looks over to a blissfully unaware Blueblood who was still leaning on the windowsill, watching the night sky. "As difficult as this may be, perhaps, for now, it may be for the best if our nephew spends some time in Ponyville instead of here where he may once again be corrupted."

Celestia nods and thinks hard of the options until she comes with something, "Very well, but let's give him two weeks."

"Whatever for?"

"I know we can find a way to make some space on our schedules for him, Luna. I just know it. Besides, Blueblood can't just disappear. He is too well known around here for him to just vanish. It would look suspicious. We will tell the truth, at least most of it, that he has important business to attend to outside Canterlot."

"Agreed," Luna nods "That will give me enough time to teach him battle techniques."

"…Luna"

"Fine! I will refrain from the self-defense classes, but if he shows interest in combat all deals are off," Luna warns her before looking back at the necklace."And we would need to be careful with this, too. You know that those changes are not 'illusions', correct?"

"I'm well aware of that, Lulu. I have faith in Blueblood. I believe he will handle this artifact with the care and respect it deserves."

"You may have your faith, sister, but I will still dispatch a pair of thestral guards to watch over him," Luna mentions.

Celestia smirked at that."Very well, then." The two royal sisters turn to make their way back to Blueblood. "Now who being over-protecting?"

"Oh, you hush up, Tia. If it were up to you, you would have given him an entire platoon of your solar guards."

Celestia laughed at that, "Well, maybe half a platoon."

They stopped their approach when they heard snoring. To their amusement, they found Blueblood leaning against the window, soundly asleep.

"That poor, unfortunate soul. He must have been really tired for quite some time." Luna moved closer to the sleeping prince. "I believe he did not want me to be alone for an empty night court." Luna nuzzled his cheek, moved by his actions. "You have a very sweet heart, dear nephew."

A motherly smile grew upon Celestia lips at the sight of her sister nuzzling the once tyrannical prince. She then looked out the windows to the brilliant twinkle of stars with a content smile, sending out a silent prayer to whatever gods above that may be listening, 'Thank you.'