To Ponyville
While time starts to move again, Twilight Sparkle remained frozen, she appeared to be doing an impression of a fish that forgot how to breathe. Her brain continued to unsuccessfully comprehend what she was seeing. Spike, her number one assistant, who was next to her, appeared to also be in the same state.
"Do you believe us now, Twilight?" Celestia asked with a hopeful smile.
"We can assure you, we took every possible magical and medical test known to our Canterlot doctors. He is in no way pretending, under a curse or spell, or has any sort of injury." Luna added "They have eliminated every rationally possible cause and yet his condition remains a mystery."
"Wha…who…I can't…words," The library of Twilight's inner mind had flipped it's 'open' sign to 'closed' and shut its lights off for the night.
In front of the assembled princesses, Twilight Sparkle's pet owl, Owlowiscious, who wasn't known for being overly affectionate to strangers, was nuzzling Blueblood. In fact, the only other ponies who Owlowiscious had shown that kind of affection to where her closest friends and even that had taken weeks!
Yet here she was, once again, seeing something incredibly improbable. Since her time studying in Celestia's school for gifted unicorns she had not seen much of the prince other than at day court or yelling at gardeners. She was never really one to pay much attention to other ponies. As for Blueblood, he probably didn't even know of her existence until she had earned her wings.
But something that she remembers all too well was how the prince was universally hated by all the animals in the royal garden, mostly due to him acting like a jerk towards them all the time. In fact, she was starting to convince herself that he was the anti-Fluttershy when it came to kindness or anything animal related.
Since his arrival with the princesses, not only has he been friendly and kind to her, he had even offered to help Spike with his list of chores in multiple occasions just because he wanted to help! On its own, that was already weird and only continued to confuse the princess of friendship and her assistant to no end but seeing him being friendly to what she once overheard Blueblood call 'filthy vermin' was what caused her mind to finally pack its bags and leave town.
"Twilight, are you still with us?" Celestia was getting worried.
"I…ah" Twilight's eyes were wide while she shook her head "Y-yeah I'm with you, sorry. It's just that… This is all too much, too fast," She responded as she held her head in her hooves.
Luna whispered into her sister's ear, "That's what she said," making Celestia giggle.
"Tell me about it. Luna and I were in your horseshoes yesterday."
Twilight nodded then looked back at them "So, he really doesn't know anything?"
Both princesses nod "Not much, I'm afraid. Math and speech seems to be the most of what he has retained," Celestia answered.
"And that is why we need your help, fair Twilight," Luna added.
"W-what? Why me?" She asks confused, pointing a hoof at herself as Spike finally recovers from his stupor.
"You see, although it is a mystery as to how this event transpired, it has presented us with a golden opportunity that we wish to take advantage of," Luna continues.
Celestia nodded in agreement, "It's a chance for us to become a family again. Nothing would make us more happy than to have this...new Blueblood with us. Unfortunately, our duties prevent us from spending the time needed to re-teach him all that he needs. If the other nobles were to discover him while in this condition, Faust help us all," concern was deeply etched upon Celestia brow.
"That is why we have come to ask for your aid, Twilight Sparkle," Luna states. "Our wish is for you to provide sanctuary to our nephew for a fortnight while he acquires an education in Ponyville and initiate magic lessons with you."
"You want me to teach him how to use magic?" Twilight looks at them with a raised eyebrow.
"I don't expect him to be teleporting any time soon, he just needs to re-learn the fundamentals, " Celestia adds, "It will only be for a few short weeks until we can better organize our schedules."
"What do you say, Twilight? Will you be his guiding light in the darkness?" Luna asks with twinkles of hope in her eyes.
Twilight started to process everything in her mind and tried to think this through carefully. Other than her schedule, which she could easily reorganize, nothing prevented her from helping the prince. Twilight had made up her mind. She gave Celestia a very determined nod and said, "You can count on me, Princess."
"Thank you, Twilight. You have no idea how much this means to us," Celestia cheers.
"Ahhh, I don't mean to be the messenger of bad news but…" Spike interject "Wouldn't it be weird and, like, super creepy if a full-grown stallion just showed up to attend Miss Cheerilee's class?"
"We have already come up with a solution to that, Spike" Celestia informs him "Blueblood, will you come over here for a moment?"
"Coming auntie," Blueblood gave a gentle pat goodbye to Owlowiscious and approached the group.
"Blueblood, will you please give a demonstration with amulet I gave you earlier this morning?"
He immediately gets nervous, "Would that be okay, Auntie? You told me not to use it while somepony is watching."
"It's okay, nephew, you can trust Twilight," Luna informs him.
"Well... okay" Blueblood looked a bit unsure but he finally to brings his hoof up to the medallion around his neck and closes his eyes.
"Okay, dear, just like we practiced. Clear your mind and picture the colt photo that I showed you earlier," Celestia cooed.
Blueblood gave a resounding nod and concentrated as hard as he could. Soon, the necklace shines a bright golden aura that encompasses his entire body and in a flash of green fire he had changed into a little foal version of himself. His stature having shrunk a little smaller than the cutie mark crusaders and most noticeable of all, lacking a cutie mark.
The spell concluded and he peered up at the group. "Looks like it worked," He stated in a much higher pitched voice completing the disguise and shocking Spike and Twilight once more.
"You did a fantastic work, nephew! You look just like you used to when you were a colt!" Celestia happily proclaimed to him with a nuzzle before addressing Spike and Twilight, "With this magic amulet, Blueblood can assume the form of a colt and join the class without raising any suspicion."
"W-what just... uh, just… I don't... what?" Spike said, dumbfounded.
"You, young dragon, just witnessed the power of a changeling's alternation necklace" Luna informs him, pointing to the jewelry that her nephew was sporting around his neck. "What he is wearing is one of few, rare changeling artifacts on loan to the Royal Canterlot Archives by King Thorax. They are used in the training of changeling nymphs when they become stuck in an undesired form. Whomever wears should be able to change their appearance, at will, without much problem," She explains.
"Is it some sort of illusion?" Twilight asks, lightly poking Blueblood in the chest, making him giggle.
"No, it is a complete physical change. Right now Blueblood is as he appears, a colt," Luna answers.
"But only as long as I want to be," Blueblood adds before tapping the necklace twice and reverting to his normal self. "See? That's all it takes and I'm back to being myself."
"That's incredible," Twilight said in surprise.
"And most importantly, it would help us keep his secret," Luna continues which catches Twilight's attention.
"What secret?"
"As we have told you if the news of his condition spread, nobles would try to prey on him and exploit his position for their own personal gain," Luna swiftly approached Blueblood, covering him with a wing in a protective manner. "This is why we need to keep his identity a secret until he is once again ready to face the Canterlot nobility."
"Are the nobles really that dangerous, auntie?" Blueblood asks with worry.
"Of that, I am absolutely sure, nephew. Every one of them would try to force their own politics upon you and you would lack the social skills to defend yourself," Luna replies.
Blueblood, realizing the dire importance of the situation, quickly changes back into his colt form once again.
"That is why for the remainder of his stay, or unless he is on the castle grounds, he must remain in the form of a colt. The story that you will tell others is that you're taking care of a distant cousin of yours called New Blood" Luna informs Twilight while she removes her wing from across Blueblood's form. "If you are asked, you are allowed to tell them that he has recently suffered through a traumatic event, which will explain away his amnesia, and that he will temporarily be staying with you at the castle until another caregiver can be found."
"The best lies have a grain of truth. In fact, Twilight, Blueblood is actually part of your family." Celestia tells with a smile
"whaaaat?!" Both Twilight and Blueblood cry out in surprise
Celestia taps her chin with her hoof "Well it is a far association, but technically speaking since Cadence married your brother, that makes Blueblood your 'cousin-in-law', by association indirectly part of your family" Celestia explain using air quotes.
"Wait, Shining Armor is your brother?" Blueblood asked in shock looking back up at Twilight.
"Oh wow, you really did forget everything," Spike chuckled while he approached him "I can see that you and I are going to have a lot to talk about."
Luna ruffled her wings, "As you can see, Twilight, this is the story you must tell, even to the other Elements."
"Why I can't tell my friends everything?" Twilight asks.
"It must remain a secret as a matter of royal security, Twilight Sparkle. Please understand this is not out of malice but more out of concern. It would be best for Blueblood if the rest of Ponyville were kept unaware, especially from one Element in particular that may have a personal grudge against our nephew." Luna replied.
Twilight eyes widened in realization as she thinks things over, It's true! It's not only Rarity that we'll need to worry about, AJ has also met Blueblood and from what she told me, they didn't depart on the best of terms. Faust only knows what those two would do if they found out the truth or even if they would be willing to give him a chance.
She glanced back at the small colt before sighing "I understand, princess. Spike and I will keep this a secret, even from our friends," She said as she looks back at everyone, "Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake on my eye"
"I knew we could count on you, Twilight. Thank you for your assistance in this matter," Celestia motherly smile returns as she brings her in for a hug.
"You can count on me, princess" She mentions, returning the hug in full.
"We should be going, sister. We have delayed our duties for far too long," Luna informs before approaching her nephew "Please take care dear nephew, and remember that you can find me in your dreams if you need me."
Unsure of what to make of that sentence, Blueblood nodded slowly in reply. "I will keep that in mind," He finally responds.
Luna gives him a quick nuzzle before making her way to the door. After, Celestia approaches and gives a warm hug of her own, lifting him off the ground in the process. "Oh Blueblood, you have no idea how much I wished for this day to come. I know you're in good hooves now and absolutely nothing bad is going to happen. But if anything were to arise, you only need to have Spike send me a letter and I will be here in an instant," She coos while her motherly side proudly shows.
"Come on sister, before we stay here all day," Luna said while pulling Celestia away with her magic after the fifth minute of the hug. On their way out, the royal sisters wave goodbye and Blueblood returned the gesture.
Luna and Celestia boarded the flying chariot and as soon as they sat they depart, leaving Twilight and Spike alone with Blueblood in the form of a small colt.
"So… are we really cousins?"
"I have no reason to doubt the princess but it does sound pretty crazy, right?" Twilight replies trying to make small talk "Usually I figure out this kind of thing pretty easily but this time I didn't even have the slightest clue."
"Me neither," Blueblood mutters before chuckling "Then again, I have no clue about a lot of things at the moment." To that, they all share a laugh.
Blueblood looks over to the saddle bag that he and Celestia had packed earlier that morning, "Maybe I should go find my room and unpack my things."
"Oh, that sounds like a good idea. Spike and I can give you a guided tour of the castle while we're at it," Twilight offers.
"Quick bit of advice, knock before opening any closed doors," Spike adds, "Especially if you don't know who or what might be on the other side. Somedragon might be on the other side and you might hit them."
"Does that often happen?" Blueblood asked with worry.
"More times than you may think," He grumbled.
"Okay, I'll keep that in mind," He acknowledged. The three were about to start moving when a knock on the front door catches their attention.
"Are you expecting somepony, Twilight?" Spike asked.
She shook her head before chuckling, "Maybe it's princess Celestia wanting one last hug?" Twilight joked with a roll of her eyes. She used her magic to open the door only to be met with an alabaster unicorn mare with a purple curly mane and tail, wearing what Twilight could barely describe as a dress with frilly things on it, waiting on the other side, levitating a long package in her magic.
"Oh! H-hello, Rarity!" Twilight said in a panicked voice before recovering with a forced smile. Silently screaming a string of, 'No no no no…' in her head at the last pony she wanted to see at the front door, "W-what brings you here?"
Rarity, for her part, just covered her muzzle with one hoof as she giggled happily at Twilight's surprised reaction, "I see that my newest creation has left you utterly speechless, darling!" Rarity said happily while she walked inside.
"I came to give you back the dress that had that ghastly tear," She replied elegantly while she moved to put said packaged dress on a nearby table, when she eyed the saddlebags beside it, which greatly puzzled her.
"Are you planning to go on a trip, dear?" Rarity asked while she turned to face Twilight with a raised eyebrow, levitating up the saddlebags in her magic.
Twilight was starting to sweat. She felt like she wasn't ready to face her friends. "Well, um, you see ..."
"Those bags are mine," Blueblood responds as he slowly approaches, keeping his head low and goes to stand next to Twilight. "They're for my stay with cousin Twilight" He mutters, which allows Twilight to recuperate from the unexpected shock that was Rarity.
"Cousin Twilight?" Rarity asks, more confused than before.
Now more relaxed Twilight lets out a quiet breath and approaches her, "New Blood, meet Rarity" she said, making a quick introduction.
"Hi ya," Blueblood said while he offered Rarity a small accompanying wave.
"Rarity, I'd like you to meet my one of my distant cousins, New Blood. I offered to let him stay here for a couple of weeks." She brings Rarity closer to whisper in her ear "He's recently been through a rather traumatic experience and has suffered memory loss as a result. His guardians sent him over so he could hopefully calm down and relax."
"Oh my goodness!" Rarity whisper-shouted. "That's so sad!"
"He doesn't even remember anything about magic, which I'll be teaching him while he stays with us at the castle. His memory loss is so advanced that his guardians even had to remind him that they were his family," Twilight explains witch makes Rarity to start tear up.
Rarity looked about ready to faint, "Oh, that poor little colt!"
"Yeah, he can be very shy, so please be gentle, okay?"
"I understand completely, Twilight. You have no need to worry about me. You have my word as a lady that I will be on my best of behavior," Rarity informs her with a solemn expression while bringing a hoof to her chest.
"Ah…miss?" Blueblood calls up to her once again.
"Yes, dear?"
"May I have my saddlebags back?" He asks pointing at it, Rarity completely forgetting that she was still holding them in her magic.
"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry! Of course, you can have it back," She said with embarrassment. She floats over the saddlebags back which Blueblood hugged to his chest when they're within reach, selling his act perfectly.
"Twilight, may I go to my room now?" Blueblood asks.
"Of course you can New Blood. Spike can I get you to please take my dress to my room?" She asks her assistant. In reply, he clicked his heels together and saluted before grabbing the package and leaving the room.
Twilight and 'New. B' were about to go when Rarity surprises them both when she approaches Blueblood and kneels in front of him, "Would the little care for a ride to his quarters?"
"W-What?" He stutters, caught completely off guard by the strange question.
"It's okay, darling. Consider it my way to apologize for taking your saddlebag without your permission. There's no need to worry, I don't mind, just don't grip too tightly, alright?"
"Well..." Blueblood, unsure of what to do, looks up at Twilight for help but she only shrugs, not knowing what to do.
"It's okay, dear," Rarity continues "I don't bite~"
Twilight cringed internally, Oh this could be wrong in SOOO many ways ….
"Well okay, b-but just let me know if I'm making you uncomfortable?"
"You have my word, darling," Rarity gives him a reassuring smile. For better or worse, Blueblood decided to climb into her back and then tried to get a little comfortable in the awkward position. Once she felt that he was secure Rarity stood up again and looked over to Twilight.
"Shall we?"
"Y-Yeah lets go," Twilight replies and begins to guide them through the halls of the castle, just going with the flow of things.
"I'm not too big for you, am I?" Blueblood asks.
Rarity just shook her head, "Not at all dear, you are nearly as light as my little sister." She commented as they continued there walk deeper into the castle. "You know, New Blood, I can't help but notice that your face reminds me of somepony I've met before..."
Twilight's fear returned in full force, as she screamed a nearly infinitely repeating string of 'No no no no...' in her head for the second time that day.
"But, by Celestia's beard, I can't put my hoof on exactly who that pony was… How very curious."
Blueblood chuckled, "Well, if my memories return, you might remind me of somepony too,"he joked. "Tell me, miss Rarity, how do you get your coat and mane to look so beautiful? Are you a supermodel?"
"Oh you flatterer, you!" Rarity blushed and giggled. "Twilight dear, where have you been hiding such a gentlecolt? Your cousin is just a delight to be around!" She squealed with girlish glee.
"Yeah, he sure is quite the charmer, isn't he?" Twilight relaxed a little, Blueblood having defused the situation, even if involuntary this time.