Midnight Chats

Once Thorax finished explaining his plan to the prince, he started to carefully weigh all of his options, and think carefully about how it could all work.

"So all I needed to do, was take a picture of me just...mingling with you to leak to the nobles, so they could stop trying to find out what happened to me."

"Exactly!" Thorax says with a nod. "But we can't take the picture now. With how you look, it would appear that we beat you up for a deal."

"It depends on the concept." He explains with a sigh before looking at both of them. "Look from what I have gathered, my past self was, in short, a sociopath. So if I really was like that, then that means that reuniting with changelings was more than just searching for allies and treating the ones that I had. It would be a way of entertaining me."

"What do you mean?" Celestia asked with intrigue.

"This is how I imagine my story will have to go. The meeting would go as planned, just like you told me, but this wouldn't be about helping them enter into noble society. It will be about them crawling at my hoofs, seeing who can be the most useful to me. Then letting the others beg as much as they want, only to refuse their petitions, leaving only a few to serve me as my pawns." He spat with disgust.

"That sounds horrible!" Thorax exclaimed in surprise.

"Yet reasonable." Celestia mentioned in shame. "Since puberty, I don't recall Blueblood having any kind of real friend, just assets, and contacts to whatever and whenever he needed."

"And that is what we need to keep making Equestria believe has happened, so we can spread rumours of me finding new pieces to use. Maybe just deliver a 'leaked' list of options into the public with some of the names crossed out, indicating that they 'didn't make it'." He explains doing air quotes. "And then it will be when these injuries would come into play." Blueblood said with confidence.

"And what do you have in mind nephew?" Celestia asks, now interested.

Before Blueblood could answer, Red Hearts entered the room. "Excuse me, your highnesses?"

They all turn to her. "Visiting hours are already over. I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I have to ask you to leave." She tells them calmly.

"I understand nurse, but can't you give us a couple of minutes? This is kind of important." Celestia asked with some worry, yet the nurse just shakes her head "Sorry, rules are rules and the prince needs to rest. Tomorrow morning he can be dispatched, but for now, he needs to remain here in observation and, like I already told you, rest."

"But…" Celestia protests.

"Aunty it's ok, I can tell you tomorrow. Although it could be better if I don't say everything to you" He said, looking away.

"What? Why?" Celestia asked with a hurt expression.

"Don't take it personally aunty, but it will help a lot if you fake surprise, with my movement, and well..." He tried to find the right words. "I was told that acting is not exactly one of your strong suits."

"What do mean I can't act? Who told…?" Celestia eyes widen in realization before glaring at the moon in the distance. "Luna..." She whispers as Red Heart lightly pushes both her and Thorax out of the room, the latter taking the changeling necklace with him.

"Feel better Blueblood, we will come for you first thing in the morning." Thorax says as they retire, the nurse stopping Celestia before she could try to enter the room once more before turning off the lights, making the prince chuckle at her display.

"See you there." He waves back before yawning and laying on the bed to get some sleep.

In the waiting room

"We need to tell her Twilight." AJ says as everyone sits in a circle.

"I agree, but do you think this should be the right time? I mean, you saw how she reacted with what happened this morning, the stars know what she will do if she finds out that at some point her nephew almost died, and that experience is probably what made him the way he is now." Twilight argues back.

"Even so, she has the right to know Twilight." Dash chips in. "At least, I know that if something had happened to my mom or dad and you knew I would be very angry that you had just decided not to tell me."

The rest of the girls nodded. "I think I would be very sad if something like that had happened to me, even if I will be sad when you would tell me, but, at the the very least, I would be happy knowing I can trust you." Fluttershy mentions.

"Yeah Twilight, besides its Princess Celestia we're talking about, I'm sure she can handle it just fine." Pinkie mentions.

Twilight look at them until she sees Rarity who has been quiet ever since they started talking. "Rarity? Do you want to say something?"

"I believe I already have said all I wanted to say."

"Rarity please, I know you had a horrible night with him, but like Starlight said, it was ONE night, when she and Discord have done way worse things and we forgave them, no offense." Twilight quickly tells looking at Starlight

"No, you're right Twilight, it's a valid point. Tell me Rarity, if you accept me, why can't you accept an apology from him?"

"Because even when being evil, you and Discord were just better than him." Rarity snaps, getting their attention.

"Let me rephrase myself, when Discord was on the loose he just did what he does; chaos. That is all he knows, and what he is. For Celestia's sake, don't you remember what Fluttershy once told us? If he doesn't perform acts of chaos, he literally fades away."

"Oh I remember that day, it was really scary, thinking that he was gone forever," Fluttershy says, shivering at the thought.

"And as for you Starlight, yes you did all of those horrible things but even when brainwashing us, you never once looked down on us." Rarity says pointing at her.

"True, you did destroy the world a couple of times. True, you wanted to break our friendship. However, you never considered us lower or not even worth your time. That 'prince'," Rarity says, practically spitting the words. "Is no better than Tirek, Sombra or Chrysalis, with his grand schemes of greatness and his gigantic ego, no scratch that, those three at the very least had the power to back their claims. He is just a full grown brat that is never going to change and the only thing he does is use others for his whims."

"Geez Rarity, a bit harsh don't you think?" Dash protests.

"He made me give him a piggy ride the moment we meet!" She yells back. "And once more, made me pay for his food! He still is the bratty snooty colt as before." She says back.

"Ah, Rarity, no offense but both cases you were the one refusing 'no' for an answer." Spike points out.

She just raises her snout and looks away. "That, as it may be, if he really had a near death experience I say he got what he deserves, and if he really wants my forgiveness, he will have to work harder than that." She says in indignation, making Twilight sigh.

"Just please at least give him a chance Rarity, he really has changed."

"We will just have to see what happens." Rarity finally said.

"Well, if we can get back to the subject on hoof, I might have another point to add." Starlight explains. "This death experience might be the clue to his amnesia. I mean, we will definitely have to investigate further, but if we think of the side effects of them, perhaps we could find the reason he lost everything that he remembered." She suggested.

"I think I heard of something like that, it's called a self-preservation coma, and its mostly when the brain just...shuts down everything and puts the patient in a cationic state in a last ditch effort to save their lives. Once the danger passes, it usually goes back to normal." Twilight mentions.

Starlight thinks it over, but then remembers the incident at school. "I don't know Twilight. There are some things in there that just don't add up."

"We can investigate that when the time arrives for it, for now we need to decide; will it really be wise to tell the princess?"

All of the girls nod, surprisingly even Rarity.

"As much as I hate him, if it serves to give the princess mental peace I say it's for the best."

"Then it's decided, once she comes back we will tell her." Twilight agreed.

"Tell me what?" All of them get startled when Celestia and Thorax walk back in. "Princess Celestia, how is Blueblood doing?"

"He is fine, yet tired, so he is going to spend the night here, and tomorrow morning we will pick him up. I apologise for monopolizing the visiting hours." Celestia apologize shamefully.

"Don't worry princess, y'needed to talk with him. And about talking... we needed to discuss somethin." Applejack mentions before looking at Twilight "Go ahead Twilight, tell her"

Twilight just sighs and approaches her. "Princess, there's something you need to know."

At Jet Set and Upper Crust mansion

A gathering was taking place where all sorts of nobles look at a map of Equestria with interest, marking the spots with cities on it.

A unicorn stallion with gray fur and a black mane, wearing a green shirt and a white sweater tie on his neck, crosses yet another place before sighing. "Yet another failure." He says in disappointment. "He isn't in Las Pegasus either."

"Say, Jet Set honey." A unicorn mare who looks just like Rarity with the exception of her having a very light pink fur and red wine mane and tail, as well as wearing a feather scarf, having makeup on her face, and a book with a heart behind it as a cutie mark, whose exclamation got the attention of everyone. "Don't you think that perhaps we're seeing this all wrong? Who is to say our beloved friend is just out there having a fling with some of his maids?" She tells biting her lower lips. "And just wishes for some private time."

"Come on, Scarlet Lips." Sharp Shot mentions. "Do you really think someone as elitist as him could go after a maid? No matter the beauty, we all know Blueblood only goes for nobility."

"Oh, maybe a princess of another nation then?" She asks in excitement. "That is definitely a delicious piece of gossip, with a twist of the end, the brave prince having to fight off the pretender dragon from the gorgeous and hot princess." She says, starting to rant off her idea while making the other just roll their eyes.

"Ok, what are the options that are left?" Jet asks Sharp Shot as they look at the map. "Appleloosa, Manehattan, and Ponyville."

The Royals look at one another before bursting on laughter "Oh yeah, Ponyville, like he would be caught there." Upper Crust chuckled, marking the place off already.

"So he's in Manehattan then, you have contacts there right Fort Nox?" Jet Set tells looking at a big earth pony stallion with a formal suit and fedora who was eating a carrot stick. "Yeah I have my sources there. But the place is pretty big it will take time before I can get back to you."

"How long?"

He shrugs "Let's say four days tops. There is always a meeting here and there popping in the city, and it can be confusing just keeping track of things."

"Excellent." Sharp Shot exclaims with a grin. "Now, does everyone know what to do once we find him?"

They all nod. "Oh, I want to keep him for myself" Scarlet Lips says, with bedroom eyes.

"I would be happy just to be in control of his bank account,"Fort Nox rumbled with a smile.

"And we will be taking care of his status." Jet Set said with a sinister grin.

"Perfect then it's decided, we all keep on the lookout for further movements and just in case, one of us should go to Appleloosa and see if he shows up there."

"Why would he even be there?" Fort Nox ask with a raised eyebrow.

"That is where I would go if I wanted to do something in secret and seclusion." He mentions. "He might be a moron on subtlety, but he has no brains now right? Anything is possible."

"Heh, well I can't argue with that logic." He agreed with a shrug.

"Sharp Shot, sweetie, you haven't told us what you would like to take from this little enterprise of ours." Scarlet Lips says with a shake of her head. "It's not proper to leave a lady in suspense. Please, you gave it enough build up, just tell us what's on that little mind of yours."

Sharp Shot just smirks and looks at his companions. " Let's just say that with his influence I have some plans for the Wonderbolts."

"Oh, is some old war hero wishing his position back on the team?" She asks in a playful matter.

"Coming back? Oh no Scarlet, my plans are way bigger than that, like you couldn't even imagine."

"You don't say, now you've peaked my interest, tell us more."

He just chuckles and walks away. "Come on Scarlet, that just wouldn't be wise. Besides, what's that you always say when you write those love novels of yours? Always keep them wanting for more."

She let out a huff in exasperation. "Oh you tease."

"Well I suppose that is that for the meeting for now," Jet says rolling the map and putting it away. "We will continue as soon as Fort tells us what he finds."

He just nods as he walks to the door as well. "You can count on me, my ponies always find their target."

"Sleep well you two, ta-ta." Scarlet leaves with a little sway on her hips, which catches Jet's attention until his wife jabs him in the ribs with her hoof. "Jet!"

"What? Don't go and say that she didn't do that on purpose." He defends himself, as their friends leave, not knowing that a night court guard had been spying on them the whole time, and just sighed in disappointment as the nobles left their meeting.

Bunch of jackals

In the dream realm

In a calm field of grass, where there was only a single tree rising for miles, the prince admired the stars of the night, under the tree, while feeling the cool breeze of the wind on his fur.

Soon, he felt he was no longer alone, as hoofsteps slowly approached him. Closing his eyes, the prince only sighed in defeat before opening them again, only to be greeted by the image of Princess Luna sitting in front of him with a neutral expression. "Princess Luna."

"Nephew" She greets him back keeping her emotionless stare.

"I imagine you already know what happened, right?"

The princess nods. "I was informed of it, yes."

"Are you here to reprimand me too?" He asks with some worry. "If you do, know that Princess Celestia already…"

Luna stops him by lifting her hoof. "I'm not here to say what was already said. I'm not angry nephew, just disappointed…and hurt." She tells before breaking eye contact in sorrow, which surprises the prince.

"Princess, I'm really sorry. What happened to the prince...This was the safest route I could take. I don't even know where I could possibly find a hydra, let alone sneak into their den and just…"

"Blueblood, stop!" The princess screams before looking at him with teary eyes. "Please nephew, just stop this. This quest of yours, the lies, the schemes, the self-degradation, all of this, it has to stop… please stop treating me like we are not family." Her expression soon turns to anger as she points at herself. "A different soul or not, you are still my nephew and I'm your aunt, so even if you don't believe it, just forget formalities and address me as such"

The prince was taken aback and wanted do just that as he extended his hoof…. but guilt prevented from doing so. "I…I want to," He said, lowering his limp hoof. "But I can't."

"Why? Why is it so hard for you to just accept that you had a second chance, that you can start again? Just like you promised your father."

"Because doing it like this, would mean condemning another soul!" He shouts back

"And I told you, there is no soul that you are oppressing!" She tells him back raising her wings

"What?"

She put her wings back and sighs. "All those talks we have, all those nice dreams I gave you. I didn't just do it to help you feel at peace nephew. I heard your story and I believed you, trust me when I say I did. But if you really thought that another soul was trap in here, I was going to help you find him, and that is what I did, from top to bottom I searched, yet I couldn't find anything, not a single piece was amiss. I managed to recollect all of your memories, maybe even awake some past experiences along the way." She mentions with a small smile.

"The flip in the school," He exclaimed in realization, "That was you? But…that was before we talked."

Luna nods, "I might have been too busy to talk face to face back then, but at the very least I could help you ease the pain on your mind." She mentions tapping her own head. "And that is what I did, I apologize for startling you back there."

"It…it doesn't matter, doing so saved me from some injury," He tells before shaking his head "No, we are getting away from the point, Pri…Luna, are you sure? I mean this is the dream realm, maybe it's just my mind. Yeah..perhaps you have to enter in another one, yeah that's it. Just need to get out, check the entrance and find the other…"

"Blueblood, listen to me" Luna stops him by holding both of his cheeks with her hooves. "Any option that you are thinking of, I already did, I have lived for countless millennia. Tartarus I WROTE the book on how to approach this situation, possession, and dreams alike. If I didn't find anything, it is because there isn't anything to find."

She let him go. "Your past self is gone for good. You might have started as a ghost, or awoke a past self or maybe you were just some kind of dream, I don't know and I don't care. I don't know how it happened but it doesn't change a single thing." She smiles and puts a hoof on his chest "This life, this body, and this family is yours nephew, now and forever, so please just accept it and let's live together as one."

She put her hoof back and look at him with pleading eyes.

"I…" The prince looks at her and then at his hoof which starts to tremble. "I want to do it…but I can't."

Luna's expression turns into one of hurt. "Do you hate us that much?"

"Of course not! Luna what you have given me, even if short, has to be one of the best experiences I have ever had. I don't want that to end"

"Then what is stopping you?"

"The potion, I want to be loved by you, princess. I really want to just let it go. But, if I don't at the very least confirm it, if I don't at least try it once, I would never be able to live with myself knowing that maybe another pony is trapped in his own body and I just took over his life."

The princess just sighs and closes her eyes. "If you complete this task, can I have your word that you will finish this quest?"

The prince nods "It's the only thing I ask, one final confirmation."

The princess keeps looking at him before closing her eyes. "Then so be it." She makes her horn shine and before the prince realised what was happening he awoke again. This time, however, the princess of the night was waiting for him on the room with a golem made of stone in the shape of a human, and a vial with some purple substance in it. "For your mental health and because I'm worried you would continue to put yourself in danger if I don't, let's do your one last approach," She says, levitating the potion towards him, which surprises the prince as he looks back at her.

"How?"

"I kept my distance, believing that you wanted to gather the materials alone, and later on, you would just ask for help for the most difficult ones." She explains in a stern tone. "You only needed to ask me ONCE, and I would have gladly brought them to you. I have a whole cabinet full of ingredients ready for nearly anything, for pony's sake!"

The prince blushes and looks down. "Ok, now I feel like a fool."

"Did you ever think about where you would even put your soul afterwards?" She says pointing at the golem.

The prince just kept quiet at the statement.

"Then, now you can really feel like a fool," She added. The prince nods and then lifts his hoof, but the princess retracts the potion "And I mean it, nephew, this is the last time. You have your confirmation and once you are satisfied, I don't want to hear any more talks about you being a possession, you hear me? You will accept things as they are and let yourself be a part of this family"

"Will do, Pr…"

She glares at him in frustration.

"…ah, I mean A-aunt Luna"

"That's better." She gives the potion back. "Let's put an end to this." She mentions and after a nod the prince gulp the content of the glass as fast as he can, almost gagging from the flavor more than once, until it was empty.

"Boy, that really tasted bad." He mentions as he looks at the glass. "So how long until it takes effect?" He asks but when he look up, Luna was frozen in place and she, as well as everything else, was now in monochromatic black and white, including him. Not only that but he also noticed that he was no longer injured and his entire body looked slightly foggy.

Ok, this is definitely weird

He tried to stand up and go to the golem, thinking it will just phase through him like a ghost, yet Blueblood discovered his body was still solid and couldn't enter the puppet.

"~That is not going to work~" A female voice echoed in the distance in a sing-song manner, surprising the prince, and when he looked up, he discovers that there was no roof, only an endless darkness connected by four walls that just kept extending until being swallowed by it.

"Who is there?" The prince looked around, trying to find the source of the voice, yet only heard more giggles. Those sounds continued as a hooded figure emerged from the shadows in the distance, far away from the prince's gaze.

"Next chapter will feature me!" The creature says looking behind her.