As we were approaching the throne room, I was left speechless by what I was seeing in front of my eyes, those hanging houses looked like lamps, the lightness that this new body offered despite the tiredness I´ve had for this quest and…after meeting Stella and the process of assimilating the changes, I forgot about my problems for a while, almost as though they had vanished. This place could impress lots of ponies, even a princess like Celestia.
It´s like everything that I had to pay for the unit has paid off. It´s true that there was another world in the sound and if Stella is right, I am one of the first ponies that has managed to reach this place. While Cantelot might have its charm, this place isn´t all that crowded, only the bottom serves a reunion point for most of the seaponies around here. Most of them were wearing a seashell necklace and now that I think about it, they don´t look all that different from me save the see through wings. The differences might be bigger on land so I have to think about a plan as soon as I talk to the queen.
We entered into the throne room and there she was, laying back on it. I cannot tell if she is tired, bored or bitter. Her face doesn´t seem to show much interest towards anything but despite my initial impressions, Stella was willing to present me to her.
“Greetings Queen Novo” Stella nodded for short while. “I am here to present this blue unicorn that was swimming in the east zone of Seaquestria” she said.
“Ah well, he seems fine, he doesn´t need the transformation from my part, dear.” The queen said uninterested.
“Well, my queen, the truth is…” she stopped for a while. She was about to confess what happened. ” …that he almost drowned and says that he has been working as a royal guard for princess Celestia” Stella continued. As soon as she heard that, the queen changed her mood completely and stood up, abandoning her throne.
“What? Who dares to almost risk his life from a distant place like Canterlot just to come over here without finishing the railways? Don´t you know that there is a desolate desert in the middle that is giving me troubles to connect it with that city? Tell me your name and explain me your motives to get here” the queen asked grumpy while she was showing signs of worry about her project as well.
“Well, your majesty, I am BlueStar. I didn´t want to ruin the image of this place. I simply didn´t find it before meeting Stella. My intentions are that I have been looking for a replacement as southern royal guard instead of fulfilling my duties on Canterlot”. I responded.
“And how is it possible that you are only coming here just to offer your duties here? Couldn´t you wait a few days more before finishing the train station?” the queen asked.
“I couldn´t contain myself, your majesty. I was really looking forward to checking out this place and I am willing to accomplish my duties under your orders” I answered firmly.
“And how do I know that you are willing to be under my command? How can you prove that you are worthy to gain my trust and put it on you lightly, and not steal the pearl like someone else did a few days ago?” the queen asked.
“Well, if you want to prove that I am worthy to gain your trust is that I have been working for Celestia for years, your majesty. Besides, I have a question about the seashell necklaces; they transform the holders whenever they want, am I right?” I asked.
“Yes, but why are you asking me about that right now?” Novo asked with hesitation.
“Because just to show you my loyalty… I am capable to stay in a permanent form without those necklaces” I affirmed with confidence.
Both Stella and Novo were astounded by what I have just said. Their eyes were wide open, proving that none of them saw this coming.
“Are you sure that you want to go that far? You are asking me that you want to join here with all it takes, even more than I imagined” the queen answered without knowing exactly what to say.
“Well, I know you are surprised with what I´ve said but I am just proving how far my interest is for this place. Just like you asked, your majesty” I said firmly like an experienced guard would act in this case.
“Well, it means that I have to use the pearl on you for that permanence. I am noticing a lot of conviction from your words; you are decided to take the charge as a royal guard. Despite your risky anticipation, I admit that there aren´t as many guards here watching for the throne as there were in the past… almost all of them have decided to stay on the mount and Seaquestria has been a little bit emptier these days…” Novo said while she was thoughtful. “I cannot reproach your request” she admitted and stayed silent for a moment. “Just give me a moment” she said and went to catch the pearl placed above her throne.
“Are you sure about compromising yourself to the queen? Keep in mind that you are renouncing to go back on earth if you do that” Stella asked me with a quiet voice.
“I am absolutely convinced, Stella. Everything is going to be fine, trust me” I responded her.
“Well, Bluestar. I am telling you how it works. The permanent form without a necklace means that you cannot go back to your original form. You would need the rays from this pearl and the necklace so you could return to it” Novo said. “I admire your willingness and submission for this place despite not knowing how this will work out. Something is telling me that it´s not proper of me to do this drastic decision towards any individual” she continued.
“I don´t believe that this decision is going to lead to a bad place, your majesty” I answered.
“Well, there you have the permanent form” she concluded and started to handle the pearl.
The pearl began to shine with orange rays and they ended up surrounding my entire my body. I closed my eyes and during the process, I wasn´t feeling any physical change but I knew that something in me was dying: this firmness wasn´t the usual manner I showed back then in Canterlot. This decision could be the most decisive one that I have taken for years and the change is almost irreversible. I have decided to accept this new condition.
The pearl ceased the discharge of those orange rays and I took a breath, opening my eyes just to look around as though I was starting all over again.
“Well BlueStar, welcome to my kingdom” the queen said and I nodded. “For now, I will have to check what houses are empty for you to pick among them but as you might have seen before, they aren´t all that varied” she admitted. “I believe that you and Stella seem to get along, you can stay with her in the meantime” she continued.
“Really? That´s great!” Stella responded with a smile.
“I approve that idea, your majesty” I answered.
“Well, it seems that there is nothing else to do” the queen said. “But BlueStar…” she added. “I want to tell you that if I see you are actually loyal to the kingdom; I can use the pearl again on you whenever you want so you could come back to Canterlot. I am not capable to ground my daughter for one single day, much less I can do that to any lifetime of my people” she confessed.
“Your majesty, I am sure that I can prove that loyalty over time” I affirmed.
“Good. Having said that, Stella, Bluestar, you both can leave” she said.
We left the throne room and went to Stella´s house. I believe that I will adapt to this pretty quickly. Still, my decision has been taken and so does my stability. I haven´t had such high self- esteem since the vacations. It´s quite an achievement to have survived all this and be accepted because of my confidence. Finally, I get a bit of peace and comfort.
However, I will have to say the truth to Stella because it´s quite difficult to hide eternally what I have desired in reality. Not only with her, there´s another one left as well…