"....Excuse me, sir. Are you Duke Blueblood?"The duke looked up, meeting Moondancer's gaze. He smiled in a way that was pleasant, if a little aloof. "Indeed. What can I do for you, young pony?" Blueblood's eyes fell upon Moondancer's frayed cloak. "....Are you lost?""N-No." Moondancer's voice shook with excitement, and he swallowed to steady it. "I mean...not anymore. I...I've been looking for you for so long, sir. My name is Moondancer, and I'm..." Moony felt an exhausted smile float to his face."I am your son."Blueblood's reaction was one of dull surprise. "...That's anbold claim to make, my good fellow." Blueblood's smile was gentle and pacifying, like one a teacher might give a foal who'd asked a particularly stupid question. "Where is your proof?""I..." Moondancer had assumed his very existence was proof enough. He and this stallion shared the same mane, the same long fetlocks, the same spire of a horn. "The Grand Galloping Gala? A-All those years ago. That's where you met my mother....Trixie Lulamoon."Blueblood said lightly. "Yes. I see."There was a lengthy pause between the two, and Moondancer shuffled on his hooves. Out of all the things he'd imagined his first meeting with his father would be,had not been one of them."What is your business here today, Mister Moondancer?" Blueblood looked at his son sharply, suddenly suspicious. "If you've come looking for a hand-out, you'll find that you're sorely-""What? N-no!" Moondancer startled, indignant. "I am no charity case! I just....wanted to meet you-""And so you have." Blueblood said boredly. "Are we done?""No, we're not done! That can't possibly beMoondancer cried."Why not? You are nearlydear boy. Whether it's money you're after, or something else, I'm afraid there's nothing for you here."Blueblood's rejection echoed in Moondancer's mind, like rainwater in a cave. "So....that's it?" He said weakly. His hooves shook underneath him, and he felt as though he were going to vomit. "You...aren't even going tome as your son?"Blueblood sighed. "Dear boy." He began, in a tone that was entirely devoid of true affection or warmth, "Please, you must understand my position. I am a Duke of Equestria. Ponieson me. If word got out that I'd...allegedly sired an illegitimate foal with awhy...my reputation would go down inThis situation has the potential to become quite messy for me...and for you too." He added, as Moondancer leapt to interrupt."Use your head, boy. Your dear mother. Her name isn't worth much already, but if word got out, it'd be utterly drug through the mud. The things ponies might say about her, the things ponies mightBlueblood placed emphasis on the last word, letting the implication set in. "AndDo you thinkcould withstand the scorn of the entire Canterlot Elite?" He flicked his hoof against Moondancer's tattered cloak. "...I think not. No, I think it's best that you go back to where you belong, good fellow.""I..." Moondancer was deeply ashamed to feel tears beginning to prick his eyes.I've...I've wanted to meet you for so long..."Blueblood took in the young colt before him for a long time. He watched Moondancer's gaze fall down to the carpet, and watched the slow roll of tears down his face."...You're a thin fellow, aren't you?" Blueblood murmured, breaking the silence. When Moony blinked up at him, the duke cleared his throat."You are welcome to enjoy a hot meal down in the castle kitchens, and spend the night in one of the Upper chambers, out of the rain. I will see to it that a bag is packed for you, and that you are given a good amount of bits." Blueblood placed a hoof on Moondancer's shoulders."Then I would like you to go away."Moondancer gaped in disbelief, but Duke Blueblood was already turning to go.He tried, voice choked-"And if you would, dear boy-" Blueblood turned his head and met his son's eyes one last time."Don't come back."~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~oh hey surprise moondancer's dad is Bluebloodi waffled on whether or not to reveal that cuz he isn't a present figure in Moony's life either wayalso i wasn't too sure about if it'd be in character for Blueblood to be so cruel as to reject his own kid, in the show he's never deliberately cruel, just a jerkit clicked for me when i characterized him as a pompous stuffed shirt that wasn't overtly malicious, rather he's just not very concerned about others. Blueblood sees Moondancer and Trixie as potential threats to his way of living, and commoners to boot, so they get aptly rejected. Poor Marshmallow. Trixie warned Moony it'd go this way...