Thorax sighed and rolled over in his private chambers. He couldn't understand it but something was bugging him.
"Thor!" Pharynx burst into the room, and Thorax sat up swiftly.
"Y-yes?" Thorax asked quickly.
"Shining Armor wants to know if we want to join them for an after class Ogres and Oubliettes tournament. You in?" Pharynx asked.
"You disturbed me for that?" Thorax asked, swinging his legs off the bed.
"Oh come on, I thought you'd be excited." Pharynx leaned on the doorway, eyeing Thorax. "What's wrong?"
"N-nothing's wrong." Thorax said, and Pharynx smirked, violet eyes shining.
"Come on baby bro, I think I can tell if you're upset. What's bugging you?" Pharynx stepped forward and held out his hand.
"I-I don't want to be the Headmaster."
"You what? You're kidding, right?"
"Look at me Pharynx. I can barely run a kingdom without help. My general is my older brother because I can't defend myself to save my life. And now I've started playing Ogres and Oubliettes with my own students to get away from it all. That has to be some kind of, I don't know, misdemeanor for the school board." Thorax groaned.
"You mean the EEA? Those cows don't know squat about schools, we've established this. Besides, Tia and Lulu are there to help you, you know. And so am I."
"I know you're all here for me, but...I just..."
Thorax went over to his dresser and took his crown from where it hung off the mirror, balanced precariously. He took it in both hands, staring at it. The crown was orange with purple filigree, and two orange spikes curved upward, forming a shape that resembled antlers. It had been made for him for his coronation. Pharynx had a similar one, only it was red with black filigree and boasted smaller antler-like curves.
"I can't...This crown keeps holding me down. Why do I feel so much younger than I really am?"
Arms wrapped around his shoulders as his brother set his head on Thorax's shoulder.
"You sound like you're trying to mash two problems together. An Identity Crisis and Needing a Break."
"A break?" Thorax turned to Pharynx, who pulled away from him.
"Yeah. Tell you what? Let's call Temp, Em, Tia, and Lulu. We can go out for the night. I hear there's a good doughnut place near the girls' school." Pharynx said, pulling out his phone.
"What?! Phar, we're Headmasters and teachers, we can't just go running off and leave the schools unsupervised! You're the Prince-General of our kingdom, how do you not see that's a bad idea?" Thorax yelped. Pharnyx sighed and put a hand on Thorax's shoulder, smiling.
"Thorax, I may be a general, but I'm also your brother. You need a break, and frankly, so do I. Curfew's about to start, the students will be in their rooms. Our Ogres and Oubliettes gang will likely crash in one of their rooms anyway. And the knights-in-training have excelled so much I have no doubt they can defend the school if needed."
Thorax sighed, and Pharynx pulled the crown from Thorax's hands. He grinned cockily before placing the crown on his own head.
"Come on baby bro. Your big brother's here to look out for you."
"Yes, yes you are." Thorax smiled, then snatched his crown back. "Wear your own crown Phar."
Thorax and Pharynx were heading out when they heard footsteps.
"Headmaster Thorax?" Spike was standing behind them, holding a bunch of figurines in his arms. "Where are you going?"
"Sorry Spike, but we're going to have to skip this tournament. We're going out with a few friends."
Pharynx suddenly turned on his phone as it vibrated, making a small glow of light in the dark hall.
"Thor, Tia says Lulu just invited a few of their students along."
"Why?"
"Says a few of 'em needed a break too. Also they needed to discuss a serious matter concerning one of their students that has a brother here."
"Is it Twilight?" Spike asked, concern for his sister obvious.
"Nah, some kid named Fleetfoot."
"Oh, we met her. During the dinner. She's friends with Twilight. Wait...if they're that person's students...is 'Tia' Headmistress Celestia?"
"Yeah. Oh, and apparently Lulu-er, Luna-asked three other girls along as well as your sister and this Fleetfoot kid." Pharynx added as another text came in. He rolled his eyes. "Why doesn't she just invite the whole school while she's at it?"
"Actually, that gives me an idea..." Thorax turned to Spike. "Would you and Shining like to see your sister again? I'm sure they wouldn't mind. And we should bring this girl's brother, who's he-?"
"Oh no. It'll be bad enough with giggling girls there, we don't need boys for them to fawn over. You're supposed to be taking a break Thor, not solving more kid's problems!"
"We'll only take the three. Can you go get your brother Spike?"
"Yeah, sure. We've met Fleet's brother actually, he's in Soarin's knight training class, and he's roommates with Sunburst and Flash. By the way Vice-Headmaster, you shouldn't have to worry about the girls fawning over us. At least Fleetfoot, anyway." Spike then left.
"Thorax..."
"You can kill me later Pharynx. I want to help these kids."
"Fine." Pharynx sighed, and stood near him so his hand grazed Thorax's. "You're ridiculous Thor."
"And yet, for some reason you keep going along with it." Thorax retorted, smiling playfully. Pharynx shook his head.
"I taught you too well, even my comebacks don't faze you anymore."
"So?" Thorax asked, and Pharynx smirked, giving Thorax a small hug.
"I'm so proud of you!" he teased, and Thorax laughed, pushing Pharynx off.
"Here we are." Spike arrived with Shining Armor and a boy Thorax recalled seeing from time to time. "This is Dark Shooter."
"Right." Thorax turned to the boy. "My fellows at Princess Preparatory have told me something's wrong with your sister. They're bringing her and a few of her friends along to a meet-up we scheduled. Do you want to come with us to see her?"
"Fleet? Yes, if she's in trouble." Dark Shooter agreed
"How will we get there Headmaster?" Shining asked, and Pharynx sighed. He'd been texting Celestia to alert her of the recent development.
"Thorax and I were going to take a carriage, but since he's now insisting on taking you three, we-"
"Will just take a bigger carriage." Thorax interrupted.
Pharynx looked affronted. Thorax rolled his eyes, stepping to his brother and leaning in to whisper to him.
"Don't even try to use this as an excuse to get out the car."
"If you're going to bring them I might as well get something out of it."
"Pharnyx, impressing Tempest with the car is not the point of bringing the kids along."
"Well it's either that or I 'kill you later' like you offered."
"I'll take that risk, that's not why we're bringing the kids."
Thorax finished, putting a stop to the argument.
"Fine." Pharynx muttered, crossing his arms.
"Come on kids." Thorax led them outside, where a carriage waited.