//------------------------------//
// The Good Count 
// Story: The Main Attraction 
// by Dimentio 
//------------------------------//

	I awaken with a start another nightmare, more memories of being separated from her...I look to my left and smile as I see Timpani sleeping blissfully even as the light floods in through the crack in the curtains. I get up and make my way to draw them the rest of the way closed.

I hear a small yawn and turn to see that my stirring disturbed her sleep. Internally cursing myself, I give her the largest smile I can muster.

"Good morning Blumiere." Timpani said, her voice making my smile a bit more genuine.

"Good morning my dear, sorry to disturb you." I said attempting to tip my hat before realizing it was hanging by the door.

"Old habits die hard." Timpani said with a smirk when she realized what I was trying to do.

The only response I gave was a sigh as I smiled back. As I make my way back to the bed, I hear a sharp knocking at the door.

"Count? The Princess is asking for an audience!" I hear a familiar voice call from outside of the room.

"Mimi, we've spoken about this. There are several princesses in this land." I said, rubbing my eyes with slight annoyance.

"Well it was the dark one!" She called back.

"You can come in, the door is unlocked." I said, tiring of Mimi's yelling. 

Mimi entered the room, of course she was wearing the maid outfit she insisted upon wearing when she tracked us to this world. She bowed low, in the exaggerated fashion that I expected from her.

"Good Morning Count! Oh, and Lady Timpani too!" Mimi giggled.

"So, the princess of night requires an audience?" I said, as I grabbed my hat. I looked back to Timpani who was already up and preparing to leave. "Very well, inform her that we will be there immediately."

"Yes Count." Mimi said politely as she stepped back out of the room to let the door close.

"She's as chipper as ever." Timpani said with a huff as she shook the sleep from her small frame.

"Indeed." I said simply as I retrieved my cane. "I'm just glad we don't need to leave the castle for this meeting. I dread using that disguise spell."

"But Blumiere, you're so adorable as a pony!" Timpani teased.

"Please don't remind me..."I said, shuddering at the memory of looking at a horse-looking version of myself in the mirror. 

Our room was in an apparently abandoned corridor, far from wandering eyes yet close enough to the throne room for the princesses to 'check in' on us if they felt it was necessary. I opened the door and looked back to Timpani.

"I suppose we'd best not keep her waiting. We need to finish whatever business we have in there before the nobility comes in for Day-court." I said, not wanting to relive being temporarily turned into a talking horse to prevent what Princess Celestia called a 'political nightmare.'