Wrong.
Twinken stood by his brother as they beheld the throne room, full of all kinds of ponies. Celebrities, politicians, business ponies, a few dignitaries, all the sorts of unsavory types you’d expect to find in the royal court.
Luna sat at her sister’s throne, with royal secretary Raven, as she tried to get a word in edgewise but too many of the ponies seeing her were arguing over whose case mattered more, who was more deserving to have their audience with royalty, it may as well have been another turkey-calling contest like the one Big Mac was once champion of, but with real turkeys gobbling nonstop over each other.
It’s interesting to watch but it doesn’t really mean anything.
“Dear Faust, Luna’s up to her eyeballs in this mess!” Midnight was aghast.
“Yes," the Lunar Guard nodded woefully, "Her Majesty is unused to dealing with so many at once during royal court.”
At that moment, Luna noticed her most recent arrivals and saw hope, even as a unicorn supremacist was harping at her to pass a bylaw morally unfair to earth ponies and pegasi. Having had enough, she took a deep breath and made perfect use of a lesson once taught to her by her old mentor, Star Swirl the Bearded.
“BE….STIIIIILLLLLLLLL!!!!!”
...
...
...
The Royal Canterlot Voice never failed, as all the ponies in royal court were stunned to silence and looked up at Luna with varying levels of nervousness and respect.
“We are going to take a short recess while We speaketh with Our fellow monarch, Prince Midnight Blaze,” Luna declared. “We will recommence royal court in half an hour and all of your concerns will be addressed… Now get out.”
The look on Luna’s face showed she was in no mood for an argument, so the ponies all left, muttering and disgruntled. Several of them bowed to Midnight, uttering ‘Your Highness’ on their way out but whenever any tried to stop and have a word with him the Lunar Guard bared his fangs and hissed at them to move it along.
“Uh....”
Midnight wasn’t sure what was going on when the Lunar Guard declared, “Announcing His Royal Majesty, Midnight Blaze, Prince of Equestria, Element of Faith, Guardian of Harmony, Arbiter of Canterlot! And his younger brother, Sir Twinken.”
“Hi, Princess Luna!” Twinken said with a warm smile, that Luna couldn’t help but ‘awww!’ and swoop the little colt up into her hooves in a hug.
“Thou art just the dearest of unicorn colts We hath ever had the pleasure of meeting!” Luna squealed like a filly hugging a puppy that Twinken just found it funny and laughed as he hugged the princess back.
“Uh, Princess Luna?”
The princess and colt both stopped laughing and regarded a bewildered Midnight, Luna perking, “Oh, Midnight! My apologies, I almost forgot you were here! I had no idea you were bringing your brother when I sent my guard for you.”
“Yeah…” Midnight replied as Twinken rejoined his big brother at his side and they both looked to Luna. “So what’s up? Twinken and I were having a bro’s dayout in Canterlot today.”
Luna sighed morosely as she set Twinken down, “My apologies, Midnight, but once I heard you were in Canterlot, I just had to summon you! Practically since this morning, I have been overwhelmed with all kinds of matters in royal court and hounded by politicians, business-ponies, celebrities, ugh! How my sister did this by herself for a thousand years I’ll never know!”
“But don’t you have your sister or Prince Sombra to help you?” Twinken asked.
“NAY!” Luna snapped with such a look of anger, Midnight held his brother close protectively as they both gave a slight quiver. “As soon as I was roped into overseeing royal court, I had somepony look into why my sister and Sombra were not, and they found this!”
Luna levitated out a parchment with something written on it for Midnight to see. He instantly recognized his master’s horn-writing.
‘Luna.
My deepest apologies, but Celestia and I are taking the weekend off. Don’t bother looking for us. By the time you’ve read this, we will be long gone.
I know this is out of nowhere, but my wife and I had to cut our honeymoon short after our wedding due to matters we were called upon to settle. I give you my word however we shall return by tomorrow night at the latest, and you need not worry.
I have arranged for somepony to arrive to aid you in handling all those rats and snakes in royal court.
Love from your loving big brother-in-law,
SombraP.S.
We’ll bring souvenirs.’
The message went up in smoke as Midnight angrily incinerated it in his aura, his eyes flaring searing white, as he suddenly realized why his master had urged him to come to Canterlot quickly.
I’ve been had! Master, you’ll pay for this…!
At that moment, far away on the white sandy beaches of Haywaii, a white unicorn mare with a pink mane, wearing a soft yellow one-piece swimsuit, a sunhat, and pink-rimmed sunglasses while sunbathing next to her husband, a charcoal gray unicorn with an onyx black and cobalt blue mane, wearing outrageously colored jams swim trunks and an orange Haywaiian shirt with white flowers unbuttoned to reveal his strong chest, his eyes hidden behind a pair of shades as he levitated a mai-tai cocktail and a platter of Kalua pulled pork and moaned in delicious ecstasy after taking a bite!
They smiled at their many fellow beachgoers, splashing about the waves, some throwing and catching giant beachballs, and building sandcastles, stallions, mares, and foals all having the time of their lives as everypony enjoyed the warm tropical weather.
“Ah…” the gray stallion sighed in content, “this is living, am I right, love?”
“It is wonderful,” his wife agreed but he could hear the barest of doubt in her voice, which made itself known as she then spoke, “but was this really a good idea? I mean, this is just incredible! I am glad you talked me into this, I just… feel a little bad about leaving court matters to my sister without giving her a head’s up.”
The stallion turned over and pulled his wife into a soft but tender kiss, prompting a mutual smile between them.
“We deserve this,” he answered with a firm but assuring tone. “It’s just a weekend, Tia! Besides, little sister will have plenty of help dealing with those stuffy high-horses, thanks to arrangements made by your clever and loving husband.”
“Why does that look on your face remind me of the scheming scoundrel you used to be?” his wife asked with a rising tease of her tone.
“Scheming scoundrel?! My love, you hurt me…” he said in mock-drama, that his wife just giggled.
“Why don’t you go soak your head?”
“Your idea is not without merit,” he chuckled with a sneaky look and got up while levitating his wife into the air.
“Dear! What are you doing?!”
He paid her protests no mind and smiled like a rogue as he willed her out towards the water, “Ladies first!”
“Oh, when he gets back…!” Midnight growled when a racket made itself known outside the doors.
Luna sighed, and beseeched, “Please, help me, Midnight! I am sorry to cut in on your quality time with your brother, but I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important!”
Midnight grimaced a bit as a tangle of emotions welled up in him. On one hoof, he wanted to help Luna and lighten her workload but on the other he wanted to devote his attention to his brother and not have to deal with the sorts of ponies outside those doors. He felt a tug of his wing and looked at Twinken, who was giving him an understanding smile.
“I think Princess Luna needs help, big brother.”
Midnight couldn’t help but feel proud of Twinken’s compassion, and said to Luna, “Alright, we’ll split the workload down the middle.”
“Oh thank you so much!” Luna sighed in great relief before looking to Raven, who’d been silently going over the agenda so quietly it was a surprise to see she was still there.
“Raven, divide the ponies coming for royal court and decide who shall see me, and who shall see Midnight.”
Taking a deep breath as a bracing exercise, Midnight looked to his little brother, “Thanks for being so understanding, Twink. Why don’t I have somepony take you-”
“Nuh-uh, I wanna stay and help you out, Midnight!” Twinken said with crossed hooves.
“What?! B-but Twinken, this is gonna be boring! A bunch of snobs and parasites trying to leech off the royal power or whine about something superfluous!”
“Midnight, you said we were gonna spend time together in Canterlot,” Twinken stated firmly, “and if that means being your assistant during royal court, that’s okay by me.”
Sighing, Midnight responded, “Alright, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“...and that, Your Majesty, is why this legislation I am proposing,” Aurora Boreala wrapped it up, “will revolutionize institutions of magical education for unicorns all over Equestria!”
Midnight looked at the unicorn mare before him with a raised brow, his face expressing boredom and the subtlest hint of disgust. Twinken furrowed his brows at Aurora, who held her nose higher than the tip of her horn, blissfully unaware of the less-than-convinced expressions on the brothers' faces.
This was only the third pony to see Midnight, and he already couldn’t wait for it to be over with. He’d foregone wearing his crown, not in the mood for it but consented to wear a regalia around his neck, if only to have some semblance of royalty aside from his wings. The regalia was a bright and shiny silver as opposed to the golden one Celestia wore, it had no engraved patterns, and it sported a raindrop-shaped sapphire in the middle, right above Midnight’s chest.
“Councilor… Boreala, is it?” Midnight spoke up in a subtle tone of condescending. “Your proposed legislation is indeed impressive, and would certainly provide magic schools for unicorns all over Equestria with ample funding to make the educations for our nation’s future wizards of tomorrow all the more effective, but… Twinken, why don’t you state your opinion.”
Aurora was confused why the prince would allow his school-age brother any opinion on matters in the royal court, but held her tongue as Twinken stepped up, and cleared his throat.
“Miss Boreala, what you’re suggesting is we cut funds intended to be shared with all places of learning in Equestria in favor of magic schools, from which only unicorns would… would…”
Twinken looked to his brother, who smiled and offered, “Benefit?”
“Yeah! That’s the word I was looking for, ‘benefit’!” Twinken smiled but quickly put on a serious face and looked at Aurora again. “From which only unicorns would benefit, Miss Boreala.”
“Well, um, I suppose that’s one way of looking a-” Aurora didn’t like the direction this was going. Even more when Twinken interrupted.
“Which is why I think my big brother agrees with me, when I say…” Twinken levitated the clipboard Raven had given him along with a quill and wrote something over the paper Aurora had levitated to him earlier for Midnight to go over.
He then twirled it around for Aurora to see a big fat messy ‘NO’ written all over the legislation proposal as Twinken said it aloud, “NO.”
“Now see here, I refuse to be spoken to that way by a- !!” Aurora snapped but instantly covered her mouth as realization quickly set in.
“What was that you were going to say, councilor?” Midnight asked with a rising edge in his tone.
“Well, uh- I was- That is- Well, you see, Your Highness…” Aurora tripped over her words, trying to find the right ones to smooth this out. “I am uncertain about your own objectivity, as this young colt was-”
“Are you questioning my authority?” Midnight asked with a challenge in his voice.
“I’m… questioning your taking this matter seriously, Your Majesty,” Aurora clarified but instantly realized she'd just dug herself deeper.
“You are out of line…!” Midnight interrupted in a dangerous tone as he stood up from the throne.
“Y-your Majesty, if you would allow me to speak frankly-” Aurora bade nervously.
“I have no interest in anything a pitiful tribal supremacist has to say,” Midnight interrupted in a blatant tone.
“But-” Aurora tried to say but Midnight was not finished.
“You have disrespected my brother, and in doing so have you disrespected me, as well as my time, and you would do well to-”
“But-” Aurora tried again, only for Midnight to snap:
” SHUT YOUR MOUTH.”
When Aurora shrank back at the prince’s tone, he narrowed his eyes derisively as he continued.
“You have failed to present to me anything worthwhile and have shown nothing but flagrant disrespect to earth ponies and pegasi. Your only course of action now is to leave my presence and don’t dare to show your face in royal court again until you have put your racist prejudice behind you and prepare a proposal that benefits all ponies, not just unicorns! Or I will take immense satisfaction in seeing you stripped of all your legal powers and banished from Canterlot! IS. THAT. CLEAR?!”
Aurora shivered at the riot act she’d just been given, as she bowed and scooted backwards out of the throne room, her rump bumping against the half-closed doors, making her stumble in an embarrassing way, before she fled.
Twinken looked in awe at his big brother, having felt a slight shiver of intimidation as well, but it was quickly replaced by a shudder of amazement, as he said, “Big brother…! That was… just awesome!”
Midnight sighed as he slumped back into the throne, and robbed his hoof against his brows, “Politicians… I’m sorry if any of that disturbed you, Twinken. This is among the many parts of being royalty I could live without.”
“Well, I’ll admit you were a bit scary, but that just made you all the cooler!” Twinken got starry-eyed, which made Midnight chuckle, and ruffle his brother’s mane, the little colt laughing.
“Alright then, my royal assistant, who’ve we got left on the docket?”
“Um…” Twinken looked at the clipboard after removing Aurora Boreala’s bologna of a legislation proposal and said, “We’ve got… the President of the Canterlot Bank, the owner of a Las Pegasus casino, and a celebrity musician.”
“Y’know what, bro? Why don’t you take a break?” Midnight suggested. “I imagine about now you’re getting a little hungry.”
“Oh no, I’m fine, Midnight!” Twinken assured with a coltish look of determination. “I could keep this up all day!”
*GROWL/GURGLE*
Twinken’s ears pressed down sheepishly as his brother chuckled in amusement. Midnight looked to one of the royal guards standing vigil by the throne.
“Accompany my brother to the kitchens and have the cooks give him whatever he would like.”
“Of course, Your Highness,” the guard replied and he stepped towards the door, looking expectantly at Twinken.
The colt looked to Midnight, who smiled and shooed him off, “Go on, I can handle things from here on. Just send in the next visitor on your way out.”
“Okay…” Twinken caved and followed the guard out the doors.
Outside the throne room were six ponies. The first two were a unicorn stallion and his teenage son. The stallion was silver-coated and golden maned with a stack of bits for a cutie-mark, he wore a suit, reading glasses, and carried a folder in his aura. His son also had a silver-coat but his mane was light blue with orange streaks, his cutie-mark was an orange fireball with blazing blue lines to make it look also like a basketball. He wore a simple dress collar and tie but had worn shades as well, the one informal thing about him.
Behind them were an earth pony mare and her son. She had a golden coat and blue mane, wore way too much makeup, some expensive-looking jewelry, and her cutie-mark was a gold Ace Spade playing card adorned with jewels. Her son had the same golden coat but had a light blonde mane, he had no cutie-mark, but around his neck was a gold and diamond necklace. He looked bored and pouty, like he didn’t want to be there.
Finally in the back was a pegasus stallion with a chocolate brown coat and black mane, he wore a swanky-looking fedora, and his cutie-mark was mallets playing a keyboard. He gave off a laid-back vibe, and an impression that he was an easy guy to talk to. Next to him was his daughter, a purple pegasus filly with a sea-blue mane. She had no cutie-mark and wore an immaculate bow in her mane and had a stiff look about her, as she rolled her eyes at her father as he pointed at the mare in front of him and clicked his tongue, only for her to harrumph at him and say something to her son that sounded a lot like ‘pay no mind to that rabble, dear’.
The guard cleared his throat and took a look at Twinken’s clipboard, “Mister… Gilded Bit?”
The unicorn stallion in the front of the line nodded in acknowledgement.
“Prince Midnight will see you now. If you will all excuse me, I am escorting the prince’s younger brother, Sir Twinken, to get a meal.”
That statement got a reaction, as the ponies and their children whispered to each other while looking at Twinken with looks of curiosity, shrewdness, it made the young colt uncomfortable.
“Good sir,” the mare spoke up with a somewhat flirty look, “would it be possible for you to take along my little angel, Golden Glitters? The long journey here has been hard on him.”
“I want something to eat too!” Golden Glitters snapped almost rudely.
“Say, could I get something to eat too?” Gilded Bit’s son raised a hoof.
“Silver Striker, I thought we agreed you were accompanying me to learn a little something about business,” Gilded Bit sighed wearily.
“Aw c’mon, Dad!” Silver Striker responded, “How’s a pony to talk business on an empty stomach?”
“Y’know what,” the pegasus stallion in the back butted in, while pushing his daughter forward, much to her irritation. “My Piani here is so sour she could definitely go for something sweet to even her out.”
“Daddy!” Piani looked indignantly at her father as he tried in vain to hide his giggles.
“I’m… not sure…” the guard was hesitant to include three young strangers but Twinken gently tugged on the guard's armor.
“I don’t mind you all coming," he said kindly before looking to the foals, "Trust me, royal court matters are real boring unless you’re a grownup.”
“Splendid, what a generous young member of the royal family,” Golden Glitters’ mother swooned whilst sharing with her son a conspiratorial look.
“Daddy! I want to see the prince with you!” Piani protested.
“Honey, Daddy promises to talk to the prince about arranging that concert you want to perform in, or my name’s not Boli Coca!” assured Piani's father in kind yet parental condescension.
“You’d better!” Piani grumbled as she and Golden both stood next to Twinken while Gilded Bit and Silver Striker continued to bicker.
“Son, I respect your following your own dreams,” Gilded Bit said with an even tone but a slight look of irritation on his face, “but it would do you well to learn a little about etiquette and dealing with royalty.”
“Well, according to what we just heard, Dad, that’s just what I’ll be doing with the prince’s brother here,” Silver debated as he went over to Twinken and ruffled his mane rather abruptly that Twinken pulled his head free.
“Oh let him go, Mr. Bits,” Golden Glitters’ mother pressed as though the matter were no big deal. “The children will be fine and I’d wager they’d find this preferable to some stuffy meeting where they’d quickly become bored.”
“Yeah let `em go,” Boli agreed in a laid-back manner.
Gilded Bit sighed and nodded his son his permission, while Twinken said to his escort, “I don’t mind.”
“Very well then, Sir Twinken,” the guard nodded before saying to the foals, “Stick close, don’t wander off, and don’t touch anything.”
The Guard led the four foals from the room and down a long corridor heading towards the kitchens.
Using the walk as an opportunity, the three noble children closed in on Twinken with wide smiles pasted on their muzzles.
"So, Sir Twinken, it's an honor to spend time with you. After all the things your brother has done for Equestria, it's truly a great experience to meet you both." the young earth pony, Golden Glitter said, his words oozing with smugness but sounding weird by his bad Canterlot accent.
Twinken suspected it was being forced.
"Yeah it's awesome to meet ya, Sir Twinken. With all the games I've been in around Equestria, I've heard heaps about Prince Midnight and his friends. Getting to hang with you is totally sweet!" said Silver Striker, the unicorn athlete teenage colt, his words a mix of immense pride in Midnight, and in himself.
The pegasus filly with them, Piani Coca, who seemed more annoyed then happy, followed along behind the group. "I too am glad, though I wish that my 'father'" - she said the word with an odd distaste to Twinken's confusion - "was not ruining the experience by embarrassing my reputation in front of the Prince... like he always does..."
Twinken took in their words, feeling good but a tad uncomfortable. He knew from Midnight that high society ponies tended to be snooty and arrogant (although, having met Fancy Pants and his wife Fleur, Twinken didn’t think that was truly the norm), but it seemed their foals at least, hadn't taken those traits to heart.
The guard led them for a while as the group continued to spout about how excited they were to be spending time with him and praising his brother's exploits. However after a while, it seemed that their praise was more directed at his brother then anything at him. He didn't mind them liking his brother, but he'd prefer to be friends on his own merit rather than just because of his brother's popularity.
The group arrived in the kitchens, all hungry and ready for lunch. The guard chuckled at the kids as their tummies rumbled.
"I'll go speak with the chefs and see if they can prepare something for you all. They might be a bit busy so just hang on for a tick." the group nodded as he directed them to some tables out along a balcony jutting out from the end of the hall opposite the kitchens.
As the guard entered the kitchens, the foals all took up positions at the tables, and the praise started to change.
"So Sir Twinken, you haven't been around Canterlot much. After lunch maybe I can take you to some of my favorite places. Together we'd get into the cinemas and the play halls easily and get the best seats. Maybe we could even pay a visit to the Canterlot galleria and get free access to the arcade machines. Nopony would deny the brother of Prince Midnight and the son of Gold Spade."
Golden Glitter was puffing out his chest like a peacock as he placed his suggestion. However, for all the fun the cinema or the galleria would be, Twinken could tell that Golden wanted to try and ride up on Prince Midnight's fame to get better seats or free access. However before Twinken could say anything, it was Silver Striker's turn to grab his attention.
"Ooh, you should check out my basketball skills. I bet a unicorn like you has a fair bit of magic skill, so and I would probably have a blast out on the field. Heck, after we play, I bet you'll see how awesome I am and Prince Midnight might consider sponsoring my basketball career... and I'll make sure you always get free seats to my games, of course."
It seemed Silver was far more direct about hoping to use Midnight's influence than Golden Glitters, but Twinken was already getting uncomfortable. He turned to see if Piani Coca, expecting a similar desire for Midnight's fame, only for her to give him a shrug.
"I just want my father to stop ruining things for me. Trying to start up a music career is hard enough when you're young and don't have any contacts, but with my embarrassing father continually butting his big nose into everything and making a fool of himself, it’s even more difficult. I was hoping you may be able to have your brother speak with him and make him stop behaving so inappropriately."
The three foals stared at Twinken, as though hoping he would clap his hooves and suddenly all their desires would just poof into existence. Golden Glitters wanted to reap the benefits of being friends with the brother of a prince. Silver Striker wanted to advance his basketball career by getting a prince’s support through his brother. Piani Coca seemed to just want to be distanced from her embarrassing father so she could advance herself.
None of them however seemed to really want to be with Twinken, just use him for his connections to Midnight. What he would have to tell them would not be pleasant.
"Look guys, I think you've got the wrong idea here. I'm Midnight's brother sure, but I don't have any royal influence myself, and trying to go through me to get Midnight's help won't work. He's going to be busy for a while with Princess Celestia and Prince Sombra out of Canterlot, and when he's done he and I are going to be spending some brother time together. Plus I know he isn't the type to just flaunt his rank around to get things. I don't think he can just give you whatever you want simply because you want it, Golden, or just sponsor you for no reason, Silver. He might be able to talk with your dad, Piani, but he can't order him to act like anything but himself, and why would you want that? He's your family after all."
Twinken suddenly came to the realisation that maybe these foals weren't so different from the rest of the nobility after all, as the three of them suddenly glared at him.
"Are you telling me I've been trying to waste my time with you for nothing?! I have far better things to do then waste my time on some bumpkin unicorn from a hick one-horse town! If you can't help me then you’re worthless!" Golden's face with filled with disgust, as though he honestly couldn't' believe that Twinken was even in Canterlot, let alone the castle if he held no royal privileges.
"Yeah, you stupid loser! There are plenty of important ponies I can get connections with! I figured hanging with you could help my chances, but you aren't worth wasting my time on! Why are you even in Canterlot?!" Silver Striker smacked his hoof on the table, his teeth grit in anger and all pleasantness dropped from his voice.
Piani looked at Twinken with disdain but there was something in her eyes that indicated she felt ashamed on a minute level.
Twinken shrank back in his seat, biting his lip, unsure of what to do. Golden Glitters and Silver Striker suddenly reminded him of Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, spoiled brats with an undeserved sense of entitlement, and didn’t care what they had to do or who they inconvenienced to get it.
Piani was different somehow but she sighed in mild frustration as she turned her nose up at Twinken and looked away while Golden Glitters added another hurtful barb, “What’s a useless colt like you even doing with a prince in royal court? What’s so special about you that he’d let you work with him?”
That one pushed a button and Twinken got riled as he rose up in his seat, about to snap back when-
The doors of the balcony flew open as a chef appeared, announcing, “Luncheon is served, Sir Twinken!”
He clapped his hooves and five waiters stepped onto the balcony, surrounding the table with various delicious-looking dishes. While the chef bragged of his delicacies, Twinken gave each of the noble ponies’ children a stink eye but they all simply looked at their food instead, having lost any and all interest in Twinken.
After they all had eaten, Twinken’s guard escort led them all back to royal court, where Midnight was wrapping up matters with Piani’s father, Boli Coca, and Golden and Silver’s parents were waiting for them.
“Hey! There’s my little rising star!” Boli smiled when he saw his daughter enter along with the rest of the children.
“I trust the kids have had their fills?” Midnight asked rhetorically before stating, “Because I’ve had mine of court matters. Gilded Bit, Gold Spade, and Boli Coca, I am concluding royal court today. We shall resume the topics that were just under discussion tomorrow before noon.”
While the grownups agreed and led their children out of the throne room whilst in heated discussion with each other, Twinken watched Silver Striker and Golden Glitters give him looks of scorn. But he was glad to see Piani’s look was apologetic albeit hesitant.
“Hey little bro!”
“WHA!” Twinken startled and turned to see Midnight standing right next to him been though he’d been on the other side of the throne room just a moment ago.
“How was lunch with those guys?” Midnight asked casually.
“Um… it was…” Twinken hesitated, unsure of how to discuss this, “something. Golden Glitters wanted to hang out, Silver Striker was talking about wanting to go pro in basketball, and Piani wants to become a musical celebrity like her dad.”
“Well that’s good to hear,” Midnight replied as he led Twinken out of the throne room, “cuz’ I was getting a vibe that perhaps those kids weren’t the sort I’d like you to hang around.”
Twinken was glad Midnight was looking ahead as he wasn’t sure he would’ve been able to hide the look of discomfort and doubt he wore.
“Um, how was it speaking to their parents?”
“Not as bad as I expected, which is more than I can say for everypony else I’ve dealt with today,” Midnight sighed. “Gold Spade wants to open a casino right here in Canterlot, but I highly doubt Celestia would like that. Gilded Bit wants to recycle some old bits and make them into new bits to be released into the economy, and Boli was… actually kinda cool.”
“Whattya mean?” Twinken asked, curious to hear about Piani’s father.
“He was a little obnoxious but real funny,” Midnight chuckled, “nothing like all those stuffy snoots among the Canterlot Elite. He even ripped a fart and called it his next hit!”
Twinken was confused - Piani acted so mature and proper while her father was actually a lot more laid-back and not concerned with “proper etiquette” despite having been in front of royalty.
“I’m gonna take you to Twilight’s old tower,” Midnight said, breaking Twinken out of his wonder. “I arranged it to get cleaned up and had some stuff taken there to keep you occupied. I gotta grab a bite.”
“Can’t I go with you?” Twinken asked.
“Uh…!” Midnight hesitated, his eyes getting shifty for a moment, “No, I’m… going to a… a bar! Nopony under twenty-one allowed.”
Maybe it came from being a part of the Apple Family but Twinken felt his brother wasn’t being entirely truthful as he narrowed his eyes. Midnight tensed at the way his brother was looking at him and sighed.
“Alright, there’s something I have to look into, and I can’t have you with me.”
“What is it?” Twinken asked with a sigh. “I thought you said we’d hang out more after royal court was over.”
“Something came up while you were having lunch,” Midnight admitted. “Twinken, I wouldn’t be going if it wasn’t important, and you have been a real trooper today, putting up with all this and even helping me! But I promise - Tomorrow, I’ll try and finish my share of royal court and we’ll get back to it being just you and me.”
Twinken passed the time in Twilight’s tower by reading one of the magic books Midnight had sent up there. Midnight had sworn he would be only an hour or two, but as the hands of the clock tediously dragged on, Twinken began to lose interest in his book, and couldn’t help but reflect on what had happened after he’d left royal court for lunch.
Golden Glitters and Silver Striker had turned out to be just the kind of high-n-mighty self-entitled brats Twinken had feared they were. Calling him unworthy and useless next to his brother, a prince, and saying he didn’t belong in Canterlot. Of course, Twinken didn’t believe in their trash-talk. Really he didn’t.
But then there was Piani Coca. While she hadn’t exactly been friendly, she’d still acted (more or less) polite except she’d spoken less-than-savory words about her father.
Doesn’t she realize how lucky she is…? Twinken thought with a sigh as he put the book he’d been reading away and crawled into bed. I never got to know my dad. Or my mom… The day Midnight adopted me as his brother was the best day of my life! Those jerks, saying I don’t deserve Midnight as a brother?!
Twinken was just too drowsy to care, as he used his aura to flip the switch on the bedside lamp so that only the fading dusk and gentle glow of the night sky illuminated the tower through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
The young colt sighed, wondering why those jerks’ words continued to bother him despite his conviction that they didn’t.
“Forget them…” Twinken sighed as he closed his eyes, feeling the drifting pull of sleep carry him away...