The Night Janitor

by Knox Locke

Chapter 50: Before And After

[Twilight's Perspective]

After living in Canterlot for a while and establishing a routine as princess, Twilight had made sure to schedule specific times every week to spend quality time with each of her best friends. Yesterday, she'd helped Applejack harvest some apples and make cider. Tomorrow, she'd be going to the spa with Rarity, which often included bumping into Rainbow Dash there. Today, Twilight and Pinkie were having their weekly get together, which was a sleepover at Sugarcube Corner this week.

"Pinkie, can I ask you something?" Twilight asked, still thinking about her meeting with Cozy and Knox earlier today.

"You just did, silly!" replied Pinkie, making Twilight facehoof. "But, really, go ahead."

"What do you think about my idea for Cozy Glow?"

Pinkie put a hoof to her chin and furrowed her brow.

"Well, I've gotta say, I don't really understand why you want her to go to the School of Friendship again," Pinkie said. "I mean, the lessons didn't exactly take last time."

"Well, I know that," Twilight said. "I just think Cozy needs a place to connect with others her own age."

"But why?" Pinkie queried. "She already has friends her own age."

"She's got two," Twilight stated bluntly. "Sweetie Belle and Gallus. Ocellus might be added to that list soon, but that doesn't change the fact that Cozy spends most of her time with either Knox or you."

"I guess that's true," Pinkie mumbled.

"And I don't think a regular school like the Ponyville Schoolhouse would be right for her," Twilight continued. "She's too smart for that. In fact, the only thing she seems to not know as much about is friendship."

"Yeah," Pinkie said. "She is pretty smart."

"Smart enough to almost take over the school right under our noses," stated Twilight.

"But, Twi," Pinkie said. "Are you absolutely super-duper sure that this is a good idea? What if it's too much for her?"

"Then all she has to do is let me or Starlight know, and we'll let her drop out," Twilight explained.

Pinkie pressed her hoof to her chin once more, contemplating what Twilight had shared with her. After a few moments, she lifted her head into her familiarly cheery smile.

"Okie Dokie Lokie!"

Whew! Well that was a load off Twilight's mind. Now the slumber party could really get underway!

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[See Author's Note] Slumber Party Games

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[Knox's Perspective]

Knox was looking through his bookshelf for a book to read when he noticed a strange glow emanate from the scrapbook pinkie had made of them. He took the scrapbook from the shelf and opened it up to the glowing page.

The glow faded away once he opened it, revealing the page containing the special "hall passes" Pinkie had made for them. One of Pinkies now had the word "EXPIRED" stamped across its surface in large, red lettering. Below it was a red hash mark.

Knox... was unsure how to react to that. He just closed the scrapbook, placed it back on the shelf, and went about his night. He would talk to Pinkie about it tomorrow. He didn't want to disrupt her slumber party with the princess tonight.

...Oh.

Author's Note:

If you're reading this when the story said to, thanks.

This part of the chapter was unimportant to the overall plot of The Night Janitor, and it worked well on its own as a separate story, so it has been posted to FimFiction separately. If you wish to know how the rest of Pinkie and Twilight's slumber party went, please follow the provided link to Slumber Party Games.

Please Note: Slumber Party Games is, once again, not needed to understand the plot of The Night Janitor. It is completely optional, and can be treated as either part of this story or a completely separate entity.

Also Note: The story Slumber Party Games takes place in the middle of this chapter. Multiple hours have passed between the conversation at Sugarcube Corner and the part written in Knox's perspective.

Comments

[Yosh-E-O]

Very clever. Stories within a story to build upon the world your tale makes in its 'Alternate Universe'. I like it! :)