Who Your True Friends Are

After meeting up with Aqua Flare, I decided to take a trot around town. I noticed that the town seemed surprisingly empty, considering how many houses there were around here. I did see one pony, or rather heard one pony playing drums in a small house right by the Golden Oak Library Memorial (apparently, my theories about the tree simply regenerating into the castle were proven false), and when I looked inside the house, I saw a familiar unicorn playing a hardcore solo. It felt like I was listening to a song by Judas Priest, or something like that. Anyway, I knocked on the front door, and the unicorn opened the door almost immediately with his magic. When I took a closer look at the unicorn, there wasn't a doubt in my mind who this stallion was. It was Regal Shadows. My theory that all my friends are here was starting to be proven true. The stallion asked me,

"How can I help you?" Being the optimist I am, I believed that maybe it was only Aqua Flare who wouldn't recognize me. I responded,

"You're Regal Shadows, right? My name is Source Code. I believe we've met before." He looked clueless.

"Yeah, I'm Regal Shadows, but I don't remember meeting you before." Regal didn't remember me either, just like Aqua. Then again, I didn't know much about Bradley in the human world either, so I just assumed that Aqua was just a fluke, and this one was meant to be. I was still thinking about that drum solo that he performed, and I just had to ask him,

"How did you learn to drum like that?"

"Oh, it's just a hobby."

"A hobby? Dude, you can't just call something that impressive a hobby. You must devote your life to that."

"Actually, I devote my life to something else."

"Oh? What is it?"

"Well, you seem like a pony I can trust. If I show you my bedroom, do you promise not to tell anypony else what you see?" He seemed like he had been wanting to confess a secret to somepony for a while now, and the fact that he found me trustworthy made me believe he might be starting to remember me, so I walked with him into his bedroom.

What I saw inside proved that he was, in fact, the same Regal Shadows that Bradley had created back in the human world. There were posters of Trixie everywhere, with a few of Rarity and Allie Way scattered in between. I didn't know what to say without offending Regal, so I just asked,

"You really have a thing for Trixie don't you?"

"Yeah. I was standing in the back when Trixie was showing her skills to everypony in town, but then Twilight had to come in and ruin everything not once, but twice. I know Trixie's great and powerful, so I'll always remain devoted to her." Normally I'd find this kind of obsession creepy, but I'm not one to talk, since I'm in love with Fluttershy.

"How about the other unicorns?"

"Well, I'm proud of my species. I have to make sure my magic is at its strongest. I guess I use my drumming as an outlet for my magic to gain power." That statement would certainly explain how his solo sounded like Painkiller by Judas Priest.

"That's understandable. Personally, I'm proud of my species as well. I don't have posters all over my room back home, though, but whatever helps keep you sane."

"Still, you promise not to tell anypony?" I remembered how there were multiple instances where a Pinkie Promise was used in the show, so I said,

"Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." I did the hoof movements that go along with it as well.

"How do you know about the Pinkie Promise? You're not from around here."

"Just call it a hunch." Regal stared at me, as if he was wondering just who I am. "Anyway, I need to get going. Got some other ponies to meet up with."

"Oh, can you come back later? I have another solo that I'm working on, and was hoping for an audience."

"I'll be sure to." He smiled at me, and I found my way out the door. I got back on the dirt road, and was back on my way, still with time to kill.