Neither Of Them Mind

The castle shone with an iridescent gleam, flaring in Twinlinked’s vision as he approached it. He found it quite novel that the Friendship Castle, as folk had begun calling it, worked more or less as a library. He walked up to the front door, much unlike the gates of Celestia’s and Luna’s palace, or the Crystal Empire. There were no guards, with the exception of Pinkie Pie, who had taken to wearing oversized armour and was brandishing a small maypole as a spear. Twinlinked tried to enter, but a flash of multi-coloured streamers flew right in front of him.

“No entry without a permit,” giggled Pinkie Pie, pushing the helmet higher on her head.

Twinlinked pulled out a few flakes of confetti from his mane; Bon Bon had a birthday party that morning. Presenting them to Pinkie, he asked as solemnly as he could, “Will this do?”

“Don’t be silly, those are confetti sprinkles. Very well made though,” said Pinkie, and sticking her muzzle in closer, added, “Quite fresh, too, by the smell of things.”

Twinlinked wasn’t sure whether this conversation was the best use of his time, but his fun side kept him in it, so he answered by explaining.

“I was at Bon Bon’s party this morning.”

“Technically you were watching from the balcony.”

Twinlinked guessed that she had seen him up there, because it was true. She did have a surprising memory for these things.

“Only 179 days until your birthday, Twinlinked!” called Pinkie, skipping inside. Twinlinked briefly wondered what to do with the confetti, but he decided to put them back in his blue and brown mane. Then he followed Pinkie inside. They went through a short tunnel, lit by the many reflections of the sun in the faceted walls. At the exit to the tunnel, Twinlinked found Rainbow Dash, lying on top of a sapphire pillar. She had her front hoofs crossed in a display of extreme relaxation, because the sun shone a heavy beam through one of the high windows right on top of her. She roused himself enough to open one eye down at Pinkie.

“Lieutenant Pinkie Pie reporting for duty!” Pinkie yelled gleefully as she bounced in that classic-Pinkie way. Rainbow rolled over so she was upside down and opened both eyes.

“Lieutenant?” she asked, confused and drowsy.

“Sure,” answered Pinkie loudly, enough to properly wake up Rainbow Dash, “I even have a lute.”

She pulled out said lute and began playing a quick tune. Rainbow just rolled her eyes. She looked at Twinlinked.

“So, what are you here for?”

“I want to borrow a book.”

“Sure thing. Third door on your left.”

Twinlinked thanked Rainbow and trotted in that direction.

“So what’s the book about,” asked Rainbow, flying after him before slowing to an upside-down swim, “Is it Daring Do and the Eternal Flower? Or maybe it’s Daring Do and the Sapphire Statue. Or maybe-”

Twinlinked looked at her, saying, “Sorry, Rainbow Dash, it’s a book on war tactics.”

“Phh! Egghead stuff. I’ll go see what Fluttershy’s up to.”

With that, Rainbow lost interest and flew away. Reaching the third door on his left, Twinlinked entered the library. It was quite similar to the Golden Oak Library, but much bigger. There were rows and rows of shelves, each one full with books. As he looked around, Twinlinked noticed movement behind a far-off row. He hoped it was someone who could help him find his book, so he went towards the shadow.

Losing the silhouette in the maze-like library was so easy that Twinlinked managed to lose and find the pony twice before finally catching up. It was Princess Twilight Sparkle, which didn’t terribly surprise Twinlinked. She looked him up and down, not recognising him. He didn’t mind, he had a very forgettable face.

“Hi,” he started, “I’m Twinlinked and I’m looking for a book.”

***

Twilight was somewhat surprised that Twinlinked hadn’t bowed or shaken hoofs or something. She couldn’t remember where, but she was sure she had seen him around before, and she was glad he was treating her as a normal pony. Well, a normal Alicorn, anyway.

Maybe he will once he recognises you.

Don’t be silly, he clearly recognises me. He is in my castle, looking for one of my books.

Fine then, introduce yourself. See how he treats you then.

“Hello. I am Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship.”

She extended a hoof politely. Twinlinked took it and shook fairly vigorously, but with Applejack as a friend, Twilight was used to much worse. She breathed an inward sigh of relief that he hadn’t bowed or reverently lowered his head or anything of that nature.

“Should I bow or something?” Twinlinked asked.

Told you so, said Twilight’s constant fears.

Oh be quiet, you.

Twilight laughed.

“No. What book are you after?”

“The Four-Pony Sleight and Other Tacts. I think it’s by Weary O’Battledan. Do you have it?”

“Hmmm. There are certainly some of his later books, like Practicalities of the Battleground,” Twilight answered, “I’ll go and have a look. It should be under ‘W’.”

After a few minutes of searching, Twilight eventually pulled the book from the wooden shelving and gave it to Twinlinked. She wondered why he wanted it, as it was an unusual request, so she asked.

“Oh, I run a war gaming store near Sugarcube Corner,” came the puzzling reply. Twilight had no idea what that meant. She hadn’t been to every store in Ponyville, but it surprised her that such a combination of words even passed as an occupation.

“War…gaming…store?” she asked, thinking intensely about what such a shop would sell. Perhaps some form of weapon that was harmless but was used in mock fighting. It could shoot a form of magic that would freeze the opponent or mark them somehow. It might be called Lazer Hoof, or Magic Tag or something. That would be a fun game. You might take it to certain locations, and play using the cover of bushes, buildings and the like. Perhaps there could even be different types of weapon, some being better than others.

“We sell small figurines that ponies can make into armies, which they then battle against other mare’s and stallion’s armies. The rules are a bit complex, but that’s the general idea of it all,” Twinlinked answered.

Oh.