Trotting through the halls, a small, orange and black skunk huffed and squeaked. His tiny paws left little lines in the carpet, and little tip taps on the stone floors whenever he passed onto them. He darted from place to place, sniffing this and that. Sometimes he sniffed a potted plant, sometimes he sniffed an interesting spot on the wall. Sometimes there was a pony wearing rubber, and he sniff sniff sniffled away at them, usually earning headpats that made his tail waggle.

His name was Oreo, and he was king of the castle! His tail remained high as he made his way to the kitchens, sniffing around for any fruits or other tasty treats. He found the room mostly empty, a single mare dressed in a white apron sitting at a table, peeling potatoes while humming. He let out an excited squeak and waddled on over, sniffing at her hooves. The mare giggled, and he squeaked again, his tail waggling in the air as she scratched his ears.

“Hi Oreo, looking for a snack?”

He squeaked in agreement, nose twitching and sniffing at the potatoes in her hooves. She giggled, rubbing the top of his head.

“These are for dinner, dear, but I think Prince Fireheart had mangoes with lunch. Let me see if he had any leftovers.”

Oreo squeaked and happily scampered over to the fridges, bouncing in small circles while the mare opened the bluish yellow one labeled with… something! Oreo couldn’t read, but he knew what words were! These words, he was pretty sure, meant the fridge belonged to his best friend!

The chef mare hummed as she looked through Prince Fireheart’s orange snack fridge, the prince’s pet skunk trying to sneak between her legs to sniff around inside. She tutted, gently nudging him away as she located the day’s leftovers, pulling them out and closing the door behind her. She looked down at the small fluffy skunk and clicked her tongue, giving him an admonishing look when he squeaked at her in protest.

“Now now Oreo, you know the prince eats things you aren’t allowed to. Besides, I’ve got your snack right here.”

She lowered the plate so he could give it a sniff, and he did so with gusto, letting out enthusiastic squeaks and growls. His clawed paws scratched at the covering of the plate, and she giggled.

“Okay eager beaver, just wait a minute while I get your bowl.”

Oreo followed enthusiastically behind the mare, chuffing and squeaking as he kept his eyes locked on the plate. There was good stuff in there! His favorites were apple slices, and eggs! He loved some hard boiled eggs.

He continued to chuff and run circles through the mare’s legs, tail wagging in the air as she got out his bowl, laying it down and uncovering the dish. With a few scrapes, he found his bowl filled with delicious looking fruits, veggies, and even a cookie! No eggs though, which he was mildly disappointed with. Still, treats were treats!

He chuffed and squeaked happily, nomming at the fruits, tail wagging. The mare giggled and rubbed his back while he ate, setting the plate aside.

“Good boy. Doing anything fun today Oreo? I would have thought you’d be napping, what with the Prince missing for the day.”

Oreo’s ears flicked. Missing? Missing?! His best friend couldn’t be missing! This was terrible! He growled and squeaked as he kept eating, a little bit faster now. He would need his energy for the search after all! He quickly scarfed down all the tastiest morsels, then snatched up the cookie. He looked up at the mare, letting out a chuff of thanks, and she smiled down, giving him another scratch behind his ears.

“You’re welcome cutie. Now off you go, I’ve got to finish preparing dinner.”

Oreo squeaked in agreement. Of course she did! Dinner was the proper reward for a king successfully finding his prince! He trotted toward the exit, nibbling at his cookie as he tramped through the halls, his eyes scanning for his favorite orange pony.

He wandered for sometime, finishing his cookie and licking the crumbs from his whiskers. While he was slightly disheartened to not see his friend in time to share the wonderfully tasty treat, he was happy that he now had the ability to use his nose! He sniffed the ground, looking for the familiar scent that always led him to Fireheart.

There were a lot of rubber scents around, he even sometimes had a little jacket he wore during competitions and such, but there was always one distinct scent that led him straight to bluish yellow stallion… there it was! Oreo squeaked and let out a chuff, running as fast as his little legs could carry him. A few ponies giggled as he ran past, tail high in the air and nose low to the ground as he followed the scent, but there was no time for the headpats and praise his subjects showered on him! He had to find his best friend!

Cobalt yawned, flicking his ear as he stood guard outside the throne room. It was getting late in his shift, and it was very slow. All the normal petitioners had long came and went, and unfortunately Strong Hoof was on break. They were allowed to talk as long as nobody was around, but the later part of the shift was the best time to take their breaks, so he was alone for the moment.

His ears flicked as a squeaking sound reached them, and he straightened up, making sure to be at a perfect attention for whichever late arrival was soon to trot around the corner. He blinked when a short, round little skunk huffed and squeaked, speeding up as soon as it spotted him. Its short legs carried the fuzzy little guy to Cobalt’s rubber clad hooves, giving him a sniff. Cobalt tilted his head, looking around before looking back to the skunk.

“Ummm, hi there little guy, did you get separated from your owner?”

Oreo sniff sniffed at the bat’s hooves, looking up and squinting. He didn’t remember Fire’s mane being so long… or so blue. He smelled just like usual though! He smelled just like Fire, rubbery and fruity! Like mangoes! He pawed at the bat’s hoof, whining softly.

Cobalt tilted his head as the small skunk scratched at his rubber-armored hoof. Gingerly, hoping that his spray glands had been removed, he scratched the skunk's head, making sure to get behind his ears. A loud squeak and a purr sounded from the fuzzy little guy, and he rubbed against Cobalt’s legs, still sniffing his hooves. Cobalt let out a sigh of relief and kept giving him soft pets. He looked up, seeing if there was anypony following behind, but nobody appeared.

Humming softly to himself, Cobalt frowned down at the skunk.

“Who do you belong to, little guy?”

Oreo purred, rubbing against his friend’s leg, enjoying the comparatively cool rubber on his warm, fluffy pelt. Fireheart’s technique was a little bit off, but that was no doubt because he was tired. He’d been lost after all! But now he was found, and that meant it was cuddle time! Oreo chuffed and moved to the bat pony’s side, waggling his rump as he prepared to make the leap.

“Hey, where are you going littl- eeeeek!”

Cobalt froze in place as the skunk suddenly leapt at him, claws digging into his rubber armor as he scaled his side and onto his back. Chuffing softly, the skunk marched about, still sniffing and snuffling before nuzzling the back of Cobalt’s neck. He let out a chuff that sounded vaguely unhappy, but that changed to a happy squeak as the bat looked back at him, his muzzle exposed. The skunk nuzzled his nose, chuffing again before turning and settling on Cobalt’s withers, looking up at him expectantly.

Cobalt blinked back at the skunk, then forward to the still empty hallway, then back again.

“Little guy… I can’t leave my post right now to help you find your owner. Maybe once Strong Hoof comes back, but you need to wait at least until then.”

Oreo was familiar with several words the ponies said. “Snack” was his favorite, as was “apple slices”. “Good boy” was a wonderful one, as was “handsome”. “Prince” was one of the things his best friend went by! There were words he didn’t like however; among them were “wait” and “can’t”. He was king of the castle! There was no waiting! Moreover, Fireheart never said he had to wait! This was an impostor! An invader! He had to act, to find his friend!

Cobalt yelped as the skunk let out a growl and suddenly climbed his mane, chomping his ear with his sharp little teeth.

“Owowowow, hey! Stop that! Just wait a few minutes! As soon as Strong Hoof is back we can go look, promise!”

Oreo growled, continuing to bite the imposter’s ear. There would be no waiting! He needed to find his best friend, immediately!

Cobalt whined as the skunk continued to bite his ear, and he danced in place, praying Strong Hoof would be back soon, his ears were so sensitive! Couldn’t the skunk bite his tail or something?

He winced and whined for a few more moments as the unruly skunk continued to growl and bite his ear. After a particularly firm chomp, Cobalt let out a squeak and darted forward.

“I’m going, I’m going! J-just stop biting me!”

Oreo let out a satisfied chuff, giving the imposter’s ears soft nibbles as they trotted through the castle, looking for his best friend.

*****

Fireheart yawned and stretched as he trotted back into the castle. The garden party had gone on for a little longer than usual, but he’d made some great new friends! He wondered faintly who was fluffier, Cobalt or the griffon princess he’d dined with.

As if on cue, he heard the sounds of a familiar bat, whining and complaining, accompanied by familiar growls and chuffs. He trotted faster, poking his head around the corner just in time to see his best bat friend walking by, with Oreo biting his ear. Oreo let out a loud growl, tugging on the blue bat’s ear, and Fireheart giggled as the bat let out a whine.

“Stop pulling! I’ve already told you that Maid Plum said he was this way! I can’t just go barging into a diplomatic party!”

Oreo chuffed again, and he bit Cobalt’s ear in a different spot, making the blue bat yelp.

“Stop that!”

Fireheart ran around the corner before the pair could trot away.

“Cobalt! Oreo!”

Both turned at the same time, looks of relief flooding their bodies. Cobalt turned and trotted toward Fire, while Oreo finally let go of the blue bat’s ear, squeaking and bobbing his head as they got closer to Fireheart. Once they were within a few steps of each other, Oreo leapt off Cobalt, sprinting on the floor before climbing onto Fire’s back and nuzzling his neck.

This was the right bat! The scent was slightly different, but he was the right shade of bluish yellow! And his mane was shorter! He squeaked happily as he nuzzled his best friend.

Fireheart giggled and nuzzled the skunk back before looking to his best bat friend, who rubbed his well-chewed ear.

“Sorry, he gets worried easily. He’s really friendly!”

Cobalt gave the orange bat a scowl.

“He’s been biting my ear for the last half hour!”

Fireheart clicked his tongue and turned, scratching under Oreo’s chin.

“Oreo! Did you bite my best bat’s friend’s ear?”

Oreo blinked at his best friend, then over at the imposter. Best bat friend? At least he wasn’t being replaced… and the blue bat did remind him a lot of Fireheart… he hadn’t even said anything rude despite his gentle, guiding nibbles!

Oreo squeaked and chuffed, looking slightly downcast as he nodded. Fireheart giggled and nuzzled his back before picking him up and holding him out at Cobalt.

“Apologize. Then I can introduce you two!”

Oreo looked at the not-Fireheart-bat and chirped, floofing himself up and doing his best to look sorry.

Cobalt looked doubtful, but Fireheart gave him an encouraging nod, and he sighed, gingerly reaching out a hoof and patting the skunk on the head.

“Apology accepted, just don’t bite my ears! That really hurts!”

Oreo chuffed and purred at the headpats. Fireheart giggled, nuzzling his back.

“Cobalt, this is Oreo! He’s my pet skunk, and he’s the cutest, fluffiest skunk around! He likes apple slices and granola!” To Oreo, he said; “Oreo, this is my best bat friend, Cobalt! He’s the cutest, most blue bat around, and he’s my personal bodyguard!”

Oreo’s ears perked up, and he chuffed. More protection for his best friend was always welcome! He looked back at the blue bat, nose twitching as he looked him up and down again. Cobalt continued petting his head.

“I found him wandering near the throne room, and I think he thought I was you for a second, cause he climbed right up on my back before attacking my ear when he realized I wasn’t…” His eyes widened. “The throne room, my post! I’m supposed to meet with Commander Glamour next week, she’s gonna kill me if she finds out about this!”

The blue bat shouted a goodbye over his shoulder as he sprinted away, leaving Fireheart alone with Oreo. The pair blinked and exchanged a look, with Fire smiling first and giving the skunk a smooch on his head.

“He’ll be okay, Ms. Glamour is really nice! Besides, I can always say he was taking care of you.”

Oreo chirped, and he waggled his tail. Fireheart giggled, knowing the look in his eyes.

“Okay cutie, let’s go get some apple slices and mangoes!”

Oreo let out a happy squeak and he wiggled as Fireheart set him down. He took off toward the kitchens at a sprint, tail wagging in the air, with Fireheart close behind.

Author's Note