He was trailing behind Star and Derpy, not because of his leg but because his facade had started to fall apart. Though for the most part, he was actually happy to be out of the house and hanging out with some friends, he had to put up an act to hide that he was still depressed. Some might think he was pathetic for still being depressed for losing a friend, but once you've grown close enough to them then losing them hurts.

"Hey Brandon, what's wrong?" The question snapped him back, and he looked up to see both mares looking at him with concern.

"It's nothing, really." He lied a little, trying to put a smile back on.

"Are you sure, because you seem to be distant right now," Star said.

"Trust me, I'm fine I was just thinking." He said.

"Um, okay. So Derpy, you were saying something about your normal route?" Star asked turning her full attention to the grey mare, who was still looking at him with a little concern. "Don't worry, I'm sure he's fine. If not still upset about Lyra." She said in Derpy's ear to where he couldn't hear.

"If you say so, but yeah I normally go...." Derpy started to say, and once again he tuned them out and let his thoughts run around freely.

They kept walking around and talking about little things about themselves, and it didn't take long before they had reached his house. Once the door was unlocked and the three of them were in, they all sat around the nice little fireplace in silence. It wasn't long before the two mares decided to move into Star's room.

"Call if you two need anything." He said as the two walked past him. "I'll be up for a little while."

"And why are you staying up so late?" Star asked.

"I just want to do some writing for my book, that's all." He gave her a smile.

"Alright, well do you need anything Derpy?" Star asked.

"Oh, um, no I really don't want to be a bother," Derpy replied.

"Hey, you are my house guest for tonight. The least I could do is offer you something to drink, or a little snack." He said grabbing his crutches and standing up.

"Um, can I get it myself?" Derpy asked.

"Sure, if you want. The kitchen is to your left, and you can have anything you want." He said, and he received a nod as she made her way to the kitchen.

"You know she is a pretty mare, and very nice," Star said gaining his attention.

"Yeah, she is nice but then so are the rest of my friends." He muttered.

"Hmm, true but what about her being pretty?" Star asked.

"Look, not to offend anyone here but I don't look at anypony like that. Not that I don't want to, it's hard for me." He said, his cheeks gaining a touch of red.

"Why is it hard for you to look at anypony like that?" Star pressed.

"That's honestly none of your business." He said giving her a slight glare.

"Point taken, but you really need to open up and let others help you though," Star said.

"Like I said earlier Lu...Star, I'm fine. There really is nothing wrong, I promise. Now is that where you wanted this to go, or are you going to keep asking me about my love life?" He asked.

"No, but you should open your heart to that as well or risk letting the darkness inside consume you because you were too stupid to talk about them." At that, he heard her deep remorse.

"Hey, it's fine Star really. If I don't think I can handle it, I'll go to one of you." He said putting a comforting hand on her back.

"Oh, um, am I interrupting something?" They both looked to see Derpy staring at them, and both gave a little laugh.

"Nah, we were just having a moment together after she was teasing me about how good you looked tonight." The last few words left his mouth before he processed them, and his face was on fire at that very moment.

"Oh, so you did think she looked pretty tonight then?" Star asked.

"Yeah, well so did you. But then who am I to deny two mares complements that they deserve?" He asked, and the room seemed to get warmer by the minute.

"Well, um, th-thanks for t-the compliment then. You looked handsome tonight as well." Derpy replied, though something he noticed was both mares were blushing, though not as bad as he was, he could still tell.

"Yes, thank you and I do have to agree that you did look dashing," Star said.

"So, um what did you get to drink?" He asked Derpy.

"Oh, well I got a bottle of Rainbow Juice. I hope you don't mind." Derpy said giving him a nervous look.

"No, it's fine I told you to get whatever you wanted. Though I am surprised that you still wanted to drink." He said raising an eyebrow.

"Um well, I just thought we all three could talk still while having a drink together. You know, just the three of us having our own little party." Derpy said giving both of them a smile.

"Sure, that sounds great," Star said, and she looked at him.

"Fine, I guess I could use a little relaxation. But, try not to say party another time or else." He said.

"Or else what, the boogiemare will come to get us?" Derpy asked, and the sarcasm made him give another chuckle.

"No, but Pinkie Pie will." He warned.

"Oh, really? So If I say that one word again, she'll just pop right up?" It was Star who asked.

"That seems to be how it works, kind of reminds me of an urban legend really." He said.

"Hmm, maybe I should say it then," Star said and the smirk she wore made his eyes go wide.

"Star, please whatever you do don't say that word one last time!" He begged a little.

"Oh, and why shouldn't she say par..." Derpy started to say.

"Please, if she pops in here while you're here then I'll never hear the end of it!" He was still standing, but the pleading of his voice was very evident.

"Fine, I won't say it," Derpy said.

"Thank you..." He trailed off when he saw a little evil smirk on Star's face.

"Alright then, I guess we should get this party started," Star said walking back to the couch, and at first it was silent until they heard a knock on the door.

"Wonder who that could be?" Derpy asked looking at the clock that read ten thirty.

"I'll get it, though you might want to stand back Derpy." He warned, seeing where she was standing he knew she wouldn't escape what was about to come.

"Um, alright I'll be over here then," Derpy said going to sit down, and he went to the door and opened it while standing behind it as a blast of confetti and streamers came through.

"Hey Pinkie, haven't seen you since dinner." He said coming from out behind the door. "What brings ya by?"

"Weelll, my mane went wild and that means that somepony mentioned that there was a party three times. So, I went all over town trying to look for the party and then I saw that your lights were on and knew that it was you who was having a party!" Pinkie explained.

"Uh-huh, well you can come in for a little bit. But all we were gonna do was have a little drink and talk." He said, trying to make it sound as boring as possible.

"Ah, that doesn't sound to much fun. But if that's all you three are gonna do, then here at least let me give you a bottle of my special drink." Pinkie said, pulling a bottle out of nowhere, and the label read 'Pinkie Sense Special'.

"Um, what's in it?" He asked.

"Well, if I told you then it wouldn't be special or a secret now would it?" Pinkie asked giggling and placing the bottle on a table by the door. "Anyways, I got to go. Have fuunn you three!" She said giving him a wink before bouncing off.

"Told you she would show up, but how did this table get here?" He asked looking at the table that had the bottle of alcohol on it.

"That would be my doing, I didn't know where to place it so I thought it would look good right there," Star replied, still a little shocked that the pink party mare really had shown up. "But how did she know there was three of us?"

"Oh, that's apart of her being able to detect ponies saying parties three times I think. Also, she could very well a see all three of us from the door." He answered.

"Um, I'm wondering what she meant by the way she said for us three to have fun though?" Derpy asked, making him blush.

"That's something we don't need to worry about, let's just start drinking and forget about that part." He suggested.

"That sounds good." Both mares said at the same time, and so for the next few hours, they drank both the bottle of Rainbow Juice and the bottle that Pinkie gave them.

---

It was mid-morning when she woke up, and she still felt a little tired like always. She could smell something very delicious cooking, besides the normal chocolate or other candy that Bon Bon normally cooked. As she walked down the stairs, she knew it was scrambled eggs and some french toast.

"Hmm, hey whatcha doing? You never cook breakfast this late in the morning." She asked as she walked into the kitchen.

"Well, I knew you would be awake right about this time and wanted to treat my marefriend to a nice breakfast when she woke up, and before she started practicing her music." Bon Bon replied, turning her head to give her a smile.

"After you paid for dinner last night? I should be the one who should be making you breakfast." She said.

"Then I guess you don't want some of my eggs or toast?" Bon Bon asked once again turning around, only this time supporting a pout.

"Bons, you know that's not what I mean." She said rolling her eyes. "But thanks, and after breakfast, I think I'll go practice at the park or something."

"Oh, you aren't going to practice here?" Bon Bon asked.

"Afraid not, I can't really concentrate on practicing when it seems a little busy." She replied.

"But you've done it before." Bon Bon pointed out. "And I always enjoy working while listening to your music."

"I know, but I think I just want to be in a more open place today, and maybe when I come home I'll stop by a certain store that you always like to pick up a gift." She said giving her marefriend a big hug, making her squeak in surprise.

"If you want..." Bon Bon said with a blush, giving in to the hug.

"Thanks, so how them eggs coming along?" She asked breaking the hug.

"They'll be done in a minute." Bon Bon said.

"Okay, call me when they're done okay my little sweet." She said kissing Bon Bon on the cheek before leaving the kitchen.

After a few minutes of waiting, Bon Bon finally called her in to get her breakfast. Though she still wondered why Bon Bon had made her breakfast in the first place so late in the morning, and have the store closed for lunch. For as long as she knew her, Bon Bon had never once done this even for her.

"So, have you found a restaurant that would hire you yet?" Bon Bon asked.

"Huh, oh yeah I did. As it turns out, that one restaurant like two blocks away from Sugarcube Corner was looking for live music. They were offering a permanent position, and in order to get it you have to perform once and if both the owner and audience likes it, then you got it." She answered after swallowing a piece of toast.

"Well, I'm sure you'll get it, and it's called Little Roses dear." Bon Bon said, giving her a small smile. "All done?"

"Yeah, I'll wash the dishes before I leave." She said standing up.

"Oh, no you go and practice. After all, you always did want a more permanent position here in town." Bon Bon said, grabbing the plate out of her magic grasp.

"But Bon Bon, you've done enough! I think I should wash them." She said.

"There's no but's about this, you are going to practice now." Bon Bon glared at her, making her shrink back a little.

"Fine, but I'm making you dinner tonight whether you want me to or not." She said.

"And that's fine with me, did I ever tell you that you were cute when you're angry?" Bon Bon said, giving her a peck on the nose.

"Yeah, and you're scary when you're angry." She muttered.

"Hmm, what was that?" Bon Bon asked as she walked towards the kitchen door.

"Oh, nothing just saying love you and see ya later." She said, taking her lyre case with her.

"Okay, love you too and have fun." Bon Bon said though she knew Lyra was already gone, and she had a bad feeling that maybe she should have had her help her today.

As she walked around she decided to actually do a little practicing, after all, Bon Bon did have a point that she did want a more permanent position in town that wasn't the sweet shop. Once she found a nice shady spot near the town's new fountain, she began tuning her instrument. After that, she began playing a new song she had been working on, and all the while she was thinking about what she saw last night.

She knew that it was Brandon, no Minotaur would be that skinny nor would they not have horns either. Even if they were fake horns, she knew that at least. But if it was him, then why would Bon Bon lie to her? Why wouldn't he come in for work like he normally did, even if he did have a broken ankle? Did he not want her as a friend anymore?

A sudden roar of applause snapped her out of thought, and taking a look around she noticed that she had drawn in quite the crowd. After getting praises, and doing another song as an encore she started her way to the hospital, much to the crowds' disappointment. Though the good thing is, she now had some bits to spend so she might actually go to the shop that Bon Bon likes so much to pick up some candles.

As she made her way to the hospital, she decided to take a short cut out of excitement of finally being able to see her best friend after a long week. Before she knew it though she was out of breath, and she was only a few feet away from the main door to the hospital. She walked in and was instantly greeted by the nurse at the front desk.

"Oh, hello dear how can I help you?" The nurse asked.

"Yes, I was wondering about a patient here. Whether they had been released or not?" She asked.

"Okay, well what's the patient's name?" The nurse asked.

"Brandon Jenkins," she said.

"Well, let me check." The nurse said going into a back room, and shortly after came back out. "I'm sorry, but it seems that I don't have access to his file."

"Wait, what do you mean you don't have access?" She asked, surprised.

"Well, it seems that the only ponies that are allowed to view his file is his doctor, or if any nurses who are working with the doctor at the time he was being treated." The nurse explained.

"But that makes no sense." She said, letting out a frustrated sigh.

"Yes, I know but it seems that it was ordered by the princesses so there's nothing I can do about it." The nurse said, giving her a sympathetic look. "If you want, I could see if one of the other staff knows if he's been released or not?"

"Yeah, go ahead and thanks." She replied.

"No problem, I'll be back in a few minutes." The nurse said, then took off and started to ask around.

"I just hope it won't be too long." She said, letting out another frustrated sigh.

"Um, h-hello?" She turned to the young sounding voice to see a filly with only one wing.

"Oh, hello there." She replied giving the shy filly a friendly smile.

"Um, I-I overheard you say that you were looking for somepony?" The filly asked.

"Yes, I'm hoping to find out if he's still here in the hospital. You wouldn't happen to know would you?" She asked.

"Well, um, this Brandon is he not a pony?" The filly asked. "And walks on two legs?"

"Yes, that would be him." She said, continuing giving the filly a friendly smile. "So, do you know him?"

"Uh, I only met him once and he found my doll for me." The filly said, showing her the doll.

"Well, that certainly was nice of him." She said, giving a little chuckle.

"Yeah, he was really nice to me. Why are you looking for him? Are you his marefriend?" The filly asked.

"No, afraid not. I'm just a friend of his, but do you know where he's at?" She asked, slightly blushing.

"Oh, he was released a week ago. That's when he found my doll." The filly answered.

"Really, well thank you for the help. By the way, my name is Lyra Heartstrings. What's your's?" She asked.

"My name is Grace Falls, it's nice to meet you!" Grace said, giving her the cutest little smile.

"Well, it was nice to meet you as well. But hey I got to go check up on my friend, do you think you can tell the nurse that was here that you told me what I needed and I appreciate her help?" She asked.

"Oh, yeah I can do that. See you around!" Grace said zipping past her, going in the direction the nurse went, and she left the hospital with a little anger in her eyes.

"He's been released for a week now? How could he not tell me, and why would she lie to me?" She huffed, and she was going to find out the truth no matter what it took.

Author's Notes:

Well, hope you all enjoyed and remember to smile,smile,smile!