Prince Stanno and the waitress

It was quite a hassle to let Aline attend the dinner that evening. After all, she was just a helper, someone who came along and whose only purpose was to serve Regina. In Katine’s opinion, of course. Aline was supposed to eat with the servants and waitresses of Katine. Twinkle Star had to ask her mother to convince Katine that Aline belonged with them. So Regina went to Katine and explained to her that Aline was not only a servant, but also a dear friend of the family and from a noble family of the Old Lands as well. This, of course, Katine could not refuse as she was in awe over everything that was old and traditional. So Aline could eat with the royal families in the official dining room, of which she was really exited and happy, and Twinkle Star was happy to have her friend with her.

It took Aline a while to get everyone pretty and made up for the dinner, but when she was ready all of them looked lovely. Regina was wearing the crown of the new Friendship lands, Stelline wore the crown of the heir for the first time, and the rest of them wore pretty jewels. Of course Aline had spend the most time on their hair and it al looked lovely. Regala and Regina’s hair was tight up in a knot, Crystal had one little braid which tied the rest together, Stelline’s mane were loose, and Twinkle Star’s extremely long mane had curls in the front and a braid in the second part.

When they were all finished, they gathered at the beginning of the hallway, in front of Regina and Regala’s room. Dinner would start in a few minutes, and it was said that one of the waitresses would bring them to the dining room. And so it was, as after two minutes of waiting a waitress appeared, wearing the same apron but definitely different than the one that had lead them to their rooms.
“They sure have a lot of servants here.” Aline whispered as they followed the pony down the stairs.
“Katine probably thinks it makes her look important.” Twinkle Star whispered back. They followed the pony through a door on the left side of the great hall, which led them into a nice dining room. The room wasn’t that big, and there were only four tables for four ponies each. On the tables were white blankets and the cutlery looked amazing; silver spoons with a golden edge. The plates were white with the same golden edge around them. The glasses appeared to be made of pure crystal. It all definitely appeared royal.

Twinkle Star was seated with Stelline on a table, and Aline and Crystal on another. Regala and Regina were seated at yet another table, and Twinkle Star was sure that was were Katine was going to sit as well. They weren’t in the room yet, but as soon as Twinkle Star and the others had found their place, a door on the other side of the room opened.
A pony came in, stood next to the door, and announced: “Queen Katine and her son, Prince Stanno.”
Katine entered the room, followed by a purple-blue boy pony who wore a small crown on his forehead. Twinkle star immediately realised that Ivy and Fleur hadn’t been overreacting about him, and when she looked at Aline she knew she was thinking the same; Stanno indeed was a very good-looking boy. He looked a lot shyer and nicer than his mother as well. He had a little blush on his face; he didn’t really know where to look. No, this boy was nothing like his mother.

“Princess Chuva and Princess Pérola.” The pony at the door announced and two female ponies entered the door.
Twinkle Star didn’t like these two; they looked snobbish. They both wore pearl-necklaces and they looked as if they felt they were better than others. They didn’t even nod at Aline, they totally ignored her and only greeted Regina. The others got a quick nod before they sat down at the table that didn’t have any ponies on it. The next ponies to enter were prince Gracile, Katine’s husband, and prince Yuuro, their youngest child. These two sat down at the table with Twinkle Star and Stelline. Four more ponies entered, two who were sisters of Katine, and two other royal ponies that Twinkle Star couldn’t place.

Now that all the places were filled, Katine got up.
“I am glad to open this banquet.” She announced. “It is an honor for me to have our friends from the new Friendship Lands over. I hope they enjoy both this dinner and their entire stay. Now, let us eat and talk, and have a nice evening.”
They clapped, and Katine sat down. Dinner soon entered the room on silver plates. Twinkle Star enjoyed herself at dinner. Prince Gracile was a nice man, and Twinkle Star got the idea that he was not at all respected around the court. They probably blamed him for giving Katine two sons, but of course a divorce would be an even bigger shame. So he had to stay here. But he truly loved his children, and he seemed to get along well with his youngest son, Yuuro. Yuuro was about two years younger than Fleur, and he was a very polite boy. Maybe a little too polite, Twinkle Star thought. But she liked to talk with him. He was really cute, maybe a little too cute for his age. He still looked like a little child, even though he was already fourteen. He still had to become a man. It turned out he loved to make music, and according to his father he was quite the piano player.

Dinner went by quickly, and before Twinkle Star knew it, she had finished her strawberries with cream dessert and queen Katine was standing again. “I hope everyone has enjoyed this fabulous meal. I would be glad in you could come by in the throne room in an hour, where we can have some talk and some drinks. There, I will also announce the official program we have set up fro our visitors. Once again, I hope to see you in an hour.” When Katine finished, they all left the room and Twinkle Star and the others retreated to their rooms to rest and refresh a bit. She talked a bit with Aline, who apparently had a horrible experience as the two sisters of Katine were snobbish and couldn’t stop talking about how great Katine was as a queen, and before they knew it an hour had passed and someone knocked on their door.
“Excuse me,” a cute girl voice said, “Her highness queen Katine is expecting you in the throne room.” Twinkle Star got off her bed, and opened the door.

A cute pony stood in front of her, about the same age as Aline, which was a lot younger than the most waitresses she had seen here. She was wearing the same apron.
“If you allow me, I will lead you to the throne room.” The pony said.
The pony’s voice was cute and soft, and very girly. The pony was quite pretty to see, but this was not what interested Twinkle Star. The pony looked familiar to her. At that moment she couldn’t describe exactly where she had seen this pony before. Why would she know a waitress of the royal house of Kin?
“My lady?” The pony asked, when Twinkle Star failed to answer.
“Eh, yes, sure, please lead us there.” She said, and she winked at Aline that it was time for them to go. Aline followed her and together they followed the waitress.

While they walked down, Twinkle Star couldn’t help but wonder where she had seen this pony before. Maybe on one of her journeys, long ago? But she had never been to Kin. How could she know this pony? She simply couldn’t recall where she had seen this pony before. Besides, the pony didn’t show any sign of knowing her, either. She shook her head. Maybe she was just imagining things. So many unusual things happened lately, that it was almost natural that she was getting suspicious of everything. But still, what was this feeling, this connection that she felt with this pony?

When they stepped off the lowest step of the archway stair, a door on their right opened, and prince Stanno walked out of it, alone this time. He probably was on his way to the drink as well, but he stopped walking when he saw the waitress and his two guests.
“Oh, hello.” He said with a soft voice, and he walked towards them. “I do not think we have properly introduced yet?” He asked Twinkle Star, who shook her head. “No, I don’t believe we have either. My name is Twinkle Star, I am a daughter of Regina. This here is my friend, Aline.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both.” He said to them, and Aline replied with “The pleasure’s all mine.”
“I assume you two are on your way to the drink?” He asked them.
“Yes, we are.” Twinkle Star answered, and he smiled.
“Good. Mother will be pleased. Why don’t you come with me? I will lead you in.”
 “That’s fine.” Twinkle Star answered. She looked at Aline, who simply nodded. She noticed Aline had gotten a blush on her cheeks, and Twinkle Star couldn’t help but grin a bit. Aline was going to get a crush on Stanno, she was sure of that. She didn’t even totally disagree with her. Stanno was great to look at and he was nice and polite as well. But hey, what was a crush. It wasn’t love, and how can you judge anyone by just their looks?

“Thank you, Anda. You can go now.” Stanno said to the waitress, without looking at her. Anda was her name… Twinkle star didn’t recognise it.
“Yes, my lord.” Anda nodded, and she quickly walked away. Twinkle Star sighed. She probably was wrong, anyway. She had to forget about that girl, she had never seen her before.
“Anda is great.” Stanno suddenly said, a little unexpected. Twinkle Star looked at him questioning, and he answered: “As a waitress, I mean. She’s really young, still, and she has only been here for one and a half year, much shorter than the others. But she’s doing her job just fine.”

Only one and a half year… Twinkle Star wanted to ask where she came from, then, but Stanno asked them if they were ready to go inside the throne room, eager to change the subject. They both nodded, and they followed Stanno inside. Almost all the ponies were there already. Twinkle Star located her mother next  to Katine, and Stelline and Crystal were talking with either Chuva or Pérola. Twinkle Star didn’t really know which pony was which and to be honest with herself, she didn’t really care either. She didn’t like those two sisters. She figured they thought themselves better than their brother, and together with their mother wished that one of them was born first. She shook her head at this thought. They wouldn’t think like that… would they?

 “Welcome to the throne room.” Stanno said, as he closed the door behind him. Twinkle Star noticed the throne on the other side of the room, but at the moment it was covered with a dark green blanket, to protect it. The ponies were sitting on satin dark green couches, while glasses with wine were standing on low dark brown wooden tables. Stanno, Aline and Twinkle Star sat down at an empty table.
“I suppose my little brother is already off to bed.” Stanno said, while he poured whine in their glasses.
“He is still only fourteen, he needs the rest. Besides, wine isn’t good for him at that age.”
“He looks like a great little guy.” Twinkle star said, and Stanno nodded.
“He is, too bad mother ignores him mostly. The servants raised him.”
Stanno explained that his mother thought of Yuuro as irrelevant, and that she rather not had him around.
“The poor little guy.” Twinkle Star whispered, and Stanno nodded.

Twinkle Star and Stanno talked for a long while about almost everything: being a royal pony, Kin, the stone city, the history of the country, the new Friendship Lands. Twinkle Star realised Stanno was a really smart and nice guy, and would make a great king one day, probably better than his mother was now. They talked for about thirty minutes, and Twinkle Star was happy to realise When she wanted to pour herself a second glass of wine, she realised the bottle was already empty, which was weird as they all only had one little glass of wine. She looked at Stanno, who didn’t understand either. They both looked at Aline, who sat in a corner of the couch, with a blush on her face. She hadn’t said anything the entire time, which was highly unlikely for her. Twinkle Star sighed. This couldn’t be true.
“Aline, how much wine did you have?” She asked, but Aline didn’t reply. She only giggled. “Aline?” “
Nothing.” She giggled.
“Nothing or the entire bottle?” Twinkle Star asked, and Aline began to laugh, unable to answer Twinkle Star.

Twinkle Star shook her head and looked at Stanno, who couldn’t help but laugh a bit.
“As drunk as a cow with a stick on it’s head.” He said, and Aline began to laugh even harder.
“Okay, gotta get you out of here.” Twinkle Star said, and she helped Aline off the couch. Aline almost fell over, which of course again was really funny. Stanno opened the door and Twinkle star led Aline out.
“You okay?” He asked, and Twinkle Star nodded.
“Sure. Just gotta get her upstairs. You go back in, I’m sure your mom won’t appreciate it if you’re suddenly gone.” He nodded.
“Yeah, you’re probably right. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He closed the door, and Twinkle Star led Aline to the stairs.

“Hey Twinkle, I see your hair double!” She said and she once again began to laugh.
“Yeah, sure you do. Now be careful on those steps.”
“What steps? I see two pair!” Twinkle Star shook her head. This was hopeless. She was already looking forward to the next morning, when Aline would wake up with a horrible hang over. That’ll teach her, Twinkle Star thought, and she grinned at the silliness of her friend.