“Star, are you sure you’ll be okay alone?”
 
“Yes, Father. I’ll be fine.” Shining Star rolled his eyes. His father worried too much about him.
 
“You don’t have to stay here and do homework,” Starlight added. “Why don’t you come see Princess Twilight with us? Or you can play with your little friends in Ponyville! It’ll be good for you to get out of the house!”
 
Star picked up a book and ignored her. “No thanks. I’m good.”
 
“Okay then, if that’s what you want,” Starlight was concerned for her son’s anti-social attitude, but she was willing to respect his decision to stay home. Surely he was old enough to do so.
 
“If you need ANYTHING Flurry’s a few houses down!” Sunburst fretted. “Don’t do anything dangerous!”
 
Star kept staring at his book until his parents were out of sight. “Just in time,” he uttered.
 
Looking around again to make sure nopony was there, Star pulled out his parents’ television and beamed as he turned it on. He couldn’t help but hum along with the singing cartoon snail on the screen.
 
“Star?” A familiar voice called as the door opened. “Are you home?”
 
“дерьмо!” Star cursed as he jumped to cover the screen with his body. “F-Flurry! What are you doing here?”
 
“Your father asked me to check on you while he was gone,” she said. Her face brightened up. “Are you watching ‘Whammy & Friends’?”
 
Star backed up against the screen, stuttering nervously. “Y-yes! I mean, no! T-this isn’t what it looks like!”
 
Flurry giggled. “Oh, I used to love that show! It’s nice to see kids still enjoying it.”
 
Star kept stuttering. “I-I was watching educational films, I swear! This just came on! I’m too old for foals’ cartoons!”
 
“Too old?” Flurry laughed. “Nopony’s too old for cartoons! Oh, I used to watch this for the longest time…” she sighed nostalgically.
 
Star was surprised. “YOU? You watched ‘Whammy & Friends’?”
 
“Of course! This was my favorite show growing up! Still is, to be honest.” Flurry chuckled, then leaned in and whispered, “You know, I still sleep with my Whammy plushie.”
 
“Fine! I like it too!” Star covered his face in shame. “Nopony can know! What would they think? I’m supposed to be a scholar, I can’t-”
 
Flurry interrupted him. “Nopony has to know! It can be our little secret.” She sat down and pulled him close with her wing. “And even if they did know, who cares what they think? It makes you happy and that’s all that matters. NEVER be ashamed of the things you love, Star.”
 
“T-thanks, Flurry.” Star smiled up at her. “Wanna watch a few episodes while my parents are gone?”
 
“Do I!” Flurry laughed as she took the remote. “Let me show you when Whammy was in his prime~”