“My Pinkie Sense says something’s not right…”

Pinkie Pie squinted at the source of her suspicions. Little Connie was smiling and laughing, flittering through the air with her best friend Galaxy and her dad Flash Sentry. It looked like a normal, happy family scene, surely nothing to be suspicious about…if it weren’t for the little unicorn colt silently begging for his dad’s attention from the ground.

Cheese Sandwich looked over to see what was bothering his wife, quickly putting two and two together. It also seemed as if Twilight was completely blind to her son’s plight. He cleared his throat and turned his attention back to the alicorn princess, speaking up in a more calm version of his usual sing-songy rhyme scheme. “Hey Sparks! I don’t mean to be a downer or anything, but me and my sugarplum have noticed that little Dusk doesn’t get as much attention as he should.”

“Dusk?” Twilight turned her gaze towards her son and frowned. “Well, we try our best to make both of our children feel loved, but Flash…well…” She swallowed as if gulping down a dark, horrible secret. “He and Galaxy…relate more.”

The usual perky pink mare poked a hoof into Twilights chest, firmly stating in a tone not fitting her cheery, high-pitched voice, “Nuh-uh, Twily! YOU try your best to make both of your children feel loved. I haven’t seen Flash play with Dusky once in the 10 years he’s been alive! That’s a super duper long time!”

Her husband nodded in agreement, putting a hoof on Twilight‘s shoulder. “Maybe the two of you need to have a heart-to-heart. Arrange a little father-son day for those two.”

“I’ve tried. Just last month I asked him if he’d take Dusk to his science fair, but he said he and Galaxy had to go to guard training.” Twilight shook her head but put on a firm expression. “I know Dusk may feel a little left out, but the royal guard IS serious business. I would know; Shining Armor used to take me to all of his training sessions. Once boot camp is over, he’s sure to be less busy.”

Pinkie turned back to watch Flash and the kids, vowing to herself that Auntie Pinkie was going to make Dusk feel loved. Cheese took his hoof off of Twilight and shook his head, staring down at the ground. “That’s true, even with how long it’s been. Our concern is that Flash…well, he acts like Dusk isn’t even his!”

Twilight seemed as if she was about to say something, but hesitated as she watched her son continue to be ignored by the stallion he called his father.

“You’re right,” She whispered under her breath. “He…he really does.”