Disclaimer: Not mine I mean, the concept is, but the characters, most certainly not.

Rule #8: When attending a party, always dress your best.

Mush knew he must have looked as stupid as he felt and he told Snoddy so as the other boy helped him with the bow tie around his neck.

"You look great," Snoddy countered, stepping back to examine his handy work.

Mush felt his face turn red at the compliment.

"The coach is here," Skittery said suddenly, appearing in the room as though by magic.

"C-coach?" Mush stuttered.

"Of course. How else did you expect you'd be arriving at the palace?"

"Look, Snoddy, Skittery, I appreciate this…I really do, but…I can't just walk in there...I'm not-not…" he trailed off.

Not what? Royalty? He was sure he wasn't good enough to stand in the presence of all those…rich people.

"Mush, you're as good-"

"Better!" supplied Skittery.

Snoddy nodded," yes. Better than most of those people in there. The only thing they have that you don't is money, and that doesn't matter."

"But Blink he's…he'll never be allowed to be friends with a commoner."

"I think he's quite old enough to make his own decisions, and you will never find out what that decision is unless you go now!"

Mush had no more time to protest as he was pushed through the door and into a cushioned seat in a fancy looking coach.

The ballroom was already full when Mush appeared at the top of the stairs. He noticed Blink, seated at the front of the room, dressed in the nicest and most expensive looking clothes Mush had ever laid eyes on. He was being introduced to two very tall girls. Mush smirked slightly when they turned around and he caught a glimpse of their faces.

His stepbrothers. The look on Blink's face told Mush that the prince had remembered the warning he'd been given.

Mush took a few steps forward and paused. He still wasn't quite sure exactly what to do, or what to say, but something had to be done; that much was certain. Mustering up all of his remaining courage, he descended the stairs and stepped into Blink's line of vision. It took a few moments fro Blink to finally look at him, really look at him, but when their eyes met, Blink's visible one grew large.

Mush managed a halfhearted smile, which Blink did not return.

It wasn't until the room went silent that Mush noticed every pair of eyes in the room on him.

"It can't be," a familiar voice said behind him. It was deep and rough, and strange coming from the mouth of the woman dressed in green behind. Oscar stepped forward, walked in a circle around Mush taking in his attire. "Our little brother."

There was an audible gasp as Morris stepped forward to join his brother. Together they sneered down at him. Morris rolled up his sleeves. The two seemed to have completely forgotten about their disguises.

"I'm not here to fight you," Mush said quietly.

"What for then? Certainly you aren't here to marry the prince." All eyes followed the hand Morris had stretched out to point at the subject of his statement and Mush was surprised to see anger etched across Blink's normally cheerful face.

"I just…" Mush hung his head, unsure of what to say. All he wanted was his best friend back, but who would believe him. He started to turn away.

"Not so fast," said Oscar, stepping on front of Mush. Morris was still behind him and while there were dozens of people in the room, Mush was alone. There was no one to help him. Suddenly, Morris grabbed his arms and held them tightly behind his back and Mush struggled to break free as Oscar came closer, baring his teeth and clenching his fist. "Do you know how much we suffered when you left?" he growled.

"Mother can't cook at all," added Morris, his voice close to Mush's ear. Mush tried to jerk away but Morris held tight.

"What's a matter, Mush? Didn't you miss us?"

Then a stinging blow to his face made his eyes well up with tears. There was an outburst from the crowd, who were clearly against Mush. Another fist found its way hard into Mush's chest and Mush gasped as the air left his lungs.

"That's enough!" A voice shouted several blows later. Mush's vision had atred to grow dim, but the voice sounded vaguely familiar. There was another outburst and then hands groping at his sides, lifting him to his feet. "Go Mush," the voice said. "Get out of here."

Mush didn't hesitate. He used the little vision he had left to navigate his way through the jeering crowd, up the stairs and out into the cool night air. It wasn't until he was well away from the palace that he slowed to a stop. Alone and in pain, Mush realized, he had no place to go.

It was several days later, and Mush was starving. It seemed that the entire city had turned up at the ball and all had agreed not to help him out in any way shape or form. Even the few people who had been kind to him when he'd first arrived turned their backs and denied him food and shelter.

Mush wondered if Blink had made it a law. He was sure he would never see the Prince again and he was positive he'd never find his family.

He decided to return home.

He tucked his half hose into his pocket finding the empty burlap sack an unnecessary burden.

"Mush!"

Mush stopped dead in his tracks. That was a voice he would recognize anywhere.

Slowly he turned.

Blink skidded to a halt and then breathed heavily to catch his breath. "I've been…looking everywhere….for you."

"You haven't look that hard."

"My father had me locked in my room…"

"What do you want Your Highness."

Blink cgringed. "Please don't call me that."

"Why not? Its what you are isn't it?"

"I'm no different than you, Mush."

Mush laughed out loud. "Except that you're rich and powerful and you have a family!"

"Mush I—"

"Forget it. Blink. I'm heading back home. I can go back to being ignored and content. It was stupid of me to think my family was out here."

"Mush…Take this at least." Mush glanced down at the cloth he was being handed.

"What is it?"

"Something I should have given you a long time ago."

Mush stared at it curiously and then unrolled the cloth. "But this is…" He stared down at the half wooden horse. It couldn't possibly be…

He reached into his sack and removed his own half. Nervously, he placed them side by side. "They fit," he whispered.

Blink frowned. "I wanted to tell you so badly."

"Why didn't you?"

"We were having so much fun, Mush. If you'd found out I had the other half…I never would have gotten to like you so much."

"Blink…those things I said…I'm sorry…"

"Don't be. I deserved it."

"You did. But I'm still sorry…" he trailed off still staring down at the horse. "How is this possible?"

"Your father did mine quite a service a few years back. Saved his life. Your father and mine made a promise that should anything ever happen to the other, their sons would be cared for…Rumor of their pact spread quickly and soon, little boys were showing up at the palace door every morning claiming to be you. Our fathers decided that the horse would show the true son. If I were to show up at your door with my half horse, or you at mine, our father's would know."

"How do you know all this?"

"I asked my father about it when I was dragged back to the palace…Mush…I understand if you want to go back but I…would like a chance."

"I think…that I would enjoy being your brother, Blink."

"And I yours!"

Blink pulled Mush into the first hug Mush remembered ever receiving. The first hug that ever meant something.

"One question though," Mush said as Blink draped an arm over his shoulder and led him back up the road toward the palace.

"What's that?"

"When your father dies…who gets to be king?"

Blink laughed.

For the first time in a long time…

Mush was happy.

And, he had a family.

THE END.

A/N: I am SO sorry that I suck! I realized one day, oh crap! I still haven't finished this! But now it's done, and I'm sorry if it's disappointing, but it's really the ending I was aiming toward the entire time. Feel free to hate me. But I love all of you!