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Acid Beat wandered the candy shop, lost in his own little world. He adored the bright colors around every corner and, as an exceedingly active little colt, enjoyed candy as well. But this time was not for him. He nosed through the malt balls, internally debating the intricacies of white chocolate versus dark. Draft Punk, his beautiful purple daddy, had given Acid an obscenely large multicolored lollipop. He wanted to give something back, as thanks. As a constant reminder, the lollipop poked obnoxiously out of his messenger bag.

Suddenly, the sucker was lifted out of his bag. Sweet Sparkle's horn glowed with the magic keeping Acid's candy aloft. "Just what do you think you're doing?" A wealth of suspicion sounded in the shopkeeper's dulcet voice. "You cannot just pocket things without paying for them, young colt!" Poor Acid's jaw dropped. The green phony shock his head wildly. "What?! I never took anything. That's mine!" But the filly only shook her striped mane at him and hmphed. 

Hard Truth's voice washed over him, a little acerbic as always, but a welcome grey of reason. Acid looked at Hard Truths like he was a savior sent from above. Everyphony knew Hard Truths only spoke, well, much like his name, the little unicorn only spoke the truth. There was no real reason for him to defend Acid, but Acid appreciated it anyway. This colt was sticking up for him!

"Yes, that lollipop is mine! My dad gave it to me." He pouted a little, not a very attractive look for the green phony. But that lollipop meant a lot to him. The shop keeper looked doubtfully at both of the colts. "Why should I believe a couple of young things like you?" But she sounded half-convinced anyway.

"You're a life saver, Hard Truths," Acid exclaimed, face relaxing into a smile. He let the comment about being unattractive slide. After all, his interestingly colored coat made up for any silly faces he might pull. Acid rather liked green. "Dignity is probably overrated, don't you think? We're young; it's our job to be loose and free!" Swishing his tail happily, the green colt stuck highs garish lollipop back into his bag. Acid's good mood was back in full force and he fairly brimmed with energy.

"Yep! My dad, who is pretty cool, gave it to me. So I came here to get him something as a thank you. My family is quite...." He trailed off and stared at Hard Truths, eyes widening dramatically. "I have to do something to thank you. You saved me; it's like we are brothers now, bound by escaping the fate of many a young colt before us!" Acid beat grinned. He loved being dramatic, the rise and fall of his own voice reminding him of a rich spread of colors. And this colt, this hard-talking, grey-and-orange-voiced phony, could be his brother-in-arms, bounds by loyalty and a prevailing sense of justice!

"My life perhaps, but my honor was at stake and you upheld it though you had no obligation. I think despite your general bluntness, you're secretly a good guy." If there was one thing Acid Beat knew about Hard Truths, it was that he lived up to his name in every way. Sometimes, Acid even admired that uncompromising nature.

As Truths spoke, Acid looked startled, then sad. He had no idea why it made Truths so uncomfortable, the thought of being brothers. Maybe Acid wasn't really that likeable at all.... "You... you don't want to be my brother? O-oh..." His voice trailed off. Acid looked down and scuffed his hoof on the tile below, looking more than a little crestfallen.

Acid looked up, clear blue eyes meeting yellow, and he smiled at Truth's stammering voice. The other phony couldn't know, but each stammer was like a laser light of yellow through the grey fog of his voice. "You.... don't not want to be my brother, right? So being brothers wouldn't be bad?" A Note, something akin to happiness, crept into his voice. But from what Hard Truths was saying, it sounded like he thought Acid would... regret extending that offer?

"The scent of candy is nothing." He snorted childishly at the notion. As if a scent could addle his brain. Sounds, on the other hand.... He flipped his mane, curls bouncing dramatically. "I know I couldn't regret you being my brother, Truths! Brothers never regret each other. They look out for each other, stick together. You don't have any family, so I confess I worry about you a little bit."

Abruptly, his eyes turned lazily dreamy, but only for a moment. He stamped one hoof lightly and looked directly at the red unicorn. "Did you know your voice makes me think of yellow lights through fog? Except if you're angry, then it sounds rustier...." Acid trailed off; he'd gone on a tangent again, oops. He chuckled slightly.