Twitch.

My dreams had not been so disturbing as the nights after Aurora left me. In them I witnessed war, a concept still foreign to me even as I watched it. In war, ponies fought against themselves, against an enemy, they died or did not, and it was always… always violent.

Twitch.

Once again I was in the sky, my wings pushing me towards the Sun in pursuit of an unknown target. Unlike before, though, there was a rush of air without warning, I heard a loud noise, saw a bright light, and I smelled smoke as I began to tumble towards the ground.

I awoke just before the ground crashed into my face. The noise continued, however, and I feared that I might be losing myself again. However, Fray was sleeping belly down in its bed, a small bubble inflating and deflating from its nose like some sort balloon. From that, I guessed that Fray was breathing, legitimately, because I could hear it snoring.

Once again the noise ratcheted against my dreary consciousness in the form of a loud thudding from down the hall. It was then that I realized that somepony was knocking very angrily at my door which prompted me to force myself from my bed and to meander down the cold hallway with sunlight glaring in from one of the eastern windows of my home.

“I’m coming, I’m coming!” I barked, “Gimme a damn minute.”

But as I approached, my hoofsteps slowed. There was… more noise outside than there should have been. It sounded like yelling. Almost as if…

I opened the door and was greeted with the Ponyville equivalent of a riot. Smack in the middle of the riot was Thunderstep, which could only mean a few things and considering that we hadn’t spoken in almost a month. Unfortunately for me none of the possibilities that I could think of were good ones..

“Air Ramp!” Thunderstep called, quieting the group of angry ponies, “You are hereby ordered by the Ponyville Guard to remove yourself from town. It has been determined that you are a danger to public safety.”

Something wasn’t right. I could see it in Thunderstep’s eyes. He had something more to say. As he finished, I could hear the crowd yelling things along the lines of “cursed one” and being accused of being a “perversion of magic” or some other Moon-damned thing.

Thunderstep continued, once more quieting the crowd, “I am to go inside, help you pack your things, and escort you to the edge of town. You may not return after-which.”

I was somewhat stunned. I had lost my job, lost my love, my sanity, and all of a sudden I had lost my home too.

“... will my home be okay?” I asked, “What will happen to my property?”

“We will discuss that inside.”

I afforded myself a slow, unsure nod.

“C-come in…” I stammered and turned away, allowing Thunderstep to follow me inside.

Thunderstep then ordered everypony to go home and not to bother my home. It took a moment, but when the large stallion slammed his hoof down, the crowd dispersed with a reluctant slowness. When the last pony had left the immediate area of my front door, he then shut it and I led him into the kitchen to sit.

Of course, he also nearly gagged to death on the smell of my unclean dishes.

“Luna’s Mercy!” the stallion coughed, “You’ve really let things go! What IS that? Is… is that mess BREATHING?” he asked, pointing to a pile of gross-looking foodstuffs that I’d left on a plate for the past few weeks.

I ignored the string of questions and comments, as I wasn’t interested in discussing it. I wanted to know what the reason for my supposed banishment was.

“The Guard has determined, against my advisement and testimony, that due you and your unannounced connection to the disappearance of a high-profile criminal you are too dangerous to allow to continue living amongst ‘civil’ ponies.”

I snorted, “Unannounced, my flank.”

“Indeed.” he rumbled, “Another issue is also pressing on the Guard.”

“And I should care?” I asked.

“Normally, no.” Thunderstep admitted as he shifted in his armor, “But it concerns our ex-compatriot.”

“I couldn’t care less about Cold Thorn.” I growled, “I can’t believe he tried to kill and or imprison me and Scootaloo. All because he was rejected by Aurora, who…” my voice elevated to almost a roar, “...by the way, as you can see is no longer here!”

“I’m sorry Ramp.”

I didn’t stop my tirade, “Oh, and not to mention that I just lost my job too! I can’t come back to work until I go into the Everfree forest!”

Thunderstep looked confused, “What… why?”

“I’ll show you.” I told him and stood, “Follow me.”

We trotted into my bedroom where Fray was still asleep by some miracle.

“What… what is that?” Thunderstep asked.

“That… is Fray.”

Thunderstep could scarcely believe what he was seeing. In the past month, he hadn’t seen Fray even once. I had to explain that whatever Trixie had done to me had, at least in part, helped produce an ethereal being who could phase in and out of my brain, assist me in physical tasks, and who had an unending curiosity. Thunderstep was quiet after I finished my explanation.

“It’s clear that you need to find Trixie.”

I sighed, “I know. She’s probably the only pony out there who can tell me what I’m dealing with.”

“It’s certainly cute.” Thunderstep laughed a little, “But… we need to get you packed and out of here.”

I settled, pulling the bedding I’d set up for Fray back over the small sleeping creature, “What about Cold Thorn?” I asked.

“He’s been seen in Ponyville on multiple occasions, but only by civilian reports and never for very long. We think… and this is unprecedented, but we think he’s rogue. We don’t know what his goals are, but I think you’re in danger, which is why I volunteered to escort you out. I know how he works, and I think he’ll avoid me because of that alone.”

I sighed. In all honesty, there wasn’t much keeping me in Ponyville anyways. No Aurora. No job. No friends I could rely on. Even Thunderstep was technically abandoning me. The only thing I had was Fray.

“Fray.” I called quietly, poking it with a hoof, “Fray, it’s time to get up.”

Fray yawned and rolled over, stretching its undersized legs and twitching it’s marshmallowy-soft-looking, oversized pony ears. It took to the air, making a drowsy beeline for my mane, to which it clung, and snuggled into. I smiled a bit, but then frowned as Thunderstep handed me the saddlepacks I’d put supplies into the night before.

“Come on.” he demanded with an unhappy sigh, “The sooner you get out of town, the better.”

“Why.” I asked flatly, “I haven’t shown any tendency for violence, and I already beat Cold Thorn in an open fight.”

“Look… it’s not even about that. It’s that a lot of ponies here just… they may become violent. Their fear of you is… rather extreme. We don’t know why, but we fear it has something to do with Cold Thorn. He may be spreading lies and rumors. The Guard itself even has begun to doubt that it’s safe to leave you to your own devices.” the large stallion admitted to me, “Really though… it’s more for your safety.”

“Great.” I groaned, “Well… I guess it doesn’t matter. I was planning on leaving anyways.”

Thunderstep suggested that I get Fray to stay inside my head until we were outside of Ponyville. Of course, Fray had questions, but I told him that I didn’t have time to explain. Fray seemed perturbed but listened, thankfully. As we left my home and took to the streets, angry ponies flanked me and Thunderstep like a they were going to an execution, shouting and jeering, threatening and calling me names. I ignored them. Part of me was just so shocked that something else could have happened so soon, right after losing my job, but the other half was just as numb from loss. As we approached the field that would eventually lead to the Everfree, Thunderstep stopped.

“You are not permitted to enter Ponyville again. Under any circumstances.” he announced, “If anypony sees you here, you will be arrested and imprisoned. Consider yourself effectively banished until further notice.”

“And my home?” I asked, “What will become of it?”

“Ah… yes. It will be sealed, and the property inside accounted for, catalogued, and preserved against attempts at theft and destruction.”

I nodded and began my walk into the deep, dead grass of the field. I did not look back because there was no point. There was nothing left for me in Ponyville. Even if my house was preserved, I highly doubted I could ever return.

But then I remembered. Jasper. I had to explain to him that Aurora was gone, and she’d taken the Rainmetal Bangle with her. I would have to apologize and find a way to pay him back. Maybe I could give him my home, and he could sell it. I also needed to see AJ, but I’d do that after I talked to Jasper. I couldn’t get into Ponyville again during the day, though. There would be too many ponies around, likely keeping an eye out for the “Dark One” as I’d been called by at least one pony as I’d been escorted out of town.

I smiled darkly, kind of liking the title.

“Air?” Fray asked, crawling out from behind my mane, “What’re we going to do now?”

“Well…” I considered as I tapped a hoof on my chin, “There’s a place not too far from here, near the edge of the Everfree that I can camp out at until nightfall.”

“Why are we going to camp?” Fray asked, “We should try to get to the call.”

I shook my head, “Don’t worry, Fray. I have every intention of answering it, whatever it is. I just need you to let me do a few things tonight before we go.”

Fray’s curiosity quickly got the better of it when I mentioned going back into Ponyville. I told Fray that I needed to talk to an old friend and maybe get a little something to drink before we left for AJ’s. After that, we’d move right on to wherever Fray wanted. To Fray, I discovered that it considered the situation a win-win.

With that settled, Fray took to floating idly next to me as we headed towards the Everfree. I remembered the place I’d shown Aurora, and despite the fact that the memories hurt my heart to think about them, I was very glad that I had found it to begin with. It had clean water, a few greens that I could probably eat, and was warm even in the harsh winter. To top it off, the Grove, as I’d come to call it, was not far from where I was at the time, so it didn’t take too long to get there.

When we arrived at the entrance Fray took to sitting atop my head, between my ears and staring up at the canopy, asking me questions about the plants and trees that were unique to the area. Being that we had visited the Golden Oaks Library with increasing frequency up until my supposed banishment from Ponyville only hours before, my knowledge was sufficient to satisfy Fray’s curiosity. Of course, Fray could have retrieved the knowledge by itself, but for whatever reason enjoyed asking me questions and having me answer them with my voice.

Fray also seemed to have a penchant for speaking Owl. I know it’s completely off topic, but the owl assistant at the Golden Oaks Library and Fray seemed to have had many ‘conversations’ in the time I spent studying, and though I had asked Fray what it was that the feathery assistant and it had spoken about, Fray told me that it was an “Owl Thing” and that I probably would not be able to understand. I reminded Fray that it was not an Owl either, but Fray had taken up the stance that it was closer to Owl than pony since it could fly.

I wasn’t so sure that Fray’s assumption was any more true than my own that Fray may have developed the ability to envy other creatures for their abilities and try to understand them through imitation, but I digress.

In any event, Fray and I arrived at the Grove proper, a thousand hooves or so from the edge of the Everfree forest. It was just as I remembered it. The area seemed to be timeless because as we entered, there was not even a ripple on the water. It was warm as well, almost as if the most pleasant day that could have ever been was captured and stored there for anypony to enjoy. Dust and pollen that floated in the air moved with a slow wafting, glinting in the Sunlight. A single leaf floated upon the surface, still and unmoving, undisturbing the nearly glass-like quality of-

“Yay!” Fray squealed and hopped off my head, taking to the ground, much to my surprise, as it ran towards the water, laughing and falling over with a splash, “It is a giant bathtub!”

It was very similar to the way AJ and I would act when we were younger after the day’s work at Sweet Apple Acres was over with. I think I was beginning to understand what Fray was, or at least how it learned. I had never shown it memories that would elicit that sort of behavior. It was learning through watching, and I almost felt like… maybe just a little, that Fray was my little colt or filly. I felt a sort of fatherly love towards the small, blob-like creature.

Watching Fray made me smile, and for once, I could remember back without being unhappy about my memories.

“Don’t go too deep.” I laughed a little, forgetting that Fray was capable of flying, which it promptly showed me as it stuck its tongue out at me, “Alright, fair enough! I’m going to get camp set up.”

I dropped my saddle bags and started unpacking the basic tools I’d need to make a place to sleep. I had no intention of staying overnight, but I could sleep while I waited for the sun to go down. For that purpose I dug out a hole in the ground and then stripped a few plants with large, pony-sized leaves of their foliage to make a bedding with and settled down to lazily watch Fray move about in the water as it played and splashed about.

It was with those images in my head that I fell asleep with the morning Sun shining warm on my face, despite the cold that was sure to be ravaging the world outside the Grove.

The rest of the day passed without incident and I awoke to find Fray sleeping and curled up next to me as I lay on my side. It was obvious that the sun was setting and that the short, restful vacation would soon have to end. Patting Fray on its mane, something I had not noticed before or that it had recently developed, I stood only to come face to face with Scootaloo which startled me enough to make me yelp in surprise.

“Hey!” Scootaloo smiled with a huge, goofy grin, “So I heardja got kicked outta Ponyville!”

“S-Scootaloo!?” I coughed as Fray awoke and scurried behind my legs, “What are you doing here?”

Scootaloo flittered up and over to the rock that overlooked the pool in the center of the Grove as she struck an over dramatic, heroic pose.

“I’ve come to go adventuring and to help one of my best friends in whatever awesome, secret, bad-flank plan he has!” Scootaloo yelled before quieting down, “And I also bought Featherweight.”

The young stallion appeared from behind some ferns.

“H-Hi mister Ramp.” he greeted, a probably a little nervous about being inside the Everfree forest, considering its reputation as being very dangerous, “Sorry to hear about your… forced removal from Ponyville.”

As it turned out, Scootaloo and Featherweight had hanging out shortly after she got out of the hospital. He had delivered a package to her from a friend, and they’d gone to school together, so they’d done some catching up, and decided to stick together. So life for Scootaloo had returned to normal.

I wanted to know a little more about what the two had been up to, specifically Scoots, but there were more pressing matters at hand, and chances are if she and Featherweight were up to ‘no good’ they’d already gone and done it by then and having the two there was actually rather a blessing, except…

“Scootaloo… you can’t come with me.” I blurted, surprising the young pegasus mare, “I don’t want to get you into a situation where you’ll be hurt again.”

Scootaloo shook her head and waved a hoof, “Nope. Not taking no for an answer.” she insisted, “Besides, that was my fault. I should have been paying more attention to where he might have been coming from.”

Featherweight was lost. Apparently, she’d left that part out, which made me wonder why he wasn’t on board with the town as well.

I could tell I wasn’t going to get through to Scootaloo though, because in the short time I’d known her she’d shown me that she did exactly what she wanted and no less. Besides, she could fly. If anything, Scootaloo would just follow me anyways. One thing did make me wonder, though.

“So why did you bring Featherweight?” I asked, “Is he going to be useful or is he just going to drag us down?”

Featherweight stepped forward a little, “Well, sir… I’m a courier, so I’ve got at least some navigational skill, and I’m fast along the ground.” he suggested, paused, and then added, “Not only that, but it will be easier for me to get into Ponyville and gather any supplies that we might need.”

“And do either of you know where I’m going?” I asked, “Or are you both just assuming that I’m leaving to go anywhere with no place really in mind?”

“Well…” Scootaloo bit her lower lip, and rub her shoulder, “Yeah. We don’t really know where you’re going.”

“And you’re willing to just… up and leave Ponyville and all of your friends?”

Scootaloo’s expression darkened and lowered towards the ground as she spoke, “Well, Ponyville isn’t… being very nice to me. Even Applebloom and Sweetie Belle look at me different.” she admitted, “It’s like everypony knows I was involved in what they’re accusing you of. You know... letting Trixie out.”

Featherweight patted her on the shoulder with his hoof, “She was an avid supporter of yours, speaking out against those who wanted you gone, and she even managed to convince me.” the young stallion revealed as he looked up at me, “I decided to come with her for moral support and to help prove your innocence.”

“So that’s what this is about.” I sighed, “Look, I’m not going to try to prove I’m innocent. I’ve got something more important to do than that.”

Fray finally spoke up. I hadn’t noticed, but it had taken to hiding behind me as I spoke with Scootaloo and Featherweight in the middle of the Grove.

“So you are here to… help?” it asked.

Of course, it being revealed in such a way made Scootloo freak out a little. Featherweight’s reaction was a little less dramatic, and he was the first pony I’d seen who really wanted to speak with or examine my friend. So, imagine his surprise when Fray floated away and disappeared into my skull. I feel it’s obvious that I had to explain everything to them both. From Fray’s origins, to how it had become what it was at the time, the both of which I was still unsure of but, as I’ve said, had made some conclusions about that I felt were about as good as any.

I thought it was somewhat odd though. Fray was normally very curious creature which was something I felt I could call it, now that it spent more time outside my head than inside so that it could see the world with its own eyes, and it was very unusual to find it playing shy to anything or anypony.

“Fray?” I asked, “Won’t you come back outside?”

Fray rumbled in my consciousness, “Will they make us here leave too?” it asked, a little bit of either fear or sadness present in its message to me.

That’s when I realized what its strange behavior was for. It must have figured that since I was having to explain myself, as I’d done with Thunderstep, that we were going to have to leave again and go somewhere else. Fray really was more a child than anything else, despite its latent abilities, and its understanding of how the world worked had probably been completely flipped upside down. There was really no way to tell, but it would have explained a lot of things.

“No, Fray. These are friends.”

“What is a friend?”

I shook my head as Fray appeared in my mane, and crawled to the top of my head to cling there, looking out at our guests. In fact, it stared so intently at them that the poor thing slipped and landed on my nose, making Scootaloo giggle a little.

“I’ll explain what a friend is later.”

“That’s kinda… cool. Fray is his… or is it her... name?” Scootaloo asked, unsure if Fray was a boy or girl, which was a question I didn’t think had an answer.

“What is cool?” Fray asked, “It is not cold here… I do not understand.”

I just smiled, “Listen, everypony.” I interrupted, “Fray and I have to go somewhere… it’s hard to explain. Fray can’t tell me what it is but we both can hear it, and we have to answer it.” my face took on a serious look and my voice a tone just as so, “And that means that you will probably be in danger. Both of you.”

“I’m ready for anything.” Scootaloo insisted, “Let’s do this.”

“Wait. Wait. Wait!” Featherweight shook his head in distaste, “What do you want us to do if we’re to come with you?”

“I didn’t ask you to come with me.” I reasoned, “Scootaloo’s on board, but if you want to go home, then by all means do so. I don’t need somepony complaining the entire way.”

Fray was notably silent.

Scootaloo looked expectantly at Featherweight. It was becoming clear that the young stallion was not nearly as stubborn and forward as his marefriend. It made me wonder what caused Scootaloo to start hang out with him in the first place. Certainly there was something she saw in him, but it was definitely not his willingness to move forward. I decided that I’d have to ask her some time.

Featherweight sighed and smiled as Scootaloo’s expectant gaze cut through his caution like a hot knife through butter, “What would you have me do, is what I mean to ask.”

I grinned, “Welcome to the Dark One’s forces.”

“W-what?”

Laughing, I told the poor stallion that I was kidding, and that it was just one of many names that the ponies in town had labeled me with. Then I laid out plans for us all that we’d execute as soon as the moon was high in the sky. I revealed that, if I was going to have more ponies following me into the, we needed more supplies and that I had a few things I needed to make sure of in town before we shoved off for whatever it was that Fray was after.

Featherweight was to find food and water for our trip, while Scootaloo was to go to my house and grab another pack and fill it with spare blankets and pillows, materials that could be used to make a tent, and a few other things that could be useful. With a list in hoof, the two set out to go do the tasks that I had charge them with. As soon as they were off, Fray and I headed back out of the Everfree in the same direction we’d come, with a notable difference. I was in disguise, using a rain poncho to cover my mane, and coat, and keeping my tail packed to one side in an internal poncho pocket.

As I stepped free of the thick foliage of the Everfree Forest, I took a deep breath of the cold air that suddenly blasted into my face, and made note that with the wind had blown in a light snow. Fray had never seen snow but, despite its curiosity, the tiny creature stayed hidden in my skull. I think it understood that it was important that we not be found out, and I found myself feeling proud of my ever-present companion. So, I took the time to do something I’d never tried before as we headed back towards Ponyville.

Conjuring up the best imagination I could of myself and placing it in a warm field, I invited Fray into the ‘world’ I had created, and surprised it with a fatherly hug, like the one in the memory I had shown it earlier the day before. Fray seemed unsure, or a little confused, so I told it why I was giving it such a strange gesture, with the reason being my pride in its understanding and the fact that it was staying hidden. I told Fray that it was doing a good job and with that notion, Fray returned the gesture in its own way and cuddled into the embrace.

Externally I smiled. I could maintain that little world just a bit longer, at least until we got to Ponyville, but then I’d need its help to make sure that I wasn’t seen, or was seen as little as possible. To that end, I’d give Fray complete access to my sense of sound, which turned out to be easier than I’d thought it would be.

With everything in place, my hooves clattered against the cobblestone as I made my entrance back into the tight streets and alleys of Ponyville. With the moon barely peeking through the snow-laden clouds above, casting a strange, blooming glow against the light snow-cover that had lain upon the edges of buildings and atop empty stands in the street, I decided that my first stop would be to visit Jasper. I hoped that he was one of the few ponies who would still listen but in any case it was my duty to notify him that I’d essentially lost the Rainmetal Bangle and, with that in mind, quickly arrived at his door.

My knocks were slow and quiet as I didn’t want to scare the older stallion after all and, for my consideration, I felt it was repaid with a rather prompt answer. Old Jasper peeked out from behind crack in his doorway.

“Sorry, youngster, we’re closed right now, come back tomorrow.” he said, unrecognizing.

I peeled back the hood of my poncho just a bit, “Wait… Jasper, it’s me. I want to talk before I leave Ponyville again.” I whispered.

Jasper opened the door completely and ushered me in with a surprised greeting, “Mr. Ramp?” he whispered, “What are you doing here? You do know if you are caught, the Guard will put you in the pokey, right?”

I stood in the middle of the room, waiting for Jasper to close the door before continuing. When he did, I waited a little longer for him to settle in his favorite seat.

“Jasper… Aurora’s gone.” I said, coming out and breaking the news the only way I could with such short time.

Jasper nodded as he sat, frowning, “I have heard. This town is always starving for some kind of gossip, and you and her were the talk of the town, if you hadn’t noticed.” he stated, sighing, “I suppose you’ll be giving the bangle back?”

My ears drooped, and I exhaled, “No… I can’t. She took it with her. I don-”

Jasper held up a hoof, cutting me off mid-sentence.

“Everything will be fine, then.” Jasper said simply, “Just have a little faith.”

“But… she hasn’t visited, she hasn’t written, she even stopped leaving-”

Again, the hoof.

Jasper adjusted his old glasses and looked directly at me, “Just take my word on this one, Air Ramp. A Rainmetal Bangle is something extremely special.” he explained, “If it’s not meant to be in somepony’s hooves, then it’ll come back on its own. Now go on… get out of here before you get caught. There’s a fire out there too, so be careful.”

“...Wat?”

“A fire.” he repeated, “I suggest you get moving, kiddo.”

As I left, I told Jasper I’d pay him back somehow. He insisted that it wasn’t necessary and left me on his doorstep with more questions than consolation about the situation. That’s when I noticed the smoke. It hadn’t been there before, and I hadn’t been inside long but, from where I stood, there was an angry glow somewhere on the horizon, on the other side of Ponyville, and the smoke was just beginning to waft down the street as I stepped away from Jasper’s home. It was my guess that the problems in town were not solely related to me or even to Trixie, wherever that crazy mare had disappeared off to, but that there was a bigger, underlying problem.

Oh how right I was, and how much I’d find myself wishing that I wasn’t.

Taking off into the night, obviously not wanting to get caught up in whatever insanity was sweeping that part of town, Fray and I headed for the nearest ciderhhouse. Ciderhouses in Ponyville were the place to go if you wanted to hear what was going on in town after the Sun fell below the horizon and the Moon was up above. But let’s be honest, I felt like I needed a drink more than anything at the time.

The Ciderhouse that I arrived at, literally named “THE Ciderhouse,” was an old establishment that was once on the edge of town, but had been slowly enclosed upon in recent years by the growth of the population and its need for the various businesses and homes required to adequately support them. With that had come considerable success for the tavern, and it was privy to all sorts of ponies, especially in the late hours, having become somewhat the local hotspot for travellers, businessponies, and Canterlotian nobles looking for some of that “down home charm” as they often called it. In that success, The Ciderhouse had expanded itself to have an inn, a restaurant, and a delivery service that you could order from at almost any hour to have food and booze sent directly to your doorstep.

For me, though, it was simply a place to rest my hooves and grab a drink before heading to AJ’s house to say goodbye and then meet up with Scoots and Featherweight back at the Grove and, heading inside, I was greeted by strange music, the smell of smoke, and the cacophonous roaring of a half-drunk crowd.

“What is this place?” Fray asked with a timid undertone in its tmessage to me, “It is very loud. I do not like it.”

I told Fray not to worry, that I was just there to grab a drink and get some information on what was happening on the other side of town. Fray tried to argue. I should have listened.

But I’ll try not to ruin the story for you.

Taking a seat at the bar, I did not remove my hood, instead simply waiting for somepony to ask me if I wanted anything. When the bar-mare finally did, I practically had to yell over the roar of the music and the laughter of a nearby crowd, but eventually I managed to get through to her that I simply wanted some of last year’s stock of cider, and threw my bits on the counter to get the payment out of the way so I wouldn’t have to flag her down again to do so. She smiled, appreciating the gesture I assumed, and promptly poured some home-made Ponyville cider into a flagon for me, then left to serve another customer.

“What is that?” Fray asked, “It looks like apple juice.”

“It’s cider, of the alcoholic variety.” I thought to Fray, who remained in my head, “It’s good.”

Fray seemed to go through some searching, as if trying to find information about cider in the memories it had access to.

“Alcohol is bad.” Fray commented, its child-like voice sounding strange to me as it spoke about the subject, “I do not think you should consume it.”

I snorted, “I’ve already paid for it… I’m going to drink it.”

Fray didn’t say another word concerning the subject and, briefly, I felt bad for being so short with my small friend. Then I drank the cider anyways, and sat on the barstool, mulling over what had happened in the past few days. I knew I couldn’t stay long, but chances might’ve been I wouldn’t get another drink for a while, and cider was one of the few alcoholic beverages that I actually enjoyed.

A short time after I started downing the cider, I felt a brush against my back, but it wasn’t a passing one. It lingered, almost sensually. I turned to face whoever it was, and was met eye-to-eye with a pair of bright-gold eyes, framed by a short-cut, burnt orange with yellow highlights mane. As my own eyes adjusted to the sudden invasion of space, I found that those features were attached to a pretty little tomboyish batpony with a grey-purple coat who had a very subtle smile on her face.

“Hello.” I greeted, frowning just a little, “Can I… help you?” I asked.

The batpony smiled just a little bit more, revealing pronounced canines and pearly-white teeth before speaking, “Well… that depends. Can you tell me your name?” she asked.