Two Nights Earlier

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Twilight walked through the door to the pub with her ears pulled back to head as far as they would allow. Her fur was lightly damp from nervously sweating but she had decided to take Applejack’s advice and be more spontaneous. The lights were flashing and strobing across the room casting dancing shadows across the walls.

For such a small building this place is a lot bigger on the inside. I’d better get to a table or the bar before I suffer hearing loss. Moving at a fast trot she made it to the bar and sighed as the noise fell dramatically under the enchantments. Now if only there was something to do about the lights…

A fleeting thought of blinding herself came and passed as the bartender cleared his throat. “What’s yer poison lady?”

Twilight sat up a little straighter and smiled. Using her left forehoof she brushed her mane from her eye and blinked at him. “Y-you think I’m a lady?”

“Keep the stool dry please. It’s just a saying,” Twilight felt her body sag under the insult, “What do you want to drink,” he annunciated.

“What’ve you got,” she mumbled as she took in a deep breath.

“Lad- Miss this is a bar, pretty sure we have what you want. Need a minute?”

“Surprise me,” she said as she placed her forelegs on the counter folded and laid her head on them exhaling the rest of her heavy breath.

The bartender growled and turned around grabbing several bottles in sequence pouring them into a decanter before reaching under the counter and pulling a light green jug of what looked like fruit smoothie mix and poured some into the mix. Shaking it violently with his magic he turned and levitated a glass cup with a large hollow inverted conical shape and a long stem that led to a small circular base. He moved it just in front of her muzzle making her sit up slightly. I think that’s a martini glass, mom had a couple dozen for her girls nights.

Carefully he poured the entire contents into the glass, the mix went to the rim and the meniscus lined up perfectly making Twilight’s jaw slacken slightly. Not a drop spilt over the rim crusted with what could have been sugar or salt. I hope it’s salt, Twilight thought.

“Five bits,” he said looking at her with disinterest. Twilight used her magic to gather the bits from a pocket in her saddle bag. An inconspicuous place sewn into the strap that held it to her body just under her body where no pony or creature would think to look. 'Statistics don’t lie, I’m 37.4% less likely to be robbed if I don’t carry my money in an openly visible place', she’d tell her closest friends. Moving the bits from her hidden pocket to under her saddlebag and making it seem like she had removed it from her pocket she deposited the money on the counter and took the drink in her magic levitating it to her lips. A slight tilt let the drink pass her lips and enter her mouth.

Her mood increased immediately to any observer. Her ears perked up standing erect, her posture improved until she was sitting upright and she smiled wide giving a single spin in her chair.

“This is amazing! This’ the best drink I’ve ever had, what’s in it?!” She asked excitedly as the bartender was walking away.

“I don’t know, you said surprise you so I did. Enjoy it cuz the next won’t be the same.” He turned his head and trotted to the next waiting customer opening with the same line to the stately mare.

Isn’t that Cherry Blossom? She’s cute, I wonder if she’s… No Twilight, you’re here to socialize. Don’t analyze or plan; do.

Twilight slid off her chair and trotted carefully to Cherry, her drink above her to avoid the other ponies walking around. This drink is too good to spill a drop. “Hey Cherry, I didn’t think I’d see you here,” Twilight said quickly.

“Oh Twilight, right? I come here every couple days and get an ale, I’ve never seen you here before. Something big happen that you’re celebrating like one of us adults and not having a Pinkie Party with the rest of the foals?”

Wow, she’s a bitch.

“No,” Twilight smiled before rearing to match Cherry’s height at the bar, “I’m looking for a date. But, not you. Don’t worry, you’re not my type. I think my type would be more agile and a bit thinner. Maybe a dedicated employee and smart? I don’t really know what I’m looking for but when I find that one-” Twilight glanced over to see an empty seat next to her. A brief scan of the area to her right showed her Cherry was walking away. She left me mid sentence. How rude, here I am talking about my perfect mate and she leaves me.

Twilight lowered her chin slightly. She didn’t ask me and I didn’t even ask her anything, I just jumped right into myself. I don’t even know if she’d be into me, I just assumed… No, not again. Do. Do. Do.

Twilight took a larger drink of her mix and smiled. Bobbing her head slightly she looked around and saw all the ponies dancing and left the enchanted area to dance with them. Her ears folded to her head and she felt slightly dizzy as the music assaulted her. So loud! How can they dance to this crap? I have to get back to the bar, Twilight thought as she turned around and reentered the quieted zone and found a quiet spot against the bar to lean. She reared up and leaned against the bartop sipping her drink quickly. I feel like I’m back in magic school. The dances they’d have and I’d be with the nerds against the wall waiting for a handsome colt to take me to the floor. And when I was asked that one time in fourth year I sneezed my drink on him.

Twilight raised the drink to her mouth and tipped it all the way getting the last drops from the glass with her tongue before wrapping her tongue around the rim of the glass licking all the salt in one movement. Swallowing smoothly and smiling slightly as the last of the drink slid down her throat she placed the glass on the bartop and released it from her magic.

“Another one please kind sir,” she said dropping five bits onto the counter with a smile. She waited as he talked with another pony at the other end of the bar. And waited. And waited. “Excuse me? Mister barkeep? Can I get another drink?” she asked louder garnering a glancing glare from the stallion to her right.

She did her best to ignore the growing want to argue social interaction guidelines with him and instead focused her magic to tug lightly at the bartenders mane. He turned quickly and shot her a look that made chills run down her spine as he galloped to her quickly.

“What the spell is your problem lady? Can’t wait to drink all your problems away? Fine, here’s another drink.” He turned angrily away as twilight shrank slightly almost wanting to hide beneath the bartop from his and the others’ gaze. He placed another glass on the counter, this time cylindrical and tall he filled it quickly near the top with a white mix and snatched her bits from the counter before stomping away.

“I-I’m sorry,” she said softly picking up the drink in her magic and walking away into the thundering music folding her ears tightly to her head she found a nice spot on the wall she could lean against while she sulked and sipped her drink. Last drink and last time I take her relationship advice, Twilight though taking a large drink of her new mix. Three swallows had cleared half the glass before she tasted it.

Coughing almost as loud as the music she fell to her haunches and the drink wavered in her magic. It’s like drinking sweet fire, oh Cerberus this burns and not in a good way. Tears welled in the corners of her eyes as she looked to the bartender who sneered at her and averted his gaze as she began almost retching the alcohol from her body.

The music died finally and ponies cheered for the DJ’s performance slowly scattering from the dance floor as Twilight sat up straight and felt her head swim in alcoholic haze. I’ve never been drunk like this fast before, I hope I don’t make any bad decisions. Leaning against the wall she steadied herself and took short controlled breaths with her eyes closed trying to keep her intelligence about her.

“Wow you’ve got skills,” a mare’s voice came from Twilights left peripheral. Flicking an ear in her direction and a light swish of her tail was all she could respond with. “I saw you finish your first drink and I was hoping to buy you another but it looks like you’ve got one already.”

Twilight opened her eyes slightly and looked at the glass wavering in her magic grasp as a blue wing leaned in to take it. Primary feathers slid into the handle and held it steady while Twilight cancelled her magic and closed her eyes for a second before taking a cleansing breath. She followed the primary feathers to the secondary feathers, elbow and then locked eyes with their owner.

A white Pegasus with a blue and white mane and the most sapphire blue eyes Twilight had ever gazed into. Twilight did the most logical thing her mind could let her do at that moment.

“Gyaahyahyahaha!” She laughed goofily as she tried to sit up straight but almost fell over, catching herself on the wall with a light thud only her body heard as she slowly slid to the floor. “You’re pretty, wanna read a book with me? I have lotsa books.”

“Wow, you’re smashed! How much have you had to drink?”

Twilight snickered loudly and blew a raspberry letting her tongue hang from her mouth on the floor for a second too long. The salty flavor a dozen hooves and where they may have been raced through her mind as she sat up quickly spitting once on the floor.

“So you spit?” The mare said smiling at Twilight. Another goofy laugh and Twilight nodded quickly, her horn throwing her balance off slightly making her stumble again before planting her hooves firmly on the floor splayed slightly to help her stay up.

Twilight cleared her throat. “One and a half, drinks that is. Not lovers, only WH-one of thems, she was great but I wush not too good ta her.” Twilight tried looking at the floor as she slowly lost control of her forelegs and they spread apart slowly lowering her to the floor until her muzzle was flat against it with her still staring at it. “...I think I’m really drunk,” she said to the floor.

“Yeah, I can tell that. Look, I was supposed to have another set coming up but I think I should call it off and get you home.”

Twilight tried to protest but she couldn’t form a sentence at the moment. She pushed herself up and with uneven eyes looked at the drink in the white mare’s wing tips. Coconut water, I hydrate need. Taking it in her magic quickly she brought it to her lips and drank it all in four quick swallows as the white mare looked on in surprise.

“Luna that was crazy! I smelled that and it was enough to make my head swim, are you sure that was smart?”

“I-I am a LI-brairiririeayn. I know SmaRt cuz I’m a Library home tree. Spoke, Spike, Speak? Where’s my -” Twilight wavered mightily before laughing as she fell to the side and dropped the glass in between herself and the concerned mare.

“Okay, you live in a library. I’m getting you home now, I don’t think you’re used to this.”

Twilight smiled weakly and nodded. “How’s Rainbow DID thatsis? Urp,” she burped lightly as the room spun and twisted and she felt deeply unhappy and confused.

“You’ll be fine, you’ll be home in a minute.”

Who’s she know, I live. Tree, funny word; TrEE. TRee. TrEe.

“Twilight?! Oh no, what happened? Who’re you?” Spiked? That you? Me-

“You’re gonna be okay Twi,” Spikes voice came as a rush of trembles washed through Twilights body and her stomach twisted and cramped. A sound of a female roaring faded quickly as she tasted something awful.

“-ain, hold her still! Get more water.” There’s that voice aga- *Hurk*

“-axe, stay calm dragon-”

“-tia can help, we know her. Twilig-”

“-oolish, just stay calm and get mor-”

What’s happening, why do I keep having these flashes? *Urp*

“-er head, I’ll get another bucket. Oh Twi be oka-”

“-tell me what to do, help me get her a blanket, please Spike. Twilight, it’s almost over. You’re going to be fine, just breathe,” the mare’s voice faded away as a smile crept to Twilight’s muzzle.

“She’s waking up! SPIKE? SPIKE!?” a mare’s voice shouted to the suffering throb in Twilights head.

A long steady groan left Twilight as she tried to pick her head up from the floor. Wood floor, thirsty, what happened? Where am I? My whole body hurts. “Ohhh my head,” Twilight complained as she fought the pain in all her limbs and lower back to move a foreleg to the side of her head poorly covering her eyes. The light from the sun was like a magnified laser blasting right through her eyes into her brain.

“Oh thank Celestia, here Twi drink this.”

“Get a spoon Spike, she can’t drink from a cup right now or it’ll be last night all over again.”

Last night? What happened last night? I went to the Silly Filly bar, drank a drink and now I’m here with this strange mare yelling at Spike. She sounds concerned so maybe I got drunk and hurt. I hope I didn’t get into a fight, what if I’m in the hospital?! Oh no, that’s why I hurt everywhere, I was beaten to a pulp. “Mommy,” she whimpered.

“No, you’ll be okay and I’m here to make sure of it. You’re at your library home and my name’s Blu. I’m a DJ and you got way plastered last night. If I found you five minutes later I’m sure some stallion would have taken you to the back alley and… Well that didn’t happen so you’re safe with me,” Blu said yawning. Her eyes were drooping and her body sagged like a pony that was fighting sleep with everything they had.

She stayed up all night with Spike to help me?

Twilight opened her right eye and rolled it to the fuzzy silhouette of a mare leaning beside her and sighed. “Wanna read a book with me? I’m a librarian.”

Next Chapter: A Romantic Interlude Estimated time remaining: 10 Hours, 12 Minutes