Shadow had to wait almost a hour before making it to the pub with the girls following. They dropped off their luggage, let family know where they were going, and meeting back up.

Twilight had Spike stay at the library not wanting him at a pub. To her surprise he didn't put up a fight saying he was just going to unpack.

After gathering together Shadow lead the group to what seemed to be the only pub in the small town. The pub was neither high class or a dive bar and didn't have the well used vibe that Shadow felt in the Crystal Empire.

When he pushed the door open to the Sour Apple Tavern he heard the bell chime and saw the ponies inside look to see who was entering.

The ponies didn't pay much attention to the first six ponies that entered but most quickly lowered their voices and whispered among themselves when Twilight walked inside.

Shadow didn't pay any attention to the change in atmosphere and simply lead the other to a booth in the corner near the bar over the wooden floor.

Shadow let Rarity, Twilight, and Fluttershy into the booth before sitting down on the end of the seat by Twilight, while Pinkie, Applejack, and Rainbow sat opposite of the others.

While the girls started to talk among themselves Shadow waved over a waitress with a hoof.

The mare was at the bar and saw Shadow waving and gave a smile as she grabbed some menus and placed them on a tray to take over.

“Look who finally came back. You going to buy me that drink tonight Shadow?” The waitress asked as she set the menus down and smiled at the stallion.

“Yes I have and yes I will Amber Night.” Shadow answered with a smirk as he look at the amber coated mare with black mane and tail passing menus down the table.

“You're not pulling my mane are you? Not that I'd mind.” Amber replied with a sultry playful tone as she ran a hoof through her mane.

Shadow gave a loud laugh as he tilted his head back while the Elements had different reactions.

Fluttershy was trying to hide in Rarity's mane again to hide her blush while Rarity gasped and covered her mouth with a hoof. Applejack and Rainbow gave laughs of their own as they looked Shadow and Amber over with Pinkie giggling through a bright smile.

Twilight took a second to pick up on what was being hinted at but when she got it her blush matched the red in Rainbow's mane and her wings moved to cover her face letting out groan.

“I'll have to ask my boss if I can get the night off first. So how 'bout it Princess? Can I get the night off to get off?” Shadow asked placing a wing over Twilight's shoulder giving her a nudge with an elbow matching Amber's tone the best he could.

Twilight groan louder as Amber took half a step back as she fumbled not to drop her tray but failing as she stumbled over Twilight's title.

The mares sitting with Shadow had their reactions intensify while Amber picked up her tray and attempted to apologize to Twilight while Shadow just continued laughing.

“Please don't bring me into this Shadow and um, ah, I-I.” Twilight started to tell Shadow before falling into a series of vowel sound and broken words not wanting to tell Shadow what she wanted.

“Come on Twilight! Let Shadow have his late night party!” Pinkie added as smile pointed a hoof at Twilight and the other in the direction of Shadow and Amber.

“...I don't want to get involved in anypony's... um...” Twilight started to expand on what she had tried to say before trailing off much like Fluttershy would.

By this point Amber had picked her tray back up and was trying to figure out what she should do to make sure she hadn't or wouldn't farther anger the Princess.

“Involved in what Princess?” Shadow asked with another nudge to Twilight with a naive playful voice as he looked around the table.

“Please don't make me talk about, that, Shadow.” Twilight pleaded with Shadow still hiding behind her wings. Before Shadow replied he gave a long drawn out over the top sigh as he held a hoof to his forehead.

“Sorry Amber, looks like Princess Twilight isn't going to give me the time off to get off, maybe next time. Oh, and can I get two Autumn Ales?” Shadow wrapped the topic up with as he dropped his hoof and brought his wing back to his side before holding up the other with two feathers held out in a tone that failed to recognize what had just occurred.

The element bearers were dumbfounded at how quickly Shadow change the topic and tone seemingly without problem. Amber has trying to wrap her mind around the fact Shadow was talking about possible sleeping with her then effortlessly ordered drinks.

Amber could only nod her head slowly before she turn to leave and get Shadow's order when she heard Shadow's next statement she jumped with and eep before bolting to the bar.

“Maybe you're just jealous Princess, maybe if you asked nicely Amber would share me.” Shadow started with a pondering tone before nudging Twilight again and finishing with a longing tone.

As Twilight's wing flared out in indignation and surprise he head snapped to look at Shadow with her face having a shade of red now darker then Rainbow's mane and randomly babbling noises.

Pinkie, Rainbow, and Applejack could now longer content their laughter and burst out in a loud long fit with Rainbow hitting the table with a hoof.

Rarity was mimicking Twilight's attempt at speaking with Fluttershy's eyes glazing over with her own deep blush.

Seeing everypony's reaction Shadow leaned forward enough and extended a wing to Rainbow which she returned and gave it a slap.

As he sat back down Twilight looked at her cyan coated friend with shock that she was celebrating her embarrassment.

“Sorry egghead but this is hilarious!” Rainbow explained with a small shrug of her shoulders as Applejack nodded.

Waiting for Amber to return the table tried to get over their laughter, shock, and horror by grabbing a menu and looking through them.

Shadow saw Amber return a few minutes later with his drinks on her tray which was shaking like a leaf in the wind.

Amber carefully sat the tray on the table and gave Shadow a quick glance before shifting her eyes to the glasses. Amber was terrified she would spill one of the drink and get it on the Princess making her life worse.

Shadow barely paying attention to Amber reached out with his fore hooves and grabbed his drinks off the tray and put them down in front of him as he chuckled to himself with a smile.

As Shadow took his drinks Amber desperately wanted to know why he had gone so far with some harmless flirting in front of a princess but wasn't going to ask.

Amber quickly took the empty tray and left before Shadow added fuel to the fire and waited at the bar to wait.

“I'm fucking awesome!” Shadow declared with pride as he picked up a glass before lifting it to his lips.

The girls that Shadow would stop after a small sip like a normal pony but kept going.

“Um, Shadow.” Fluttershy started to speak out but was stopped when Shadow held a hoof out to silence the Element of Kindness.

Shadow didn't stop drinking until there was only foam left in the glass and when that occurred he loudly placed the glass on the table with a satisfied groan as he dropped his hoof.

“Oh, um never mind.” Fluttershy responded as she pushed her menu around.

“Damn that hit the spot.” Shadow commented as he rolled his head with a content smile.

“Do ya have a drinking problem partner?” Applejack ask with concern with hints of being upset along the edges.

“Nope!” Was all Shadow gave to the apple farmer as he smiled at her.

“Ah, how in tarnation is that true?” She asked pushing to get the truth from the stallion but instead of answering he tilted his head to Twilight.

“Boss, would you like to explain?” He asked before giving a loud burp.

Twilight quickly shook her head and blinked her eyes before sliding into professor mode and explain to the table what Shadow had said back in Canterlot.

As she explained Rainbow waved Amber over with a wing not wanting to listen to her friend going all teacher.

Seeing that Princess Twilight was busy Amber hurried over to take the pegasus' order before the princess could turn any possible wraith on her.

After arriving at the table Amber took the orders for everyone at the table including the princess. Amber was surprised when Twilight ordered Stalliongrad vodka, she thought a princess would drink something a lot more fancy but said nothing before she left.

When Amber returned Princess Twilight was still speaking so silently passed the ordered drinks out and left. Shadow took the Princess' drink and set it in front of her.

When Twilight finished speaking so gave a curt nod as she cleared her throat. Looking down she saw somepony had ordered her a rather small glass of water.

Only thinking how dry her throat was and the horror scene Shadow caused she used her magic to grab the drink.

Tilting her head back she toss the entire content of the glass against in her mouth and quickly downed it.

Twilight was surprised that she had been given a warm glass of water that felt like it had burned her throat and gave a harsh cough as a result.

Shadow had an unhinged happy smile on his face when Twilight gave him a glance. She gave a upset shake of her head, how good he be happy with what he had done.

“How are you feeling Princess?” Shadow asked before taking an actually sip from his second glass.

“I'm mortified you would talk about that in such an open manner in public with me.” Twilight clearly told her captain with an unhappy glare and crossed fore hooves.

“It's all in good fun Princess, after all aren't we here to celebrate and relax?” He countered before taking another sip as he waved Amber back over.

Shadow sat his glass back down when she arrived and ordered his third glass. Amber gave a small nod to the empty glass in front of Twilight which Shadow pushed over.

“Um, excuse, excuse me Princess Twilight, would you like a drink?” Amber asked with a nervous and frightful voice as she added Shadow's empty glass to here tray.

“Please, call me Twilight for the night, um Amber, and you Shadow, would you please get me a glass of what Rarity is having.” Twilight answered doing her best to put the poor mare at ease.

“Yes, of course your Highness.” Amber replied with a bowing of her head before reaching to pick up her tray and left.

Twilight gave a small groan of frustration at being referred to as highness. Was it really that hard for ponies to just use her name she thought.

There was an awkward silence at the table until Amber returned with Twilight's glass of wine. As she placed the wine on the table Twilight spoke to her.

“Amber you have nothing to fear from me. You've done nothing wrong tonight, if any pony has it's been Shadow.” Twilight calmly told Amber giving Shadow an annoyed glare to which he just smiled like an idiot.

“If I remember correctly you mentioned that Shadow owes you a drink, is that correct?” Twilight asked to help ease the feelings the waitress was feeling.

“Yes, he does your Highness.” Amber answered uneasily giving Shadow her own glare of annoyance.

“Would you like to join us an enjoy your drink?” Twilight purposed as she pointed to the spot next to Rainbow with a inviting smile. Amber quickly started to nod before she spoke.

“Yes of course your Highness! I'd love to join you!” Amber gleefully answered with a nod of her head before hopping to the seat next to Rainbow.

After seating down with a gleeful squee Amber eagerly waved over the bartender to take her order, a glass of wine that Rarity and Twilight had ordered.

After the bartender left Rainbow turned to Amber.

“So, Shadow come here often?” She asked with a sly tone and smile giving a small nod in the direction of Amber or the tavern, Amber couldn't tell giving a nervous laugh.

“He's stopped by the tavern a hoofful of times in the last couple weeks, not to surprising given that this place is the only real watering hole in Ponyville.” Amber answered giving her chin a few taps with a hoof trying to get the topic to change.

“Yeah, it's kinda upsetting Ponyville doesn't have any more places to drink, makes it harder to avoid possible tabs.” Shadow jumped in with as he rolled his eyes and lifted up his drink.

“Darling, it's simply not acceptable to owe bits for something as uncouth as drinks, um no offense deary.” Rarity spoke up with an accusing tone before letting Amber know she had no ill will towards her.

“Pfft, no. I make it a point not to owe any pony bits for any reason.” Shadow returned after his sip as he lowered his glass.

Soon the table was making small talk waiting for drinks to show up.

After the bartender returned, dropped the order off, and left Shadow stood up the best he could while in the booth with his drink raised in hoof.

“To serve to the best of our ability!” He loudly declared with pride as he looked around the booth which was answered with cheers of agreements.

After everypony finished their sips or gulps they all but the drinks back on the table before Shadow made another declaration which was greeted with the same enthusiasm.

“Now let's make bad decisions!”

Author's Notes:

Blam! Another chapter on time.
Had tons of fun writing this chapter and hope you did reading it.
Thanks once again for stopping in.

I spent to much time leading the Resistance against the Xeno invaders.
Now I'm back to the front lines to purge the Advant from our world.

P.S. Check out Arad's X-Com stories if your looking for some X-Com action.