I woke up with a pounding headache. I was on the couch with Angel lying on the ground next to me, hugging the empty whiskey bottle, still fast asleep. I got up and made my way to the bathroom. I opened the door and fell in. I got back up only to see Fluttershy passed out on the toilet, with driblets of vomit still around her mouth. I cleaned her up, then the toilet, before dragging us both up back up to the bedroom. I set her down and covered her, before returning downstairs.

I rinsed my face with some cold water, which quickly brought me back again. I made my way to the kitchen, where I began to prepare breakfast as quietly as possible. I made some toast, prepared some flowers, and I also put together my father’s “Wake-Up-Juice” for Fluttershy’s hangover. Hot sauce, an onion, mustard seed, and a hoof-full of chilies all blended together in a mixture sure to sober you up in ten seconds flat. I slightly flinched as I blended them together, as it was unbearably loud, at least to me. When it was done, I listened to hear if Fluttershy had woken up. Nothing. I took a cup and filled it up, and drank the whole thing. Holy Luna, that is hot. Few seconds later, I felt like my head was ablaze, but perfectly sober. I returned to making breakfast while I continued to listen for Fluttershy.

A little while later, she came downstairs, right as I was setting the table. She was squinting and was clearly suffering dearly from her hangover. I helped her sit down, and even the squeaking of the chairs on the wood floor caused her to shudder.

“My head hurts a lot…” she began, so quiet I could have heard a butterfly land over her voice.

“I know it does, and I need you to drink this. Just drink it quickly, or I assure you, your headache will be the last of your troubles.” She did as she was told, and she drank the whole glass quickly.

“Oh…my.” She then ran over to the sink and began to drink straight out of the faucet while I waited at the table. I counted to ten, and by then she had gotten over her fit. When she returned to the table, she wore a face of utter scorn.

“That was a cruel joke, Red Storm.”

“Is your hangover gone?” She paused, realizing the true effects of the “Wake-Up-Juice”. “Y-yes it is,” she stuttered.

“Thank me later. For now, let us eat.” We ate our meal silently, and an oddly sober Angel joined us at the table to nibble on a carrot. Once we were done, I cleaned up the table, washed the blender, and joined Fluttershy in the living room. I sat next to her on the couch, and as I did, she said:

“Please remind me never to drink whiskey again.” I simply nodded with a smile.

“You will say that every time, but you will always come back to it,” I said. She frowned.

“Then don’t let me ever drink again.” I laughed.

“If you insist m’lady! I will protect you from the devil-drink until the end of days!” I bowed down, extending my wings like I had meant to when we first met, being knightly in an obnoxious way. She continued to frown.

“Please stop making fun of me.”

“You’re the one who got drunk.”

“There’s no need to make fun of me though.”

“I will keep that in mind.” I sneered at her upon saying this. I was half wondering if I should stay my true to my word, or let her build up a tolerance. I decided on the latter. It would be funnier that way, and she also benefits from it… in a way.We sat staring at each other for a minute before she got up and said:

“I need to tend to the animals.” I nodded.

“I’m not going to stop you.”

“Must you always be so asinine?” I thought about it.

“Hmm… very well. I do need to work on that.” She went outside as I began to do the morning rituals. I dusted for a while, and then did the laundry, and then finally I sat around not knowing what to do next.

When Fluttershy returned, I had been finishing my three-deck house of cards, which also included a shed in the backyard. I was rather proficient at that sort of thing. Fluttershy saw it, and raised an eyebrow. I looked at her and said:

“What? I got bored.” She giggled, before knocking it down. I stared at the pile of cards, before laughing. “Oh well. Everything comes crashing down in the end, eh?” We stopped laughing and looked into each other’s eyes.

“You’re right. It’s best to savor life to the fullest,” the yellow mare said, before jumping onto me. Before I could say anything, she planted a kiss on my lips, and I blinked, wondering what was going on. When I opened my eyes, everything was as it was. She stood across the room from me, still staring at me. ‘That was weird.’ I thought.

“Maybe you should get out. You’ve been acting unlike yourself lately.” I nodded in agreement before adding:

“As have you. Perhaps I should meet with Whitewash today, and you can see your friends.” She pondered it for a moment, before nodding herself. “It’s settled then! We shall not see each other again until tonight! Good bye.” I flew out the window almost spastically, leaving Fluttershy with what I could only guess to be a look of confusion. ‘Perhaps I can council with Whitewash on this… odd daydream. And catch up too, of course!’

‘Not a bad idea, though you should really talk to Fluttershy about that… daydream.’

‘When did you get benevolent?’

‘Just now. Don’t get used to it.’ Silence. I really got to stop having conversations with myself like that. I might begin to think myself mad.

Author's Notes:

This was Anna's Second Chapter, as I was still under from the accident. She wrote it without any council from me, nor any of my notes to go by. I think she did a swell job, and I hope you all think so too.