I awoke abruptly. I then remembered that I lay with Fluttershy, and I checked on her. She was breathing evenly, so I assumed she was still asleep. I untangled myself from her, and moved out of the bed. I was worried about our upcoming wedding, and rightfully so. We had sent invitations to all of our friends, including the other Elements, Big Mac, and Whitewash. We also sent invitations to her parents, our friends’ families, and the like. I had also reluctantly sent an invitation to my sister, due to Fluttershy’s suggestion.

I looked back. She looked blissful, smiling in her sleep as she hugged my pillow. I was happy that she was happy, and I was happy that I was going to be hers, and she mine. I crept silently downstairs, and met Angel in the kitchen. He was making coffee, and offered me a cup. One voice proclaimed ‘Don’t drink it, it’s surely poisoned.’ I rolled my eyes, and accepted it. I took a sip, and looked out the window. I saw the early morning, and thought:

‘Ah… it truly is a new dawn for me. Or… perhaps it would be better to say a new dawn is approaching. I must deal with father first, but after that… yes. Then I may live a new life with Fluttershy… What about children?’ I imagined Fluttershy and myself with our future foal. ‘Ah yes, I can see it now, a little foal, playing in the back yard with Fluttershy and me. It will simply wonderful… wait… what if my child were to bear the Sanguine Curse?’ The foal suddenly had red eyes, and I shuddered. ‘Unavoidable, I suppose… but I will cross that bridge when I get to it. Now, I must make breakfast… among other things.’ A vile, bloody burp brought me to the present again. I sniffed the cup of coffee. ‘Cyanide’ I turned to face Angel, who had a wide grin on his face.

“Why you little-” I didn’t finish my sentence as I hit the ground, face first. He makes one hellofa cup of coffee.

“Ok, Red Storm! Now, let’s go over this again!” The crème unicorn in front of me began from the top for the twentieth time.

“Yes, yes, I know, I know! I stand by the altar and wait for Fluttershy. Then we say our vows and say ‘I do’. I am not deficient.” Whitewash merely rolled her eyes.

“Your wedding is tomorrow. Everything must. Be. Perfect. We have zero room for error, so if your stutter or fall on your face, I’m just gonna laugh and say ‘I told you so’.” I grit my teeth. This is far more stressful than I thought. Absolutely no respite from this mare, and to think Angel poisoning me earlier today wasn’t bad enough. Whitewash and I have been planning the perfect wedding for the last few weeks now, and I was kind of getting annoyed at her attention to detail. Not that it was a bad thing, mind you. It’s just that she has been making it a bad thing. I then was brought back to the present via gauntleted hoof to the face.

“Ah! What the buck? Seriously?” She simply grinned.

“You need to stay focused, Red Storm. We need to get everything ready. Have you even gotten your suit from Rarity?” ‘Oh sh-’

I bolted out of the room, and headed directly for the Boutique. A few minutes later, I arrived at the door, and before I could knock, the door flung open, with Rarity standing there.

“Red Storm! I have been waiting all morning! Come on, darling, we have to get you fitted!” She picked me up with her magic and brought me inside. The picking me up part was rather unnecessary, but oh well. She stood me on top of a pedestal and began to dress me while I retained the likeness of a statue. While she fitted my tie, she said:

“Red Storm, dear, I really think it is wonderful that you and Fluttershy are getting married. I was beginning to wonder when she would find her special somepony, and here you are!” she took a step back to admire me in her suit, now fully assembled. It was a lot like the one she gave me for the party, but this one was “The perfect stallion for her. You even fell from the sky, like some angel from the heavens.” I tried really hard not to laugh at that one. ‘Angel from the heavens? More like a Fallen Angel trying to reach the heavens.’ She motioned for me to move from the pedestal, and onto a runway on the other side of the room. I moved back and forth with a true model’s grace while she viewed me from several angles. When she was finally satisfied, she waved me off the stage. I stepped down, and she stripped me with her magic. She placed everything in a box, neat and folded, and gave it to me. I shouldered it, and looked back to her.

“Quick question before I depart, what about the bridesmaids and groomscolts? Do you have everyponies’ outfits made as well?” The white mare just nodded her head.

“Yes dear, everything is ready. I have absolutely everything ready for tomorrow… Well, that is inaccurate. Twilight has everything ready. But I helped!” I just nodded back to her as I headed for the door. I was worried that I had forgotten something suddenly… as if… Something gravely important slipped my mind. I waved good-bye to the seamstress as I stepped into the light of the streets. I made my way through the market to head back home. In my deep thought, I forgot that I could simply fly home. Suddenly, I heard a certain voice call out my name from behind me.

“Hey! Red Storm! Wait up!” I spun around 180 degrees, keeping the box with my suit completely still on my back. Spike, the wee little dragon came running up to me as fast as his little, stubby legs could take him. A voice randomly rung through my head in a Trottish accent:

‘Ah, dragons. They come in three sizes: Wee, not so wee, AND FRICKIN’ HUUGE!’

‘Thank you for that, random Trottish voice.’

‘It’s what I’m here for.’

I stopped and let the baby dragon catch his breath. He took several deep breaths, having just run what seemed to have been all the way from the library, and started:

“Ok… Whew! Ok! You know how you’re getting married tomorrow, right? Well, the rest of the groomscolts and I decided to throw you a bachelor party!” I thought about this for a moment. Bachelor party? I have never heard of such a thing.

“Party you say? Is Pinkie Pie going to be involved?” The dragon shook his head.

“Nope! Just us guys! I’m guessing you don’t know what it is, huh?” I shook my head in answer. The dragon brushed back his spines, as if he were dealing with an ignorant clot. I let this one go, as in this situation, that’s exactly what I am. “Ok, Red Storm, this is how it goes down. The day before the big wedding, all the guys get together and spend the rest of the groom’s hours as a bachelor together like guys. Drinks, mares… guy stuff.” I was a little unnerved at how the dragon stated this.

“So let me get this straight, this party is where a bunch of ‘guys,’ as you put it, spend the night in debauchery?” Spike shrugged.

“Pretty much.” I gave the baby dragon the evil eye.

“And you’re going to be part of this? As far as I can tell, you are a bit young to be going to this party.” Spike looked insulted.

“Hey! I’m twenty-one for your information! Dragons just age differently!” ‘Holy crap. I didn’t even think about that.’

“Oh… beg your pardon, Spike. I didn’t even consider your unique physiology. Very well. I will join you and the other groomscolts to this ‘bachelor party’… Uh, just for clarification, where will it be held?”

“It’s gonna be at the Cat’s Eye Café. It’s the only place that does parties and booze.” I nodded, remembering the place. I then recalled my bride to be.

“Pray tell, what of Fluttershy? Will she have similar treatment from the bridesmares?” Again, the purple dragon nodded.

“Yeah, Fluttershy is going to be going to a bachelorette party. Don’t ask where, ‘cause I don’t know. All I know is that she is going to be spending the night with Rarity, and if it’s anything like a bachelor’s party, then she’s likely going to be shoulder-deep in stallions tonight.” This thought disturbed me. Then, for a moment I drifted off thinking about all the handsome stallions involved. ‘Damn. Not again. You are marrying Fluttershy tomorrow. Now is not the time to have second thoughts on your preference.’ Then, my mind caught me again with memories of… him. For a moment, I was filled with longing. And lust. I dispatched these thoughts from my mind. ‘What the buck, brain?’ I re-focused, and Spike was looking at me funny.

“Hey… uh… are you feeling alright? Your wings are kinda… stiff.” I looked to my side, and sure enough, my wings were hard as stone. Wow. Not cool brain. I folded them back into place, and shook away the last thoughts of… him.

“Oh, yeah… sorry about that. I kinda slipped off there. I guess I’m more excited about tonight than I thought, huh?” The twenty-one-year-old-baby-dragon laughed a little, but I made motion to depart. I waved good-bye, and took off, remembering my wings this time.

I arrived home soon after, and pulled the spare key out from my wing, opening the door. The house was quiet, save for the few animals that roamed about. I made my way upstairs to the bedroom, and placed my suit on the bed.

“Hmm… I suppose she has already departed. Oh well. I will see her tomorrow,” I spoke aloud, letting my voice fill the quiet room. I inhaled deeply, and set out for the Cat’s Eye Café. On my way out, I motioned to Angel, who appeared to be making Molotov Cocktails, and told him:

“Watch my things, and do not let anypony... nay, anyone inside while I am gone, excluding myself and Fluttershy. I am giving you access to the liquor cabinet and the refrigerator tonight. And don’t wreck the joint, either. Do not fail me.” The bunny nodded quickly, and locked the door behind me as I walked out. I did not really care what unfolds tonight with him, as long as he does not destroy the cottage. I moved silently and quickly into the night as the sun began to set. Mares, stallions, drinks: here I come.

I arrived at the Cat’s Eye Café just as the night began and the day ended. I walked in, and I was immediately set upon by Big Mac, Shining Armor, and Spike. The café was bursting with activity, and near the bar I saw about half a dozen more stallions all waving my way. I assumed that they were merely the “other guys” who were to party with me, and not colt cuddlers who thought I was cute. I re-focused as the white stallion whom I had met just weeks ago pushed a pint into my hoof.

“Red Storm! We were beginning to think you weren’t coming!” I scoffed as I downed the drink in one fell swoop.

“Come now, Shining Armor, you really thought I would miss my own bachelor party? Bah! Bring me the booze and the wenches; the night has only just begun!” I was awarded many cheers as one of the unidentifiable stallions handed me a second pint. I began to chug once more. Once I had my fill, I moved to the bar. Once again, that same stallion as before was at the counter. He looked at me once, and gave me a glass of scotch, floating in a bigger glass of scotch before walking away. I gladly took the shot before downing the bigger glass. For some reason, I felt the need to get falling-down drunk tonight. I got a pat on the shoulder. Out of my temporary belligerence I grabbed the foreleg of those responsible of such a crime and attempted to throw them over the bar top. Attempted is the magic word here. I spun around, and discovered it was in fact Big Macintosh behind me. I was a little shocked when I realized that I was unable to throw him. ‘What is this stallion made of, solid lead?' I shook off the feeling of surprise and my drunkenness to pay attention to him. Then, I realized that I was getting drunk. Wow, I suck lately.

“Red Storm… you know that a bachelor’s party isn’t about getting’ drunk, right?” I gave him a sheepish grin.

“Right. Sorry. So… What is it about?” The red stallion grinned.

“Well, among other things, it’s about having fun before you get shackled down.” I thought for a moment before responding.

“Humor me. What sort of ‘fun’ are we talking about here?” Big Mac looked confused. Spike hopped up next to me, sitting down on the next barstool over.

“Basically, you drink, you flirt, you mess around until A) You get kicked out of the café, or B) you score.” Spike shrugged and waved down the bartender (whom I recently learned his name was Decaff Grey) slid a mug of foaming cider to Spike. Spike sipped gingerly while I looked around the room. I moved slowly and silently through the bustling building, as lights strobed and ponies danced. Apparently the place was a café by day, club by night. I made my way through the crowd for several moments, wondering what to do. I checked the time on the wall clock near the bar. 9:24. ‘Let the games begin, Prince.’

9:50--- Get piss-faced.

10:13--- Cut the Rug

10:53--- Go shot-for-shot with Big Mac

11:24--- Win

11:35--- Hit on mares

11:46--- Hit on Shining Armor

12:11--- Hook up with random pink mare

12:13--- Black out