FLARE IN: SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION
>You grunt as your favorite drink was slid down the counter towards you by none other than your best bat buddy Aux
"Thanks Aux."
>He chuckles in response
>"Anytime Heke."
>You sip from the salted beverage, smacking your lips together as the salty tang spreads over your tongue
"Ho-ly cow Aux. You're truly the best bartender a friend could hope for."
>He grumbles
>"Not the one this bloody district deserves, that's for sure."
>You shrug and sip from your drink once more
>Setting down the drink, you look at the bat pony
"Yeah, but you're the only bartender in this town, full-time anyway. Snapshot only ever serves Rum and Wine on Friday nights."
>Aux blinks at that, then resumes his cleaning of the glasses
>"That's true, I suppose."
>He looks back at you after putting away a sparkling crystal mug
>"But you're literally the only one who comes in about this time. If anypony else comes, they're usually just curious about a bat pony bar, or its-"
>The doors slam open, revealing...
>Flare.
>"Hey guys! What's going on here?!"
>Her backpack full of random shit nearly hits the doorframe as she walks in
>Both you and your best bat buddy's eyes widen as she nearly trips because of the sudden weight shifting of the tall backpack
>More like a stack of random items on her back
>Your eyes follow her as she walks over the the stool next to yours
'Please take your bag off...'
>You inwardly whimper as you think that thought, wondering what may happen if all that gear comes crashing down
>Pots and pans literally fall off as she sets, possibly every single item she owns, down on the floor next to the stool
>You lean to the left as a musket, complete with bayonet, misses you by an inch and sticks to the floor, having fallen from the very top of the mountain of shit
>There was silence for a bit
>But your best buddy always knows how to break the silence
>"S-So... Flare... How's your uh... Adventure going?"
>Flare smiles wildly
>Aux no, why'd you ask her that
>"Weeeeeell... I don't really care! I just do what the voices tell me!"
>...
>"Oh... So... It's good then?"
>Both Aux and you gulp
>Flare shrugs
>"Yeah, I guess you could say that."
>She grunts, her expression turning suddenly neutral
>"I'll have what Hekesuh is having."
>You look at your drink, then back to Flare
"Uh... Flare. This is a very very VERY strong drink. Are you sure you ca-"
>She puts a hoof to your muzzle, silencing you
>"Shhhh... I can handle it. I'm a tough mare."
>You gulp as her hoof leaves your muzzle
"If you s-say so..."
>You nod to Aux as he prepares the drink
>Flare begins to rummage around her backpack
>You silently dodge a pot, a box, a cat... Wait a minute...
>She pulls out what looks like bits and throws them at Aux, who backs away in shock
>Flare blushes
>"Sorry Aux... Guess I'm a little clumsy today."
>He sighs, setting the drink in front of her
>"Don't worry about it, Flare... As long as you pay."
>She smiles sheepishly
>"Yeah."
>She takes the drink, staring at it for a moment, before downing it in one go
>Ruh roh.
>You and Aux stare at her like she was somepony who just busted out of an asylum
>Tartarus, she might as well have been!
>She throws the glass into her backpack, it dissappearing in pile of assorted clutter
>...
>And then she spontaneously caught fire!
>But it's all fine and dandy
>Because the pony is apparently supposed to do that!
>Flare hics, uncaring that she is on fire
>"W-well. I should be on mah waaaaay~!"
>She looks at you with half lidded eyes beforing stepping down from the stool
>She grabs her backpack/mountain of items and stumbles off, more items and trash falling off from it as she walks out
>Aux turns to you, deadpanning
>"As I said before, she's the only other pony besides you to come in at this hour. Which isn't very often."
>You grumble
"How does she catch on fire like that?"
>Aux snorts, and then bursts into gut busting laughter
>"Buck if I know! That pony might as well be the daughter of Discord and Celestia when it comes to logic!"
>You chuckle along with him
"Nah... A child of Discord would make more sense than her..."
>...
>You swear you heard screams coming from outside
>Celestia damn that literal hot-headed pony