- >You never thought you'd have the honor of meeting a brewmaster.
- >Not just a brewmaster, the creator of your favorite whiskey.
- >But lo and behold, here she is, ordering a glass of...
- >...scotch.
- >Well that's awkward.
- >She's few stools down though.
- >You can't help but feel like you're seeing a celebrity.
- >When you spend the majority of your time drinking, one who makes the drinks would be just that.
- >"Anon, stare any harder and you'll burn a hole in her hat."
- >Your companion criticizes your appreciative glances.
- "You're one to talk, you have her drink in your hands!"
- >She looks down at the glass in her talons.
- >"So what, I ain't gonna kiss her hooves for it."
- "You just don't appreciate fine drink like I do."
- >Motioning to all the empty glasses around you, she sighs.
- >"You can say that again."
- >A sip of brandy later, and you decide to make yourself known.
- "I'm gonna go say hi."
- >"Woah, never expected YOU to be the one chasing the ladies."
- >Her accusation only warrants an eye-roll.
- "Not every interaction with a female is a proposition for sex."
- >"Is that so?"
- "Yeah. I'm talking to you ain't I?"
- >A swift jab to your shoulder shows her appreciation for your snide remarks.
- >"Go talk to your idol."
- >With that, you get up to leave.
- >But before you go, you swap your drinks with Gilda.
- >"Hey, I hate brandy!"
- "Don't care."
- >Gotta drink to impress.
- >A few stools down the line, and there she is.
- "Hey there."
- >She looks up at you.
- >Her eyes are baggy and bloodshot under her stetson hat.
- >"Look, partner, Ah ain't lookin' fer a rut tonight, so why don-"
- >You stop her there.
- "Whoa whoa, calm down. I'm not lookin' for that, I just wanted to thank you for the drinks."
- >She glances down at your glass, recognizing it.
- >"Ah, you's a fan of Applejack Daniels?"
- "Absolutely. Just wanted to shake your hoof."
- >Stretching out a hand, she smiles, shaking it.
- >Afterwards, she drops again, resting her head on the counter.
- >Now that you think about it, this bar isn't exactly the best place to say hi.
- >After all, if she's here, there's gotta be a reason.
- >Seeing as you haven't left, she's forced to speak to you once more.
- >"Leave me alone, you got your handshake."
- >Cheery.
- >No wonder she invented a new brand of alcohol.
- "Something troubling you?"
- >Maybe it's the mix of being drunk off a drink the mare in front of you created, but you're feeling pretty inquisitive.
- >"Nothin' that concerns you."
- "All the more reason you can get it off your chest."
- >The glare she shoots you could easily stop a moving vehicle.
- >"Look, weirdo, Ah'd appreciate it if ya left me alone."
- >Ouch.
- "Suit yourself."
- >Hey, you tried to be friendly.
- >Maybe she got the superstar vibe off your attention.
- >A regular Trixie.
- >Speaking of which, you haven't seen in a few days.
- >She probably left town to do a gig somewhere.
- >Mare's gotta make her money somehow.
- >You return to your feathered female friend, already into another drink.
- >The brandy you left her with remains full.
- >Nice.
- >"So how's the whiskeybitch?"
- >You shrug, sitting down in your usual seat.
- "I never realized Trixie had a country cousin."
- >"That bad, huh?"
- >Picking up your brandy, you take a sip.
- >Room temperature.
- >Perfect.
- "Ah well."
- >"Don't worry, champ. Not all girls think you're a freak."
- >You shoot a deadpan look at Gilda.
- >"Well, most of them."
- >The stare only deepens.
- >A few seconds later, she bursts into drunken laughter.
- >You can't help but join.
- >It's an alien feeling, drinking with Gilda.
- >You're used to the melancholy air of the bar.
- >The low hum of people discussing life and it's mishaps.
- >This was different.
- >This was enjoying the time you had.
- >It felt great.
- >You raise your glass to Gilda.
- "Cheers."
- >"Cheers to what?"
- "This."
- >She complies, grabbing her glass.
- >They clink, and you both drink.
- >"Oh, Ah didn't mean to interrupt."
- >You hear from behind you.
- >Turning around, you see the blonde maned mare standing behind you.
- "Oh, hello."
- >She goes to speak.
- >"Look, ah-"
- "I'm sorry, this doesn't concern you."
- >You give a sly grin.
- >Gilda joins the charade.
- >"Yeah, we'd appreciate it if you left us alone."
- >The laughter starts up again, not to Applejack's liking.
- >"Come on now, Ah need your help. I'm a little drunk, and not feeling too good."
- "I'm pretty sure those guys could help you with your troubles."
- >You motion to a table in the back, where a few stallions are sitting.
- >They wink at the orange mare.
- >She does not seem pleased.
- >"You know what? Ah actually needed your help, and yer gonna act like a jerk."
- >She starts walking away, and guilt gets the best of you.
- "Fine, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
- >She turns back, and sits down in the stool next to you.
- >"Ahlright...I need help with him."
- >She points to Big Macintosh.
- >Another mare after him?
- >Sheesh.
- "Look, if you like the guy, just sit next to him."
- >"Not like that, ya moron! He's my brother."
- >Oh.
- >Well that changes things.
- "Ah, I see. So what's the issue."
- >"That entourage he brings around with him! I haven't had a good night of sleep in a week."
- "Hahaha!"
- >She just looks at you again.
- >Oh wait.
- >She's still serious.
- >Damn that is one lucky stallion.
- "Alright, so you're having an issue with your brother getting all the mares, because it's..."
- >You snicker a little bit.
- "...keeping you up at night."
- >"Yup. He's always got mares because he's the toughest stallion around."
- >No denying that.
- >He's a big fella, and with those ladies Aloe and Lotus...
- >They could literally HANG off of his arms.
- "So what's this got to do with me?"
- >"The only way to stop this bruhaha is to get those mares off of him."
- >You don't like where this is going.
- >Gilda chimes in.
- >"Look, filly, I don't know what you expect this useless guy to do."
- "Well now."
- >"Ah reckon' he can do enough. You're gonna hoof wrestle him."
- >Pfffft.
- >Fucking please.
- >You couldn't be drunk enough to even attempt that.
- "You serious? That guy is built like a brick shithouse, I could never beat him."
- >"Come on, I know you knocked out that guy before!"
- >That spread so quickly?
- >Damn bar gossip.
- "Fine, yes, I punched a guy. Whatever. But that won't help me out here."
- >"Ah need someone to do it, otherwise I can GUARANTEE Ah won't be gettin' a lick o' shuteye tonight."
- >Looking over at the mares, you can confirm her suspicions.
- >Those bedroom eyes are very...obvious.
- "Why not Donut Joe? He's a tough guy."
- >"You kiddin'? He's made of dough."
- >Living up to your name, you suppose.
- >Gilda pokes you in the side.
- >"Go for it Anon, it'll be fun watching ya get creamed!"
- >She knows jut how to push your buttons.
- "I'm in."
- >"Woohoo! Thanks Sugarcube!"
- "Drinks are on you tonight."
- >A few minutes later, after a bottle of Applejack's own liquid courage...
- >You walk over to the table.
- >Big Mac's chatting it up with his two marefriends.
- >Time to crash this party.
- "Hey Mac."
- >He looks up at you.
- >"Eeyup?"
- "P0nies seems to think you're the toughest one around here."
- >Aloe and Lotus giggle at that.
- >Big Mac shrugs, a small smirk on his face.
- "Well I'm here to challenge that."
- >You sit down, slamming your arm on the table, in challenge position.
- "You scared?"
- >The smirk wipes away from his face, replaced with a serious stare.
- "Nnnope."
- >With that, the challenge is accepted.
- >He drops his hoof on the table, bending up to meet your hand.
- >You grasp hard, waiting to begin.
- >Now that you think about it, how would this even work between two-
- >Gilda yells from across the room.
- >"GO!"
- >With that, Big Mac throws his full force onto your arm.
- >Holy fuck you're holding up an anvil.
- >You manage to pull back to starting position, holding your own steadily.
- >Your teeth grit as 20 seconds pass.
- >P0nies from across the bar have started watching.
- >"Big! Mac! Big! Mac!"
- >"Anon! Anon! Anon!"
- >The crowd is torn in two.
- >Well, except for a certain stallion with a sore jaw, who's yelling obscenities at you.
- >Your strength is waning however.
- >You can't hold this up much more.
- >Why did you even agree to this?
- >Oh. Free Booze.
- >Totally worth it.
- >Your grip stays strong while he forces you down into your side.
- >Yeah, this ain't lasting much longer.
- >Sorry Applejack.
- >With one last push, you decide to give it your all.
- >You tense up and force him past the middle.
- >Suddenly, you see it.
- >It's on your arm.
- >It's...shiny.
- >Glittery.
- >Blue?
- >Next thing you know, Big Mac's hoof slams backwards on the table.
- >"..."
- "..."
- >You both remain speechless.
- >As does the bar.
- >For half a second.
- >Cheers then erupt in your favor.
- >You won!
- >How in the hell...
- >Out of the corner of your eye, a piece of purple clothing fades out of view from the window.
- >Clever girl...
- >Big Mac hangs his head.
- >Feeling bad about this, you reach a hand out.
- "Good one, man."
- >He shakes your hand like a true sir.
- >Aloe and Lotus, to your surprise, continue to comfort him.
- >"Oh Big Mac, don't be down."
- >"You don't think we'd leave you, do you?"
- >"Eeyup."
- >Aww.
- >Way to go, prick.
- >Wait, they aren't leaving?
- >"Mac, we like you because you're the sweetest stallion in this joint..."
- >"...unlike this brute."
- >Well that went in a different direction.
- >In the distance, you can hear Applejack swearing and cursing into her stetson.
- >A deal's a deal, and Applejack hands...hoofs...you your reward.
- >Three bottles of Applejack Daniels.
- >Tonight you drink like a king.
- >Walking over to Gilda, you hand her a bottle.
- >"What's this for, you won it."
- "Just take the damn bottle, it's your favorite."
- >She smiles, taking the bottle and cracking it open.
- >"Not having some yourself?"
- "Nah, I'm taking this show on the road."
- >You grab your jacket, and start walking away.
- "Later, birdbrain."
- >"See ya."
- >She swigs into her bottle while you step outside.
- >You had some business to take care of with a certain magical mare.
- >Turning the corner, you walk towards the alley with the small window.
- >Lo and behold, a pile of purple cape and hat is staring inside.
- >"Where did he go?"
- "Where did who go?"
- >You nearly gave her a heartattack when she turned to face you.
- >"Oh, it's you. Hello."
- "Here, this is for you."
- >You hold up one of the bottles.
- >"Why are you giving this to me?"
- "Because everyone who helps win the bet shares the pool. That's how it works."
- >"What bet? Trixie don't know what you're talking about."
- >She denies everything you say, turning away.
- "Sure. There's something you should know though."
- >"And what is that?"
- >You crack open both bottles, and point to the spot on your arm where you saw the blue glow.
- "Window aren't just for looking in."
- >A blush creeps across her face, as she takes the bottle.
- >"Trixie didn't want to see you make a flank of yourself."
- "There you go. Cheers."
- >You raise your bottle, as she connects it with her own.
- >As you both down a swig of your drinks, a third patron joins you.
- >Her talons grip the bottle while she drinks the whiskey in unison.
- >What you said holds very true.
- >The window wasn't just for looking in.

