Bar Scene: Sparkle in Her Eye

>You haven't had a chance to relax in a while.

>You say that endearingly, of course.

>Not having a chance to relax means you've been around Gilda nearly every night, having your own little parties every night.

>Then there's Trixie...

>But tonight, neither of them are around, at least until Trixie's show starts.

>So it's back to square one.

>Just you, the bar stool, and a glass of brandy.

>Just like old times.

>Taking a swig of your drink, however...

>It doesn't FEEL like old times.

>Is that a bad thing though?

>All the elements were there.

>The bar was musty and the patrons mulling about their own business.

>Tap slid you a glass of your preferred poison.

>The rain trickled on the windows ever so slightly.

>Pieces fit together perfectly.

>So why didn't it feel the same?

>Hm.

>"Excuse me, Mr. Anonymous?"

 

>Turning your head, you see a purple mare.

>You've never met her before in your life.

>But damned if you didn't already know who she was.

>You acknowledge her with a nod.

>"It's very nice to meet you! My name is-"

"Twilight Sparkle."

>At hearing her own name, she smirks, feeling validated.

>"Oh, you've heard of me? Was it my exploits as an Element of Harmony? Or perhaps my intricate studies have reached far and wide! Or-"

"I don't think there's anyone else I could mistake for you, Ms. Sparkle. I've heard someone call you a..."

>You spend a moment recalling the exact term used...

"...purple life-destroying flank-headed know-it-all brat who sticks her horn where it doesn't belong."

>Her self-important smile quickly turns to a look of disappointment.

>"*sigh* Clearly, we're here to see the same person."

>She turns on her stool, and calls over Tap.

>"One Cranberry Juice, please."

>Lightweight.

>You down another sip of your brandy, as if to assert liquid dominance over the new companion who you've heard so much about.

>Well, not so much heard as rattled complaints about and been told what an awful pony she was.

>So far, she doesn't seem too bad.

"So, I knew who you were. How'd you know who I was?"

>With a raised eyebrow, she simply scans you up and down.

>Oh. Right.

>Human.

 

>You sit there silently for a minute.

>She knows your first impressions of her aren't glorious.

>But that doesn't change much, honestly.

>Who're you to judge?

"So, Ms. Sparkle..."

>"Feel free to call me Twilight. This is a bar, formalities leave at the door."

"So be it, Twilight. If Trixie is so keen on making sure everyone she talks to hates your guts, why exactly are you here?"

>She receives her cranberry juice.

>As soon as it arrives, she takes a large sip.

>"Her show's tonight, isn't it?"

"Yep. You can't honestly just be a fan?"

>Rolling her eyes, her horn starts to light up.

>"Fan...might be an overstatement."

>You see your glass of brandy float towards the mare.

"Hey!"

>The glass is tipped, pouring an amount of the brandy into her cranberry juice until the glass is full once again.

>Sliding it back to you, she takes a sip of her concoction.

>"Mmmm..."

>You're still staring at her, dumbfounded she'd just take your drink.

>"What? Alcohol's expensive!"

>You're starting to see Trixie's point of view...

 

>A few minutes go by with idle conversation.

>Seems this mare, apart from being Trixie's object of hate, is also the town Librarian, a super hero, figured out time travel, and owns a dragon.

>Yeesh.

>Is Trixie just jealous of her?

>No, you remember there's something specific about HER.

>One of her shows.

"I heard the last time you showed up to one of her performances, it didn't turn out so well."

>"..."

"Is this going to be a re-enactment of that one?"

>"For her sake, I certainly hope not."

>She shakes her head slightly.

>"Her...showmanship, for lack of a better word...wasn't well received in town. When two little kids wanted to prove she was truly as great as she said she was, they unleashed an Ursa Minor."

>Ursa Minor? Isn't that a constellation...?

>You take a sip and keep listening, leaving that nugget of questioning in your mind.

>"I ended up stopping it, and Trixie ran out of town."

"I see."

>She takes a drink from her cranberry brandy.

>"Regardless of whatever she's told you, I'm not here to see her fail, Mr. Anonymous."

>With those words, the lights in the bar go dim.

>"...I want to see if she's any different."

>It's showtime.

 

>The lights focus on the stage, and the piano slowly comes into the foreground, played softly to accompany the rain.

>Trixie, clad in her dress, appears on stage.

>The crowd cheers.

>"Seems she's much more appreciated here."

"Looks like, eh?"

>"And that dress makes her look fabulous."

>You shoot a closer second glance at the stage to validate her statement.

>And your eyes stay there.

"You can say that again."

>The microphone floats gently over to Trixie, and her sultry tone of voice permeates the bar.

>"Hello fillies and gentlecolts..."

>She scans the audience.

>Good crowd tonight.

>"I'm the GREAT, and POWERFUL Trixie~"

>Clapping rings out, and a single whistle is heard.

>"And if you're here tonight just to see little ol' me.."

>Looking out to the crowd once more, she sees a familiar face in the back.

>Yours.

>With a confident smirk, she continues.

>"You KNOW you're in for a trea-"

>Until she sees who you're sitting next to.

>The silence is deafening.

 

>She stands there silent looking at the mare not even one barstool to your right.

>Luckily, she catches herself being quiet.

>A trait nearly foreign to the Trixie that's on-stage.

>"...treat..."

>Magic-ing the microphone back into it's stand, she walks to the center of the stage.

>As she looked out into the audience one more time, there was something different.

>A glint in her eye.

>The silence that befell her upon first seeing Twilight?

>That mindset is long gone.

>All that's left is determination.

>And damn if it didn't show.

>Her performance that followed was one of the best you've seen her do, ever.

>Hell, it was one of the best shows in GENERAL you have seen.

>From cheap tricks to grand spectacles, her illusions and magical mastery fit the tone of the bar perfectly.

>It wasn't loud or showboating.

>It wasn't one-up's or challenges.

>It was a mare truly excelling at what she did best.

>Twilight was speechless.

>So were you.

>But not for the same reason.

>While Twilight was amazed at how picture-perfect the performance was, you just sipped at your glass.

>You knew she could do this all along.

>And it's about time you got to see it.

 

>Trixie gallantly walked off the stage, accompanied by the whistles and cheers of an adoring audience.

>So what if the majority of them were drunks in a bar?

>An audience is just, as is the stage.

>And Trixie just beat both into submission.

>She makes a beeline for you and your latest female drinking friend.

>"Well, hello Anon."

"Trixie."

>You act like you don't even give a shit.

>She knows you too well though.

>Your melancholy look soon breaks into a smile.

>"That was EXCELLENT!"

>Completely interrupting the...

>Wait, was that a moment?

>Nah. You don't get 'moments'.

>In any case, Twilight bursted out, congratulating Trixie.

>And Trixie could not be...

>Angrier?

>"Who the BUCK gave you permission to come here?"

>Twilight's dumbfounded.

>"Whoa, wait, I just wante-"

>"I could give a DAMN what you want!"

>Oh boy.

>Quick, stop it now.

>Then again, you haven't seen a good catfight in a while.

>...

>...nah.

>You put your hand on Trixie's shoulder.

>Not holding her back...but ready to if you need to.

"Trix, calm down. She just came to see the show."

>She hastily turns her head to you.

>Her teary eyes accompanied by her hate-filled expression...

>"Let me do this."

>...

"As you wish."

 

>You let go of Trixie, unleashing the caged beast.

>But the beast doesn't pounce.

>She sits there, staring at Twilight, still taken aback by Trixie's demeanor.

>"Listen, Trixie, I know we-"

>"You know? YOU KNOW?"

>She stomps forward, inching closer to the purple mare.

>"You. Have. NO COMPREHENSION of the situation. Do you know where we are? A dive bar. A DAMNED DIVE BAR."

>Twilight tries to inch away from the ensuing rage, but her bar stool is only so wide.

>"Trixie has spent her days here trying to forget what you and your friends did to her. Weeks. Months, in this awful place."

>She's reverting back to the third person.

>This is bad.

>"Trixie, please, I just want to be your friend!"

>Trixie stops.

>She stares at the purple mare once more.

>"After effectively running Trixie out of town, and letting all your friends and townsfolk continue to hate Trixie without a second thought, you come into this sanctuary and have the AUDACITY to offer friendship, months after letting Trixie's reputation stew in the hatred spawned from your actions?"

>Twilight sits there, not speaking.

>The expression on her face is priceless.

>"Get. Out."

>Without another word, Twilight gets up from her seat, leaves a few bits on the counter.

>A few moments later, she's gone from the bar.

>Trixie straightens herself up, and takes her empty seat at the counter.

>Silent.

"...uh, Trix...you alright?"

>She turns to you with a smile.

>"Never better."

 

>She swipes your brandy and chugs it down.

>What, is it open season on your drinks today?

>Clanging the empty glass on the counter, she breathes a sigh of relief.

>"That felt WONDERFUL."

"What, the performance?"

>She snickers.

>"Which one?"

>...wait.

"So that whole thing..."

>"I just wanted her to feel bad for a bit. Admittedly, yes, it was nice to yell at her. But I finally get my..."

>She holds a hoof to her chin.

>"What's the word I'm looking for?"

"Revenge?"

>"No, too angry."

"Uhh...vindication?"

>"Too formal."

"...tit for tat?"

>She looks at you blankly.

>"No."

"Hmmm..."

>You look at your empty glass.

>You look deeper than the bottom.

>It wouldn't be the first time you looked for answers past the alcohol.

"...redemption."

>"Yes! That word works just fine. Redemption."

 

>She orders you two drinks, and you two begin chatting once more.

>Well, not as much chatting as it is her explaining her grand performance and you agreeing at how grand it was.

>It's been a while since you two sat down and talked like this...

>It really is just like old times.

>Except this time, Trixie's finally got her...

>...redemption.

>Who knows, maybe redemption is coming for someone else.

>Someone who stares at the bottom of his empty glass, looking for answers.

>...

>But that's another story.