Handyman in Equestria CH 9

>The afternoon passed by as expected.

>The work gets done, you make serious headway on the table and chairs.

>Some detailing and it'll be done.

>The ponies who came to get their orders from yesterday expressed some interest in it.

>You'd have relished the compliments any other day than this, however.

>Being caught between two ponies in a romantic dilemma...

>What would Mom say?

>Probably tell you how your cousin was going to med school back on Earth...

>Seriously, fuck Earth.

>You glance at the clock.  It was almost 8pm by now.

>You head to the workbench to grab a cigarette.

>The table really did look good.  Despite your mood, it looked great.

>Some of the designs needed some polish, but this was going to turn out well.

>This was a good place to stop.  You had somewhere you needed to be, anyway.

>You needed a stiff drink and someone you could count on for advice.

>Unfortunately, all you had was Barley at this hour.  It'll do.

>Bits, smokes, passport.  Checks all around.

>Exiting the shop, you are met with another of Equestria's cooling summer breezes.

>It felt amazing.  Even helping wash some of the stress from today's events.

>You make your trek back to the city circle.

>The tavern comes into view soon enough.

>You open the door to the tavern, noticing the usual crowd and your favorite bartender.

>”Hey!  Good to see you stud!  Come on in!”

>You trundle to the bar and sit in the stool, plopping your cigarettes on the counter.

>”So, how'd the concert go.”

“Cider first, please.”

>Barley's face goes straight.

>”Sure thing, kid.”

>He leaves to get your mug ready as you light another cigarette on the lamp.

>”So how bad did you screw it up?”

“Pretty bad, I think.”

>Barley grows concerned in a hurry, placing a hoof on the counter in front of you.

>”Anon.  Tell me you didn't do something stupid with the princess last night.”

“Not with Luna.  Lyra.”

>Barley pauses for a second, then throwing the bar rag over his shoulders.

>”Lyra?  That mare that used to play here back in the day?  The one who played the concert?"

“Yeah.  Seems she's got a thing for me.”

>Barley looks at you straight.

>”Alright kid.  Give me the whole story.”

>You take a moment to explain the situation.  Lyra coming to see you the other night, the date with Luna, Lyra running off, the whole nine yards.

>Barley listens closely the entire time, switching between nodding and wincing when appropriate.

>2 mugs of hard cider and 4 cigarettes later, your yarn is finished.

>Barley takes a deep breathe before a smile comes across his face.

>”I'm proud of you, kid.”

>You snort into your mug.

“Excuse me?”

>”Well, you've been here a while now and I was starting to get worried about you.  Always burying yourself in work and all that.  That's usually not a good sign, especially for someone who came here out of the flippin' blue.”

>You swirl your mug.

>”I mean, it's just nice to see you have a little heart, too.”

“Thanks, Barley.  I'm just not sure what to do at this point.”

>Barley heads down the counter, coming back with 2 fresh mugs.

“Dude, I'm not really trying to get hammered tonight.”

>”This one's for me, kid.  Drink up.”

>You smile heartily.  This fucking guy...

>”Kid.  you know why me and Hops fight so much?”

“Cause you can't remember to leave the seat down?”

>Barley let's out a mighty laugh, raising his mug, inviting you for a toast.

>”Cause she's worth it.”

>You're about to take a swill before you pause.

>”Between her mother, her nagging, asking me to lose weight, and hiding my personal stock of booze, it's all worth it.”

>You proceed with your swill.

>”I aint gonna tell you what to do at this point, kid.  Ponies like to pretend they know everything these days.”

>He downs the mug in one go.  Color yourself impressed.

>”...  All I'll say is, think of the one that you wouldn't mind leaving the seat up for.”

>He gives you a wink.

>Seems you haven't given him enough credit.  Fucking guy knows what he's talking about.

>You pause, letting your cigarette reduce itself to ash.

>Between the two...

>The way you saw it, Lyra was fun, but Luna...

>You polish off the mug with a rejuvenated spirit.

“Thanks Barley.  You'd be a man among men back on Earth.”

>He responds to your compliment with a wide grin.

>”Anytime, Anon.”

>You figure that by now, you have a better idea of what needs to happen.

>You check the clock.  Close to midnight by now.  Perfect.

>Reaching into your pocket, you take out a fistful of bits, dropping them onto the counter.

>Barley looks at you shocked.

>Anon...  100 bits is a little much for some cider.

“You got any more of that Chateaus Warmblood?”

>Barley picks up the hint and motions for the bottle, placing it on the counter in front of you with a sly grin.

>”You're 50 bits short.”

“Bill me.”

>You grab the bottle and your smokes.

>”You got it, kid.”

>Making for the door, you give Barley a wave.

>Mental note.  New stools for Barley for Hearth's Warming Eve.

>You open the door.  The cool night breeze seems a little more comfortable than when you started.

>It only serves to feed your drive for what you plan to do.

>First things first.  You need that stone.

>You walk back to the shop.

>Not in joy or depression.

>It's pure motivation.  There was something that you needed to do tonight and you planned on getting it done.

>You enter the shop and grab the stone from the cabinet, as well as a bag you typically used for groceries.

>Placing the wine in the bag along with two wine glasses, you make for the door.

>Anxiety is washing over you like a torrent.  You were excited, but the knowledge that there was no going back still permeated you.

>As you enter the city streets, you ponder the last week.

>It was a serious deviation from the plan...

>You were supposed to just work.  Make some friends.  See this fucking insane world.  Grow old and die.

>Funny how shit can change.

>You walk the streets.  That same blue glow begins to emit from the castle walls as you get closer, as if to invite you in.

>There really was no going back.

>Before long, you find yourself in familiar territory.  The castle gardens.

>You case the location, finding a bench close by and walking to it.

>You place the bag of goodies behind you, doing your best to keep it from obvious sight.

>Then, taking the stone in hand, you bring it to your mouth.

“Luna.  You there?”

>Wait a minute...

>There's the glow.

>”Anonymous?  Is that you?”

“No, it's your conscience.  You free?”

>Another minute passes before the glow returns.

>”Give me a moment.”

>You pocket the stone and turn your attention to the balcony.

>Luna eventually appears, taking notice of you and making her signature dive.

>She flutters to your side, deft as ever.

>Game time.

>”It's good to see you, Anon.  However, I didn't expect to see you so soon.”

“I wanted to talk to you.  You have a minute?”

>She looks at you with a puzzled look before taking a seat on the bench next to you.

>”I do.  What did you want to discuss?”

>You take a deep breathe before proceeding.

>”It's about Lyra.”

>Luna's expression shows a little more surprise.

>”Oh?”

“Yeah.  I found out why she ran off like that.”

>”And?”

“Well...  It seems she was upset that I took you on a date to her concert last night.”

>She pulls back, widening her eyes and bringing a hoof to her mouth.

>”Anon... I had no idea!”

>You notice that a look of genuine concern is growing on her face.

“Honestly.  Neither did I.  Remember that first song?”

>She nods nervously.

“Apparently she wrote it for me...”

>You notice a sad expression from behind her hoof.

>You're heart is racing like a fucking rabbit right now.

>There is a pause.  Your quick wit is unusually absent right now.

>You turn your attention to Luna who catches your gaze.

>She turns away, noticeably distraught.

>”I understand, Anonymous.  I wish you the best of luck...”

>She jumps from the bench motioning to return to the balcony.

>The fact that you were about to screw this up snaps you to action, reaching for the nearest hoof.

>You snag her rear leg just as she begins liftoff.

“Wait, Luna!  I want to leave the seat up for you.”

>...

>God damnit...

>Words.  You try to remember your words.

>She falls back to the ground, landing on her hooves.

>She looks back at you with a look somewhere between”What the fuck” and...

>It's actually all “what the fuck” right now.

“I mean I want to leave your seat up!”

>Son of a bitch.

>A second passes by as you try and gain some composure and a little dignity.

“J-just hear me out for a minute.”

>You feel the tension leave Luna's leg, letting go and bringing yourself back to the bench.

>Luna stares at you, her blue eyes glassy from tears yet to be shed.

>You take a second to make sure the next bit doesn't sound so... idiotic.

“What I'm trying to say is I want to keep seeing you.”

>Luna's eyes widen sharply.

“Lyra is a great friend, and she's important to me.  She makes me laugh every time I see her.”

>Luna remains stunned.

“But you make me happy.”

>She begins to walk over to you.

“What I'm trying to say is...”

>Out of nowhere, Luna lunges at you, wrapping her fore legs around your neck, pressing her lips firmly against yours.

>The action leaves you stunned.

>It's only from reflexes that you manage to keep yourself on the bench, laying back as she presses into the kiss.

>Eventually, you drape your arms over Luna's back and head, your mind fogged in joyous ecstasy.

>This was a hell of a turn of events.

>You enjoy the feeling for a moment as Luna pulls back, staring at you.

>Her large blue eyes draped in happy anxiety.

>You take the hand from her head and fish around the bench for your bag.

>Picking it up, the rustling of glass catches your ear.

>It seems in all the commotion, you knocked the bag over, causing the glasses to shatter.

>You grab the bottle alone and bring it up for Luna to view.

“We need some glasses.”