- >You spot her across the bar.
- >You've actually seen her around here every now and then.
- >Sometimes she's alone, but she usually has friends.
- >But right now, she's just sitting alone.
- >You move from your place and slip into the seat beside her.
- >You order a beer from the bartender.
- >Your gaze slowly drifts to the white unicorn beside you.
- >She's just staring down at the bar before her.
- >She hasn't moved a muscle yet.
- "Good evening," you say, to break the ice.
- >She looks up at you.
- >"Good evening, darling."
- >You look down at her drink and the unlit cigarette in an extended holder beside it.
- "White wine?" you ask. "Classy drink for a classy mare."
- >She smiles and says "Thank you," but she looks back at the bar, her smile fading instantly.
- >You reach into your pocket and pull out a lighter.
- "Do you need a light?" you ask.
- >She looks over at you holding up and offering your lighter to her.
- >"Yes."
- >A soft blue aura envelopes the cigaratte holder as she lifts it to the flame as you strike it.
- >The cherry glows bright in the dimmed light of the bar.
- >"Thank you, darling."
- >She holds the end of the cigarette holder to her mouth and inhales deeply, eyes closed.
- >She holds it for several seconds before slowly releasing her breath.
- >She opens her eyes and you take note that her shoulders are visibly more relaxed.
- >Looks like she really needed that cigarette.
- >Other patrons of the bar are chatting and a few mares are dancing.
- >You notice her hoof gently tapping along with the beat under the bar.
- >So she must come here to listen to the music.
- >And with that cigarette, she should be relaxed enough to dance.
- >After a few minutes the song changes to something a little more slow.
- >You take a few drinks of your beer and look back at the unicorn beside you.
- >A soft smile has appeared on her lips.
- >You rise off the stool and hold a hand out to her.
- "Would you care to dance?" you ask her.
- >Her smile disappears when she looks at your hand and then up to you.
- >"Oh. No thank you, darling."
- >She goes back to just staring at the bar.
- >Are you kidding me?
- >A tap on your back.
- >"Psst. Hey partner."
- >You turn around and spot an orange pony in a stetson.
- >"Come over here," she motions as she walks to a table with a few other mares sitting in a booth.
- >You follow her, albeit a little cautious.
- >She takes a seat besides one other and slides over, providing a space for you.
- >She taps the spot next to her for you to take a seat.
- >Several thoughts are racing through your mind, some more arousing than others.
- >But from the look on their faces, those thoughts don't look like their about to happen.
- "What's this about?" you ask.
- >"Hey, listen," spoke a purple unicorn. "We want to talk to you about that mare over there."
- >She motioned to the unicorn at the bar by tilting her head.
- "Yeah?"
- >"I'm just gonna get down to it," spoke the orange one. "You lit her cigarette?"
- "Yes."
- >"I bet you were feeling pretty good about yourself, huh? Like you had a better shot?"
- "Well... yeah."
- >"Rarity smokes?" asked a yellow pegasus.
- >"Only when she's at the bar," explained the purple one.
- >"Oh..." replied the pegasus, looking at the table a little ashamed as if she should have known that.
- >"Hey, listen buddy," spoke a rainbow-maned pegasus. "You're reading her all wrong."
- "I don't really understand what I'm doing wrong."
- >You're thinking too hard about it," said the purple one. "For a complicated pony, she really isn't all that hard to figure out."
- >"I suppose most mares like that you would have a better shot with for a courtesy as simple as that," said the orange one. "But she's not that kind of mare."
- >"Did you ask her to dance?" asked a pink pony.
- "Yes."
- >"Let me guess. She told you no?" asked the rainbow pegasus.
- >You nod your head.
- >You turn to look at Rarity again.
- >She raises the cigarette to her lips again and takes another deep inhale.
- >"If you really want to know, she would rather just listen to the music and think," explained the purple unicorn.
- "I noticed the music part, which is why I asked her to dance. But is that why she's alone and not with you five? Just to think?"
- >"Correct."
- >You sit quiet for a few seconds.
- "Would I be wrong to ask what?"
- >The five at the table also sit in silence for a second and exchange glances.
- >"I would say don't ask her," said the purple one. "But I suppose we can tell you the gist of it."
- "I'm all ears."
- >"Well to put it bluntly, she lost the love of her life to another mare and she hasn't gotten over it," explained the orange one.
- >"She may be a pony of class, but when she's feeling really bad, she will be drinking something a lot harder," said the rainbow one.
- "Harder like what?"
- >"Not important," said the orange one. "But... What's she drinking? Wine? She's actually in a pretty good mood, believe it or not."
- >"She needs to learn to have a good time again," said the pink one. "Here."
- >She slides a glass and 3 bits across the table at you.
- >You pick up the glass and inspect it.
- >Then down at the bits on the table.
- >"A glass of champagne," explained the yellow one.
- >"Someone else might suggest chablis or sherry, but who to know better than her friends?" asked the purple one.
- "For her?"
- >"Well, duh. Who else?" asked the rainbow one.
- "And the bits?"
- >The pink one slides a napkin across the table with note on it.
- >"That's her favorite song," she explained.
- "So basically you're trying to help me by putting her in a better mood?"
- >"Correct," said the purple one.
- >"We think you might be the one to help turn her love life around," said the yellow one.
- >"Now listen to us," said the orange one. "Play the song. Offer her the drink."
- >"Get her talking," said the purple one. "If you can get her in an active conversation, it will help too."
- >"Get her to dance!" exclaimed the pink one. "She loves to dance! But quickly before the songs ends."
- >"Take her somewhere quiet," said the yellow one.
- >"Yeah. This really isn't the place for her, believe it or not. Take her somewhere else and see how far that goes."
- >"And don't take it all that hard if she smiles and politely turns you down," said the purple one. "It just means she's not in the right mood."
- >"Exactly," said the orange one. "Just come back next week and try again. She'll be here. Trust me."
- >All this information for one mare.
- >You stand, grabbing up the champagne, bits, and note.
- >You're starting to doubt yourself on if you even want to do this anymore.
- >But her friends seem bent on helping their friend.
- >You stare at the items in your hand and look back up at her friends around the table.
- >They all give encouraging nods to you.
- >"Oh and one more thing," says the orange one. "Just remember where her heart is right now."
- >"That's right," said the purple one. "Take notes because if you ever come back to see her again, you'll need to remember."
- >You nod and walk away, items in hand.
- >What are you getting yourself into?
- >You insert the bits into the jukebox and select the appropriate song.
- >You take a deep breath and exhale slowly.
- "Here goes nothing," you say to yourself as you select play.

