Title:           Hope On The Rocks [PiE]
Author:          jffry890
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/R3Ni1zWi
First Edit:      Sunday 22nd of September 2013 05:50:38 PM CDT
Last Edit:       Sunday 22nd of September 2013 05:50:38 PM CDT

>You've been out drinking every night so far
>Heartbroken and with nothing left to lose, you proceed to drown your sorrows day in and day out.
>There are others here as well.
>Not particularly in the same situation as you, but still in desperate need of a distraction; whether it be long or short term.
>Former sports stars, widowed wives, and bankrupt fathers who've just hit rock bottom.
>Man and pony.
>All follow these neon lights like the north star in search of liquid comfort.
>There was one pony in particular you've noticed coming in recently.
>Rumor has it, she finally found and the lost her one true love in a freak accident.
>A clichéd scenario, but one you've seen many times.
>It's not as uncommon as one would think.
>Her white coat and long, curled mane contrasted sharply against the dim light of the bar.
>The long black dress she wore also made her coat stand out a bit more.
>Another rumor says that that's the dress she wore to her fincé's funeral.
>If there's one thing you've learned since you've started coming here, it's that things aren't always as they seemed.
>And certainly not as bad as people make them out to be.
>But it's hard to see the light in your own issues without someone there to show it to you.
 
>So as you watch this girl-
>Er, mare.
>As you watch her, you take in certain aspects about her.
>She likes to sit alone, like everyone else.
>Usually in a corner booth.
>She likes to listen to slow music.
>A broken heart needs to hurt before it can heal.
>A sad song is sometimes the way to go as it can shed light on a situation with words and phrases you would have never thought of.
>She's particularly fond of white wine.
>An obvious choice for someone who seems to know a thing or two about class.
>It also points that she's more or less here to think with a buzz as opposed to getting drunk and trying to black out her mind like others around here.
>However, she's chosen a different drink tonight.
>Tequila.
>Several shot glasses sit grouped atop her table.
>Something's happened, but you can't figure it out unless you speak to her.
>You'd rather just people watch like you have been.
>It helps keep your mind off of your problems by studying others' problems.
 
>The pony had lifted her last shot up to eye level with her magic and just stared at it.
>Closing her eyes, and with a heavy sigh, she throws in back and hits the shot glass against the table.
>She usually seemed content with just keeping to herself and staring at the tabletop before her as she sipped her drink.
>Across the bar, on a slightly-raised platform used as a stage, was a piano.
>No one ever used it and its sole job was to collect dust.
>Apparently, it took several shots of hard liquor for it to finally catch this depressed pony's eye.
>It took several minutes, but she eventually slid off the chair to stand.
>She had to hold onto it with both forelegs to prevent herself from falling over.
>Slowly stumbling across the bar, she makes her way to the old stringed instrument.
>That black dress of hers dragged lightly across the wooden floorboards.
>Your own curiosity had been piqued when the soft notes of the keys being played caught your ears.
>Turning your head, you saw her sitting and just casually pressing the various keys with her magic.
>If she was actually testing it, you have no idea.
>It sounded as if she was trying to find certain notes.
>You went back staring at your drink on the bar in front of you.
>You don't know a thing about playing any instruments, but you're content to just sit and listen.
>Hell, maybe she'll start singing.
 
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X4Vr7EVcO0
>She started to actually string the notes into proper chords at a soft, slow tempo.
>"I'm so tired of being here."
>No way.
>You turn your head again.
>"Suppressed by all my childish fears."
>She was actually singing.
>"And if you have to leave."
>Softly, but still.
>"I wish that you would just leave."
>"'Cause your presence still lingers here."
>"And it won't leave me alone."
 
>"These wounds won't seem to heal."
>"This pain is just too real."
>"There's just too much that time cannot erase."
>"When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears."
>"When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears."
>"And I held your hand through all of these years."
>"But you still have."
>The unicorn hung her head low and closed her eyes.
>"All of me," she sang in a near whisper.
 
>By now she had attracted the attention of the whole bar.
>If they were just rumors before, it seems much more real now.
>It may not have been her knight in shining armor, but she definitely lost someone dear to her.
>She continued singing softly, but with the rest of the patrons and even the jukebox as silent as ever, her voice carried and seemed louder than it really was.
>She had actually moved many in the establishment to silent tears.
>Those remembering loved ones gone or simply reminded once again of their troubles.
>You yourself had also felt a tear fall into your beer.
>As she finished, no one said a word.
>Not a single person gave applause.
>The pony also sat in total silence for a minute or two after she had finished.
>A few tears fell down to the keys and she slid off the bench.
>The patrons went back to their sulking.
>The unicorn had walked up the the counter, placed a few dollar bills, then turned towards the door.
>Out into the night she stepped, leaving the smokey atmosphere of the bar.
>Your eyes followed her out.
>When the door had shut behind her, you continued to stare for a bit longer.
>Turning back to your drink, you shake your head and stand.
>Dropping some money on the bar, you move towards the door and follow her out.