>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.