9
 
>You feel the bitter liquid wash over the back of your tongue.
>You clink the glass on the cheap wood, and gasp for air.
>”Yeah, I think you had enough, Anon.”
>A blue hoof stops your reach to the glass.
>”Meh? Enuff? Noe, noe, noe.” You shake your head.
>You could have sworn there was only one bartender.
 
>”Anon, you’re losing it.”
>”No I’m not.”
>”Yes you are.”
>”I swear to drunk, I’m not you.”
>Soarin looks annoyed.
>You think he’s annoyed.
 
>He flies off, calling for his friends.
>Fine, you never needed him.
>OH GOD YOU’RE SO LONELY
>The soft music of the bar fills your ears, before EXPLOSIONS EVERYWHERE AHHHH
>PONIES ARE RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES
>LIGHTS EVERYWHERE
>”Anon, get the hold of yourself!”
>A cold bucket of water runs through your body.
>You stop, looking around.
>Oh right, you were in a club.
>You didn’t know there was only one DJ.
>”Here, take this.” Soarin passes you a small vial.
>You take it gingerly, and down it quick.
>Hey, this is sweet.
>Not bitter.
>That means no alcohol.
 
>Bananas are excellent source of Potassium.
 
>Holy crap, your brain is back.
>”There we go, all better.”
>Soarin pats your shoulder, before returning to his drink.
>You clasp your hands over your face and groan.
 
>It has been about a week.
>A week after your fight with Shining and Cadance.
>You’ve been drinking ever since.
>Getting drunk was easy for you, being the lightweight you are.
 
>As soon as you got back home, you packed up and moved out.
>You got a room in the castle provided by Celestia, who sympathized.
>You refused however, and took to the barracks.
>You still got your own room inside the barracks.
>But still, it’s the thought that matters.
 
>You worked as a full-time guard and Captain in training, earning some bits to your way.
>Mom and Twilight still visited sometimes, asking you to come back home.
>Nope.
>Not after what Shining tried.
>You still took your time to take care of Twilight however.
 
>Cadance avoided you in the castle, and you did so too.
>Good riddance.
 
>”Anon, why is Cadance always sad?” Twilight looks over you.
>You are currently in the park, taking Twilight for-
>”Whyyyyyyy?”
>Dammit Twilight, not one of my monologues.
>”Well, you see, Cadance and I-“
>”I thought the two of you were special someponies with each other.”
>”Well-“
>”Doesn’t that mean Cadance should be happy?”
>”Cadance is not-“
>”Shouldn’t you be happy?”
>”Well…”
>Twilight frowns and goes silent, waiting for an answer.
>”Twilight, Cadance and I- we had a fight.”
>”So?”
>”So, we can’t be special someponies anymore.”
>”I don’t get it.”
>You rise to a sitting position.
>You just loved to lie back on the soft grass.
>There was this tree you often went under, Twilight and you.
>It had a nice reach with the leaves and-
>”Anon, are you thinking deeply again?” Twilight giggles.
>”Huh, why?” You focus your eyes back on your little sister.
>”You were drooling again.”
>You quickly wipe your face and cross your arms.
>Damn this dysfunctional brain.
 
>”Twilight, why don’t we just drop it.”
>”Drop what?” Twilight cocks her head in confusion.
>”The question.”
>Twilight stops for a while, before giggling again.
>”Silly Anon, you can’t drop questions, they’re sounds!”
>Oh this filly.
>You grab Twilight and ruffle her mane.
>She squeals and laughs at your grasp.
>”You know what Anon?”
>”Yeah?”
>”Adults are weird.”
>”What do you mean?”
>”Why do you stay away from Cadance if she made you happy?”
>You go silent at the question.
>”Are you sure?”
>”Absolutely.”
>Twilight ponders for a second, before she faces you, smiling.
>What is running in her head, anyway?
>”Well, I think it is an absolute-lie.”
>She giggles.
>HHHNNNNGG
>Look at this filly.
>”You should really get back together, Anon.”
>Twilight throws you a look, before returning to her books.
>Lookie here, your own sister, not even in her teens, giving you relationship tips.
>You sit there silently, feeling the warm breeze of that afternoon.
 
>”You really, really should get back together, Anon.”
>”Nahh.”
>”Come on, look at yourself. You’re a wreck.”
>You look up to see Fleur.
>”Come on, Flour, I didn’t dress THAT bad.”
>”You know I didn’t mean it that way.”
>”Come on, Fleur, I don’t need her.”
>”Yes you do, you’ve been drinking ever since. Cadance have been crying all day.”
>Fleur sips her drink, before giving that condescending stare.
>”Well, I-“
>She strengthens her stare.
>”I-“
>She grunts- her never blinking eyes fixated on you.
>You start to sweat, and your hands start to tremble.
>”Well, Anon?”
>”FINE.”
>”Good.”
>”Well, when do I get to say it? I just can’t jump in say; ‘Oh hi Cadance. Sorry about the break-up thing, let’s get back together, K?’”
>”That would be a start.”
>You reach for your drink, before a pink aura surrounds it.
>”I think you had enough, Anon.”
>Fleur whisks away your drink.
>Awww.
>”Anyway, Cadance is coming over now; this will be your chance.”
>”I have no choice, do I?”
>”Nope.”
>”Wait, did you plan this?”
>”Maybe.”
>Clever Girl.
 
>Soon, you can see Cadance entering the bar with some of her friends.
>Fleur nudges you, and you slowly make your way to her.
>Cadance notices you, and moves away.
>This is going to be harder than you thought.
>You try intercepting, before Cadance winces and teleports away.
>GOD DAMMIT
>You retreat back to your seat.
>”That is pathetic, Anon.”
>”Shut up.”
>You can see some stallions making their moves on Cadance.
>This cannot happen.
>”Alright everypony! The karaoke night is now open!” The bartender lights up a small stage.
>”Anypony?” He asks, looking around the audience.
>Fleur is busy trying to come up with a plan.
>You have an idea.
>”Bartender!” You call.
>”Yesssir?” He turns to you.
>”Are you still looking for a singer?”
>He smiles at you.
 
>You step on the stage, gathering quite a view from the customers.
>”Hey all, just here to sing.” You speak into the mike.
>The spotlight is blinding.
>Cadance pushes away the stallions and watches you.
>”Right.”
 
[www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv6dMFF_yts]
 
>You flick your fingers at the nearby drum starting a quick beat.
 
>”Get on with it!”
>”Come on, we don’t have all night!”
>The crowd is really supportive tonight.
 
>Alright, time to improvise.
>You had no idea what you were doing.
>Remember your motto;
>Buck it.
 
>You start off a simple ring in the piano.
 
Give me a second I,
 
>You start, grabbing onto the mike.
 
I need to get my story straight.
 
>You look over the crowd, to Cadance.
>Another ring.
 
My friends are in the bathroom, getting higher than the empire state.
 
>What the fuck are you saying.
>No idea, keep going!
>Another!
 
My lover she’s waiting for me just across the bar
 
>You turn your head to Cadance.
>She smiles and nods.
>Start playing your thing, man.
 
My seats been taken by some sunglasses asking ‘bout a scar and-
 
>You smile and turn your head to the left a bit.
>Coil around the mike, Anon.
 
I know I gave it to you months ago.
I know you’re trying to forget.
 
>You look sadly to Cadance, who is completely engrossed in your song.
>You are holding onto the mike for your dear life.
 
But between the drinks and the subtle things
The holes in my apologies
You know I’m trying hard to take it back.
 
>You quickly flick your head back to its straight position.
>You look to Fleur, who is clapping and laughing.
>You hope that is good news.
>Aaaand slow it down a bit.
 
“So if by the time, the bar closes,”
”And you feel like falling down-“
 
I’ll carry you home-
 
>Deep breaths.
>Let it all out.
 
TOOOONIIIIIIIIGHHHHTTTTTT
 
>OH GOD YOUR LUNGS
>The crowd buys it, and cheers.
>They sing along to your song.
>As if they knew.
 
We are young
So let’s set the world on fire,
We can burn brighter than the
SUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNN
 
>Sun, I am disappoint.
>Shut up, brain.
>You go over that part again.
 
Now I know that I'm not
all that you got
I guess that I
I just thought maybe we could find a ways to fall apart
But our friends are back
So let's raise a toast
‘Cause I found someone to carry me home
 
>Now you’re just making it up as you go.
 
Tonight
We are young
so let's set the world on fire
we can burn brighter
than the sun
 
Tonight
We are young
so let's set the world on fire
we can burn brighter
than the sun
 
[… I’m not just posting lyrics, you know.]
 
Carry me home tonight
Just carry me home tonight
Carry me home tonight
Just carry me home tonight
 
>Fuck, is the crowd joining in?
>Why are they making this weird noise?
>NYA NYA NYA
 
The moon is on my side
I have no reason to run
So will someone come and carry me home tonight
The angels never arrived
but I can hear the choir
so will someone come and carry me home
 
Tonight
We are young
so let's set the world on fire
we can burn brighter
than the sun
 
Tonight
We are young
so let's set the world on fire
we can burn brighter
than the sun
 
>Come on Anon, kill the song.
>Fine.
 
So if by the time-
 
>You pause for while.
 
the bar closes-
and you feel like falling down,
 
>You look over to Cadance, and give her a soft smile.
 
I'll carry you home tonight.
 
>”Cadance.” You speak through the mike.
>The bar is dead silent.
>”I’m sorry about before.”
>You smirk.
>”Will you carry me home tonight?”
>Cadance immediately flies up and into your arms.
>The crowd cheers again.
>Fleur smiles, and claps.
>Clops?
>Guess Twilight was right; it was an Absolute-lie.
>You owe her some candy.
 
>But tonight, we are young.