It was the mid hours of nighttime in Ponyville, around ten. There was very little movement anywhere in the town which usually bustled with activity. It was almost as if the town was abandoned. Almost…
Two figures moved calmly and casually in the empty streets, both having just arrived in town from Canterlot. One was extremely thin, wearing something over their eyes, carrying something on their back, and wielding something around their neck. The figure did not have the usual coat ponies had, but rather a coat of some white, fluffy substance that only covered his crown and his body.
The other figure followed closely behind. This figure was equine, unlike the first. She was a light teal color, with beautiful rose pink eyes that seemed to glow vibrantly. Her mane, long and swept, was also a slightly darker shade of teal with a black streak running through the middle. Her tail, matching the color and pattern of her mane, was long, fuzzy, and bushy.
“So, Dags… where are we headed again?” the mare asked.
“Well, I still need to find out how you work… I mean… act, Bionicle… I mean… Annabelle!” Dags said quickly, trying not to offend Bionicle when she was disguised and acted as Annabelle. “So I’m taking you with me to the Hay Bale for now… I could use a drink or two before we try to find Chloe and her cottage tomorrow.”
“A… drink? Don’t you have clean water in your cottage?” Annabelle questioned confusedly.
“No, what I meant was… nevermind,” Dags said, forgetting Annabelle didn’t know much about equine life.
“Dags… I’ll tell you one thing. I’m not like ponies in the ways I eat or drink,” Annabelle lectured.
“What do you mean? You can’t eat or drink anything?” Dags asked.
“Well… I can… but I don’t ‘eat or drink’ them, if you get my meaning. What I do is ‘consume’ them by vaporizing them inside my frame!” she explained excitedly. “It provides me with a source of energy alternate to recharging, and is useful for when I travel or when no power source is available at the moment.”
“I… think I catch your drift…” Dags responded unsurely.
Annabelle smiled at hearing him say this, and they continued on towards the bar.
…
They arrived at the bar, which was brightly lit compared to the rest of the town. Dags and Annabelle both approached the door and opened it slowly. They entered to find a very orderly yet entertaining atmosphere, seeing ponies drinking, conversing, and enjoying themselves in a lively manner.
“I think it’s happy hour here!” Dags said with a smile.
“Oh! I’m sorry… I didn’t know the night hours were joyous…” Annabelle apologized, and she smiled innocently widely, unaware of what happy hour really meant. Dags ignored it, and walked with her to the counter. They sat down on the stools, and the bartender approached them.
“What’ll you be having?” she asked, cleaning a mug she held with a clean towel.
“Oh, yes! I’ll have anything available!” Annabelle said happily. The bartender raised her eyebrow in confusion, and turned to Dags.
“So what’ll you have?” she asked him.
“Get me a pint of cider… only one pint,” Dags responded, stressing the amount he wanted. “And could you bring her… possibly something not so strong? It’s her first drink.”
The bartender nodded in conception, and turned to the cupboard behind her, which held countless alcoholic beverages of all sorts. She then pulled out two bottles; one marked Acres Apple Cider and the other marked Canterlight Beer. She then grabbed two pint glasses, and poured the contents of each bottle into one glass each. She then used her tail to give Dags and Annabelle their drinks.
“Thank you very much!” Annabelle said, and she immediately downed the light beer as though it were nothing. She then puffed her cheeks out, and her eyes flashed yellow quickly. She returned her face to normal, and her eyes went back to the pink they were. “Excuse me…” she said as she blushed and covered her mouth with her hoof before giggling sheepishly.
The bartender looked at her in surprise and shock for a moment, and shook her head slowly. “I must be drinking too much…” she said to herself, and she left the two as they were. Dags turned to Annabelle and reprimanded her.
“Annabelle! You can’t do that in public… do you want ponies to find out who you are?” Dags asked her.
“I don’t know… do I answer yes or no?” she asked confusedly.
Dags sighed, and answered for her. “That’s a no, Annabelle.” He shook his head, and began to slowly drink his cider.
…
The door to the bar opened again, yet this time, a dark ink blue pony entered inside, his head lowered. His charcoal grey mane covered his lowered face, and he slowly approached the counter. As he did, the light revealed a series of white tattoos on his body, all aligned perfectly and neatly.
He then sat down, and turned his head up to the bartender, revealing angry, red eyes. “Whiskey… full bottle… now…” he said in a low voice that suggested he wanted it before his temper got to him.
The bartender understood his frustration, and immediately brought him a bottle of Buck Daniel’s, setting it down on the counter beside him. The pony, named Blue, snatched it immediately and popped the cork off with his hoof, downing the liquor in a heartbeat. That sonofabitch… played me for a fool… As he thought this, he finished his drink, and angrily smashed the bottle onto the floor, yelling in rage. The patrons turned to him, wondering what his deal was. He noticed the eyes on him, and remained still, gritting his teeth.
“Well, aren’t you the angry one?” somepony said from the other end of the counter. Blue’s head immediately snapped onto the pony, and he stared him down. “Those red eyes are only going to get you into trouble… lighten up,” the pony, a white unicorn with a jet black spiky mane, said.
“I’m sorry, but when you’ve walked a mile in my horseshoes, then you f*cking tell me to lighten up!” Blue responded harshly. The other unicorn shrugged, smiling as he did, and turned back to his drink.
“Asshole…” Blue said to himself before asking the bartender for another bottle. One day… I’ll get Platus back… one day…