Maybe - The Story of Ozone

Ok, so we were friends. I guess the whole "date" thing was just a joke.

Oh well, "Welcome to Pony Bucks!" I greeted two ponies walking into the store. I had just finished wiping off the counter from spilling coffee and cream from the last customers. They ordered their drinks, I spilled stuff left and right, and ended up having to clean the counter all over again. At least I got a free cup of coffee very now and again, otherwise this job would be upsetting. I had to thank Bean Brewer. She was a good boss: She knew what she was doing, and she was in good ties with the owner Bon Bon, who started the place as a second store to make more money than the Candy Store brought in alone. Pale green coat with a forest green mane. Not only was she a good boss, she was an awesome friend: We spend half of our time working and the other half laughing and telling each other stories and other things about us. Still, the thoughts about Rarity crept back in my head. I slumped on the counter, resting my head in my hooves, and let out a sigh.

"Everything okay, Ozo?" Brewer asked, the concern obvious in her voice.

"Sorta," I snorted.

"Wanna talk about it?" She asked, placing a hoof on my shoulder. It probably wouldn't hurt if I talked to someone about what was going on. I nodded and we went to the back room where there was a bed, a couch, and a dining table. "Sit with me on the couch and talk to me." She lead me over to the small piece of furniture that squeaked as we sat down.

"Mostly mare problems." I suggested as if she would figure it out.

"Did you get her pregnant?" She asked bluntly, causing a burning in my ears.

"Of course not!" I shouted, but stopped myself just in case anypony had come in. "We aren't even dating, apparently." I put a little more emphasis on "apparently" than I should have.

"Ah, I know how that goes," she threw her hoof over my shoulders. "C'mon champ, talk. Don't keep anything about it in."

I took a deep breath and decided to spill it, "I moved to Ponyville a few days ago and Pinkie Pie threw this party for me, even though she was already throwing a party, so I guess it just became a party for me. Anyway, I met this one mare named Rarity- the pony I was with yesterday when I asked for the job- and goodness she is so pretty. I mean, yeah we had only just met and all, but I was thinking I might have a chance if I just asked her to hang out. So I did, and we spend most of the afternoon yesterday, I payed for tea and coffee and it felt like a real date!" I caught myself in a smile, but threw it away, "And then she says I was just a friend."

"Well, I don't really know her, but maybe you should talk to her. Who knows, she might secretly like you." She nudged before adding, "But not now, do it after you get off work. Just go straight to her and talk to her. And don't flat out tell her you like her, because you've only known each other for a couple days, so build up on it. Take her somewhere nice, her favorite restaurant or to a movie."

"Well, I do know where she works, so it won't be too hard to find her. I think I'll go for it!" I sat up a bit straighter, with determination washing over me. "I'm not giving up just yet!"

"Good to hear! Now get back to work." She playfully punched my shoulder and pushed me out of her room back to the lobby.

I think they should call this place the "Coffee Lobby" instead of Pony Bucks. It rhymes! I chuckled at my mental reasoning. Still no customers, but I still couldn't leave. "Might as well feed my addiction." I mumbled to myself and poured myself a cup of coffee: black, but with two sugars equals perfection. I sipped the coffee and retook my place behind the counter. Once the taste of coffee was on my tongue, my thoughts about Rarity eased up. Ya know, maybe Brewer is right. Things will be fine.

And now, the smell of coffee was stuck in my coat. I'd better hurry up and get to Carousel Boutique before Rarity closed.
Or, I could go home and take another shower and then come back. OR, I could go back into Coffee Lobby (which is what I'm calling it from now on) and buy some coffee so that she thinks the coffee smell is actually the coffee. Buck it, straight to the Boutique! I stood up straight and walked with pride, passed by the musical unicorn from yesterday who was playing a brighter and happier tune, and walked up the sidewalk to the door of Carousel Boutique.

I lifted my hoof and knocked a couple times and waited for the alabaster beauty to answer the door...
Nothin'. I knocked a few more times, but still no answer.

"Ponyfeathers." I mumbled, she wasn't home. I sighed and turned away from the door and decided it would be best if I went home, when I noticed a note on the mail box: "Gone to Canterlot with friends. Will be back Friday." A little less than 48 hours until she got back. Welp, might as well fine something else to do. After a long thought about how little i still knew of Ponyville, I decided to just go home. The walk back wasn't as entertaining as previous walks: no musical unicorn, no hordes of flying muffins, no Rarity to run into.

It might be best that I give it a couple days to talk to her. I got to Alfalfa and pretty soon my house. Once inside, I trotted up to to my bed. I got under the covers and closed my eyes for a moment, but I couldn't sleep. Something wasn't setting right in stomach, I couldn't quite figure out what it was until it let out a long growl. I chuckled, "I guess all I had today was coffee." I got out of bed and decided I'd make some hay fries; the snack I always enjoyed when I was thinking.

Hay, oil, stove, and about ten minutes later, I had a wonderful plate of burnt-black hay fries. I guess I'll have to get used to the new stove. I still ate them, though; they were hay fries after all. And then there was a knock on the door.

Who could that possibly be? I left my plate to get to the door. I pulled it open and came face to face with a unicorn stallion with an orange coat and black mane that was just stomping out a cigarette. "Heya, buddy! How's Ponyville!?" He shouted.

Oh, it's Jack-O-Lantern. I forgot I had friends, "Hey, it's good! How's Baltimare?" I asked, letting him in the house.

"It's the same," he waved a hoof. Lantern and I went way back, ever since we were colts in "Sunshine Elementary School" in Manehattan. We grew up together, got in trouble together, pranked ponies together, we even moved to Baltimare together, and he was the closest thing I had to a brother. Some ponies even thought we were brothers! I snapped back to reality when he spoke again, "Nice house!"

"Thanks. What are you up to?" I asked. The visit was a complete surprise, but I couldn't just ask what he was doing here without sounding rude.

"I'm here to visit! My best bud moved away from me, so I'm here to hunt him down." He jokingly nudged me with his foreleg. "Plus, my cousin, Golden Harvest, lives here. She runs the carrot farm. Mind if I stay here for a bit? Baltimare is kinda far away to go back to tonight."

Having him here would make things a bit more at home, "Sure. It'll get boring here without a roommate." Watching Lantern's face light up was priceless, but suddenly his eyes went wide.

"Oh! I brought you something!" He reached into his saddle bag and pulled out two bottles of Red Line Apple Cider: Equestria's Hardest Cider.

"Sweet! I completely forgot to get some yesterday. Thanks buddy!" I pulled him into a hug and took the bottles in my mouth to the kitchen with Lantern behind me. They were popped open and soon the alcohol was entering our systems.

"So, tell me more about this Ponyville. What are the ponies like?" He levitated his bottle down onto the table. "Did you make coffee or something?"

"Oh! No, I got a job at the Coffee Lobby." I told him, causing a look of confusion on his face, "I mean Pony Bucks. The smell of coffee is stuck in my coat."

"Ah, Harvest told me about that place. She says it has pretty good coffee. What else is there?" He took a drink from his cider, and I did the same.

"Well, I know about the library, bakery, and dress shop. Other than that, I don't know what else is there is in Ponyville."

Lantern laughed, "Well, maybe I'll hit up a tavern: first night in town and all. Wanna join?"

I thought the idea over, maybe more alcohol could help me come up with more ideas about Rarity. Then again, it might end up making things worse. But hey, free cider. "Sure. What time?" I asked.

"Why not now?" He suggested with a shrug.

I looked up at the clock, remembering the taverns won't open until evening, and it was already 6:40. "I guess by the time we get there, they'll be open. Alright, let's get!" We rose from our chairs in the kitchen and left to find the nearest tavern.

The trip through Ponyville didn't take long. We found what we were looking for after a quick walk. The sign of the Bold Colt swung above the door as we trotted in. "Welcome to Bold Colt's! Have a seat or sit at the bar!" the bartender shouted to his new customers. Lantern chose the bar since almost nopony was sitting there. "What can I get you two?" The bartender asked.

"Two mugs of cider, please." Lantern spoke. Whenever we went to taverns, he'd always order the drinks and I'd order food if we got any. The bartender filled two mugs from the tap and placed them in front of us. Lantern set up a tab so we didn't pay every single time we were handed a mug. I gripped the drink with my hoof and held it up towards Lantern, who clanked his mug against mine. "To your new home and a fun night of drinks!" And with that, we began our night of drinks.

Five mugs later, I was definitely feeling the effects of my drinks: I wasn't drunk yet, but my head was light and I felt like I was spinning. Well, I was spinning on the bar stool, but that didn't count. Lantern was full out drunk after having seven mugs of cider. Our bill was going to bankrupt the two of us. I finally stopped spinning on the bar stool and faced the tavern's open area to look at all the other ponies. Lantern turned with me and leaned back against the bar's counter. After a minute, he finally looked at me.

"See any cute mares?" He slurred as he nudged me with his hoof, almost making me fall off of my seat.

"Nah, I'm not lookin'." I stated, fiddling with the mug in my hoof which was still mostly full.

"Oh? That means you already found somepony." He teased, fluffing up my mane, "Who is she?"

"Nopony. Just thought I went on a date." I drank a bit more from my mug.

"So she friendzoned ya? She- She don't know what she's missin'! Bro, I mean, Bro, you suck, and you can do better." He downed the rest of his mug. "I- I think I'll get some sssssa-sasa-sarsaparilla now."

"Good for you." I joked. Maybe Lantern was right, I could see if any other pony was available before settling for one of the first mares I met in this town. Another sip from my mug and It made more sense that she'd me as a friend since we'd only just met. Maybe Lantern is right. Screw talking, I'm not gonna settle for the first pretty face in this town! My name being called from across the tavern snapped me from my train of thought. Lantern was sitting at a table with three other ponies.

Wait, how in the hay did he get over there?! He was just beside me and he's knock-over drunk!

I slid off the stool and trotted over to him as I tried hard not to fall over. "Yes?" I spoke as I got to him.

"Thi-this pretty little pony says she- she says she- she knows you!" Celestia help him. I looked over to the pony his hoof was pointed at. Sure enough, Brewer was sitting there with two other mares, one's coat was a cream color and the other was more mint colored. "I tolllllllld her there was no way- No way she could know you!" I shook my head and tried getting him to get up.

"Sorry Brewer. He's kinda drunk a little bit." I almost slurred. "Lant, she's my boss so yeah, she knows me. Let's get before she regrets hiring me."

"Oh it's fine, and I don't regret hiring you! It's cool having somepony to work with!" She waved her hoof dismissively, and offered a seat. Since the four there were taken, I took a chair from the neighboring empty table. "Ozo, this is Bon Bon and her fillyfriend Lyra. Bon Bon owns Pony Bucks." She introduced her companions, and I waved at them.

"It's nice to meet my newest employee." Bon Bon laughed, "Especially after how Brewer always brings you up in our conversations." She shot Brewer a wicked smirk.

"I do not!" She shot back, obviously embarrassed. "I just feel obligated to tell you about the new employee!" Even Lantern laughed at that. She gave him an annoyed look that he didn't notice then turned to me. "I'm guessing things didn't work out between you and that mare."

"No, but she's not even in Ponyville right now. I guess she left this morning." I took a drink from the mug I had almost forgotten about, even when I was holding it. "But thanks to my bro here, I'm not gonna deal with it. Besides, we only just met and she was the first mare I met here. Why not go for somepony I might actually like?" Hay, I barely knew Rarity, really. I just knew she was pretty.

"Well, best of luck to you." Bon Bon smiled.

"Thank you."

We spent the next hour or so talking in the tavern. I decided it was time to get my drunk brother home, so he and I split our bill and left. Ponyville had gotten pretty dark by then, and the wind was starting to get chilly. We were about to make our way back to Alfalfa before Brewer called out to us.

"Hey, what is it?" I asked.

"I just wanted to give you this." She answered, but before I could ask, she wrapped her hooves around me in a hug. "Welcome to Ponyville." I don't know what it was about that hug, but it felt nicer than most hugs I've been given in my life. I lifted my hoof to return it. But I had to pull away once I heard a loud thump behind me. Lantern had finally passed out.

"Well, I better get him home." I laughed

"Yeah. I'll see you tomorrow." Brewer smiled, and left with Lyra and Bon Bon.

I got Lantern on my back and started off to Alfalfa. Yep, Ponyville is going to be great.