Raised In A Barn
An MLP:FiM Fan-Fiction
By Redhead With A Computer
***
"What? I don't have a drinking problem!"
Berry Punch stared at the Ponyville Alcoholics Anonymous mare with wide, disbelieving eyes. The mare - whose color she could not remember after that night, nor the color of her mane, just her icy blue eyes - she was speaking to seemed to blatantly ignore this statement as she replied:
"Of course, dear! Now, when was the last time you were drunk?"
"Do I have to answer this?"
"Yes, dear," the mare said, clearly exasperated.
"Fine," Berry Punch said, sighing. As her Grandmother had said, she would just have to grin and bear it. Her gloom overtaking her, she said, "I believe the last month."
"And what was the last bar you visited?"
"The local one."
"When?"
Berry Punch thought for a moment, then grunted. "Last week."
"Okay dear!" she said, writing on her clipboard. "You may leave, Berry. I will see you next week," Dismissing Berry with her hoof, she muttered, "Worthless case....Worthless case..."
Berry Punch, frankly, was too tired to notice. It was very, very late. She just wanted to get home, crack open some Applejack Daniels, and sleep deeper than she ever had. She swore to herself, after that bottle of Applejack Daniels, she would never, ever drink again, so she would not have to go to the Tartarus that was Ponyville AA. Ever..
***
"Hey Berry!"
Berry Punch made a quick gallop for the door of her cottage, the bag of groceries she had been carrying tossed carelessly aside. As she turned around, she noticed Vinyl was waving something - with a maregarita picture on it. She galloped faster, but it was too late; Vinyl Scratch had already caught up with her.
"Hey Berry!" Vinyl repeated.
"Hey..." Berry Punch looked to the ground. The only reason Berry had ran was to avoid Vinyl - knowing the pony, she was always asking for something.
"Wanna come to this AWESOME place I'm working at?" she asked. "It's called Raised In A Barn."
"Raised In A Barn??"
"Actually, emphasis on the bar part of barn," Vinyl admitted sheepishly, her ivory cheeks blushing a deep, scarlet red.
Berry Punch eyed her warily. "And you are asking me why?"
"I got a coupon, since I work there," Vinyl replied. A begging look came upon her face. "Will you come? Please?"
"You know I need to quit drinking, Vinyl," Berry sighed. "I don't want Piña Colada coming home every day to her mother passed out on the couch, and waking up on Sunday just to find me in a hangover." Gloom came upon her.
"Aw, c'mon, you party pooper," said Vinyl jokingly. A troll-worthy smile spread across her face. "It's not like you're gonna end up dating some random stallion! Plus, I'll make sure you don't drink too much," - Vinyl winked - "And even if you do end up having a hangover, I'll look after Piña Colada."
Berry Punch considered this for a moment. "Can't you ask Octavia?"
"Concert." Vinyl rolled her eyes. She had always disapproved of classical music.
"Lyra and Bon-Bon? I'm sure they'd love to go," Berry Punch said, running out of ponies.
"Lyra's sick with the Dragon Pox-" Vinyl made a fake cough, "and Bon-Bon has a voice acting gig."
Sighing, Berry Punch said, "What about Dr. Whooves and Derpy? They love to go out with friends," she held up a hoof suggestively. "Plus, you know how much Derpy loves maregaritas."
"Already coming," Vinyl made a pouting face like that of a filly. "You're my last hope! And that's not just a line from Mare Wars, Berry. Please?"
"Fine."
"YAY!" Vinyl might as well have leapt for joy. "See you tonight, seven-thirty sharp!"
She should have wished me good luck, thought Berry. I'll need it.
***
"Mommy, I'm home!"
The sound of Piña Colada yelling through the screen door told Berry Punch that she'd locked the door again. Cursing under her breath, she trotted down the stairs and unlocked the door. Piña Colada came bursting in. "How was school, sweetie?"
"It was good, mama," Piña Colada poured some milk into a cup. "We're learning about the Solar System. By the way, mama, Scootaloo invited me over for a sleepover! Can I go?"
A lightbulb might as well have formed over her head. "What time is she picking you up?"
"Seven," Piña Colada replied.
Perfect, thought Berry Punch. I can send her off to Scootaloo's, where she'll be nice and comfy, and still have enough time to get ready. "Okay, you can go," she glanced at the clock. "Go start packing. It's six-thirty, honey."
"Okay, mama!" She trotted upstairs.
Figuring it would help pass the time, she opened the cupboard and got out a package of Snoreos, then opened the icebox and got out the pitcher of milk, poured it into a plastic cup, and savored them, letting her mind wonder. She'd almost finished the package of Snoreos when there was a sharp knock at the door.
"Coming!" Piña Colada yelled, galloping into the kitchen.
"Walk," said Berry Punch, in her motherly, sort-of-nagging way. Piña Colada slowed down almost instantly.
Berry Punch put opened the door to reveal Scootaloo's mother standing in the doorway next to Scootaloo. Smiling, Berry Punch said, "Come on in, Sweet And Sour. You too, Scootaloo." She waved them in with her hoof.
Sweet And Sour awkwardly sat herself down in one of the old, hard, wooden chairs; Berry Punch did not make much money at the shoe factory she worked at and did not have much money for luxuries. It showed; Their house was a shabby little one-story with peeling paint, and she and Piña Colada (The young filly's father had left shortly after Piña Colada was born) shared a bedroom, composed of one bed that belonged to Piña Colada. Berry Punch slept on the floor.
"So," Berry Punch began, "How's work at Taste Of Neighsa?" Taste Of Neighsa was the Neighsan restaurant Sweet And Sour worked at.
"It's good," replied Sweet And Sour. "People love the new Sweet And Sour Chicken," - She chuckled- "Except, of course, Fluttershy, although that's normal for her." Sweet And Sour brushed her honey-brown mane out of her sleepy green eyes with a hoof, then stole a glance at her silver-rimmed watch. "Oh! It's time to go! Scootaloo! Piña Colada!" The two fillies raced into the room.
"Bye, mama!" Piña Colada said, waving her hoof as she stepped out of the house.
And now, thought Berry Punch, I have to go get ready.
First she began by digging out her old makeup kit; no easy task, since she hadn't used it since high school...her Freshman year of high school, to be exact, and Berry Punch was twenty-six. It contained what you'd normally find in a female's makeup bag: Various colors of lipstick and lip gloss, blush, eye shadow compacts, and a few different tubes of mascara. Once she was finished applying it, she heard a knock on her door and Berry Punch walked down and opened the door. What she saw outside was odd.
Vinyl Scratch wasn't wearing her signature glasses, something Berry Punch had never seen before. Vinyl Scratch had magenta eyes. Not only that, but her hair was pulled back into a French braid and she was wearing a green skirt with a flower tucked into her hair. Now THAT was weird.
Next to Vinyl was Derpy, who was wearing a yellow dress and had her hoof around Dr. Whooves. Berry Punch noticed that her belly bulged a bit, but she put it off - Derpy had probably been eating too many muffins. "Hi!" Derpy chirped in her slightly sing-song voice.
"Hello," Berry Punch replied, stepping outside and closing the door.
Then, together, they stepped out into the night.
The walk to Raised In A Barn was mostly quiet, for a summer night. Most of the lights were on in the houses. The fireflies were lighting up, and the sweet smell of blooming flowers filled the night air. It was truly a beautiful night.
Vinyl broke the silence. "We're here," she said.
The barn which housed the bar was a deep blood-red. It had a high, brown, thatched roof, and a wooden sign hung slightly lopsided over what would have been a window. In bright, blue, neon letters, it said 'Raised In A Barn'. Small patches of flowers went around the sides.
Vinyl opened the door. It creaked, and opened to the bar. "Welcome," she smiled. "To Raised In A Barn."
The bar was loud. Very loud. Covering her ears, she looked around, taking in the sights. In one far corner of the barn, there was the bar. It was a shiny silver, with the typical red upholstered seats surrounding it. A couple of drink mixers were sitting by the bar, watching the ponies dancing on the dance floor on the other side of the barn. Vinyl's apprentice, DJ Electro, a mare with a black coat and bright green mane, stood at the DJ table, mixing tracks. Several small tables dotted the barn floor.
Vinyl tugged at her arm. "C'mon," she said, smiling, "Let's have some fun!"
***
An Hour And Several Drinks Later...
Berry Punch danced around wildly, not caring who saw her. She was having the time of her life! She had already had several tailquilas, and felt slightly woozy, dancing around to DJ Electro's mixed tracks.
Just then, the music stopped and the lights came on. Electro held up a microphone to her snout. "This next song goes out to everyone with a special somepony!" A slow song began to play.
Berry went to sit down at her table. Surprisingly, Vinyl grabbed the hoof of Caramel, one of the drink mixers, and said something to him.
"Hey Berry," she said, "This is my coltfriend-"
"Caramel," Berry Punch finished. "I've seen him around town before." She waved and he waved back.
"Yup," he smiled, "We met here while I was working. It was a Monday-"
Caramel was interrupted by the sound of ponies beginning to boo. Turning around quickly, Berry Punch saw that the lights had come on and the music had stopped.
"Now you stop that!" Electro yelled. "My friend here has an announcement to make!"
Derpy walked out to the middle of the dance floor. She took a deep breath, patted her belly, and said, "I'm expecting!"
***
Ten-and-a-half Months Later
Berry Punch sat in her living room, counting bits out of a clear, new, glass jar. A lot had changed since her first trip to Raised In A Barn.
She had quit her job at the shoe factory, because Vinyl had managed to get her a job at Raised In A Barn as a drink mixer. It paid quite well, and she and Piña Colada had moved into a bigger house. Also, she now had a coltfriend.
High Kick was a yellow Pegasus colt with a black mane and green eyes, who had the Cutie Mark of two ponies talking. He was the owner of Raised In A Barn as well as a Martial Arts studio, and was quite friendly. He had met Berry Punch when she was on break, the two started talking, and the rest happened naturally.
Vinyl Scratch had also married Caramel, previously her coltfriend and now husband, in the past month. The reception that followed was quite grand - Nearly all of Ponyville had shown up to celebrate, as Pinkie Pie had planned it. Although Vinyl would not say what happened on their honeymoon ("Some things are too private to tell even friends"), it was clear that she truly loved Caramel.
Derpy was quite far into her pregnancy, and would be due any day now. She had become extra-grumpy with everyone crowding around her at her house, asking questions. "I'm fine!" she would shout. "I don't need help!"
Just then, the phone rang. Berry Punch answered it and heard Dr. Whooves.
"Berry Punch!" he said, slightly alarmed. "Get to the hospital, quick! Derpy's in labor!"
Hanging up immediately, Berry Punch yelled, "Coli! Get your coat!"
When Piña Colada raced down the stairs, Berry Punch opened the door and ran out of it. Sprinting, she headed towards the hospital. When she reached the front desk, she said, "I'm here to see Derpy Hooves!"
Nurse Redheart checked her clipboard. "Hall C, Room 15," she responded. Noticing Piña Colada, she said, "Wait here until your mommy comes back, little filly."
Berry Punch raced up the stairs to Hall C. There was no time for the elevator. When she reached Room 15, Vinyl, Caramel, and High Kick were standing outside it. Just then, the doctor opened the door and said, "Come meet the new filly."
Walking calmly in, Berry saw a tiny bundle in Derpy's arms. It was a small Unicorn filly, with a purple coat and light blonde mane. "Hello, little one," cooed Derpy. The filly opened her yellow eyes.
"What will you name her?" asked the doctor.
Derpy looked out of the window into the dark, star-lit sky. She could she Raised In A Barn in the distance, and the Everfree Forest... She remembered the times she had spent playing in the fields, and how her mother, Muffin Bake, had called her 'My little Dinky Doo'...
"I think I'll name her... Dinky."
"Dinky? That's a beautiful name," replied the doctor.
"C-can I hold her?" asked Berry. The little filly was passed to her. "Hi there, Dinky," she said in a loving voice. "You're a pretty little one, aren't you?" The fruit clip she was wearing in her mane was suddenly levitated towards Dinky.
"Aww," everyone cooed. This filly was going to be as special as her mother.
***
That night, when Berry went to bed, she thought about many things. Why did good things happen at bars? Why did she meet High Kick there? Why? Just then, Piña Colada opened the door. "Momma?" she said.
"Yes?" replied Berry.
"High Kick is here to see you," she said.
"Okay," Berry Punch said, walking downstairs. High Kick was down on one knee.
"Berry Shine Punch," he said, smiling lovingly, "Will you marry me?"
"Yes!" Berry yelled. "Yes, yes!" She hugged him.
Maybe, she thought, The best things come from bars.
The End