Bacchus and Benjy

Chapter 3

It’s not a surprise party, but that was quite surprising.  This mare brought enough food, party favors, and drinks for all of us.  I’m surprised how far out of the way these ponies will go to welcome a couple of strange ponies that they met that morning, by accident.  It’s really quite endearing.

She bombards us with questions, but doesn't even wait for an answer. The  other girls try and keep her in check as best they can.

Pinkie talks at a million miles an hour but after a while you get used to it.

As the mares start to set everything up on the kitchen table I get a wonderful idea.

“Hey Benjy! Did you bring the casks here?” I ask.

“Yup, I wasn’t gonna leave them at the train station when we brought you here.” He rolled his eyes, the statement dripping with sarcasm.

“That’s amazing you actually did some work, I’m so happy we should dedicate this party to it.” I chuckle to myself.  “I think we can spare a couple of them to honor our gracious hosts and so can show off our wares.”  I wave a hoof at the six mares and share a smile with Benjy as he looks at me inquisitively.

“I thought we were saving them to help convince this Apple family to sell us apples real cheap?”  He questioned while motioning to the cart.

“We brought six casks; I think we can spare 2 maybe even 3.”

“Whatever you say boss.”

As Benjy speeds off to go roll in a few barrels, I go over to the mares to discuss my idea.

“Benjy and I are actually here in Ponyville to find a supplier for our hard apple cider” I explain as they all begin questioning me with their eyes.

“Hard apple cider?” Applejack questions.

“I’m betting on cider that you eat!” exclaims Pinkie Pie

“Not exactly. It’s a drink I came up with which is why I have this bad boy right here.” I turn and show them my cutie mark, the tankard was a mark of honor, though most people didn’t understand why.

“A glass?” asks Twilight staring hard at it.

“No!” I exclaim “A tankard! You see this drink isn’t like regular apple cider, this will make you feel better and better as you drink it!” I leave out the bit about drinking too much of it.  No need to scare my future customers away with negative details.  They still seem apprehensive about this, but seeing my enthusiasm, they agree to try it.

Benjy rolls in a barrel, I tap it, the cups are filled up, and the fun begins.  We all sit down around the dining room table, I sit in between Twilight and Benjy.  The glasses clink together as we all yell “CHEERS!”  I laugh as I watch the mares take their first draught of my cider.  I can see a whole range of emotions wash over their faces, from disgust to surprise to happiness.  It’s a priceless scene.  I take a large gulp out of my glass I observe the multicolored mares in front of me and something clicks in my memory.

I finally realize why I recognize these ponies.

I lean over to Benjy.  “Do you remember when we made the tribute to Princesses?”  I look at the ponies again and smile as realization dawns on me.

“Oh you mean when I almost got banished?”  We both start cracking up; this draws the attention of the ponies.

“Anything you’d like to share with the group?” Twilight asks, a little upset that we began laughing spontaneously.

“I finally know why you guys seem familiar!” I exclaim, “Benjy and I had made a tribute of  cider to the Princesses.  She was giving a tour of the castle when we went into this room with these large stain glass windows.  You guys are the Elements of Harmony aren’t you?”

“We sure are Sugarcube!” says Applejack “But that doesn’t explain the laugh ya’ll shared.” She still looks a bit upset, like we may have insulted them.

“Well you see” Benjy begins, “The princesses whole heartedly accepted our tribute, and then offered to share it with us.  I didn’t quite know my limits yet and as the night wore on I kinda got it into my head that Princess Luna was into me.”  There were a few moments of silence after he completed this sentence before everypony broke out into laughter.

Many an embarrassing story was told that night, from Applejack poisoning everyone with baked bads to Fluttershy demanding that everyone at the Gala love her.  It finally came for my embarrassing story, and I was blanking.

Benjy looks over to me and nods “Don’t worry I got this one for ya Bach.”  Oh no I mentally say to myself, anyone but that one “In a bar in Manehattan, Bach and I had gone to relax and Bach decides to hit on this dark blue Earth pony, he walks up to it and asks if he could by it a drink, this pony bucks him so hard he rolls.  Apparently the colt didn't appreciate getting hit on.”

“IN MY DEFENSE, he had a very pretty mane.”  It’s an embarrassing story but I’ve learned to laugh at it.  I’ve even stopped blushing so much when Benjy tells it.  It also gets some very big laughs out of the girls.  Even Rarity lets out very unlady like guffaw.

“I’m sorry my game isn’t all GREAT AND POWERFUL like yours Benjy” I finally say after the laughing has died down.  He looks away and I smile in victory.

The night winds down from there.  You’ll be surprised to find that Fluttershy wasn’t the first to get drunk, that honor goes to Applejack and Rainbow Dash.  They had challenged each other to a drinking contest.  The Earth pony won, but they were both pretty much gone afterward.

With Twilight's direction, I take them both up to her guest bed and as I tuck them in Applejack says to me, "but Mac i dont wanna go to bed."  She is absolutely adorable.

"Come on little mare, it's time" I say lightly as I place her in bed.

She nuzzles my neck a bit before finally rolling over and quickly falling to sleep.  This elicits a big smile from me.

I must really look like her brother.

As I come back downstairs i see Rarity, Pinkie, and Fluttershy on their way out.  "Well darling, we had a wonderful evening but I’m afraid it's time for bed." says Rarity as she smiles warmly, albeit with a hint of weariness.

"Be safe.  I'm very happy to find some friends such as yourself in this town." I respond happily.

She smiles and walks out the door with Fluttershy and Pinkie in tow.  I turn back to the last remnants of the party, and what I see doesn't surprise me at all.

Benjy is a fast worker when it comes to mares.  He has one wing wrapped around Twilight as he leans in and talks to her.

I walk back up to table and give a big fake *COUGH*

Benjy jumps back in his seat and retracts his wing.  I throw him a glare.

"Well, I think it's time to hit the hay.  I'm sorry that Rainbow and AJ took the guest bed, but the couch is still open." says Twilight.

"No problem Twilight, we'll figure out sleeping arrangements." I respond as I smile at her.

She smiles and then goes up to her bed.

"You know we wouldn't have this problem if you hadn't interrupted" says Benjy.

"Yeah I know, and I'm sorry about that," I say sarcastically, "I just don't wanna be run out of town by the locals because you can't keep your moves to yourself."

"Like you?"  Benjy replied coldly.

"Yeah like me."  I say, without missing a beat.

"So what do you think of these mares?"  he asks after a few moments.

"I rather like them, super friendly, and I can't  help but say...  dibs on the southern bell!"  A smile breaks across my face as I think about Aj nuzzling my neck.

He laughs, "Alright, dibs on the rest of them then."  Benjy says, butting his shoulder into mine.

I smile.

"Well then," he says, "I call the couch since you coltblocked me.  Whats your plan."

"I think i might just stay up a bit longer and watch Celestia raise the Sun and finish this barrel off." We had gone through one barrel and almost through the second.

"I thought we agreed you wouldn't drink alone anymore."  Worry creeped into his voice.

"I'm not drinking out of sadness," I say matter-of-factly, "I'm just not letting it go to waste."

He huffs and then starts making his way to the couch, "Alright, g'night Bach."

"Good night, Benjy"  I say lightly.

I fill up my glass with the remaining cider and take it outside to watch the sunrise.

As I drink from my glass, I wonder how lucky I was to have been knocked out by that pretty young mare.  I should really find that apple farm tomorrow, the business should come first.

My eyes droop as I finish up my drink.

I can't wait to see what today has in store for me...

*Author's note

Thanks a whole bunch Kintra and his wonderful proof-reading skills that i severely lack.