Grandfather closed the door loud enough for me to hear, and the house was silent. Taking a minute to collect myself, I realized how tired I was, coupled with how sore I was from spending a day or so of not moving, my legs feeling leaden and taut.

I may as well get some rest.

With that cheery thought, I climbed the stairs and walked into my room, locking the door behind me (old habit) before slipping out of my sweat pants and flopping onto the bed. Of course, I didn't know how much I would regret that particular decision.

++++++

"Alright, get ready to charge, krigare!"

"RAAHHH!!!"

"Yes sir!"

"Greyfeathers, you know the drill! Front of the formation, let no spell pass you- Adrian? Are you alright?"

"I-I'll be fine sir."

"Don't give me that shit! Your veins look as though they're gonna burst through your eyes!"

"... I think it might be magic overload, sir."

's this true, Adrian?"

++++++

A knock on the door woke me up with a start. Sitting up and rubbing my eyes, I look to the door.

Allvarligt, nu?*

With a grumble, I stand up, slipping on my sweatpants, and open the door. On the other side was Gilda, claw on her hip and eyebrow raised.

"Hey, you alright?" she asks, dropping any attempt to keep up her usual act.

"Just flashbacks. That, and I was taking a nap." I pop my neck and yawn, covering it with my paw. Gilda rubs the back of her head awkwardly.

"Look, I know this may be a bad time to ask, but do you want to go to the bar later? Dash and Applejack are going, and you look like you need a drink."

... where is this coming from, all of a sudden?

"... you know what? Why not." I shrug. She perks up, grinning.

"Cool. We're going in an hour." she says before heading back downstairs. I stood there for a minute before shaking my head with a small smirk.

"Kvinnor är galna.*" I mutter to myself, before shutting the door and looking around for my pullover. I'm not going drinking with my scars visible.

I might actually start talking about them, otherwise.

++Optional music++

"Sir, they're pushing us back!"

"Skit! We don't have any reinforcements on the way either! Black-Talons and Greyfeathers, cover our retreat! Regroup and strike again at dusk!"

"Sir, the Hippogryph started glowing and is charging! I've never seen a Greyfeather do this!"

"What is that fool thinking?! He isn't in any con-"

*Boom*

*SCREEEEEAAAAAA!!*

"By the gods, what is that thing?! That can't possibly be Adrian!!"

"Look at the halfling go! He's on a rampage, hahaha!! Never figured him for a Roc-kin, let alone a warrior! Kill 'em all, halfling!!"

*Shiver*

"Are you alright, Commander?"

"I'll be fine, krigare.... Renew our attack on the city! And stay behind Adrian, if you value your lives!!"

*ROOAAAA!!!!!*

*Boom*

"Sir, the enemy are focusing their attacks on Adrian!"

"Green-Talon, I don't think we need to worry about them. Just focus on capturing the city. Whatever is happening to Adrian is probably due to his magi-"

*SCREEEEAAAAA!!!!!!*

"They brought this on themselves... I almost feel sorry for the Centaurs. Send word to the king, I want to know who his family are, and why it wasn't documented that they're Roc-kin."

*Crash*

*Crunch*

"Right away, commander."

"Hahaha! Look at the Prancers run, commander! Maybe the halfling isn't so bad after all!!"

"... To think I had a monster in my ranks this whole time..."

*SCREEEEEEE!!!*

"Gods be with us, as Hresvelgr is with him. We will have victory this day."

++End music++

The sun was starting to set, and I left the house quietly, so as not to disturb farfar's reading. It had been an uneventful hour, save for my pullover being found on the roof (By the gods, I'll never understand how it got there.) and I made my way to a humble little bar called "The Watering Hole."

Sure enough, Gilda, Rainbow Dash and Applejack were all waiting outside the bar. Gilda taps her foot (paw) impatiently.

"I was wondering when you'd show up." Gilda says impatiently, opening the door. "Come on!"

"Nice ta see ya up and about, Adrian." Applejack comments with a grin. "Let's see how well y'all can hold yer liquor!"

"You're on, AJ!" Rainbow answers challengingly. I only sighed quietly, following them inside the dimly lit bar and sitting beside them at the half occupied counter. Applejack signals the redish-purple bar-mare and grins as she approaches.

"Mead." Gilda orders. Huh, didn't think ponies had mead down here.

"Ah'll take a hard cider, Berry." Applejack orders. Should've figured.

"Vodka, if you have any." Rainbow says, earning a raised eyebrow from me. "Straight." huh, tough mare. The bar-mare, Berry, turns to me with a friendly smile.

"And you, sir?" well, here goes nothing.

"Do you have any Green Breezie*?" I say. The others (and half the bar) turn to look at me in disbelief. Berry bursts into laughter.

"Dude, if we had any of that, I'd be drinking it right now!" she says as she calms down. "That's pretty strong."

"Then Rum will do, please." I say with a chuckle. Everypony goes back to whatever it was they were doing, but the mares are still giving me looks.

"You actually drink Green Breezie?" Rainbow asks. I just nod.

"Well, I used to. Not much now, since it doesn't look like Ponyville stocks any." I sigh. Well, at least they had rum. Applejack just gave me another challenging grin and tipped her hat at me.

"Doesn't that stuff make you hallucinate?" Gilda speaks up.

"I don't remember, I'm not a lucid drunk." I chuckle again.

Berry comes back with a tankard of mead (still surprised they have those down here), a mug of cider, a bottle of Stalliongrad vodka and a shotglass. "I'll get your rum shortly, sir. Any specific rum in mind?"

"Hmm... Cockatrice-spur dark rum." I say with a smile. It was my favorite kind, and it's made just south of Equestria. Berry raises an eyebrow and grins again.

"Well, somepony knows their rum." she giggles, "We have some."

This should be enjoyable.

+++++

"Sir, Adrian is attacking the castle!"

"I can see that, lieutenant. Don't get in his way."

*SCREEEEEEAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!*

"... yes sir."

*BOOM*

Author's Note

*seriously, now?
*Women are crazy
*the Equestrian version of the Green Fairy, absinthe. An alcohol that when made as it should, is rumored to have hallucinogenic properties. One of the strongest drinks carried by bars and liquor stores in both Equestria and Griffonia.