The "Princess"

I stared at my front door, unsure if I really wanted to open it or not. Despite hearing nothing when I pressed my ear against it, I knew who was waiting for me on the other side, and I wasn’t entirely sure I was ready to deal with her yet.

According to the clock on the wall, it was just a little past noon. So far, it had been a mostly lazy morning for me. I had awoken with the rising sun but had remained in bed for a while longer, dozing lazily in the comfortable confines of my blankets.

When I finally did emerge from my little nest, I attended to my personal hygiene, which had been neglected for the past couple of days. One relaxing bath later and my hair was washed, my legs were shaved, and I was feeling better overall.

As I let my hair air-dry, I sat down at my kitchen table and broke out the few colors of hoof polish I had. They weren’t exactly like nail polish, but it was similar enough to it that it was a decent substitute. Settling on a dark purple color—apparently a shade called ‘sangria’—I painted the nails on both my fingers and toes—one of the few cosmetic tasks that I could actually manage.

Once everything was completely dry and good to go, I went to my room and picked through the few pieces of clean clothes hanging in my closet. After a few minutes of perusing, I settled on one of my standards: a plain white t-shirt hidden beneath a black, baggy hoodie, a plaid maroon skirt, black thigh-high socks, and of course, my old, falling-apart sneakers.

And that brought me to where I was now.

Fidgeting with my fingers, I stared at the front door. I knew she was out there; I could practically feel her presence. Honestly, I was surprised she hadn’t knocked or otherwise made herself known yet. Still, it was only a matter of time before her resolve broke and it would be better for everyone involved if I cut her off before she reached that breaking point.

Sighing heavily, I unlocked the deadbolt before pushing the door ope—

“H’ohmygosh! Malley!”

“Ooof!”

The wind was knocked out of me and I stumbled backward as a pink missile suddenly latches to my chest. The smell of cotton candy flooded my nose as the thing squeezed me tight. I could practically feel my ribs creaking beneath the pressure.

“P-pinkie, please… can’t breathe!” I gasped out.

“Oops, sorry!” The vice-like grip around me disappeared. Pinkie bounced around me, smiling widely as she watched my taking deep breaths. “It’s just so good to see you again! I mean, it’s not like we haven’t seen each other recently, but the last time I did see you was before you got kidnapped by a suuuper big meanie pants who tried to drown and devour you, which is no fun, well unless you’re into that kind of thing but what kind of pony would be into something like that? Not that I would kink-shame you, some ponies get off on the weirdest things like this one stallion that wanted to pay me to step on balls, but I told him ‘no way, Jose! What do I look like, a clown? If you want to find someone to balance on some balls, try the circus!’ Anyways, like I was saying, the last time we saw each other was before you got totally drowneded and almost eated and then there was the whole thing where the sun got really, really hot and then Celestia appeared with your unconscious body and everypony was panicking and then she teleported away and I was like ‘oh wow, déjà vu!’ and we were all worried you weren’t going to wake up but then Celestia sent Twilight a letter saying you were in stable condition, and I was like ‘stable condition? Why is she in a stable when she isn’t a hors—Mmmfh!”

Keeping my hand wrapped around her muzzle, I shook my head before smiling weakly. “It’s good to see you again too, Pinkie. Thanks for worrying about me, but please… keep it down to twenty words or less?”

Doing a small bounce, she saluted, mumbling out an unintelligible confirmation from behind my hand.

“Thanks,” I said as I released her muzzle. Straightening up, I smoothed out my skirt. “I’m assuming you’re here to escort me to the potluck?”

“Eeyupers!” Nodding enthusiastically, she hopped in place. “All my preparations are done but everypony else was still working on theirs so I volunteered to come and—” Her mouth kept moving and she kept gesturing animatedly but it was as if someone had hit the mute button.

It took me a moment to figure out what she was doing, but then I rolled my eyes. “Alright, you can use more than twenty words,” I huffed, the hints of a smile touching my lips. “Although, if you’re going to talk, let’s get going. I don’t know about you, but I’m rather hungry.”

“Woohoo!” Pinkie cheered. “Life is so boring when you aren’t allowed to talk, I mean, could you imagine it? Not being able to talk? You’d have to write everything down or come up with some weird clapping-snapping language that is totally broken and makes no sense yet somehow you expect ponies to accept that it works. Although, I guess somepony just don’t have anything to say or maybe they don’t have anything nice to say. After all, my mother always said if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all! But does that mean that mutes are just really, really rude ponies?”

Laughing softly beneath my breath, I let the pink menace ramble as we stepped outside onto the porch. She continued to babble about this and that as I locked the door and started off down the dirt path towards town, Pinkie bouncing eagerly by my side.

We kept to the outskirts of town, wandering through the countryside as we made our way towards Sweet Apple Acres. It wasn’t the fastest route, but the day was pleasantly warm and the sun was peeking through a few holes dotting the overcast skies. I kept my hood up, my hair spilling out around my neck like a make-shift scarf.

Leaves covered the ground; the Running of the Leaves having done its job. We both took great satisfaction in trudging through large swathes of the discarded foliage. I just kicked up little bursts of reds and yellows and browns, while Pinkie was making veritable explosions of leaves as she dove headlong into the mounds and piles that gathered along the roadside.

I found myself laughing as she emerged, looking more like a walking bush than anything else, so much so that I dissolved into small coughing fits at least a dozen times before Sweet Apple Acres appeared in the distance.

Making our way around the farmhouse, Pinkie led me down the bare tree-lined path towards the barn. I noticed that several strings of decorative lights hung across the front of the structure along with several cloth banners of reds, oranges, and yellows. Someone had also taken a bunch of leaves and run strings through them, hanging them in front of the doorway like door beads.

As we approached, I could hear the sound of talking and laughter coming from inside. Without missing a beat, Pinkie skipped her way through the leaves. “We’re heeeEEEeeere!”

Ducking through the wall of leaves as well, I barely had time to straighten up before I was assaulted by a pink-and-yellow blur, which was followed quickly by a violet-and-blue one, then a white-and-purple one, and before long I was being glommed by five ponies, all of whom were talking at once.

“Nora!”

“H’ohmygosh! I’m so happy you’re okay!”

“Well, shoot girl! Ya really scared us there!”

“What’s with you and nearly drowning during the Running of the Leaves?”

“Oh, I was so worried!”

Pushed in on from all sides, I could only stand there and accept all the hugs and nuzzles being offered to me. Unable to stop herself, Pinkie joined in as well, and slowly the darkness began to creep in around the edge of my vision. This is how I die…

It was a few minutes before they began to extract themselves and I was able to breathe properly again. Giving my arms and legs a quick shake to work the kinks out, I looked around at the six gathered ponies. “That was some welcoming committee.”

“Well, of course, darling!” Rarity said. “It was the least we could do, given the horrific events you had to suffer through.” A shiver ran through her body. “A simply ghastly affair, if you ask me.”

Twilight moved to stand beside me. “Nora, I’m so sorry! I should have been a better friend and ran with you. If I was there, I might have been able to help before you got into the situation in the first place!”

“Oh, come on, Twilight,” Rainbow said as she hovered about. “You can’t blame yourself like that! Nopony could have what was going to happen. It’s not like we were racing through the Everfree Forest. It was the White Tail Woods. Who expects to find a monster in there?”

“Potato’s right, Twilight,” I said, a small smile touching my lips as Rainbow rolled her eyes. “No one’s to blame. I’m still here, and I’m not dead, so I’d call that, uh… a success?”

“Still…” Twilight said, chewing on her lip. “I just feel like there could have been something I did different to prevent this.”

“Hindsight is twenty-twenty, Twilight,” I said with a shrug. When she gave me a confused look, I added. “It’s easy to come up with was you could have prevented something from happening after it’s already happened.”

“I suppose—urk!” Twilight’s eye bugged out as Pinkie squeezed her cheeks together, interrupting her.

“Shhh, no more talking about that,” Pinkie said softly, staring into Twilight’s eyes. “No tears, Twilight. Only food.” She released Twilight and began bouncing around the group. “No more sad thoughts! We’re here because Malley didn’t get to experience the Fall Festival! And while we couldn’t delay the other events just for her and Twilight wasn’t willing to freeze the whole town and everypony in it until Malley got better—”

I blinked. “What?”

“—We’re going to do the next best thing and throw her the best Fall Festival potluck we’ve ever had! Woohoo!” Jumping into the air, she threw open her forehooves and a burst of confetti exploded forth. “Let’s get started, everypony!”

Shaking my head, I glanced around the barn. Several large tables rested against the back wall, their surfaces completely covered in dishes, plates, and pans. A smaller group of tables was in the corner and held various barrels, mugs, and glasses of different colored liquids. A heavenly aroma hung in the air, and my stomach, having not had anything to eat yet today, growled loudly.

With a watering mouth, I stepped forward, only to pause upon seeing that there were more ponies in the barn than I had originally thought. Big McIntosh and Apple Bloom sat on a couple of hay bales, each enjoying a mug of cider as they talked together quietly. Apple Bloom waved happily when I looked over at her, and I returned the gesture before glancing at the other occupants. Bonbon and Lyra were there as well, both hanging back as they enjoyed food from the two plates that hung suspended in Lyra’s golden magic.

And then there was the strangest pair of all. Seated in the corner of the room, rocking in a pair of rocking chairs and chatting like old friends, was Granny Smith and Carl the Goat.

“Pinkie, did you…?” I began

“Yes I did!” she replied quickly. “I invited all your close friends!”

I blinked back tears. “Pinks… that was… thanks.”

“Aw, it was nothing,” she said, waving a hoof. “Now, come on! I can hear your stomach grumbling all angrily from over here! We gotta get it nice and full and ready to burst!” Grabbing the front of my hoodie in her teeth, she dragged me over to the food table. Applejack came along as well.

“Well, we certainly put out a grand selection for ya, sugarcube,” she said. Her chest puffed out proudly. “We outdid ourselves this time. Had to make a good first impression with ya.”

“I think I’m in heaven,” I mumbled. Staring down at the various dishes, I rubbed my hands together eagerly. “I don’t know where to start. I don’t know what there is!”

“Well, shucks. Ya just need to ask!” Applejack said. Lifting a hoof, she began pointing out each dish. “There’s apple cider biscuits, apple walnut slaw, summernut squash rolls, cranberry-apple salad, cinnamon-apple rustic tart, applebread stuffing, Gran’s sour apple cake, homemade bread, cinnamon-apple cider pony bread, caramel apple crisps, roasted autumn vegetable soup, citrus sweet potatoes, apple cobbler.”

“Don’t forget my five-cheese rigatoni, dear,” Rarity called out as she approached the table.

“Or my black bean and pumpkin chili,” Twilight added. “I used my mom’s signature recipe! With Spike’s help, of course.”

Fluttershy alighted next to me. “You should try my roasted autumn vegetable soup. My animal friends helped me find the freshest ingredients.”

“I helped too!” Rainbow huffed, crossing her forelegs.

“Oh! Oh! Don’t forget mine!” Pinkie gasped. “I brought a couple things too! I made frosted pumpkin cranberry bars, pumpkin-apple muffins, carrot cake, ginger creme sandwich cookies, cider doughnuts, cranberry pudding, and chocolate pecan pie bars!”

“I just gained a few pounds listening to all that,” I said. “Where… where do I begin?”

“Wherever you’d like!” Twilight said. Her horn began to glow and she lifted a plate in her magic. “What would you like to try first?” With Twilight’s magic helping, I picked out a couple of the tastiest-looking dishes to try first. The others joined in, each offering up a dish to the other while trading compliments. Conversations sprung up as they began to eat.

With a full plate of food in my hands, I made my way slowly around the walls of the barn. I nodded to Big Mac and Apple Bloom, who were making their way to the table for their own plates. The stallion returned my nod, and Apple Bloom waved again from her brother’s back. My wandering eventually led me to the corner where the old farts were sitting.

Carl looked up as I approached. “Well, hey there, monkey girl!”

“‘llo Carl,” I said around a mouthful of apple cobbler.

“It’s good to see ya still up and kickin’,” he said, rocking back and forth on his chair. His glasses were slipping slightly down his nose with each movement. They’d just reach the tip before he pushed them back up with a cloven hoof. “It’d be downright shame if y’all done got git by a big ol’ monster creature. I’d lose my singing partner. Y’all need to be more careful.”

“It’s not like I was looking to ‘done got git’,” I replied. “It just kinda… happened.”

“It comes with livin’ out here,” Granny Smith piped up. “That Everfree Forest ain’t nothin’ to scoff at. It takes a hardy mare tah live next tah it.”

Carl glanced over at her. “But the beastie wasn’t in the Everfree. It was in the White Tails.”

“Eh?” Granny blinked. “The White Tails, ya say? What’s it doin’ over there? That’s on the other side o’ town than the Everfree. What was it doin’ there?”

“Probably less competition,” Carl said. “Less beasies there to steal the food.”

“But there’s more critters in the Everfree than the White Tails.”

“Well, ya see…”

Leaving the pair to their discussion, I continued with my wanderings while munching on my food. And it was delicious! The five-cheese rigatoni that Rarity brought was so creamy, and it went well with the black beans and pumpkin chili Twilight shared. The apple cobbler and applebread stuffing topped off my plate well. The only complaint I had was that everything was making me rather thirsty. Luckily, that was easily rectified.

As I crossed the barn towards the drink table, I passed by Bonbon and Lyra. Like normal, as I approached, Lyra let out a squeak before ducking behind Bonbon, who just rolled her eyes.

“Hello, Nora,” she said. “It’s wonderful to see you’re doing well, all things considered.” Stepping forward, she reared up on her hind legs and hugged me tightly with her forelegs. The faint scent of caramel tickled my nose as I returned the hug with my free arm. “I hope you’re feeling better.”

“Thanks, Bonnie,” I said as we disengaged. “Still a little sore in the chest, and an occasional cough, but it looks like I’ll live.”

“Oh good.” She smiled. “I was worried for a moment that I was going to lose my best employee.”

“But I’m your only employee,” I reminded her.

She waved a hoof. “Semantics. Besides, you might be my only employee, but Lyra here helps out around the shop as well. Don’t you, Lyra?” Looking behind her, she blinked in surprise upon finding that Lyra was not where she had been. She had moved behind Bonbon again, intent on keeping the mare between her and me.

Upon seeing this, Bonbon huffed. “Really now? Come on, Lyra.” Shaking her head, she turned back to me. “I’m so sorry about that, Nora. I’ve been trying to get her over her fear of you, but it’s been slow going.”

“It’s fine, Bonnie,” I said. “I just wish I knew why she was scared of me in the first place.” Leaning forward, I lowered my voice. “Am I… am I that freaky looking?”

“No,” came the quick response, only for her to pause and rethink. “Well, yes and no. You aren’t freaky looking, but your appearance is part of the problem.”

“O-oh?”

“It’s not your fault,” Bonbon sighed. “It’s just… a few years ago she had a bad experience with a minotaur and has been traumatized ever since. You just happen to remind her of the event.”

“S-sorry,” Lyra mumbled from her hiding spot behind Bonbon’s flanks.

Bonbon gave me an apologetic look. “I hope you understa—”

“Oh me feckin’ god. I can totally relate,” I gasped.

This caused both mares to blink.

“Y-you… you can?” Lyra asked timidly, peeking out a little more.

“You have no idea,” I said. Taking a seat on a nearby hay bale, I placed my plate down beside me. “Okay, lass. Have I got a story for you. Let me tell you about this minotaur I met in Canterlot. You’re not going to believe this.”

For the next half hour or so, I regaled the pair with the tale of my encounter. As I spoke, a few of the other ponies wandered over in order to listen in. Some had heard it before, but for others, it was new. At some point Fluttershy and Rarity joined in with their own experiences with a minotaur that visited Ponyville previously. It wasn’t long before all of us were giggling at each other’s misfortune.

After that, Lyra seemed to warm up to me a little. She still stayed outside of arm’s reach, but she wasn’t hiding behind Bonbon anymore and was actually smiling a little. It probably helped to hear about other ponies having similar troubles.

By the time the conversation began winding down, the sun was sinking beneath the horizon. The sky outside was a wonderful mix of orange and purple, and the first few stars were blinking into existence. The strings of light hanging about the barn cast a festive atmosphere over the party. Most of the guests had now gathered together at this point—save for Carl and Granny Smith, who were both passed out in their rockers.

Applejack and Big Mac had pulled up more hay bales around us and arranged them in a circle. Twilight had then levitated several of the desert dishes onto a small table in the center of the gathering, within easy reach of everyone present. You just had to reach into the center to snag a cookie, cupcake, or piece of pie.

I had migrated to the floor, resting with my back against the hay bale and my legs crossed. Fluttershy had settled behind me on the bale, her tail hanging down over one of my shoulders. Pinkie and Twilight were sharing a hay bale next to ours, as well as a plate with a large piece of pie on it. Rainbow and Applejack were next to them and appeared to be having a drinking contest. Next were Bonbon and Lyra, who were sharing a mug of warm cider that Lyra had heated with her magic. Big Mac and Apple Bloom were sharing a bale as well, although Apple Bloom was fast asleep, curled up in her tail. Last was Rarity, who was sitting by herself to my other side.

Somehow the conversation had shifted into talking about the various paranormal events that everyone had experienced throughout their lives. I had already shared my encounter with something moving the barrels around in my uncle’s basement, and Rarity swore that something was unrolling her fabrics in the middle of the night (even when Sweetie Belle wasn’t there).

Pinkie Pie was all too happy to share stories from her rock farm about rocks moving on their own and someone running up and down the stairs at night even though everyone was in bed. Twilight, of course, was trying to come up with logical reasons behind everything.

It was quickly dissolving into a good-natured back-and-forth between the two of them when the barn door suddenly creaked open. Craning around, I peered over my shoulder to see who had arrived, only for my eyes to widen. “What the…?”

“Um, hello?” The white unicorn with long light-blue and white hair blushed under the sudden attention of ten pairs of eyes.

“Majestic Sky?” Twilight asked, standing up. “What… what are you doing here?”

“I… I was informed that there was a potluck going on here tonight,” Majestic said nervously. “I was invited, I believe.” Her horn lit up with golden light and a pink invitation was held aloft. Even from that distance, I could make out Pinkie Pie’s loopy hoofwriting.

“Yay!” Pinkie cheered, bouncing to her hooves. “You made it! I thought you weren’t going to show up, which made me a little sad, but here you are now!”

“I apologize for my tardiness,” Majestic said as she moved further into the barn. “I came here right after I finished with my… work for the day, but it takes some time to travel from Canterlot to Ponyville.”

“It’s quite alright, darling,” Rarity said. “Better late than never.” She motioned towards the food tables. “There’s still some food left over if you want something to eat, although it might be a little on the cold side now. If we had known you were coming, we would have prepared accordingly.” Frowning, she gave Pinkie the stink eye.

Pinkie responded with a raspberry.

“Thank you.” Skirting around the circle, Majestic quickly filled a plate of food as the conversation slowly started back up, this time about which was better: pie or cake. As she made her way back, she walked stiffly and her eyes darted from pony to pony, but she never actually looked at me. She moved to sit next to Rarity, only for Pinkie to gasp.

“Oh no! Wait, don’t sit there! You want to sit here!” Grabbing Majestic by the shoulders, she maneuvered her around until she was seated next to me on the ground. “There! And then Fluttershy can sit here!”

“But Pinkie, I’m sitting he—eep!” Fluttershy squeaked as Pinkie lifted her effortlessly into the air and plopped her down next to Rarity.

“There,” she said, smacking her hooves together. “Perfect!” With that, she returned to her conversation with Twilight as if nothing had happened. The others just rolled their eyes before joining in as well, although Fluttershy shot Majestic a grumpy look before she looked away.

As the others got lost in their debate over the pros and cons to cakes and pies, Majestic and I just sat together awkwardly. Neither of us looked at the other, but we were both aware of just how close we were sitting to each other. The fact we hadn’t really seen each other since before the whole Kelpie event just added to the tension.

Eventually, Majestic swallowed before whispering out of the corner of her mouth. “I think Ms. Pie knows who I am.”

“What?” I whispered back, thrown off by the randomness of her words.

“I think Ms. Pie knows who I am!” she hissed, eyes flicking nervously to Pinkie. “I think she knows who’s under the disguise!”

“How the feck did she find out?”

“I don’t know, but that invitation… it was sent to Canterlot.”

“So? Didn’t you tell them last time that Majestic Sky works there? In Canterlot?”

“No, you don’t understand. It was addressed to the castle… to my bedchambers!”

“Oh… but… that… wait, was it addressed to you or Majestic Sky?”

“It was written to Majestic Sky, but still! My bedchambers! Only I live there!”

“Well,” I muttered, eyeing Pinkie as well. She was currently demanding to know why Rarity had an issue with pies, as they were clearly the superior desert (right after cupcakes). “If she does know, she hasn’t told anyone yet. It could just be Pinkie being Pinkie? I wouldn’t put it past her having some six sense on where to send the invites, even if she doesn’t know who the pony really is.”

“I suppose,” Majestic said, although she didn’t sound convinced. “It would certainly be the first time somepony figured out this disguise. Still…” She fell silent for a moment before she finally glanced over at me. “Oh, Ms. O’Malley. I’m so sorry. I… I should have said this when I first arrived, but you have no idea how happy I am to see you awake and well. I… we were worried for you.”

My cheeks grew warmer. “Y-yeah, Luna, uh… filled me in. About the situation. And what you did. You… you didn’t have to do that.”

“Of course I did!” She gave me an affronted look. “It doesn’t matter if you were a pony or not, I wasn’t just going to let that foul thing run off with you. Unacceptable!”

“I… I meant staying with me in the hospital for three days.”

“Oh…” It was her turn to blush.

“Still, thank you for saving me,” I mumbled. “I… I just… thanks.”

Majestic stared at me for a moment before her eyes softened. Shaking her head, she murmured softly. “You don’t need to thank me. You’re special to me, Ms. O’Malley, even if for the life of me I don’t know why you’re interested in somepony like me.”

“I…” I faltered slightly, my mouth dry. Pausing to take a quick swig of my cider, I cleared my throat before continuing. “It probably won’t make sense to you, but I’ve… I’ve always been burned by the sun. It’s part of the curse of having such pale feckin’ skin. Sure, we never saw much of the sun during summer, but whenever it came out, no amount of sunblock could ever stop me getting horribly burned. It got to the point that I’d have to either stay inside during the day or go outside completely clothed, regardless of how hot it was.

“That fact stayed the same when I came to Equestria,” I continued, staring off into the distance. I could feel Majestic’s eyes on me, but I didn’t trust myself to look at her. “The sun would still burn my skin. The only difference was that, unlike good ol’ Ireland, you ponies have sunny days practically every day. That makes it difficult to go outside and socialize. There were days I found myself trapped inside, unable to go out and hang with friends. To make new friends. To live. And because of that, I found myself slowly becoming a shut-in.

“And then there’s you. Celestia, Ruler of the Day, the Solar Princess, the Mover of the Sun. At first I thought I was going to dislike you, given that you were in control of that big ball of flames that was constantly my source of irritation. But that never happened. There was no hatred, no anger. Just a weird fascination that slowly developed into infatuation and then into a deep-seated crush. It took me a few months to work out why, why I was feeling this way about you. And then, one day when I was dealing with a particularly nasty sunburn on my back and thighs, I realized why.”

Swallowing thickly, I blinked tears from my eyes before glancing over at Majestic, who was watching me with wide, watery eyes of her own.

“You’re the sun that doesn’t burn me or cause me pain,” I said. “You shine so brightly but I don’t have to hide. I can bask in your presence without having to cover myself. I can watch you without blinding myself. You are the manifestation of the sun that I could never hope to conquer… but I can touch you.” Reaching out with a shaking hand, I poked gently at her cheek, which caused her to gasp softly. “That’s why I feel the way I do towards you, although,” I gave her a weak smile, “it helps that you’re beautiful too.”

“I… I…” she stammered, holding a hoof to cheek I touched.

“Anyways, that’s why I’m interested in you,” I said, returning my attention to my drink, “and why I’ll always be interested in you, even if you don’t return the feeling.”

Majestic lowered her hoof and her eyes softened as she shook her head. “I… I am interested. I might not be able to express that as properly as I should in some instances, but that doesn’t make it any less true. I… I won’t say it’s love just yet but… when I saw what that beast was doing to you… what it intended to do to you… I couldn’t just…” She trailed off, unable to find the proper words.

Nodding slowly, I placed a hand on her head. “I understand.”

She leaned into my touch. “You’re special to me, Ms. O’Malley. I want to make this work, but we have some things we need to discuss that concern you and I.” Her ears splayed back. “Things that I should have told you sooner, if I’m being honest with myself, but I’m a coward. I—”

“We can talk later,” I said, surprising even myself with how steady my voice was. Scratching behind her ear, I smiled weakly. “I almost died a few days ago. Right now… I just want to relax with some friends and enjoy some food and drinks.” Lifting my mug, I saluted her before bringing it to my mouth to drain it… only to find out that I had apparently finished it off already.

“Ah feck,” I grumbled, staring down at the empty mug. “And I don’t want to get up…”

“Oh!” Majestic’s eyes lit up. “That reminds me!” Her horn flashed brightly and with a ‘pop’, a large bottle appeared from thin air. The amber liquid inside sloshed about as it hovered there for a moment before dropping.

“It would be rather rude if I was invited and didn’t bring something to share,” she said as she caught the bottle in her hooves. With a twist of her hoof, she unscrewed the cap.

Instantly, a very familiar scent hit my nose and I gasped.

“Is… is that…?” Smiling, she offered me the bottle and I took it in shaking hands. I held the opening to my nose and sniffed, only for a moan to escape me. “Oh feck yes. It is. You whore. You magnificent whore.” I inhaled again and my eyes almost rolled back into my head.

“Cinnamon whiskey,” I breathed.

“Surprise!” Majestic giggled.

“Lass, I could feckin’ kiss ya.” Lifting my mug, I poured a health amount inside before passing the bottle to Majestic, who levitated up a tankard of her own. She filled it up until the whiskey nearly reached the rim.

Holding the tankard aloft, she looked at me. “Cheers?”

“Feckin’ cheers, mate,” I said, clinking our mugs together. The first mouthful sent shivers down my spine, and as the burning heat spread through my chest, I groaned happily. It had been too long since I last had a good ol’ belly full of cinnamon whiskey. Ponies here didn’t have any Fireball, which was a crying shame. This was a good substitute though.

Beside me, Majestic wheezed. “Goodness, that has some punch to it.”

“Feck yeah, it does,” I sighed. “Fecking wonderful.”

“Oooh! What do you two have there?”

Blinking, I looked up only to freeze upon seeing everyone looking at us curiously. Pinkie was standing beside us, bouncing a little on her hooves.

“It smells good,” Bonbon said. “Is that cinnamon?”

“Y-yes?” I stammered. “It’s, uh… cinnamon whiskey.”

“Oh! Can I have some?” Pinkie asked eagerly.

Opening and closing my mouth, I glanced helplessly at Majestic. She just smiled, her horn flashed, and five more bottles materialized out of the air.

“Oh, don’t worry,” she chuckled. “I brought enough to share.”