Berry Punch woke up and reached for a bottle of Berry Family Hard Berry Punch. It was her favorite brand and personal favorite flavor. She reached over, picking it up and smiled and paused for a moment.
“Morning my little friend.”, and with giggle she drank some of the magic elixir of her life. She took a moment and reflected on her first time drinking this very brand.
How she was young and ventured into her family’s distillery and took a bottle. She was looking for anything that would make her feel good.
She snapped out her reflection and smiled. Then she stood up and proceeded to the bathroom to start her day. As she looked in the mirror she saw her mane and thought to herself, one hell of a nightmare.
She brushed her mane and to something that resembled a decent mane style and then grabbed her toothbrush with a hoof. After some brushing of the teeth and a rinse with some water and looked at the bottle of mouthwash… bleh… what a waste of good booze, she thought to herself, how can you make something so Delicious into something so vile! She took the mouthwash and gave her mouth a good rinse… “Yuck” she said grabbing the bottle of Hard Berry Punch and taking a real good long drink to counter the disgusting taste.
She ventured downstairs to see her little sister, Pina Colada, getting ready for school. Berry ruffled her mane “hey there little sis” she said affectionately.
“Hey Berry… oh sweet Celestia!”
“Hey don’t talk like that… swearing I mean really…” taking another swig of her drink.
“You smell like booze!”
“Of Course I’ve been drinking since I woke up” stated in a matter of fact manner.
“Well I mean do you REALLY need to drink THIS much?” with special emphasis on really and this in a failed attempt to make her older sister she the error in her ways.
“What’s wrong with how much I drink?” Berry said confused.
With an exasperated exhale she reached for the door. “Never mind, breakfast is on the table” as Pina Colada opened the door, Berry Punch lifted her bottle into the air and with a wave said “Thanks lil sis!” to which Piña Colada gave a shy smile. She realized she was almost done with her Berry Punch with that shake, hitting it a little harder than I thought.
She entered the dining room and kitchen where she marked an X on the day prior, she took a moment to look at today which had a circle on it, shopping was on the day’s agenda. Berry made her way to the dining table where she was presented to a spread of hash browns, lightly cooked daisy, oatmeal and orange juice. What a wonderful sister I have, she thought as took in the sight of the meal presented before her. Damn it though, she in taking the sight before her, it’s mostly healthy crap. The unhealthiest thing she could see was the hash browns from what she was gazing upon. She drank the last bit of her Berry Punch and went to the refrigerator where she grabbed a bottle of Loshad vodka and added it to the orange juice on the table. Perfect! Now it’s a breakfast! Her thoughts seceded as she indulged in the rather delicious breakfast. One that her loving sister’s breakfasts, she always made but she couldn’t help but think to herself that this breakfast in particular was a little more healthy than normal. “Delicious” she said as she finished the last morsels of food left on the plate. She took up the screwdriver and finishes the last fourth of the glass left. With the finished breakfast she went to the front door, picked up her saddlebags and went out for the day.
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She was off to the market to fetch food for the week, but mostly to see who can be coaxed into the bar later that night. She pulled out the shopping list that was in her saddlebags, her sister always put it in when she needed to go to market. She read it over, broccoli, bleh, cabbage, bleh, dandelions, alright, oranges, apple, pineapples… “Asparagus!?” quadruple bleh… looking further she discovers her personal list with a written reminder from her sister “Remember sister, you have to buy ALL the other things on the list before you buy your CRAP!!!” her voice echoed in her mind as she read that. “Honestly, where the buck does she pick up this foul language?” She paused as she notices a child out from school with her mother. What a nice child she has… she watches as the foal accidently knocks the basket of lemons she was standing next to. Berry reaches into her saddlebag and takes a good long drink of apple family brand whiskey from her flask.
“Drinking already?” came a voice somewhere to her left, a cyan colored Pegasus trotted up to her as she put away the flask.
“Hey dash how’s the mare friend drinkin buddy?” berry asked with intrigue in her voice.
“For the last time” rainbow Dash yelled “A.J. and I are not and I repeat NOT…”
“Nonsense the way you two act around one another” berry waved her hoof in her Rainbow’s face “she’s at least gotta be a repressed lesbo if you two aren’t involved”
With a whisper Dash said “Berry” shrilled “ixnay on the esboya” pointing shyly to something next to berry.
“I mean stop with the ‘maybe today she will ask me out’ routine will you?” with a little sass.
(Cough) a noise to her right.
Berry looked lazily to her right “oh hey A.J. how ya doin? When did you get here?”
“I’ve been here fer a while” with the slight bit of anger in her southern drawl. “I’d say when you were taking that long chug a that there whisky” pointing to her saddle bag.
Berry turned to dash “anyway you wanna do some drinkin at the drunken hen tonight dash? I’d ask A.J. here but I know that she’s got a big shipment of apples she gotta deliver.
“Now how in the Hay do you know that?” A.J. asked with confusion. ”In fact, how do you always know when I got a big’ol shipment a apples”
It was a secret Berry kept to herself, her family of great distillers; no pony in ponyville new this about Berry. She was a regional manager, which she had little to do because it was mostly sit around in an office and wait for a phone call that never came asking about numbers. When she had a full grasp on this concept she hired a pony to do that boring job. She was also exceptional at making the Berry family Berry Punch, but she couldn’t trust herself to make a drop without at sampling the whole batch in the end.
“Pinkie Powers” Berry gave snarkily.
“One day I’ll know” said Applejack determined as she walked away.
“So See ya tonight Dash, I gotta get to my shopping before my little sis gets out” Berry walked off
Dash looked on at Berry “Celestia help your sister…”
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Let’s see… dandelions, broccoli, cabbage, the fruits… Asparagus …Yuck!... hey this is everything…so I guess it’s time to grab what’s mine then! Berry looked up from her list and looked around, where’s that booze stand now? Ah there it is! She walked over to the liquor stand and viewed every last one of the bottles…what was I out of again? She took out the list and went straight to the bottom of the list to her section. Let’s see… Loshad vodka, strawberry whiskey, honey scotch, and…Pre-made Lemon Drop…Vodka… I have to get that! Determination was on her face, she had to get that Lemon Drop FIRST then she can get the rest of the stuff. She made her way to a small stand of different alcohols; let’s see… apple jack whiskey… Honey Scotch, come back for that… AH! Bottle of Pre-made Lemon Drop Vodka! An extended hoof snatches the last bottle… NO! She watches him walk over to the counter.
”5 bits” the vendor said.
“Here you go” Said that bastard.
“20 bits” Berry said
“What, this isn’t an auction miss” said the attempted buyer.
“Not for him, for you” Berry spat
“For me? But this is my favorite!” said the buyer
“Fine then here” berry produced a small pouch brimming with bits. “That’s’ over a hundred bits now take it.” She scooped up the bottle and put it in her saddle bag leaving the buyer dumfounded. She grabbed all the booze on her list in a flustered rush and tossed another bag of bits for the shop keep” Keep the Celestia damned bucking change” and walked off. For once in his life, the shop keep was terrified by his most valued customer.
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She walked into a random food outlet, damn what do I want? Dandelion sandwiches, blueberry muffins… AH! Hayfries and fried sunflower burger! That’ll hit the spot! There was not much more to do for the day aside from go home and wait for night fall. When the order came up it can with a medium Dr. Pepper. She wasn’t sure why it was named after a Pepper farmer or how he got a PHD or even further still why they would make soda pop of all things, but it went great with the strawberry whiskey she had. She didn’t really pay any mind to anyone else around her when they stared and gawked at her addition to the drink. Each bite of the sunflower burger was heaven to her; she had a loving little sister who was determined to feed her as much healthy food as possible. The meal seemed to end as fast as she got there. She walked home shortly after.
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Putting away all the vegetables, juices, creams and fruits inside the refrigerator. The booze placed in the cabinet until it was needed. She sat down and began to refill the flask, when did I finish this? Oh well. She was preparing for her little sister, she wasn’t sure if she was going to go out with friends or start on homework but it either case as clean house would be nice.
The door opens, did I lose track of time again? She had, it was about 3:30pm she noticed on the clock as it ticked away.
“Hey did you get the shopping done?”
“Of course”
(Silence) this is odd… “Is everything ok?”
And with an exhale “no, that dumb… bitch Diamond Tiara told me all I’ll ever be is a damn drunk.”
“I…” she decided not to scold her sister over the matter of swearing. ” do you know what Diamond Tiara is going to be doing in the future?”
“Huh?” with confusion
“That little bitch is going to go out, find some young stallion stupid enough to listen to his damn hormones, buck him and get knocked up and then she’s going to beg daddy to fix everything and when it turns out he can’t she’s going to have a little foal and that’s all she’s going to be known for after school”
A pause in the air…”Ha Ha Ha Ha”
Thank Celestial laughter, for moment I thought it wouldn’t work.
Pina trots over to Berry and gives her a hugs her. “Thanks sis”. Pina breaks the hug “you always know what to say.” Drying some tears from her eyes she trots over to the table and pulls some papers from her bags. “I do have a bit of homework to do but I wanna go out with my friends whenever they come…”
Knock, Knock, Knock
“Oh! I guess homework can wait.” Pina said with some excitement as she approaches the door. As she opens the door she sees a wall-eyed mare is standing there with a small unicorn beside her. “Dinky!” she stated in excitement “I wasn’t expecting you this soon!”
Dinky smiled at this “neither did I! But then I started…” Cut off by Berry “following your Mamma!” a blank stare from both Dinky and Derpy “Cousin?” a second blank stare “ uuuuhhhhh sister?” in a much more uncertain manor. to this Derpy finally smiled “please you should know we love seeing you squirm like this by now!” every time Derpy had told berry, she would forget within seconds, so now she is left to merely make a good guess for her failing memory.
“Right…” Berry stated with growing concern “so I guess you two can run off and…” both Dinky and Piña Dashed off “Remember to make dinner!” Piña yelled in the distance with dusted trail quickly following “and remember follow the cookbook!” Berry turned to Derpy “So wanna go to the bar after work?” she gave with a smile. Derpy smiled “sorry I got a special assignment in the morning so a night of drinking with you would probably…” berry cut her off “Be incredibly irresponsible yea, yea, I’ve heard this part before from ya continue.” Grabbing a bottle mead normally left next to the door that also normally had a metal cap for the top for easy uncapping. While uncapping the bottle Derpy began looking for Berry’s mail. Derpy started talking as Berry began drinking “sorry but things have been really out of control for a while, I don’t think I’ll be able to come out to the bar for a while.”
“Don’t worry, I understand” she recapped the mead making a mental note that it will need replacing for tomorrow's encounters at the door. “Here’s your mail!” with the same excited voice Derpy always had when delivering the mail. “Be seeing ya Derpy.” She closed the door and made her way to the table in the kitchen. Bill, advertisement, bill, special offer of bullshit, save money? How bout I don’t spend any money, that’s how you save money, why are there never any advertisements for booze? It was the standard affair for this time of the month, on other days it’s just advertisements.
With a sight she looks around and wonders, what is she going to do? Piña wouldn’t be back for some time and it was too early to start diner, T.V.?...Yea! She walks into the living room and up to rather soft couch in the middle of the room with a mini-fridge next to it. She clicks the remote left on the couch arm rest and opens the mini-fridge revealing a rather large assortment of beers.
“The ponies were able to…” “Change!” Berry proclaimed with a sudden change of the channel. “Please Summer Rose; don’t break my heart like this…” ‘Click’, “tonight on To Catch a Predator” ‘Click’ “Bunch of no good foal buckers” Berry stated with disdain. “Oh Donut-san tell me it isn’t so” “this could work” berry stated in satisfaction.
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Two hours pass, oh shit! The Time, I can’t believe this! She turns off the T.V. and rushes to the kitchen where a cook book is quickly produced from the cabinet. The book had a book mark that her sister placed, let’s see… ugh! Zesty Marinated Asparagus, Her most hated dish and enemy once again on this field of battle. Why this? She grabbed the ingredients. Let’s see… asparagus vinaigrette salad dressing, grated lemons, chopped parsley, kosher salt and ground black pepper. She begins reading, damn! The first part needs refrigeration for 3 hours?! Buck it, I’ll just leave it in for half one and begin cooking. She franticly fills a pot with water, asparagus, and a cube of salt and places a strainer in the sink shortly after. Grabbing a plastic bag she begins pouring vinaigrette into it with fervor in her face as she finished pouring and turned to the pot. Cook, cook, cook, cook, COOK! Time seemed to take longer than normal, but the pot begins to boil. Only need a few minutes of this! But those minutes took hours in her mind as cooking began to take place in the tiny pot. Success! Straining the vile vegetable she began opening the pouch and dumping the freshly strained vegetable into it. In the fridge! Placing the asparagus into the fridge she decides to take a bottle of Cherry Wine. Berry sat down with a glass and filled it to the brim with wine. Wait time! About a half hour before she comes home. A smile runs across her face, phew that was close. Berry took a gulp of the glass as she closed her eyes, she begins to relax she puts her head back a little. She thought of her little sister and her friend and how much they were like her and her friend when they were younger. She sat and waited with the wine thinking back to when she was younger…laugher courses through her mind… it was hers and her friend… during better times…
“Hey sis” Piña said as she walked in. Berry snapped out of her daze and looks at her sister. ”Oh! Let me get diner” she walked over to the fridge and grabbed the asparagus and placed it on a plate in the middle of the table. Then she placed the finishing touches to the dish by sprinkling a mixture of grated lemon, black pepper, salt and parsley to the dish. ”Bon Appetit!” said Berry in an excited and hopeful manor. ”Fancy really?” Piña colada said in an excusing way. ”wait a second” Piña paused as she look at the food before her. “Something wrong sis?” Berry said with increased worry and nervousness running through her mind. “Yea, what’s wrong with it” Piña accused “Wrong? What would be wrong?” Nervousness now running through Berry’s formerly confidant voice. Piña took a piece of asparagus with an accusational look, studying it deeply, sniffing it. Oh no she knows something’s off! She takes a bite and her face slowly fades from one of unease to one of disbelief. “It’s good!” Piña finally said. Phew that was a close one. “I’m surprised you were able to make this!” “Hey!” Berry responded. “It’s not like I make a garbage meal every day.” A secondary look of accusation across Piña’s face. “Well… I mean… ugh whatever just eat”
From what Berry could tell the evening was nice, a meal that she didn’t ruin for once. A good conversation that involved her little sister has good grades, as usual. Another conversation about the local distilleries and how she increased the yield of the distillery an extra seven percent over the past week, which astonished Piña. After the diner they both cleaned the dishes, as normal. Piña pulled out her homework while Berry grabbed her carpus watch and headed for the door. “Please” Piña pleaded “not tonight, I know tonight is…”
“Don’t worry” Berry cut off “I’ve got my watch on me to let me know when to come home tonight! Alright?” with some excitement in her voice.
Piña paused for a moment to consider this “Alright” she finally gave in “But if you’re not home by”
“Don’t worry I said I’ll Be home by 10:10, at the Latest” Berry stated with enough emphasis on latest that Piña could practically see the air quotes.
“Alright” Piña said with some disappointment and with that Berry left the home and headed for the bar to spend some of the night with her good friend Rainbow Dash.
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Berry trotted along street, lamps were slowly turning on as she took her stroll. She noticed that there weren’t as many ponies as there were during the day. Good thing this isn’t a thousand years ago we have so many good reasons to stay up and enjoy the night. Berry entered the bar and walked to a stool next to Rainbow who was already drinking. “Starting without me?” Berry inquired while sitting down.
“Berry!” Rainbow exclaimed with abnormal enthusiasm “I just I… I just sat down (hic)”
“You’re a terrible liar Dash” Berry stated “any way BARKEEP! How bout a couple of drinks for me and my friend here”
“What am I then?” said a blue Pegasus with a red hair and cords with numbers on them.
“A drinkin buddy” Berry said with a slap to the back “Make that three, Barkeep” she yelled. Berry stared at him with a smile “so?”
“…What?” he said looking away trying to ignore the question
Rainbow smiled “more problems then?”
He let out a sigh
“That’s a yes” Berry stated with a snicker “Maybe one day you’ll be able to please the mare”
“Please her? I’m the one with the problem not her” stated with anger.
Barkeep placed three Beers in front of them “6 bits”
Berry placed 9 bits on the counter “Plus tip!”
“Thanks kindly” Barkeep smiled took the bits and noticed another 7 bits beside him as if from nowhere “err”
“Add a shot to mine if you could”
“Of course!” Barkeep grabbed Loshad from under the counter and pours it into a shot glass quickly adding it to the Stein.
“Thanks I, Think I’m gonna need it...”
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An hour passes of talking, drinking, and watching the mounted T.V.
“Look all I’m saying is maybe you could (hic) just take care of it by yourself” Rainbow asked
“No, that’s not point” Net exasperated “I mean it’s just, I mean, I should be able too”
“Finish with your beloved?” Berry sassed
“I mean is there something wrong with me?” said the now depressed Pegasi
“I think so” said Rainbow
“Well I think that you need to get over yourself and confess to Applejack!” Net said with hostility.
“Hey why don’t you…”
“Free Drinks!” BarKeep came out what seemed like nowhere.
“Alright” said rainbow
“Sounds great” Net said excitedly
“You really know what we like to hear” Berry stated with a smile.
Barkeep knew how to calm down these three. They were his best costumers and he certainly hated having to throw them out, but he learned one thing any drunk likes to hear over his years of working his bar. Drunks love free drinks.
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Another hour passes.
“But I mean” Rainbow said with frustration “all those, those…OLD… old timey values...” a pause after her stammering. “And then she’s like my best friend and I just… I just don’t wanna ruin that”
“But that’s…that’s what you like about her” Berry Paused after her stammering “She’s competitive with you…” a pause “she a hard worker yea, but you like that about her cause you like to try to better yourself because of her. She’s always brave for her friends, a form of ‘Loyalty’ something you are right?”
“Ok, ok” Rainbow finally cut off “but how would I even… You know… get her to… like me like that?”
“Drinks of course” berry Stated with incredible confidence.
“Whoa I’m not going to trick her like that”
“Oh um…” berry trailed confused how to continue this conversation for Rainbows love life
“You’re not!” Net stated with an unknown amount of knowledge behind his words.” You see physiologically, a drunken individual won’t do anything they didn’t already have in their mind as something alright or want to do.” Both Berry and rainbow dash with incredible confusion on both their faces. “Let me dumb this down for you both, You a drunk pony who is against sleeping with a griffon and ends up waking up next to a griffon the next day would ‘not’ have done this unless there was already the idea that it is alright to hop into bed with a griffon in the first place… just don’t overdo it with the drinks is all or else… well that’s the fuzzy part is all.”
“so what you're saying is that if I get A.J. to admit she loves me while she’s drunk…but not too drunk…” rainbow paused with a sudden realization of the situation “then she’s only admitting she loves me is all!” she finished excitement in her voice and a smile on her face.
“Sounds about right to me, so then all we need to do now make sure you remember this in the morning” Berry agreed
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Another hour passes.
“So then…” berry stammered “we can all rent out the WHOLE castle (hic) and throw a MASSive ParTY (hic)”
Net and Rainbow began to laugh at the outlandish idea that came out Berry’s mouth.
“What? (Hic) it’s a great idea ain’t it?”
“I’m sorry (hic)” rainbow said “I doubt Octavia is going to be a sudden War Veteran and Fight the WHOle chanGELINg army and marry Queen ChrYSalis in a spicy three way with Vinyl Scratch (hic)”
“And rEaly” Net started “How cOULd we rent the CasTLe from the PRINCesses?”
“What? Sounds like a good idea to me!”
*Beep* *Beep* *Beep*
Rainbow and Net both looked at her
“What?” berry asked.
Net pointed at Berry’s watch. “That”
Suddenly Berry could hear the beeping from the watch and smile. “Ah” she said and started to press the buttons on her watch stopping the alarm. She then reached into her saddle bag and she then pulled out sack of bits and put it on the counter. “Fer the drinks…” she paused “and any they buy… Keep the rest as tips…” she finished in a slow manner.
“Where you headed?” rainbow asked
Berry smiled “I gotta friend to see!” she said lazily as she walked out the bar.
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Berry Punch came home were Piña Colada waiting for her.
“Welcome home.” She said with a hint of happiness “she’s uhh…” a pause “she’s upstairs”
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This carried on for about two hours “yeah I think you might be on to something” Berry stated. She looked intently on her friend. “Well I guess...” a pause and a frown “I guess it’s time for you to go…” she stood up and walked to her old friend, she proceeded to pick up a picture with a young yellow filly with a blue mane. She then opened the night stand drawer and carefully placed the picture in the drawer. “See you next year…” Berry said with a disheartened voice as she closed the drawer. She grabbed the glass meant for her dear friend “guess you didn’t feel like drinkin” she drank the glass in one quick gulp and placed it back on the night stand. She looked at the tiny remainder of Lemon drop remained in the bottle, Berry rather sluggishly lifted it up and drank the rest. She put the bottle in the trash bin next to her bed. She reached over to the mini-fridge on the other side of the nightstand and took out a bottle of Berry Family Hard Berry Punch and placed it on the night stand. Slowly she reached over to her lamp and turned it off. Tired she laid in her bed with a drunken smile. “See you next year buddy…” her eyes shut and she was drifted away into the darkness.
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Sitting in in a soft and comfy cloud chair she recalled a time when rainbow dash had told her about how cloud were the softest things imaginable. So how could she resist the temptation of having it in her dreams? Especially in this situation she now faced. She picked up the remote on her armchair and pointed it at the cloud television set. She knew there was no point in waiting for this. She picked up the remote control for the cloud T.V…
(Click) she began her night. The screen was showing two fillies, one was of herself, a much younger Berry Punch. So innocent, she thought to herself. And next to her was a young Lemon Drop, her yellow fur and blue mane and water like droplets on her flank looked outstanding to her no matter how many times she saw it. They were in a field together, talking about how Lemon Drop had a fresh cutie mark adorned her flank.
“It’s just so awesome though!” Berry stated with excitement. “My best buddy in the whole wide world just got her cutie mark and on top of that in making alcohol just like my families business is!”
“Calm down a bit Berry” Lemon Drop exclaimed “I mean yeah it’s awesome and all but you forget...” She paused waiting a second for berry to look at her “Dad was PISSED when he found out about how I took some lemons for turning into Lemon Drop no less.”
“But he should be proud of you” Berry tried to counter
“Yea proud I used the lemons he told your father would never be turned into alcohol to your father no less on the pretext that it was immoral.
“Look on the bright side” berry grinned
“What Brightside?” asked a now confused Lemon Drop.
“Both of our families are not in a financial boom thanks to your recipe! One that has been going on for about…” she paused and looked up as though she were in deep thought but in truth didn’t need it. “Four months, three and a half weeks!”
“of course you're keeping track” Lemon Drop said ”you’re the genius in your family that went behind your dad's back and started up a franchise in Canterlot were the success sprawled out of control so much he found out in a newspaper a month later!... props by the way, Didn’t think you could keep a secret for that long.” The smirk on Lemon Drop’s face was so apparent that Berry couldn’t help but look at it and think, you smug jerk!
Looking onward she realized where they were…she began to breathe deeper…
“Hey Lemon Drop” Berry excitedly said. “Let’s head up one of these trees”. She ended that vile sentence.
“Come on berry” Lemon Paused with, “you know that one farm filly will be around soon…”
“That’s why we’re here though! To show that little…Lack luster PRUDE!” she exclaimed prude as though it were a piece of damning evidence in a trial. “That we’re gonna do what we want.” She finished with a definitive end.
“Alright” Lemon said “we can climb up a tree or two” she paused “but then let’s get goin she finished with a sense of earnest desire to not be there.
“o.k. o.k. “berry said with a census of defeat. Looking onward toward her conquest… the apple tree.
Lemon started to climb the tree with little care. Berry looked at her, she was quick as she grabbed and pawed at the tree like an animal as she climbed it. The tree that Lemon was climbing was the tree of fate. Lemon made it to one of the upper branches. “Berry come on up!” she said with exhaustion. “Get up here!”
“Just give me a second.” Berry said with a sense of bewilderment. I got to get up there. She took a moment to look upon the tree. It was tall and erect, as though the world was beneath it. She could feel the triumph she would have over this tower like object. A hoof reached up quickly followed by another. Her hind legs were quick to follow. With force behind each limb she began to climb and overcome this obstacle, before long she was atop the same branch as Lemon Drop. “See…” she was panting “I needed a second…”
“More like a lifetime” Lemon smirked
Ah shut up” Berry punched Lemon on the shoulder and turned too climbed down the tree.
“AAAAHHHH” lemon screamed, she had lost balance on her rear hooves and was teetering off the branch
“Lemon?” as though the world decided that time was too fast, everything was moving slowly for Berry. She looked as Lemon reached a hoof toward her, she reacted all too slowly as she reached out to grab Lemon. As though Celestia herself decided to taunt her, she saw how the minutest of distance was between her and lemon’s arm. “LLLLLEEEEEMMMMOOOOONNN DDDDRRRRROOOOOOPPPPPP” she screeched. She knew that the nightmare was only getting started, now began the part all too hard to keep track of. She saw herself desperately shaking lemon begging her to get up. The farm pony Apple Jack trying to figure out what was going on. The funeral that happened mere days later was after within seconds. She saw as she began creating a concoction in her basement without a single pony knowing. She was walking in now, “heeeeyyyyy dad (hic) I goooot muh cutie maaaark…” the symbol on her flank was nothing more than a reminder to her now. The images on the screen were flashing by now, alto quick.
“Please…” she was falling “No…” she was trying to wake her “Stop!...” she was at her funeral “ why?...” she was drinking “don’t…” she was climbing the tree “make it stop make it stop!” it was Lemon Drop looking at her now, through the T.V. “…Lemon…Drop?...”
Lemon was now smiling “what’s the matter… murderer?...”
“No I…”
“Didn’t throw that punch?” she was pulling herself through the T.V. screen. “I remember… That punch…”
“But I’m…”
“Sorry you killed me?” She was getting close now. “Sorry doesn’t bring me back to life killer…”
I… I…”
She was upon her now. In unison they said “killed you” “killed me” she was reaching a hoof toward the tear covered mare with an intent of murder in her eyes… she froze…
Now berry was left looking upon her almost killer “that’s enough of that” a voice came from above. Descending, came Princess Luna “I’m sorry for being la, ugh!…” she pulled back for a second “you’re the only pony I know that can drink so much she reeks of alcohol in thy dreams!”
“PLEASE!” Berry screamed, she looked into the eyes of Luna with terror in her own before she quietly said “help me”
With a warm smile Luna waved her hoof and the apparition disappeared. She used her horn to lift the T.V. remote and changed the channel. She began to click through channel after channel. Until she fell upon a channel between to rather young fillies playing with a ball. Lemon passed it to Berry, Berry passed it back to Lemon. “Heh” Luna looked at the now calm Berry. “Lemon and Berry” Luna raised an eyebrow. “We’re both fruit!” Luna smiled at this and turned around.
“Berry…” she paused just past her cloud chair. “ I can’t help you, you have to come to terms with what has happened in the past if peace and redemption is to be had.” She paused for a moment. Berry ignored her words. She was already deep inside her new world. Luna frowned “There’s only so much I can do for you”, with this she left Berry to her new dream...
Berry Punch woke up and reached for a bottle of Berry Family Hard Berry Punch. It was her favorite brand and personal favorite flavor. She reached over, picking it up and smiled and paused for a moment.
“Morning my little friend.”, and with giggle she drank some of the magic elixir of her life. She took a moment and reflected on her first time drinking this very brand.
How she was young and ventured into her family’s distillery and took a bottle. She was looking for anything that would make her feel good.
She snapped out her reflection and smiled. Then she stood up and proceeded to the bathroom to start her day. As she looked in the mirror she saw her mane and thought to herself, one hell of a nightmare.
Berry delicious breakfast. One that her loving sister’s breakfasts, she always made but she couldn’t help but think to herself that this breakfast in particular was a little more healthy than normal. “Delicious” she said as she finished the last morsels of food left on the plate. She took up the screwdriver and finishes the last fourth of the glass left. With the finished breakfast she went to the front door, picked up her saddle bags and went out for the day.
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She was off to the market to fetch food for the week, but mostly to see who can be coaxed into the bar later that night. She pulled out the shopping list that was in her saddle bags, her sister always put it in when she needed to go to market. She read it over, broccoli, bleh, cabbage, bleh, dandelions, alright, oranges, apple, pineapples… “Asparagus!?” quadruple bleh… looking further she discovers her personal list with a written reminder from her sister “Remember sister, you have to buy ALL the other things on the list before you buy your CRAP!!!” her voice echoed in her mind as she read that. “Honestly, where the buck does she pick up this foul language?” She paused as she notices a child out from school with her mother. What a nice child she has… she watches as the foal accidently knocks the basket of lemons she was standing next to. Berry reaches into her saddle bag and takes a good long drink of apple family brand whiskey from her flask.
“Drinking already?” came a voice somewhere to her left, a cyan colored Pegasus trotted up to her as she put away the flask.
“Hey dash how’s the mare friend drinkin buddy?” berry asked with intrigue in her voice.
“For the last time” rainbow Dash yelled “A.J. and I are not and I repeat NOT…”
“Nonsense the way you two act around one another” berry waved her hoof in her Rainbow’s face “she’s at least gotta a repressed lesbo if you two aren’t involved”
With a whisper Dash said “Berry” shrilled “ixnay on the esboya” pointing shyly to something next to berry.
“I mean stop with the ‘maybe today she will ask me out’ routine will you?” with a little sass.
(Cough) a noise to her right.
Berry looked lazily to her right “oh hey A.J. how ya doin? When did you get here?”
“I’ve been here fer a while” with the slight bit of anger in her southern drawl. “I’d say when you were taking that long chug a that there whisky” pointing to her saddle bag.
Berry turned to dash “anyway you wanna do some drinkin at the drunken hen tonight dash? I’d ask A.J. here but I know that she’s got a big shipment of apples she gotta deliver.
“Now how in the Hay do you know that?” A.J. asked with confusion. ”In fact, how do you always know when I got a big’ol shipment a apples”
It was a secret Berry kept to herself, her family of great distillers; no pony in ponyville new this about Berry. She was a regional manager, which she had little to do because it was mostly sit around in an office and wait for a phone call that never came asking about numbers. When she had a full grasp on this concept she hired a pony to do that boring job. She was also exceptional at making the Berry family Berry Punch, but she couldn’t trust herself to make a drop with out at sampling the whole batch in the end.
“Pinkie Powers” Berry gave snarkily.
“One day I’ll know” said Applejack determined as she walked away.
“So See ya tonight Dash, I gotta get to my shopping before my little sis gets out” Berry walked off
Dash looked on at Berry “Celestia help your sister…”
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Let’s see… dandelions, broccoli, cabbage, the fruits… Asparagus …Yuck!... hey this is everything…so I guess it’s time to grab what’s mine then! Berry looked up from her list and looked around, where’s that booze stand now? Ah there it is! She walked over to the liquor stand and viewed every last one of the bottles…what was I out of again? She took out the list and went straight to the bottom of the list to her section. Let’s see… Loshad vodka, strawberry whiskey, honey scotch, and…Pre-made Lemon Drop…Vodka… I have to get that! Determination was on her face, she had to get that Lemon Drop FIRST then she can get the rest of the stuff. She made her way to a small stand of different alcohols; let’s see… apple jack whiskey… Honey Scotch, come back for that… AH! Bottle of Pre-made Lemon Drop Vodka! An extended hoof snatches the last bottle… NO! She watches him walk over to the counter.
”5 bits” the vendor said.
“Here you go” Said that bastard.
“20 bits” Berry said
“What, this isn’t an auction miss” said the attempted buyer.
“Not for him, for you” Berry spat
“For me? But this is my favorite!” said the buyer
“Fine then here” berry produced a small pouch brimming with bits. “That’s’ over a hundred bits now take it.” She scooped up the bottle and put it in her saddle bag leaving the buyer dumfounded. She grabbed all the booze on her list in a flustered rush and tossed another bag of bits for the shop keep” Keep the Celestia damned bucking change” and walked off. For once in his life, the shop keep was terrified by his most valued customer.
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She walked into a random food outlet, damn what do I want? Dandelion sandwiches, blueberry muffins… AH! Hayfries and fried sunflower burger! That’ll hit the spot! There was not much more to do for the day aside from go home and wait for night fall. When the order came up it can with a medium Dr. Pepper. She wasn’t sure why it was named after a Pepper farmer or how he got a PHD or even further still why they would make soda pop of all things, but it went great with the strawberry whiskey she had. She didn’t really pay any mind to anyone else around her when they stared and gawked at her addition to the drink. Each bite of the sunflower burger was heaven to her; she had a loving little sister who was determined to feed her as much healthy food as possible. The meal seemed to end as fast as she got there. She walked home shortly after.
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Putting away all the vegetables, juices, creams and fruits inside the refrigerator. The booze placed in the cabinet until it was needed. She sat down and began to refill the flask, when did I finish this? Oh well. She was preparing for her little sister, she wasn’t sure if she was going to go out with friends or start on homework but it either case as clean house would be nice.
The door opens, did I lose track of time again? She had, it was about 3:30pm she noticed on the clock as it ticked away.
“Hey did you get the shopping done?”
“Of course”
(Silence) this is odd… “Is everything ok?”
And with an exhale “no, that dumb… bitch Diamond Tiara told me all I’ll ever be is a damn drunk.”
“I…” she decided not to scold her sister over the matter of swearing. ” do you know what Diamond Tiara is going to be doing in the future?”
“Huh?” with confusion
“That little bitch is going to go out, find some young stallion stupid enough to listen to his damn hormones, buck him and get knocked up and then she’s going to beg daddy to fix everything and when it turns out he can’t she’s going to have a little foal and that’s all she’s going to be known for after school”
A pause in the air…”Ha Ha Ha Ha”
Thank Celestial laughter, for moment I thought it wouldn’t work.
Pina trots over to Berry and gives her a hugs her. “Thanks sis”. Pina breaks the hug “you always know what to say.” Drying some tears from her eyes she trots over to the table and pulls some papers from her bags. “I do have a bit of homework to do but I wanna go out with my friends whenever they come…”
Knock, Knock, Knock
“Oh! I guess homework can wait.” Pina said with some excitement as she approaches the door. As she opens the door she sees a wall-eyed mare is standing there with a small unicorn beside her. “Dinky!” she stated in excitement “I wasn’t expecting you this soon!”
Dinky smiled at this “neither did I! But then I started…” Cut off by Berry “following your Mamma!” a blank stare from both Dinky and Derpy “Cousin?” a second blank stare “ uuuuhhhhh sister?” in a much more uncertain manor. to this Derpy finally smiled “please you should know we love seeing you squirm like this by now!” every time Derpy had told berry, she would forget within seconds, so now she is left to merely make a good guess for her failing memory.
“Right…” Berry stated with growing concern “so I guess you two can run off and…” both Dinky and Piña Dashed off “Remember to make dinner!” Piña yelled in the distance with dusted trail quickly following “and remember follow the cookbook!” Berry turned to Derpy “So wanna go to the bar after work?” she gave with a smile. Derpy smiled “sorry I got a special assignment in the morning so a night of drinking with you would probably…” berry cut her off “Be incredibly irresponsible yea, yea, I’ve heard this part before from ya continue.” Grabbing a bottle mead normally left next to the door that also normally had a metal cap for the top for easy uncapping. While uncapping the bottle Derpy began looking for Berry’s mail. Derpy started talking as Berry began drinking “sorry but things have been really out of control for a while, I don’t think I’ll be able to come out to the bar for a while.”
“Don’t worry, I understand” she recapped the mead making a mental note that it will need replacing for tomorrows encounters at the door. “Here’s your mail!” with the same exited voice Derpy always had when delivering the mail. “Be seeing ya Derpy.” She closed the door and made her way to the table in the kitchen. Bill, advertisement, bill, special offer of bullshit, save money? How bout I don’t spend any money, that’s how you save money, why are there never any advertisements for booze? It was the standard affair for this time of the month, on other days it’s just advertisements.
With a sight she looks around and wonders, what is she going to do? Piña wouldn’t be back for some time and it was too early to start diner, T.V.?...Yea! She walks into the living room and up to rather soft couch in the middle of the room with a mini-fridge next to it. She clicks the remote left on the couch arm rest and opens the mini-fridge revealing a rather large assortment of beers.
“The ponies were able to…” “Change!” Berry proclaimed with a sudden change of the channel. “Please Summer Rose; don’t break my heart like this…” ‘Click’, “tonight on To Catch a Predator” ‘Click’ “Bunch of no good foal buckers” Berry stated with distain. “Oh Donut-san tell me it isn’t so” “this could work” berry stated in satisfaction.
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Two hours pass, oh shit! The Time, I can’t believe this! She turns off the T.V. and rushes to the kitchen where a cook book is quickly produced from the cabinet. The book had a book mark that her sister placed, let’s see… ugh! Zesty Marinated Asparagus, Her most hated dish and enemy once again on this field of battle. Why this? She grabbed the ingredients. Let’s see… asparagus vinaigrette salad dressing, grated lemons, chopped parsley, kosher salt and ground black pepper. She begins reading, damn! The first part needs refrigeration for 3 hours?! Buck it, I’ll just leave it in for half one and begin cooking. She franticly fills a pot with water, asparagus, and a cube of salt and places a strainer in the sink shortly after. Grabbing a plastic bag she begins pouring vinaigrette into it with fervor in her face as she finished pouring and turned to the pot. Cook, cook, cook, cook, COOK! Time seemed to take longer than normal, but the pot begins to boil. Only need a few minutes of this! But those minutes took hours in her mind as cooking began to take place in the tiny pot. Success! Straining the vile vegetable she began opening the pouch and dumping the freshly strained vegetable into it. In the fridge! Placing the asparagus into the fridge she decides to take a bottle of Cherry Wine. Berry sat down with a glass and filled it to the brim with wine. Wait time! About a half hour before she comes home. A smile runs across her face, phew that was close. Berry took a gulp of the glass as she closed her eyes, she begins to relax she puts her head back a little. She thought of her little sister and her friend and how much they were like her and her friend when they were younger. She sat and waited with the wine thinking back to when she was younger…laugher coursers through her mind… it was hers and her friend… during better times…
“Hey sis” Piña said as she walked in. Berry snapped out of her daze and looks at her sister. ”Oh! Let me get diner” she walked over to the fridge and grabbed the asparagus and placed it on a plate in the middle of the table. Then she placed the finishing touches to the dish by sprinkling a mixture of grated lemon, black pepper, salt and parsley to the dish. ”Bon Appetit!” said Berry in an excited and hopeful manor. ”Fancy really?” Piña colada said in an excusing way. ”wait a second” Piña paused as she look at the food before her. “Something wrong sis?” Berry said with increased worry and nervousness running through her mind. “Yea, what’s wrong with it” Piña accused “Wrong? What would be wrong?” Nervousness now running through Berry’s formerly confidant voice. Piña took a piece of asparagus with an accusational look, studying it deeply, sniffing it. Oh no she knows something’s off! She takes a bite and her face slowly fades from one of unease to one of disbelief. “It’s good!” Piña finally said. Phew that was a close one. “I’m surprised you were able to make this!” “Hey!” Berry responded. “It’s not like I make a garbage meal every day.” A secondary look of accusation across Piña’s face. “Well… I mean… ugh whatever just eat”
From what Berry could tell the evening was nice, a meal that she didn’t ruin for once. A good conversation that involved her little sister has good grades, as usual. Another conversation about the local distilleries and how she increased the yield of the distillery an extra seven percent over the past week, which astonished Piña. After the diner they both cleaned the dishes, as normal. Piña pulled out her homework while Berry grabbed her carpus watch and headed for the door. “Please” Piña pleaded “not tonight, I know tonight is…”
“Don’t worry” Berry cut off “I’ve got my watch on me to let me know when to come home tonight! Alright?” with some excitement in her voice.
Piña paused for a moment to consider this “Alright” she finally gave in “But if you’re not home by”
“Don’t worry I said I’ll Be home by 10:10, at the Latest” Berry stated with enough emphasis on latest that Piña could practically see the air quotes.
“Alright” Piña said with some disappointment and with that Berry left the home and headed for the bar to spend some of the night with her good friend Rainbow Dash.
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Berry trotted along street, lamps were slowly turning on as she took her stroll. She noticed that there weren’t as many ponies as there were during the day. Good thing this isn’t a thousand years ago we have so many good reasons to stay up and enjoy the night. Berry entered the bar and walked to a stool next to Rainbow who was already drinking. “Starting without me?” Berry inquired while sitting down.
“Berry!” Rainbow exclaimed with abnormal enthusiasm “I just I… I just sat down (hic)”
“You’re a terrible liar Dash” Berry stated “any way BARKEEP! How bout a couple of drinks for me and my friend here”
“What am I then?” said a blue Pegasus with a red hair and cords with numbers on them.
“A drinkin buddy” Berry said with a slap to the back “Make that three, Barkeep” she yelled. Berry stared at him with a smile “so?”
“…What?” he said looking away trying to ignore the question
Rainbow smiled “more problems then?”
He let out a sigh
“That’s a yes” Berry stated with a snicker “Maybe one day you’ll be able to please the mare”
“Please her? I’m the one with the problem not her” stated with anger.
Barkeep placed three Beers in front of them “6 bits”
Berry placed 9 bits on the counter “Plus tip!”
“Thanks kindly” Barkeep smiled took the bits and noticed another 7 bits beside him as if from nowhere “err”
“Add a shot to mine if you could”
“Of course!” Barkeep grabbed Loshad from under the counter and pours it into a shot glass quickly adding it to the Stein.
“Thanks I, Think I’m gonna need it...”
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An hour passes of talking, drinking, and watching the mounted T.V.
“Look all I’m saying is maybe you could (hic) just take care of it by yourself” Rainbow asked
“No, that’s not point” Net exasperated “I mean it’s just, I mean, I should be able too”
“Finish with your beloved?” Berry sassed
“I mean is there something wrong with me?” said the now depressed Pegasi
“I think so” said Rainbow
“Well I think that you need to get over yourself and confess to Applejack!” Net said with hostility.
“Hey why don’t you…”
“Free Drinks!” BarKeep came out what seemed like nowhere.
“Alright” said rainbow
“Sounds great” Net said excitedly
“You really know what we like to hear” Berry stated with a smile.
Barkeep knew how to calm down these three. They were his best costumers and he certainly hated having to throw them out, but he learned one thing any drunk likes to hear over his years of working his bar. Drunks love free drinks.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Another hour passes.
“But I mean” Rainbow said with frustration “all those, those…OLD… old timey values...” a pause after her stammering. “And then she’s like my best friend and I just… I just don’t wanna ruin that”
“But that’s…that’s what you like about her” Berry Paused after her stammering “She’s competitive with you…” a pause “she a hard worker yea, but you like that about her cause you like to try to better yourself because of her. She’s always brave for her friends, a form of ‘Loyalty’ something you are right?”
“Ok, ok” Rainbow finally cut off “but how would I even… You know… get her to… like me like that?”
“Drinks of course” berry Stated with incredible confidence.
“Whoa I’m not going to trick her like that”
“Oh um…” berry trailed confused how to continue this conversation for Rainbows love life
“You’re not!” Net stated with an unknown amount of knowledge behind his words.” You see physiologically, a drunken individual won’t do anything they didn’t already have in their mind as something alright or want to do.” Both Berry and rainbow dash with incredible confusion on both their faces. “Let me dumb this down for you both, You a drunk pony who is against sleeping with a griffon and ends up waking up next to a griffon the next day would ‘not’ have done this unless there was already the idea that it is alright to hop into bed with a griffon in the first place… just don’t overdo it with the drinks is all or else… well that’s the fuzzy part is all.”
“so what your saying is that if I get A.J. to admit she loves me while she’s drunk…but not too drunk…” rainbow paused with a sudden realization of the situation “then she’s only admitting she loves me is all!” she finished excitement in her voice and a smile on her face.
“Sounds about right to me, so then all we need to do now make sure you remember this in the morning” Berry agreed
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Another hour passes.
“So then…” berry stammered “we can all rent out the WHOLE castle (hic) and throw a MASSive ParTY (hic)”
Net and Rainbow began to laugh at the outlandish idea that came out Berry’s mouth.
“What? (Hic) it’s a great idea ain’t it?”
“I’m sorry (hic)” rainbow said “I doubt Octavia is going to be a sudden War Veteran and Fight the WHOle chanGELINg army and merry Queen ChrYSalis in a spicy three way with Vinyl Scratch (hic)”
“And rEaly” Net started “How cOULd we rent the CasTLe from the PRINCesses?”
“What? Sounds like a good idea to me!”
*Beep* *Beep* *Beep*
Rainbow and Net both looked at her
“What?” berry asked.
Net pointed at Berry’s watch. “That”
Suddenly Berry could hear the beeping from the watch and smile. “Ah” she said and started to press the buttons on her watch stopping the alarm. She then reached into her saddle bag and she then pulled out sack of bits and put it on the counter. “Fer the drinks…” she paused “and any they buy… Keep the rest as tips…” she finished in a slow manner.
“Where you headed?” rainbow asked
Berry smiled “I gotta friend to see!” she said lazily as she walked out the bar.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Berry Punch came home were Piña Colada waiting for her.
“Welcome home.” She said with a hint of happiness “she’s uhh…” a pause “she’s upstairs”
A wide grin comes across Berry’s face “thanks lil sis! (Hic)” she hugs her then continues up the stairs, she pauses, “you should get to bed soon”, she continues up the stairs. She knows that Piña will lock the front door so she doesn’t remind her of it. She could feel it now, the feeling in her stomach over the encounter. The feeling was more than capable to make her stomach feel upset. That feeling, That Feeling. She was at the door of her bedroom. She breathed in deep. She opened the door. Waiting for her was the only pony that could make her feel as though the rest of the world didn’t matter.
“Hey Lemon Drop” she paused “been a while” there was the bottle of Lemon Drop popped open for her with two glasses. Both of the glasses were filled. Not to brim though, that would be improper for a meeting between old friends. She walked to her desk were the glasses both stood, picked one up and sat down on her haunches.” So how’s it been?” Berry asked, no response. “Yeah, I think it’s been the same for me too!” a pause in the air “yeah I missed you too, you wanna tell me about your year?”
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This carried on for about two hours “yeah I think you might be on to something” Berry stated. She looked intently on her friend. “Well I guess...” a pause and a frown “I guess it’s time for you to go…” she stood up and walked to her old friend, she proceeded to pick up a picture with a young yellow filly with a blue mane. She then opened the night stand drawer and carefully placed the picture in the drawer. “See you next year…” Berry said with a disheartened voice as she closed the drawer. She grabbed the glass meant for her dear friend “guess you didn’t feel like drinkin” she drank the glass in one quick gulp and placed it back on the night stand. She looked at the tiny remainder of Lemon drop remained in the bottle, Berry rather sluggishly lifted it up and drank the rest. She put the bottle in the trash bin next to her bed. She reached over to the mini-fridge on the other side of the nightstand and took out a bottle of Berry Family Hard Berry Punch and placed it on the night stand. Slowly she reached over to her lamp and turned it off. Tired she laid in her bed with a drunken smile. “See you next year buddy…” her eyes shut and she was drifted away into the darkness.
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Sitting in in a soft and comfy cloud chair she recalled a time when rainbow dash had told her about how cloud were the softest things imaginable. So how could she resist the temptation of having it in her dreams? Especially in this situation she now faced. She picked up the remote on her armchair and pointed it at the cloud television set. She knew there was no point in waiting for this. She picked up the remote control for the cloud T.V…
(Click) she began her night. The screen was showing two fillies, one was of herself, a much younger Berry Punch. So innocent, she thought to herself. And next to her was a young Lemon Drop, her yellow fur and blue mane and water like droplets on her flank looked outstanding to her no matter how many times she saw it. They were in a field together, talking about how Lemon Drop had a fresh cutie mark adorned her flank.
“It’s just so awesome though!” Berry stated with excitement. “My best buddy in the whole wide world just got her cutie mark and on top of that in making alcohol just like my families business is!”
“Calm down a bit Berry” Lemon Drop exclaimed “I mean yeah it’s awesome and all but you forget...” She paused waiting a second for berry to look at her “Dad was PISSED when he found out about how I took some lemons for turning into Lemon Drop no less.”
“But he should be proud of you” Berry tried to counter
“Yea proud I used the lemons he told your father would never be turned into alcohol to your father no less on the pretexted that it was immoral.
“Look on the bright side” berry grinned
“What Brightside?” asked a now confused Lemon Drop.
“Both of our families are not in a financial boom thanks to your recipe! One that has been going on for about…” she paused and looked up as though she were in deep though but in truth didn’t need it. “Four months, three and a half weeks!”
“of course your keeping track” Lemon Drop said ”you’re the genius in your family that went behind your dads back and started up a franchise in Canterlot were the success sprawled out of control so much he found out in a newspaper a month later!... props by the way, Didn’t think you could keep a secret for that long.” The smirk on Lemon Drop’s face was so apparent that Berry couldn’t help but look at it and think, you smug jerk!
Looking onward she realized where they were…she began to breathe deeper…
“Hey Lemon Drop” Berry excitedly said. “Let’s head up one of these trees”. She ended that vile sentence.
“Come on berry” Lemon Paused with, “you know that one farm filly will be around soon…”
“That’s why we’re here though! To show that little…Lack luster PRUDE!” she exclaimed prude as though it were a piece of damning evidence in a trial. “That we’re gonna do what we want.” She finished with a definitive end.
“Alright” Lemon said “we can climb up a tree or two” she paused “but then let’s get goin she finished with a sense of earnest desire to not be there.
“o.k. o.k. “berry said with a census of defeat. Looking onward toward her conquest… the apple tree.
Lemon started to climb the tree with little care. Berry looked at her, she was quick as she grabbed and pawed at the tree like an animal as she climbed it. The tree that Lemon was climbing was the tree of fate. Lemon made it to one of the upper branches. “Berry come on up!” she said with exhaustion. “Get up here!”
“Just give me a second.” Berry said with a sense of bewilderment. I got to get up there. She took a moment to look upon the tree. It was tall and erect, as though the world was beneath it. She could feel the triumph she would have over this tower like object. A hoof reached up quickly followed by another. Her hind legs were quick to follow. With force behind each limb she began to climb and overcome this obstacle, before long she was atop the same branch as Lemon Drop. “See…” she was panting “I needed a second…”
“More like a lifetime” Lemon smirked
Ah shut up” Berry punched Lemon on the shoulder and turned too climbed down the tree.
“AAAAHHHH” lemon screamed, she had lost balance on her rear hooves and was teetering off the branch
“Lemon?” as though the world decided that time was too fast, everything was moving slowly for Berry. She looked as Lemon reached a hoof toward her, she reacted all too slowly as she reached out to grab Lemon. As though Celestia herself decided to taunt her, she saw how the minutest of distance was between her and lemon’s arm. “LLLLLEEEEEMMMMOOOOONNN DDDDRRRRROOOOOOPPPPPP” she screeched. She knew that the nightmare was only getting started, now began the part all too hard to keep track of. She saw herself desperately shaking lemon begging her to get up. The farm pony Apple Jack trying to figure out what was going on. The funeral that happened mere days later was after within seconds. She saw as she began creating a concoction in her basement without a single pony knowing. She was walking in now, “heeeeyyyyy dad (hic) I goooot muh cutie maaaark…” the symbol on her flank was nothing more than a reminder to her now. The images on the screen were flashing by now, alto quick.
“Please…” she was falling “No…” she was trying to wake her “Stop!...” she was at her funeral “ why?...” she was drinking “don’t…” she was climbing the tree “make it stop make it stop!” it was Lemon Drop looking at her now, through the T.V. “…Lemon…Drop?...”
Lemon was now smiling “what’s the matter… murderer?...”
“No I…”
“Didn’t throw that punch?” she was pulling herself through the T.V. screen. “I remember… That punch…”
“But I’m…”
“Sorry you killed me?” She was getting close now. “Sorry doesn’t bring me back to life killer…”
I… I…”
She was upon her now. In unison they said “killed you” “killed me” she was reaching a hoof toward the tear covered mare with an intent of murder in her eyes… she froze…
Now berry was left looking upon her almost killer “that’s enough of that” a voice came from above. Descending, came Princess Luna “I’m sorry for being la ugh…” she pulled back for a second “you’re the only pony I know that can drink so much she reeks of alcohol in thy dreams!”
“PLEASE!” Berry screamed, she looked into the eyes of Luna with terror in her own before she quietly said “help me”
With a warm smile Luna waved her hoof and the apparition disappeared. She used her horn to lift the T.V. remote and changed the channel. She began to click through channel after channel. Until she fell upon a channel between to rather young fillies playing with a ball. Lemon passed it to Berry, Berry passed it back to Lemon. “Heh” Luna looked at the now calm Berry. “Lemon and Berry” Luna raised an eye brow. “We’re both fruit!” Luna smiled at this and turned around.
“Berry…” she paused just past her cloud chair. “ I can’t help you, you have to come to terms with what has happened in the past if peace and redemption is to be had.” She paused for a moment. Berry ignored her words. She was already deep inside her new world. Luna frowned “There’s only so much I can do for you”, with this she left Berry to her new dream...
Berry Punch woke up and reached for a bottle of Berry Family Hard Berry Punch. It was her favorite brand and personal favorite flavor. She reached over, picking it up and smiled and paused for a moment.
“Morning my little friend.”, and with giggle she drank some of the magic elixir of her life. She took a moment and reflected on her first time drinking this very brand.
How she was young and ventured into her family’s distillery and took a bottle. She was looking for anything that would make her feel good.
She snapped out her reflection and smiled. Then she stood up and proceeded to the bathroom to start her day. As she looked in the mirror she saw her mane and thought to herself, one hell of a nightmare.
Author's Note
Took me well over a two years to do this, mostly do to personal problems. Somewhere I just decide to finish this in the past week come heaven or hell.
