Into The Night

***Part 1: Twilight Takes The Cake***

Twilight Sparkle lets out a loud, low-toned burp as she rubs her hoof against her stomach. She couldn't help smiling as she gazes around the bakery. Her friends were sprawled out, as well. It was clear every pony had their fair share of the Cake's banquet. Even Princess Celestia was relying on the wall for support as she tries to make her way to the door.

"Are you alright, princess?" Twilight asks her.

The white mare chuckles as she opens the door.

"Oh, Twilight... I am more than alright. That was the best morning meal I have had in many years. I think I need a long nap, now, but that will have to wait. I have business in Canterlot to return to. I will be back in time for the main event tonight, Twilight. Oh, and be sure to give the Cakes my personal regards!"

With that being said, Princess Celestia walks out of Sugarcube Corner and into Ponyville. Twilight watches as she crosses the street to a carriage and a pair of pegasus guards waiting for her. As soon as she is on board, the guard's take flight, and the princess is on her way back to Canterlot.

"Happy birthday, Twilight." A sweet voice says behind her.

Twilight spins around to face Mrs. Cake. The earth pony is offering her a napkin.

"Oh... Thank you..." Twilight says as she accepts the napkin. "Sorry, I'm still new to this whole 'birthday' thing..."

Twilight looks around at the food scraps and her full friends. It all felt so... good. That was the word. Nothing to special. It simply felt 'good', satisfying. She was with the ponies she loved, having a good time. All but one, anyway...

"Oh, you think nothing of it, Twilight." Mrs. Cake says with a light chuckle. "This is your special day. It only comes around once a year, after all."

Twilight's mind flashes through the foalhoods her her friends. She pictures them growing up through the years, sharing their birthdays with their families.

*How nice that must have been...*

Then, her thoughts take a darker turn. Images of Nightmare Moon being defeated by Celestia were burned into her mind from the time Zecora gave her that special potion. She could see Luna on the moon, nothing around as far as the eye could see. Nothing but... grey dust shifting under her hooves. She thinks about all of the lonely birthdays Luna spent on the moon... On the moon, she had no friends, no parties, and no delicious food. The more Twilight thought about it, the angrier she became. She wasn't just angry at the war between the Celestia and Luna, she was angry at her parents.

*Why did they keep this from me for nineteen years?* Twilight thinks to herself as she lets out a heaving sigh. *What about Shining? He never got a birthday party either. I... I will have to give him one when it is time...*

Twilight makes a silent vow to give to her brother what her friends have given her. It only seemed right for her to do so. Twilight smiles up at Mrs. Cake and thanks her over and over again as she begins cleaning up the many plates and dishes.

"Oh, you shouldn't be thanking me, Twilight." Mrs, Cake says. "I only supplied the food. Princess Luna is the one who planned everything. She came to me last night, before we closed, and made the order. It was one of the largest orders for a group size such as yourselves we have ever received, but she paid us in full and demanded to have the order ready for this event. When she told us it was for your birthday, how could we refuse?"

Twilight's cheeks flush bright red.

"R-Really? She did that for me?"

Mrs. Cake nods as she begins backing through the door to the kitchen, a tray full of dirty plates ballened perfectly on her back. Just before she dissapears into the kitchen, Mrs. Cake looks directly at Twilight and smiles.

"You must be one lucky mare to have a friend like Princess Luna."

With that being said, Mrs. Cake returns to her duties, leaving Twilight alone at the table.

*Yeah... I suppose I am...*

Twilight pushes the chair back and slides out of it. She takes a look around to gather an inventory assessment of her friends. Applejack and Pinkie Pie were both down and out. Rarity was still upright, sipping on a tea cup. Fluttershy was passed out with the bear in the corner of the eatery, and Rainbow Dash was nowhere to be seen. Rarity glances over just in time to see Twilight push the chair back under the table.

"Oh, darling!" Rarity chimes. "Are you preparing to leave?"

Twilight nods as she looks around for her coat.

"You'll need this, then." Rarity says, holding up a letter.

*Oh, that's right. I completly forgot!*

"Is that from-"

"Your dear friend, Princess Luna?" Rarity finishes for her with a giggle. "Yes, it is. You go on ahead. I'll stay here and get every pony moving once they are able to walk again..."

Twilight nods with approval as she steps outside into the cold. Instantly, the warmth and good smells dissapear. They are replaced by crisp air and the smell of... well, the outdoors. Twilight, with the letter in the cloud of her magic, rests her flank on the ground. In one swift tear, she rips the envelope open and takes the note out. The paper, like the envelope is stamped with the lunar seal. It reads:

     *My dear friend, Twilight

I'll bet you enjoyed your first birthday breakfast with your friends and the Cakes. I am sorry I could not be there with you. I would have loved to see the look on your face when you entered the bakery! Did you enjoy the moon cake I left you? That was a special request of mine for the Cakes to prepare. Anyway, if you are reading this letter, that means you have just finished eating, and you are ready for your next birthday mission. Come directly to the Ponyville Brewers. I will be waiting...*

     Yours always, Princess Luna

Twilight double checks the location.

*The brewery?* She thinks to herself.

Mildly intrigued, Twilight stashes the letter in her saddle bag with the other as she begins her journey across Ponyville to the Ponyville Brewery.

***Part 2: The Call To Drink***

To tell you the truth, Twilight had never been to the Ponyville Brewery before. That was because she had never been old enough to drink alcohol until now. The structure was located on the opposite side of Ponyville, directly across from her castle.

*I shouldn't be complaining...* Twilight thinks to herself as she trudges through the leaves. *Maybe this walk will burn of a little of the moon cake...*

Chuckling to herself, Twilight continues forward. In just a few short minutes, Twilight manages to reach the brewery. The building looks ancient. Old, stained bricks made up most of the structure, and three large silos stood tall over the back. A pony was waiting for her as she nears the main entrance.

"Well, top of the muffin to ya', Princess Twilight!" He says with a hearty laugh. "And a mighty happy birthday to ya' as well."

"Good... 'muffin' to you, too." Twilight says, forcing a smile. "That is an interesting way to greet some pony. I've never heard it before."

The pony raises an eyebrow.

"What, the muffin thing? Oh, that is something I actually picked up from one of my new employees. The mare makes terrible beer, but I just can't send her and those beautiful eyes away. Right now, she's acting as an administrative intern. She greets me every morning with a cheerful 'Top of the muffin!'" The pony laughs as he recalls the happy memories.

Twilight can't help smiling. It was nice to see other ponies having just as good of a day as she was.

"Anyway," The pony says as he wipes his hoof across his eyes. "You can call me Froth. I'll bet a birthday mare such as yourself is here to see that crazy princess in my office."

*A crazy princess? That must be Luna. I'm getting close!*

Twilight nods as she follows Froth into the brewery office building. The offices looked nothing like the actual brewery. For one thing, the building didn't look like it was centuries old. Inside, everything was... cleaner than she expected.

"Ah, Princess Twilight, this is the lovely intern I told you about." Froth says as he waves his hoof to a grey mare down the hall.

Twilight instantly notices the basket of muffins in her jaw's grip and the muffin cutie mark, but it was the eyes that really stuck out. They seemed to be looking in two different directions at once, never straight forward.

"Good morning- I mean... muffin." Twilight calls to the mare.

The grey mare turns her head with the biggest grin on her face, despite the basket handle in her mouth.

"What did I tell ya'? She's the sweetest filly in the brewery." Froth says as he continues leading Twilight through the offices.

After a few moments of walking, they stop in front of the board room.

"Thank you for the tour, Mr. Froth." Twilight says with a sweet smile.

"Oh, the pleasure is all mine, princess. You girls behave in there, now. I'll be down the hall if you need me."

Twilight's cheeks flush bright red.

*W-What did he mean by that?*

On that vague bomb shell, Froth gives her a slight now before trotting down the hall.

"Hey, save me one of those muffins!" He calls as he chases after the grey mare.

Twilight chuckles as she turns her attention back to the board room. As soon as she opens the door, Twilight is met with a pair of dark blue wings.

"Oh, Twilight Sparkle!" Luna yells as she embraces the terrified mare. "It is good to see you . You finished your breakfast at Sugarcube Corner quicker than expected. I have only just finished preparing our next activity."

Twilight gasps as she breaks free from Luna's grasp. Her eyes then shift along the table. At least a dozen tall glasses stood on the table, each one contained a different color liquid.

"What... is this?" Twilight asks.

Luna clears her throat as she prepares her speech.

"Twilight Sparkle, at the age of nineteen, you are now old enough to drink alcohol in Equestria. Now, I doubt you will do so on a regular basis, but it will be socially expected of you to drink small amounts on special occasions such as weddings, award ceremonies, and of course, birthdays. I have accumulated fifteen different wines, ales, champagnes, and beers for you to taste. It is only fair for you to decide now before you make a bad choice at a wedding or award ceremony."

Twilight looks all of the tall glasses over. She had never pictured herself drinking alcohol, like, ever. Princess Luna, on the other hoof, was already picking up an orange-colored drink.

"This ale is a personal favorite of mine. It is traditionally used for parties and social gatherings. Would you like to give a try?"

Not wanting to be rude, Twilight accepts the offer. Taking the glass in the grasp of her magic, Twilight lifts it to her lips. The orange drink passes through her lips and down her throat, burning the entire way down. For a brief moment, Twilight feels like a fire-breathing dragon. Her mouth burned, but there were no flames. After the burning sensation recedes, Twilight can actually begin to register the taste of the drink.

"Wow..." Twilight coughs in a raspy voice.

"I suppose I should have warned you it is a little strong..." Luna chuckles mischievously. "Here, try this one."

The moon princess takes the orange ale and gives Twilight a darker, brown beer in return.

"Again, this is a causal social drink. It is not as strong as the ale, but the taste is not as sharp either."

Twilight lifts the glass to her lips and swallows some of the beer. Luna had told the truth. The liquid smoothly slides down her throat, but it didn't taste as good.

"It all depends on your preference." Luna explains.

*Whoa... When did... When was there... there two of you...?*

Twilight was already feeling nauseous.

"Are you ready for another, Twilight?"

*I'm ready for you, hot stuff...*

The purple mare lazily nods her head as Luna offers her another drink. This time, when she tries to hold the glass in the cloud of her magic, Twilight drops the glass.

"Ah!" Luna yelps as she evades the broken glass. "Oh, dear... Twilight, are you alright?"

"Meeee? *Hic!*" Twilight slurs. "I'm *Hic!* fine... You're the one *Hic!* whose glowing..."

Then, Twilight wraps a hoof around Luna's neck and pulls her into an deep kiss.

***To Be Continued***