I sighed, “Yeah? What?” I didn’t really feel like having to talk to anyone. I was exhausted and needed to get out of there in a hurry.

Rarity took a half-step back, “I just would like to apologize for being so hostile when we bumped into each othe the other day...”

“You...” I paused for a moment to confirm what I just heard, “...do?”

“Well yes,” she tilted her head, “it was an accident. My behavior was completely uncalled for, and unladylike. I’m sorry.”

I was speechless. I just stood there for a moment while I processed Rarity’s apology. I wasn’t sure whether I should lash out and let my frustrations go, or if I should just accept the apology.

I shook my head, “It’s alright.” I shrugged.

Honestly, I would’ve felt better if I really let that mare know how uncalled for her behavior actually was; but even like back home, I could never pull through to be directly rude and let my anger unload on someone. I guess I just rather brush things off rather than start up another potential disagreement for no reason.

“Well then,” she fluttered her eyes and bounced a curl in her hair with a hoof, “I’m glad we got that settled.”

“Yeah, me too.”

Man, this was getting awkward, and fast.

“Well I better get going. I have plans tonight. I’ll see you around I guess.” I left Rarity and Sugarcube Corner and headed for my apartment.

I unlocked the door and placed my finally found tool box alongside the desk, and sighed in relief.

“What an episode that was finding you.” I chuckled at the toolbox. Yeah, I talk to inanimate objects sometimes. What of it?

I trotted over to the small cramped bathroom, and gave myself a thorough look-over in the mirror. I was going to meet up with Pin Stripe soon and head to the bar after all; might as well look somewhat presentable. I took off the vest and set it down next to the sink. I took another look at myself in the mirror, and squinted.

“Hmm,” I thought, looking down to the vest, “maybe I’ll wear this after all. It suits me.” I shrugged and was just about to pick up the vest with my teeth, but I decided to try using magic instead.

I took a step back, and imaged myself picking up and putting on the vest. With an assuredly gentle tap of my horn this time, I looked to the vest. Along with my horn, it began to glow white. To my surprise, I actually managed to easily lift it a few inches off the counter. I was rather impressed with myself.

“Ha, sweet!” I watched the vest hover closer and closer to me, but my concentration was broken by the thought of a couple certain unicorn mares. The aura surrounding the vest and my horn disappeared, and the vest dropped to the bathroom floor. “Ahh, damn.”

“Concentration is definitely key to this...” I rubbed my forehead, “Practice too.” I knelt down and picked up the vest with my teeth, flicking it up over my head and slipping it on. I flicked off the light with my hoof and left my apartment, and headed into the dimly lit evening light of Ponyville’s streets.

“How’d it go, Rarity?” Lyra called from inside the open door of Sugarcube Corner.

“How’d what go?” Pinkie Pie interjected.

“Rarity finally apologized to Davin for being rude or something.” Lyra shrugged in response to Pinkie’s question.

“Oh...” Pinkie nodded her head in understanding.

“Well?” Lyra repeated, as Rarity trotted up.

“Well, he knows I’m sorry.” Rarity shrugged, having a disgruntled look about her face.

Lyra shrugged, “Well it’s better than nothing, I guess.”

“I suppose it will have to do.” Rarity stated rather disapprovingly.

“Well how about we go out for a drink or something, Rarity? Get your mind off a few crazy things that have been going on around here lately.” Lyra placed a hoof onto Rarity shoulder, then turned to Pinkie, “Want to join us Pinkie?”

Pinkie gasped, “Do I?! I’d love to!”

Without waiting for Rarity to agree, Lyra nodded. “Perfect. Bon Bon will probably want to come too, I’ll go ask her.” Lyra left Pinkie and Rarity in search for Bon Bon.

“This is going to be so fun!” Pinkie hopped in excitement.

“I hope so.” Rarity rubbed the back of her head with a hoof

.

It didn’t take me long to find Pin Stripe; his short, spiky electric blue mane and tail stood out in a crowd. Plus, he was almost as tall as I was. He was standing in a group of three other stallions; none of which I recognized. I looked at the group again. Actually, there was one of the three that I did recognize. The same stallion that I thought I would’ve had a scrap with the other day; Braeburn.

“Hey man.” I trotted up to the group, waving a hoof.

“Hey, Davin!” Pin Stripe greeted, “Guys, this is Davin. He’s that mechanic I was telling you about.”

“How’s it going guys.” I nodded my head in salute.

“Howdy.” A buff red stallion extended his hoof out to me, which I shook with my own. “Name’s Big Mac. This here is mah cousin Braeburn.” He pointed a hoof towards the tan stallion with the cowboy hat.

I turned my attention to Braeburn, “Yeah, I think we’ve met before.”

“We have?” He tilted his head, sticking out his hoof.

“Yeah, back there when I bumped into Rarity.” I shook Braeburn’s hoof, not taking my eye off him.

“That’s so strange;” Braeburn rubbed the side of his head, “Rarity mentioned somthin’ ‘bout that too, but I can’t say I have a clue ta what y’all are talkin’ about.”

“Really?” I jerked my head back, “You don’t remember telling me to watch myself?” I narrowed my eyes, scrutinizing the colt.

“I think ya both mus’ have me mistaken for somepony else there, Davin.” Braeburn raised a hoof.

“Nope, it was defiantly you, man.” I shook my head.

“Ahem,” Pin Stripe cleared his throat, “Anyways... Davin, this is my pal Bronze.” He pointed a hoof to a light orange pegasus with a silvery-grey mane. He had a cutie mark of a red hot steel rod being struck by a hammer on an anvil.

“Nice to meet you, Bronze.” I extended my hoof.

“Yeah,” he gave me a skeptical look before shaking my hoof, “you too.”

“Alright, cool. Now that we’re all acquainted, let’s go get our drink on, boys!” Pin Stripe led the way to the bar.

“About time!” Bronze cheered, following closely after Pin Stripe.

Big Mac chuckled and shook his head at the pegasus. I too followed after Bronze and Big Mac, only to notice Braeburn standing behind, looking off into the distance.

“Uh, Braeburn? You coming?”

“Uh, yeah.” He shook his head and trotted up to the group.

“You alright?” I nudged him with a hoof.

“Yeah, I’m jus’ fine.” He rubbed his forehead with a hoof. “Jus’ been workin’ myself too hard that I’m seein’ things. I swore I jus’ saw myself trot across the street.”

“Cousin, we’ve all been workin too hard.” Big Mac piped in, “Things’ll get better come Monday, cuz. AJ mentioned she dun’ hired a mechanic ta fix all our ‘quipment.”

“Wait,” I paused, raising a hoof, “you know AJ?”

“Uh, yeah, she’s my lil’ sis.” The red stallion beamed at me.

“Oh!” I nodded my head in understanding, “Well, uh, I’m the mechanic she hired.”

Braeburn and Big Mac both snapped their full attention to me as their mouths fell open.

“You?” Big Mac studied me thoughtfully.

“Uh, yeah.” I bit my bottom lip.

“You sure y’all can handle workin’ on all our farm ‘quipment?” Big Mac raised a brow, “Some ‘em repairs are even beyond me.”

Well that’s a discouraging statement. Don’t make me feel like I have to reconsider Applejack’s offer before I even get to start, Big Mac. Jeez.

“There’s no repair job that I can’t handle, Big Mac.” I tried to reassure the red stallion.

“We’ll see.” Big Mac swung his head unknowingly.

I shrugged off Big Mac’s doubt and continued on with the group towards the bar. I assume we were getting closer, because the nightlife of this one street was bustling with lively ponies and there was a constant low-frequency hum of bass emanating from the few clubs and pubs.

We finally made it to the bar, but had to wait in line for the bouncer to let us in. Good to know no matter what planet or plane of existence you’re on, you have to wait in line to get into a club.

After a few long minutes of waiting, our group was next in line.

The bouncer’s eyes fell upon the brown earth pony with the blue mane. “Back again eh, Pin Stripe?” The bouncer immediately opened the door to the bar, letting all of the group in, only to hold out a hoof, stopping me in my tracks.

“Who are you?” The bouncer gleamed at me.

“Umm...” I was caught off guard, not expecting to be immediately put on the spot for no apparent reason.

“It’s cool man,” Pin Stripe called from inside the door, “He’s with me.”

The bouncer took another long hard look at me. “Not going to be any trouble now, are ya?”

“Not planning on it.” I shrugged, trying to lighten the mood.

The bouncer glared at me. Clearly he didn’t have much time for a sense of humor; too busy being a hard ass I guess.

“No, I won’t.” I reassured the bouncer, who finally let me inside to join the group. I sighed in relief as I was rejoined with the others.

“What was that ‘bout?” Braeburn asked, pointing to the bouncer outside.

“Don’t know, man.” I shrugged, “I must just have that face where everyone has to give me a hard time, I guess.”

Braeburn chuckled, “I know the feelin’.”

You know, I was wrong about Braeburn. He seems like a cool guy. He’s definitely not acting at all what I would’ve expected from the impression I got of him from that bump-in with Rarity.

“So you been here before?” I asked, taking a look around the crowded bar.

“Nope, it’s my first time goin’ ta a bar in Ponyville.” Braeburn also looked around the bar, then paused when something caught his eye. “I’ll talk with ya in a bit, Davin.” I watched Braeburn make his way into the crowd of ponies, when somepony bumped into my side.

“Hey there, cutie.” I turned around to find a pink earth pony mare with the cutie mark of a bunch of grapes and a strawberry. Don’t ask me why I noticed her cutie mark above everything else. Just don’t.

“What’s up?” I tried to play it as cool as I could.

“Can I buy you a drink?” she asked, gesturing a hoof over towards the bar.

Well, usually I’d be the one offering to buy the chick a drink in this sort of situation, but she beat me to it I guess. Whatever, I play.

I took a glance around the room, “Sure, why not.” I smiled to the mare and proceeded with her over to the bar.

“Rarity, what are y’all doin’ here?” Braeburn happily trotted up to his marefriend, who was enjoying herself with the company of Lyra, Bon Bon, and Pinkie Pie. Rarity paused when she noticed Braeburn approach.

“You have some nerve mister!” Rarity glared at the tan stallion, stopping him in his tracks.

“W-what?” Braeburn stammered, “What’s the matter Rarity?”

“You know darn well what the matter is!” She stomped a hoof to the ground, “How dare you hit a mare!”

“I-ah, What?!” Braeburn’s eye twitched uncontrollably in confusion, “I ain’t hit no pony, Rarity!”

“Don’t lie to me Braeburn!” Rarity stood a mere inch from Braeburn’s face.

“I ain’t lyin’! I swear, I never hit no pony!” Braeburn took a step back.

“Braeburn, don’t make me loose my trust in yo-” Rarity was distracted by Big Macintosh coming to Braeburn’s side.

“Everythin’ alright over here?” He glanced at Rarity then to Braeburn, who had a deeply concerned look on his face.

“Yes, Big Mac.” Rarity pointed her snout into the air, “Everything is fine.”

“Sure doesn’t look fine ta me.” Big Mac raised an eyebrow.

Braeburn couldn’t conjure up anything to say. He just threw his hooves into the air in defeat.

Rarity sighed, “Big Macintosh, has Braeburn been with you this entire evening?”

“Eeyup.” The red stallion nodded his head. “Only left the orchard at ‘round noon today ta come see ya.”

“This doesn’t even make any sense!” Rarity stomped her hoof on the floor, “Braeburn, we need to talk alone, and get some things straight.”

“Yes ma’am.” Braeburn agreed, “I’ll see y’all on Monday cuz.” He dismissed to Big Macintosh, then left the bar with a very frustrated and confused Rarity.

“Um, alright, guess it’s just us, girls.” Bon Bon shrugged, exchanging looks from Pinkie and Lyra.

“So what’s with this colt-cuddler of a friend you got, Pin?” Bronze nudged the brown earth pony seated on the stool next to him.

“I really don’t assume he’s gay, Bronze.” Pin Stripe shook his head, “He’s a mechanic. Plus look over there, he’s already talking with--Wait is that Berry Punch?”

Bronze followed the direction Pin Stripe was pointing, “Berry Punch? What the hay is he doing talking to her?”

Pin Stripe slumped his head onto the bar and sighed, “I’ll never have a chance with her.”

“Oh cheer up, pal.” Bronze patted Pin on the back, “You just need to catch her attention is all. Here, let me go help you out.” Bronze got up from his stool, “I’ll be your wingman tonight, bro.”

Pin gasped, “Bronze, no! It’s alright! You don’t have to--”

“Oh c’mon man, just let me try to help you out.” Bronze laughed and trotted off to intercept the blue stallion conversing with Berry Punch.

“Oh Celestia, help me.” Pin waved down the bartender to pour him another hard cider.

“Hey girls, look! It’s Davin!” Pinkie pointed a hoof towards the bar.

Bon Bon gasped, “Lyra, you should go talk to him!”

“Why are you always getting me to go talk to him, Bon Bon?” Lyra nudged her with a hoof.

“Lyra, just go talk to him. He’s right there.” Bon Bon pointed a hoof down the bar. Pinkie giggled.

“He’s looking at you! He’s looking at you!” Pinkie squealed.

Lyra turned around to notice the navy-blue unicorn looking her way. He awkwardly turned his attention away.

“I can’t do it.” Lyra turned back around to face her friends.

“Oh Lyra.” Bon Bon shook her head, passing Lyra a drink. “Just drink this. Loosen up.”

Lyra hesitantly grabbed the glass, and gulped down the drink. “There, happy?” she wiped her mouth with a hoof.

“Almost; just one more thing to do.” Bon Bon grinned sadistically.

“What do you mean, one more thing?” Lyra suddenly felt concerned.

“Thank me later.” Bon Bon trotted off towards the stallion at the bar.

“Bon Bon, No!” Lyra cried. It was too late. Bon Bon was already halfway down the bar.

“Ooh, you’re a mechanic?” the pink mare asked, passing me a frosty cup of hard cider.

“Yup, been fixing things my whole life.” I stated with a bit of pride, picking up the glass which luckily had a handle for my hoof to fit through. I took a sip of the cider, “Huh, this is actually pretty good stuff.”

The mare giggled, “So what’s your name?” she took a sip of a drink of her own.

“Davin. What’s yours?”

“I’m Berry Punch. So what brings you here, Davin?” She asked, clinking her glass to my own.

“Well, I came here with a few friends.” I glanced around the bar for any sign of Pin Stripe, locating him sitting alone at the bar sipping from a glass.

“Well I would assume so.” She giggled, “I mean to Ponyville. I’ve never seen you around before.”

“Well let’s just say it was either a strike of luck, or a burden I have to live the rest of my life with.”

Berry Punch tilted her head, “I don’t think I follow what you mean.”

“In all honesty, I’m not sure I even understand how I ended up here in the first place. I’m just trying to make the best of it though.”

“Aren’t we all.” Berry Punch agreed, holding out her glass. I held out my glass to hers and we both took a drink.

“Hey, yo, Berry! Sup?” Bronze interrupted, resting a hoof on my shoulder, much to my disapproval.

Berry Punch sighed, “What do you want, Bronze?” she asked flatly, glaring at the orange pegasus.

“Oh, just wanted to introduce you to a friend of mine.” He nodded his head, offering a hoof towards the other end of the bar.

Berry sighed again and placed down her now empty glass. “Fine, why not. I’ll be right back, Davin.” She left alongside Bronze, turning her gaze back to me with a wink.

I nodded my head and sighed.

If I had a dollar, or in this case, a bit, for every time that happened to me at the bar, I wouldn’t have to pay for my own drinks.

I rolled my eyes and turned my attention down the bar, where I think I could make out Pinkie Pie talking with Lyra and that cream colored earth pony with the pink and blue mane talking amongst each other. From what I could tell, Lyra looked like she was looking at me. I quickly turned my attention away and turned back to face the bar. I quickly ordered another drink.

“Excuse me?” the cream colored earth pony with the blue and pink mane tapped me on the shoulder with a hoof.

“Hmm?” I turned around to face the mare, “Uh, hey.”

“Hi.” She smiled, “I’m Bon Bon. Can you come with me for a second?”

“Um, sure. I guess.” I hopped off my stool, and stepped up next to the mare, “I’m Davin by the way.”

“I know.” She nodded her head and giggled. “This way.” She led the way down the bar.

“So, uh... W-Where are we going?” I stepped a hoof ahead of the mare, to make sure my question got answered. I was beginning to become unsure about this situation. Nothing but shenanigans came out of being near this pony; her and that mint green unicorn, Lyra.

Bon Bon pointed her head towards the pink party pony and the mint green mare.

Ah shit. She's leading me right to her. Oh boy, what do I say?

I drew a blank trying to prepare myself for the impending conversation with the green unicorn.

Bon Bon and I came to a halt, joining Pinkie and Lyra. I was glad Pinkie was there, at least I could open up with her at that moment.

“Hey Pinkie, How are you?” I asked, stalling my inevitable awkward conversation with Lyra.

“I’m super!” Pinkie thrust both her hooves into the air.

I chuckled, “Pinkie, when aren’t you in a good mood?”

Bon Bon was catching on to my stalling. “Ahem,” she cleared her throat, “So Lyra, you said you wanted to ask Davin something?”

I lowered my head in defeat.

Here we go; I hate how I always seem to find myself in awkward situations.

I faced the inevitable, and faced Lyra.

“Um, so, uhh... What brings you to Ponyville?” she nervously managed, shuffling a hoof.

Bon Bon facehooved and groaned. If I had been any more rude and less understanding than I already was, I would’ve done the exact same thing as Bon Bon. It was going to be a very, very, long night.

Author's Note

Well look at that; two chapters in one day!
You guys are lucky that you're awesome enough to have me slaving away writing this thing. But seriously, I can't believe how much positive feedback I;m getting from this story so far, and how many of you actually enjoy my work! All I can say is that there's no end in sight yet, and I plan to keep you guys entertained for as long as I can drag this thing out!
Davin's adventures are only just beginning!

As always, feel free to comment and share your feedback!