To Razz a Berry

Silver Script walked out of the train and surveyed the small town of Dodge Junction. It looked as if barely a hundred ponies lived there, and that was probably an exaggeration.

The pegasus set his briefcase down on a bench, and stretched his limbs out. The sun was starting to rise and he hadn't had his coffee yet. The train ride had been long and boring, it was a miracle he was still awake. Even stranger was the fact that he couldn't catch a nap on the way over like he wanted.

Hoping the wind would help wake him up, Silver grabbed his suitcase and took off into the sky. It didn't do much for him, but it felt good to use his wings again after so long. He headed to the general store, the only place that looked like it would have coffee, and skidded to a stop, being a little too tired after sleeping only a few hours.

Silver ran a hoof through his mane and readjusted his bowtie, cursing himself for not bringing a mirror. He went inside and found only a mare behind the counter. The mare looked up from her newspaper and was surprised to see him.

“U-um, hello, sir. W-would you like some coffee?” she stammered.

“Oh, yes! That's exactly what I need.”

Silver placed some bits on the counter as she poured him a cup. He immediately drank it. Hold on. Silver noticed something. This wasn't your average cup of joe. He drank it slower. There was something new. Something bold! He relished the hot drink, mesmerized by the fireworks of flavor. Then, it was gone. He had drunk all of it. He wanted to lick the gunk at the bottom of the cup. Wait, really? That's new.

“Um...d-did you enjoy it?”

Silver returned to reality. He just drank an entire cup of coffee with his eyes closed. “Oh, uh, yeah. I really liked it.”

“You did?” Oddly, she was shocked at his answer.

“Of course!” he said a little too enthusiastically. “I would love another cup.”

“O-okay!” She was gleeful, but unsure of what to think.

Silver savored the second serving even more than the first. He noted the strong cherry flavor that enhanced the drink. “This is delicious.” He was careful not to zone out again.

“You really think so?”

“Yeah. It's better than the trash they sell back home.”

“I dunno about that…”

“Definitely. Where did you get this?” He downed the rest of the cup.

“W-well, I...made it…”

Silver was ecstatic. “Whoa, really? That's incredible! Well, what are you doing selling it here? You could start your own café if you wanted to.”

“Oh, no. I couldn't possibly. No pony here really drinks coffee.”

“I'm not talking about here, I mean in another city, like Canterlot!”

“Canterlot!?” The mare was appalled.

“Just imagine it.” Silver wrapped his leg around her and motioned to the ceiling. “Ponies lining up around the block, each of them waiting eagerly to try your unique flavors, and you watch as they all try your coffee for the very first time in sweet, sweet ecstasy. Hundreds of ponies, busy with their stressful lives, stopping at your café for a few minutes and forgetting everything, living like princesses and princes in eternal bliss for only a few moments.”

The mare was as excited as Silver, but was as red as a cherry and was having trouble keeping her balance, being overwhelmed by the fantasy.

“You really think it could happen?” she asked with sparkling eyes.

“Without a doubt.”

He wasn't being totally honest. Yeah, he really liked the coffee, but he didn't believe what he was saying. Even if she managed to open up a café and get pretty good business, he doubted she could get very far, especially in Canterlot. That place was impossible to start a shop, it was infamous for it. Sometimes, though, a pony just needed a push to get her moving. A little white lie. That and whenever a mare was high on a big dream, it was like she had taken a pill in bed.

“The name’s Silver Script.” He shook her hoof.

“Berry Blend,” she replied, still staring upward.

“I'll be in town for the day, in case you want to keep talking later.”

“Uh-huh.” Her eyes stayed glued to the magical spot.

Silver ordered two more cups of coffee and she refused to have him pay for them. He left the three bits he had put on the counter earlier and walked out of the store, leaving the mare to her lovable ceiling.

He had work to do now, he could have his way with her later.

Silver trotted along the town searching for a library. With no luck, he went to the town hall. He wandered the empty building except for the occasional pony doing Celestia knows what. Eventually he found a room with tons of books and scrolls. After setting down his coffee and suitcase on an empty table, Silver rummaged through the scrolls. They were blueprints of buildings in town and deeds and titles to several of them. He flew up and checked the scrolls at the top. He discovered recordings of a legal case that happened decades ago. Something about the Berry and Cherry families, but he didn't want to skim through them and let them be. Rows later, he made it to the bills. The parchments held requested laws for the town.

He had to give the town credit, they kept records of everything.

Copies of the city’s constitution came next. The latest one was dated two years prior. He grabbed copies from five years and ten years ago. Silver hoped for a contradiction in the writing or a loophole so he wouldn't have to work as hard. He put the countless number of scrolls on the table. He buckled down and began reading. He was going to be there for awhile.

Berryshine lay on her back upon the hard wooden floor. It was better than the Tartarus spawn of a bed that she was expected to sleep on. She had expected the sheriff to have changed it in her year of absence, but it seemed as if his job description consisted only of sleeping at his desk all day.

Berry sighed and turned on her side. She hadn't slept all night, thinking about her coltfriend, Cherry Orchard. Well, it was doubtful that he would still want to be with her.

There was something she wanted to know, something she needed to know.

She got up and sat on her haunches next to Fizzy. He probably hadn't slept in days, and looked the part too. Berry twiddled her hooves. She wasn't sure how to ask.

“...Fizzy?”

“Yeah?”

“...Are you worried about Cherry?” Damnit! That wasn't what she was going to ask.

“Don't remind me,” he snorted. “I just hope she doesn't try to delay giving birth, the foal is already coming prematurely.” Fizzy sighed deeply.

They fell silent for a while. Why was it so hard to ask? It was a simple question. Fizzy would understand and tell her the truth. What was she afraid of? Did she not want to hear the truth? That was it then, she knew the answer, yet she didn't want to believe it. Maybe Fizzy would say what she wanted to hear.

“I'm sorry, Berry.”

Fizzy was apologizing to her? He must be drunk, the only reasonable answer. “Sorry? What could you possibly be sorry for?”

He stared at her in surprise. “W-well, I've just been...so...selfish.”

Berry was amused. He was joking, wasn't he. Him? Being selfish? She stopped laughing when she noticed he was serious.

“I'm just so...stupid!” Fizzy clutched his head, frustrated at himself. “If I had half a brain, I would’ve moved us out of here! We wouldn't be in this mess if it wasn't for me! Meadow Song would know who his father is, and Cherry would actually be happy!” He suppressed his sobs. “I never should’ve asked her to marry me.”

Berry was furious. He had no right to feel that way. “Sh-shut up!” she screamed at him. “How can you say that!? Your life is perfect! You have everything you could ever want! A-and a dad that actually cares about you!” She gritted her teeth, trying to stop the tears. “Cherry tells me every day how marrying you was the best thing she had ever done. When she's with you, she feels like she can do anything.” Berry slammed her hooves on Fizzy’s shoulders, pushing him against the wall. “Why can't I have what you have!? Why can't I be happy!?”

Now more than ever, she needed her cousin. Cherry always knew what to say, always knew what she needed. Because of Berry, now she wouldn't be able to see her again for who knows how long. It was all her fault, it always was. Maybe she told on them because she was jealous. That must be why. She envied their happiness and didn't want them to be while she suffered.

Fizzy embraced her in his legs.

“I had no idea you felt that way...I-I’m so sorry, Berry.”

She buried her face into his coat.

“To be honest, I wish I was more like Cherry: approachable and a good listener. If you're willing to give it a try, I can try listening for once. It's the least I could do after not letting Cherry see you when you probably needed her.”

Berry bit her lip, then took a deep breath. “Me and Orchard...we’ve been having problems, for a while now. I dunno how, or what happened, but we just started fighting...every day. H-he told me how he didn't want our foal. He didn't want her!" She hugged Fizzy tightly. “When he found out she was...a unicorn, he...h-he accused me of ch-cheating!” She could barely talk through the crying. “He threatened t-to leave us! I...I panicked…” Berry choked the words out. “...I told him everything. Everything! I couldn't lose him too!”

She let everything out. She could no longer live with herself. She had betrayed the only ponies she cared about and who cared for her too. Her parents were right to leave her, she was worthless.

“...You can testify against us…”

What!?

“...If you make something up, a-and ask them to forgive you, the town'll take you back…”

“Shut up! I don't care about them! I just want you and Cherry! No one else matters!”

Berry felt his tears run down her mane.

“You're the only stallion I trust, Fizzy. I couldn't imagine Cherry with anypony else.”

Silver walked along the dry ground, using his wings to review his notes. He had made sure to double-check everything. If all went well, he would have this case in the bag. He doubted any pony would have any substantial evidence against his clients.

He entered the town’s jail. Mayor Mare was there waiting for him.

“Morning, Mr. Script,” she greeted.

“Mayor.” He nodded. “You must be my client.” He turned to face the stallion inside the jail cell.

“Cherry Fizzy.” They shook hooves.

Silver spotted the mare next to him. “And who’s this beauty?”

“Oh, I-I’m Berryshine,” she replied.

Instead of shaking her hoof, he held hers and kissed it. Berry turned a deep red and scrunched up her nose. Silver held back his laughter. She was adorable.

“Um...thanks…?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Is he your...lover?”

Berry and Fizzy exchanges glances questioningly, then reeled back in disgust.

“No! Oh Celestia, no.”

“Never! We're cousins!...Wait.”

Silver chuckled. “Sorry. The Mayor wasn't really clear on the details.”

Mayor Mare shrugged sheepishly.

“Where's the sheriff?” Silver wondered, wanting to get to business.

“He went out,” the Mayor informed him. “But he left the arrest report on his desk for you.”

Silver took the report and skimmed through it. He then turned his attention to Fizzy. “I’m going to need to know everything you have done with your wife. N-not the details! Just when and where.” Nice save, pervert. “Mayor, if you will excuse us.”

Fizzy interrupted before she could speak. “A-actually, I was just thinking...I-I would plead guilty.”

“What? Why?” Silver stayed patient with him.

“I just...i-it’s what I deserve.” Fizzy dipped his head to the ground.

Silver smiled compassionately, thinking of his brother. He thought the same way.

“Hey.” Silver didn't know the details, but he did know the consequences. “Do you know what will happen if you plead guilty? For starters, your marriage would immediately be void, and then incest is a felony, so you are looking at a decade of prison time, or maybe even more. On Top of that, you will lose some of your rights as a citizen of Equestria and once you get out of prison you will spend the rest of your life looking for jobs and places to stay as you pay off a fine greater than Celestia’s crown.”

The room was dead silent. Fizzy stared, being at a loss for words.

“You can plead guilty if you really want to, just know you won't be doing your wife any favors.”

For a long time, Fizzy didn't say a thing. It must have been shocking to hear all of what could happen so bluntly.

“Alright, Mr. Script,” he sighed. “I'll do as you ask.”