It was a little after one in the morning and I was here in a bar with nopony else but the bartender. The bartender came over and handed me a glass of alcohol when I heard somepony come through the door. I turn my head to see who it was. It was another mare who looked about my age if not, slightly younger then me. She asked for a drink and the bartender handed
her one. I noticed she had turned her attention to me.
"Aren't you a bit young to be in a bar?" The mare asked me as she sat down at the counter ungracefully.
Christmas was a time to celebrate with friends and family. What in Equestria could she be doing here? Guess I'm not one to talk since I'm doing the exact same thing. The dim yellow lights illuminated her face softly. I found her quite attractive, but her mane was just too unconventional. Maybe it was the drinks finally catching up to me,maybe it's because I'm feeling lonely or maybe she reminds me of a certain stubborn mare I know but whatever the case may be, compared to her, I had to admit that I looked quite young.
"No, what makes you think that?" I said a little offended, putting the glass to my lips.
"For one," she said, raising her hoof up to indicate to the bartender that she wanted the good stuff from the top shelf, "you look like you're seventeen." She brushed her braid off of her shoulder.
My eyes caught sight of her mane, confused that it was tied up in the same manner as mine. I felt self-conscious, but replied confidently, "As a matter of fact, I am."
The bartender gently placed a block of ice into a glass, not caring for a single moment that I just said my age.
"What?" she exclaimed loudly.
"Actually, I own this place." I said, sipping my drink again. I earned no response from her, so I spoke on. "The names Braeburn. I own most of this area."
Speechless, she grabbed the drink from out of the bartender's hoof. She downed it with such speed and ferocity that I didn't have the time to make another comment.
"Another," she said.
"What are you doing here then? In my bar?" I asked. "Shouldn't you be out celebrating Christmas with your family?"
"Family? Tell me about it." she sighed, watching as the bartender poured the reeking brown liquid into a new glass for her. "I'm here to forget about them."
"Oh?"
I leaned forward on the counter, interested.
"What about you?"
"I have no family to celebrate with," I chuckled softly, gesturing to the bartender. "Well, that's a bit inaccurate. To be honest, I have no idea where they are." Not wanting to destroy the mood, I smiled. "Drink up. A bar's a good place to confide in strangers. Plus it's cheaper than a therapist if you can control yourself."
"Berry Punch. You can call me Berry if you'd like. It's nice to meet you, Braeburn."
"Berry, huh?" I replied, tapping my hoof on the counter gently. "Drinks are on me tonight. Order whatever you want."
"Are you sure? I'm a complete stranger yet..."
"I own most of the area, remember? They won't charge me since I work and provide for them."
The comment made her raise a eyebrow but I paid her no mind. It was just a simple fact. I turned my head and watched as the bartender placed the glass gently on the counter.
"Don't drink too much though. If you get too messed up, who knows what could happen. You're placing your trust in a stranger."
"All I've got to do is outdrink you then."
"Oh? That sounds like a challenge."
"That's because it is."
An hour or so later, after we had indulged in a couple of drinks, we went back to talking about our families. She had become quite vocal. She started complaining about her father.
"He's a complete a-hole. Never here for the family. I don't remember him ever celebrating my birthday with me. He just left my mother and left with some broad. The bastard." She smashed her hoof on the counter with such force that it seemed like the glasses jumped up in the air for a moment. "Not my fault I was 'a lost cause'. It's just cause he was never home! I could care less about him!"
She mentioned to me that she'd gotten in trouble with the Royal Guards a couple of times and I nodded silently. Children making trouble outside of the house to get noticed by their parents was common. Lots of them did that for the attention they never got when they were young. Yet, her father never came home, even after she was jailed. Even though I've never been in that type of trouble, I sympathize with her.
"So, what about you, buddy? I don't assume your dad's with some higher ups or something. Wouldn't surprise me since we're in the country side and all. That's probably why you own this place." She asked drowsily.
The drinks had gotten to her, and she was swinging a glass back and forth dramatically. Thankfully, it was empty.
"It would be simple to say that," I smiled yet again. "But no. I left my parents out of my own free will. They're... dead. I remember very little about them but, I wouldn't let that stop me."
I looked at the rows and rows of drink behind the counter. They seemed to belong there together. There was some sort of harmony in that, even though there were different shapes and sizes and labels. That's how I felt anyways. Different ponies from different backgrounds blending with each other. That's where my home was.
"My stepfather was an abusive asshole and my mother neglected me when I was young." I said. "I decided to take things into my own hoofs from then on."
"So that's why you own this place at the young age of seventeen, ain't ya?" she said, downing another.
At this point, she'd had so much that it must all taste like water.
"Well, your half right. However, nothing comes easy."
"Right, right."
She pushed her glass away and crossed her hooves on the counter.
"Tell me what you do remember about your father."
She lay her head in her hooves and looked at me. Despite her eyes clouded by the influence of alcohol, her full attention, or what remained of it, was directed towards me.
"You probably won't believe me but," I sighed, "from what I recall, he was an adventure type. He was always out along with my mother. It was mainly me and my two sisters. The only thing I have to remind me of him is an old picture. I keep it in my wallet, I just don't know why."
I wasn't sure how much I should divulge to my new acquaintance, but she'd probably forget it when she woke up the next day. Speaking of which, she had already nodded off on the bar counter. Her eyes were shut firmly and her lips were parted slightly.
I carried her and lay her on a couch in the back. I picked up a tablecloth and covered her with it. I told the bartender to let her sleep there. I decide to leave her a note, telling her to lock up the place after she leaves and to slip the keys into any mailbox, coupled with a spare of the keys to the bar. I watched her sleep for a few more moments. She was far too trusting, but then, so was I. I hoped that she wouldn't raid the shelves of their drink.
Despite our long talk, I found out that we had little in common but somehow, we managed to keep a conversation just fine, and I appreciated that. When I talked to her, it felt like I was with my rowdy but loving sisters again. It was funny how I left to get away and then find someone who'd remind me of them. It's ironic in a way. I almost want to go back in time just to see what type of life I would have led had my parents not died.
"Goodnight, stranger... And Merry Christmas to you."
Na, I can't say my life is all bad. Yea, it was pretty rough as a colt and hell, there were times where I was miserable but... In the end, it made me stronger and I was able to work for what I had. Thank you, Barry, for reminding me of my past and who knows? Maybe we'll meet again. I smiled at the thought and closed the door behind me, walking into the dark night.
