Life After the Party (or Picking up Monster Girls)

Chapter 16

(Nick’s P.O.V.)

The Christmas Dinner was a success, and thanks to Ms. Jones Pinkie’s family, and extended family, had a place to stay. That place was the house. When Ms. Jones had gone to collect the Apples and the Pies some of her contract crew had come out and performed a Christmas Miracle. They had built a large space at the back of the house, an exceptionally large room, that was split into about four smaller rooms. It wasn’t enough to give each of them their own room, but it would allow them the chance to split up and sleep fairly comfortably together.

I wasn’t sure what was going to happen. I knew that it was likely that they would be staying with us, after all that made sense, but I also wondered if it would have just been for dinner and they would be going back. Instead they had all admitted that they had agreed to take time off and that they intended to spend it with all of us. Naturally Pinkie wanted to show them around some, but with it being Christmas most of the shops were closed. But that wasn’t to say that we were not able to do anything.

I knew that we could check out the light display at Rhema Bible College and of course if we could arrange some transportation we could also check out the display in Muskogee at the Azalea Gardens near the Veterans Administration. I was hopeful that Ms. Jones could help us find a little more transportation than my old Ford. I could squeeze about eight people into the cab, if they were pretty friendly with each other, and that would be about it. Much more than that many would be asking for trouble. Max had his car, but with Fluttershy and himself he could maybe squeeze four more into the back seat, again if they were super friendly with each other.

It wouldn’t be comfortable, and that would make the experience less enjoyable. I grinned as I realized the answer. I could actually make this happen without bothering Ms. Jones. One of my friends had worked a bunch of crappy jobs straight out of highschool, and then went on to purchase a limo and got his chauffeur’s license, along with a Class B CDL when he purchased a bus a year later, and had his own chauffeur’s business. He rented limos out for various occasions, the biggest being proms and other formal wear dances. We’d kept in touch, for the most part, and I hoped that he wouldn’t mind doing something like this.

I had offered to help put things away, clean the dishes, but Pinkie shooed me away saying that she would do it, and both her mother and younger sister joined her. So, with that in mind I called Louie Crowsley. The phone rang twice before I heard a voice that sounded between joy and annoyance.

“Louie, what’s up buddy?” I asked, “Merry Christmas!”

“Nicky? Is that you?! Son of a bitch! Merry Christmas! How the fuck are you?!”

I grinned, “I’m doing good. Say, the girl I’m dating has her extended family over, and I was thinking about showing them the lights. The problem is that I can’t fit everyone into my truck.”

There was some silence, and then a barking laughter, “So, you finally found something that old Ford can’t do huh?!” he laughed as he got the words out, “How many we talking about?”

I did a quick count, and included Max, Fluttershy, Yuki, Pamela, and Josh. That meant that there were eighteen in total. I informed him of that and I heard a short whistle, “Well, not the most I’ve ever hauled,” he said sounding impressed, “So this is mostly her family huh? Well, good to know that you’re going to have folks around that give a shit about you. Buddy, tell you what. We’re friends, and we’ve been friends for a long time. You cover the fuel for it, and I’ll pick you up in the bus. I’d do one of the limos, but honestly it’d be a little cramped for that. But the bus is an old charter thing, so it’s comfortable, its got a bathroom, and even has a minifridge and snack bar I installed. It should be a treat for them. So, what’s the destination?”

I smiled, “Rhema Bible College first to look at the lights, and then if you feel up to maybe the Festival of Lights at the Azalea Garden in Muskogee?”

There was silence, “Sure, I don’t mind,” he said sounding a little off, “I don’t have much else going on.”

I waited a second, “Louie, everything okay?”

There was more silence, “Yeah, I mean it is what it is right?” he asked his voice sounding calm, “Just that after Anna I haven’t seen anyone. Hell, I’ve spent the most of Christmas alone. Hauling you and girl’s family around might be the closest thing to having fun I’ve done in about six months.”

I sat there, “Dude, I’m sorry, I really am,” I said meaning every word, “But seriously Anna was a world class bitch. I’m glad that you didn’t get married, and I’m sorry that she did you so dirty.”

There was more silence, “Yeah, me too,” he admitted sounding down, “I’d kind of like to meet someone else from the country. You know, a girl that knows what it is to work for a living, and not someone that’s just looking for a sugar daddy to get money off of.”

I grinned as I realized that I had a chance to play cupid, “Maybe that can happen. I know that my girl’s cousin works on a farm, she’s a hard worker, not bad looking, and seems to be pretty outgoing, and her younger sister works pretty hard too, and also fairly easy on the eyes. I can’t promise much, but I think that if you act like yourself that you might have a chance.”

I smiled as I heard a laugh, “Just be myself huh?” he asked, sounding a little unconvinced, “Sure, hey if it works out then that’s awesome.”

I made sure that he could be here in about twenty minutes, and then I decided to let everyone know about the surprise. Pinkie’s eyes practically shinned as she heard the news, and of course it seemed that everyone else was interested in looking at the lights. We walked next door, knocked, and Limestone answered the door. She looked like her resting bitch face was gone, and instead she seemed to be in a good mood. Beside her Aaron Underhill looked to be in just as good of one. The two were holding hands, and I could grasp that something had happened between them.

Still I filled Limestone in on what was going on, and she looked at Aaron before shaking her head.

“I’m going to stay here a while longer,” she said sounding happy, “But if we change our minds Aaron said they’ve got a few of your carts, and we can make our way there.”

I gave a nod, watched her walk back in, and realized that what she obviously had needed was some decent D. I nodded, told her to have fun, and walked back over. A few minutes later I watched as a nineteen seventies charter bus pulled up. The bus was huge, no kidding, it was one of the larger Charter Buses that I’d seen. The door opened and Louie was standing there in what looked like a clean and recently pressed tour guide suit.

“Ladies and gentlfolk,” I noticed the quick catch he made, and naturally it made me smile seeing how quick he was to make that catch, “My name is Louie Crowsley, and I am here today to take you fine folks out, show you some pretty lights, find a nice place that’s likely open for business for some food, and bring you back safely. So, on behalf of Crowsley Transportation, I welcome you aboard, please watch your step.”

Applejack’s P.O.V.

The carts they brought us over in obviously weren’t made by the same folks that made this’n. It was huge, purty much as big as a whole train car, and inside there was plenty of room to spread out. Plus, the stallion driving seemed ta be a right nice feller. We all got into seats, ‘though Ah might jest took a seat a might closer ta him. Ain’t nothin’ wrong with tryin’ ta get ta know a feller. Ain’t like Ah dun asked him ta whip it out and let me see the goods. Time fer that could come later. Ah looked over and saw Marble sittin’ ‘cross from me.

One look at ‘er and Ah knew that she was plannin’ on the same thing. That’s alright, Ah ain’t got a problem with a little competition. Nothing but the doing, if’n Ah’m honest, and Ah usually am then it’s jest gonna be the matter of seein’ it through. Ah didn’t pay much attention to how soft the seats were, the fact that it was nice and toasty inside, or the music playin’ on the radio. Ah jest smiled, talked ta that nice stallion when he wasn’t fillin’ everypony in on the city itself. When we got ta place where the lights were he parked the bus so we could get out and look around.

Ah smiled as he opened the door, waited for us ta get out, and then climbed out himself. Everypony seemed ta be lookin’ at the lights, but Marble and Ah waited fer him to get out. He did and Ah gave a grin.

“So, are ya able to leave that thing parked here and show a mare around?”

He grinned, “I suppose,” he said happily, “Actually I don’t have a problem doing that.”

Before long we began walking around, lookin’ at the lights, and they were mighty fine. The ponies that did the work really went out of their way to make these look like something else. Lots of work had been done, and Ah could see the results. Marble stayed near us, and I noticed that she was talkin’ a little bit more.

Something told me that Ah might have ta work a might harder than Ah figured.

Marble’s P.O.V.

He’s sweet, kind, friendly, and he seems willing to get to know us all. Although it looks like Applejack is in full gear to get closer to him. I don’t mind, but after Big Mac I’ve learned that if I want something, or somepony, I’ve got to put myself out there a little bit. I’m still not comfortable with crowds, or lots of ponies, but it’s worth it. Talking with him I can already see that he’d fit in around our farm, and honestly I think that his bus thing would be a huge hit in Equestria. Oh, it might need to be a little altered, changed up a bit, but it would be something ponies would love to use instead of the train. Talking with him I found that he was very easy to talk to. He didn’t seem upset when I didn’t answer right away, and I found myself enjoying the night more and more.

Pinkie’s P.O.V.

I watched Marble and Applejack as they talked Nicky’s friend and I realized that he didn’t just set up Limestone, but it looked like he set up Marble and AJ! I felt so happy watching them, and I wondered how long it would be until they were getting together. From the way both of them were acting I could see the potential of a herd forming. If that happened it would be okay, and it would mean that Applejack and I were double related!

I giggled as I watched them, seeing how they attempted to get his attention over each other, and I couldn’t help but grin as they stayed close to him.

Author's Note

(AN: Yeah, it's been a hot minute for this story as well, but I'm trying to go back through and do some writing on the ones that have been left sitting for a while.)