It was just at the end of summer, the last weekend before Canterlot University was set to open their doors to ponies, griffins, Yaks and everything in between. As such, the bar was quite packed with University age creatures who were barely old enough to drink, along with the normal patrons and even a few new faces. You just finished serving up what the young mare called a ‘Pornstar Martini’ but at least it wasn't too hard to make. The thing that was hard to ignore was the ‘fuck me eyes’ she made the entire time.

She dropped her bits along with an address scribbled onto a scrap of paper. “That's just in case you wanna come over and let me rock you-” The pale blue mare didn't even get to finish her sentence as you grabbed the bits in one hand, and slid the paper into the trash beside you with the other.

“Sorry, but I'm taken. Hope you enjoy your drink.” You say for what seems like the millionth time, though now it feels like it lost its original meaning and was now nothing more than an excuse. Pouting for a moment, she grabs her drink and turns away, flicking her tail in frustration from getting shot down.

But you barely get time to move on when a thick flank smacks against your thigh. “You ever gonna move on, hon? At this point, I'm starting to think you're just into stallions or something.” Grinning from ear to ear, the pony who shared the name with the establishment, and was also your boss, set a few glasses into the sink to wash them. “You know, you've been telling me about how you slept with Tempest Shadow herself, ever since I went to that party Hearth's Warming Eve… Are you a little jealous that I found somepony? You didn't have your sights set on me, did ya?”

You scoff, a smirk that can't be hidden makes its way across your lips while you can't help but chuckle. “Moxie, if I wanted to get into your bed, A; I'd already have done that. B, you wouldn't look at another mare after I was done with you. And C, well, I don't do my bosses anyways.” The little maroon mare rolls her eyes at the first two, but you catch her attention with the last point.

“Oohho ho! That sounds like you've got some juicy gossip. Spill!” Setting aside the clean glasses, Moxie dried her hooves with a bit of paper towel.

Shaking your head, you take another order from a stallion who just wanted a beer. “Well, let’s just say I’ve seen first hand how that kind of shit can screw you over.” Not meaning for it to sound as dark as it did, you sigh and look down at your boss. “A friend of mine got wrapped up with her boss. He threatened to fire her if she didn't do everything he told her. It got pretty messy by the end of it….”

Sensing your tension, Moxie gives your leg a brief muzzle. “Hey, I'm sorry if I bought up bad memories. But I would never do that to someone I consider a friend.” As if realizing just the implications of her words only moments after they were said, she quickly brushed a tassel of her curled mane away from her face. “Not that we would ever… Y’know.” Blushing hard, Moxie’s muzzle scrunched up and she let out a frustrated sigh. “Never mind. I'm just making a fool out of myself….”

Cupping her cheek, you direct her gaze to yours. “If anyone's making a fool out of themselves, I'd be me. Maybe I should just move on with my life. A year is a long time to wait, I guess.” Although the words came forth, you and Moxie both knew your heart wasn't fully behind it.

“Listen hon, you obviously have your eyes on this mare. And if it really is Tempest herself, and you say she's changed… Well that's good material to start with. You've always had a big heart, and she's really gonna need that.” Taking her words deep, a few moments pass as you contemplate the truth behind them. Standing back up, your eyes scan the room for a few moments before you smile.

“That she will.” The little pony pokes your thigh, chuckling as she grabs another beer from under the counter to pass to one of the regulars that just showed up to the bar. Though the stallion shook his head, slightly buzzed but leaned over the counter with a look of terror.

“Moxie, you gotta kick this guy out before somepony gets hurt!” The blue coated unicorn hisses with wide eyes and rapid speech, almost fumbling over his words as that look of panic even made you uncomfortable. Though Moxie was quick to get serious, the smile wiping off her muzzle faster than snow melting off a hot Hearth.

“Show me him, I'll see it handled.” Giving you only a small nod before stepping out from behind the bar, that was the signal to be prepared to jump in and help if need be. Rarely did ponies need to be shown the door, though the ones that did were usually too shitfaced to properly fight back anyways.

But a feeling of dread came up inside you as the two of them made their way over to a lone pony, who looked like he had far too much to drink. His dark eyes set upon a younger stallion, sharing a laugh with an attractive mare, white wings rustling restlessly at his sides. Wondering just what could possibly be the issue here, you barely had a few moments before the drunk stallion slipped from his stool and stalked his way over to the pair. Although the roar of the crowd drowned out any of his words from making themselves heard in your comparatively less sensitive ears, you still could see and almost feel the sharp bark that came from his mouth.

The the brown coated pony turned, looking off put as the hostile pegasus shot forward and pushed the him onto the table which broke under the sudden weight. A few heads turned, acting like a wave as ponies became aware of the situation, the white noise reducing to whispers and gasps of shock. Luckily, this allowed you to catch just a brief snippet of whatever the white stallion was saying. “-now you bastard!” But before the irate pony could take another step forwards, Moxie pushed herself in between the two. Though, seeing her only seemed to make the pot of anger boil over. “GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY WAY, THIS DOESN’T CONCERN YOU!” That was very much heard across the entire bar, ponies stepping away to form a wide berth around the three.

But Moxie was used to this kind of thing, though a bit older she could throw down if need be. “Anything that happens in these walls DOES concern me, buddy!” Pushing her hoof into his chest, Moxie pushed the drunk stallion back a few feet. “Now get the fuck out of my bar before I call the guards.” Dropping her stance and head, the mare pretty much snarled to try and intimidate the pegasus…. But whether or not he had any common sense, or just didn’t have anything to lose, he stood his ground.

“That bastard fucked my wife. And I’m going to make sure he never touches another mare again.” Trembling, his eyes wide when a wing quickly flew open, and you only caught the flash of silver for a fraction of a second. It’s not enough for you to warn Moxie, it’s not enough to blink, hell it wasn’t even enough for your heart to drop to the pit of your stomach. In a fit of blind rage, he struck.

It was quick, wing raising up to slash down the hidden blade upon Moxie herself. The bloodcurdling scream of pain filled the room, echoing off the walls and inside of your brain. Forehooves shot up to her face as blood splattered the floor crimson, the maroon mare falling to her side as her screams of pain continued. You’re over the bar in a second, heart racing like a drum as your feet hit the floor and you’re off. Nothing else mattered aside from this dead fucker and Moxie’s wellbeing, his shocked look barely registering in your tunnel visioned mind. Fist comes flying out to hit his muzzle, a deep crunch was felt inside your hand. If it was his face breaking, or your fingers it barely mattered as he was sent smashing through a table and a few stools. The wood splintered and snapped, his body like a rag doll as it tumbled into the wall. You forget about the injured mare behind you and go for the downed stallion, wanting him dead at the forefront of your mind.

“I’m going to fucking kill you.” A voice that you couldn’t even tell if it was your own said before digging through the pile of debris to find the pony. But it seems fight or flight reaction, plus the alcohol numbed mind made your retaliation barely faze him. Eyes open, panting for air through a crooked muzzle he waited for the smashed table top to come off him before attacking once more. A lance of pain shot up your left leg before going ice cold, said limb almost giving out from underneath you. Suppressing the yelp of pain that so desperately wanted to come out, your gaze drops to see the rather nice looking knife, buried to the hilt inside of your thigh. Grabbing his right wing tightly, you twist your wrist and as if it was nothing more than a small stick, it snaps in two. This actually seemed to connect to his brain, his body trying to pull back but it’s not enough. Dropping to your knees on top of him, you can’t help but hear his whimpers of pain before you cut them off when your hand wraps around his throat.

Clutching his neck tightly, you begin to choke the pegasus for all your worth. Forehooves wrap around your arm, trying in vain to pull your hand away but it’s no use. Without the proper grip, he does nothing more then scratch at the skin and pull the hairs, only making you squeeze tighter. “Gack, urk aglr!” Is all that can escape from the tight hold, his cheeks turning a tinge of blue before a hindhoof shoots out and hits you square in the gut. If there was one thing about these ponies that gave them an advantage, it was their hindlegs. The kick felt like someone had swing a baseball bat directly into your abdomen, knocking the breath from your lungs in an instant. You fall onto your back, the room coming in and out of focus as the pain only grows.

Tears trickle out of the corners of your eyes, making your vision even more blurry. Groaning in anguish, the adrenaline wears off slightly as the pained sobs from Moxie once again become clear to your ears. “My eye….” Her whimper is quiet, almost suffocated by the sobs of pain. You want to roll over and hold the injured mare, your boss, your first friend in all of Equestria, but it seems that crazy pegasus wasn't finished yet. Retching the blade from your leg none to softly, a fresh surge of pain and wetness coat your thigh.

“I-It wuzzn't suposhed to be thiss way…You shoulda jush sthayed out of it.” Drunken slurring, along with his messed up muzzle made his words a bit hard to hear. But his intentions were clear the moment he stepped away. The original target laid frozen in fear where he was knocked only a minute or so ago, this broken stallion was hell bent on finishing what he started. One step closer, ponies around all took a step back. His good wing held the bloodied blade, drops falling to the floor as dark, glossy eyes rested upon the downed stallion. His wing raised, a deep breath and he shook his head. “Bastard…”

But it seems your body wasn't ready to throw in the towel just yet. Having regained the precious oxygen that was forced from it, your body rolled, ignoring the searing and almost burning sensation from your now numb leg. You glance at Moxie, blood coating her forehooves that clutched at her eye socket, the flesh sliced back where the blade's edge had effortlessly cut through. This triggered a new anger to flow through your body as you grabbed the unknowing pegasus from behind.

“What?!”

Were the only words he managed to speak, hesitating long enough for you to grab the handle of his weapon to hopefully rip it from his grasp. Luckily feathers seem to not have as good of a grip as your hand does, and in a fast moment you wretch the blade from hiswing. With his weapon now lost, he growls and tries to hit you right in the neck. What happened next… Always felt like a blur. You dodged, he hooked, you pushed, and he kicked… But somehow in that exchange and after he managed to get his hooves around your neck, you ended up plunging the knife right into his chest.

“Gurk!”

A spray of blood filled his mouth, staining the white teeth red as his body shook in your grasp. Those dark eyes, staring hatred, anger, and at the end…. Fear. A single streak of blood seeped from the wound, not even soaking his fur as it trailed down to his belly. Lips trembling, the wounded pony tries to mumble something, his body falling limp in your tight grasp. Tears welled up in the corners of his eyes, breathing hitched as he blinked slowly a few times. “I didn't want it to end like this…” Voice ragged and rough along with the drunken slur it’s hard to clearly hear, but it mattered not as you can say nor do anything but watch as his life slips away.

Blood stained hands cradle the dying pony tenderly, rocking his rapidly cold growing body like one would a foal who awoke from a night terror. Soon though, his terror would be over and that final, pained breath would take him away. “Shhh…” Is all you can manage as you hold him close, the severity of the situation crashing down upon you in an instant. Moxie was badly injured, your own leg was numb, almost frozen, and the stallion that did it all was dying in your arms. “S-Someone get the guards and a doctor, please!” Though if anypony responded, the ringing that filled your ears made sure nothing registered as the white stallion jerked and gasped. Hooves clutched your shirt tightly and a small sob was felt against your chest.

When the limbs fell limp and the struggles stopped, you couldn't help but cry out yourself. Holding the lifeless pony in your grasp, you cried out in anguish, the guilt, pain, and suffering he had expelled, seemed to flow into your own body. Clutching the stranger close, your tears stained his unmoving chest while a loud cry of regret surged forth. You killed this pony. A being who was on his last leg, his entire life shattered before his very eyes. This poor, broken stallion who had felt like he had nothing to lose. But he did, that look of fear in those dark orbs before they lost their luster, told the whole story. His hopes, dreams, his sins and good deeds didn’t matter any more as that last inhale was held for all eternity. Forcing your gaze down to look at his face, frozen features and a vacant stare, you could only focus on the single wet streak running down his cheek. His last moments were spent in regret and distress, life probably flashing before those now glossy orbs and he could only shed a single tear in response.

“N-No...”

You’d take it all back in an instant, surely there was some other way that all of this could have been prevented. Moxie would’ve been ok, the dead pony in your embrace would’ve been alive. And you? Lifting a bloodied hand in front of your eyes, your vision blurry as you clench your fingers. Was that his? Your own? Christ you had forgotten about your leg, the icy cold numbness almost burning with the wetness that pooled beneath the limb. Feeling woozy, you turn back to Moxie and attempt to focus on your injured boss. But the sniffling blob is nothing more then that… A blur in your vision, your body swaying from side to side as you reach for her. “Moxie…” You’ve wasted all your time holding this pegasus who could’ve killed your only friend, meanwhile she was in severe pain and suffering, her face slit open and the crimson fluid streaking down her forelegs.

Soon there's a flash of gold, or several; you don’t fully trust yourself anymore, that enter the bar and start pushing their way through the crowd which quickly disperses. You’re dimly aware of a pony yelling something at you, or maybe he’s just in shock and trying to get an answer, it’s not quite clear to you. You hold the pony sized plush that you swear you had, closer to your chest, nuzzling the rainwater scented mane. “Everything went so wrong…” Is all you can manage to say before your body gives out on you and with one last blink to try and clear your eyes, you fall to the floor. Hoofbeats on the wooden boards is the last thing you remembered. They took the weight off your stomach, a few hooves trying to pinch off the bleeding coming from below but if the shouts were anything to go by, it was a losing battle….

Author's Note

Little dark and out of left field, though important to unearthing the history and connection you have and will continue to have with this locale. Moxie WILL be shown more in the future, though she may be a changed mare from this incident. You? Well, that's for the future to decide...

Onto the part you have ALL been waiting for!~