Stripes and Crimson - The Meeting

Story Beginning - Undisclosed Location

The cold night air filled the doorway of the gloomy manor, it's once vibrant halls that let out a serenade of the most lovely melodies, courtesy of Canterlots finest orchestras, now a dull, lifeless echo of the past, a monument to what was once a thriving economy and home to a one, Miss Final Verse.

"Ah, shithole sweet shithole..."

A brazen faced young red headed mare said to herself without any shame as she dumped her coat in the middle of the walkway, making her way down the small passage leading up to a large entrance hall and grand staircase which she happily retreated to, leaving the large wooden doors to slam shut in her wake.

The entrance hall consisted of white marble walls and flooring which reached high up to the white painted stone ceiling above , giving the manor it's bright and welcoming French Chateauesque style.

The halls in the upper floors were lined with paintings of the previous owners family lineage. The soft crunch of the red carpet that lined said halls could be heard under her hooves as she made her way to her personal chambers.

The door to Final's bedroom was a work of art in of itself, wooden etchings of mystical and magical creatures lined the old and worn wooden slab, preserving it's beauty over the many centuries of it's existence.

The mare pushed open these doors with nary a thought or care about this intricate work of art as she had seen it so many times before. She approached a mirror upon entering her quarters, proceeding to look herself over as she often did. Same Grey coat, same crimson eyes and mane, same boring old ponytail, same boring old bow same horn and same age...

While it may seem cliche, and quite possibly bordering on the Mary Sue category, Miss Final Verse had been cursed from a very young age. When she was just a filly, she was exploring the Everfree forest but with one very particular detail. This series of events occurred during Discord's rein.

Final stared into the mirror, her own piercing eyes staring right back at her, drawing upon memories long past as she fell into a stupor.

The past - Discords reign- (post age of light)

The young filly was terrified. She had foolishly gone off on her own at night, into the Everfree and was now backed against a wall, tormented by this maniacal cackling freak of nature. Discord was his name, God of chaos and disharmony.

She did not remember much, only being ripped through time backwards and forwards, each moment lasting an eternity, losing her mind only to find it once more, over and over until her body could take it no longer. She was about to lose hope when she seemingly regained control and anchored her awareness back into the present.

A filly so out of place in the world, lost and disoriented... She did the only thing she could. She called for help.

"H- hello? Is anypony there? Please... *sniffle* I- I'm lost and don't know where I am..."

Alone and afraid, the young filly pleaded into the void, her muffled sobs echoed into the darkness with little hope of ever being heard.

But heard they were.

A lone figure sat and watched in silence, she did not interfere, only observe. For a time that is...

When she felt the time was right to make her presence known, her soothing and tranquil voice filled the air as a blue mist surrounded the filly...

"Shh... do not be afraid, although we cannot undo what has been done, or undone as this case may be, we can do our best to help you through it... Rest now in moonlights embrace young one"

The filly Final calmed down somewhat, her breathing laboured and the mysterious pony's words rang out in her ears...

And then... Darkness.

She shook her head violently as she came to, snapping herself back to reality and regaining her composure.

Final would sometimes live for months or years at a time before it happened again. But the memories of the first encounter with the Lord of Chaos would be embedded into her psyche, forever.

Whether triggered by a key event or by Discord himself pulling at the strings, there would be one involuntary leap after another, and she would be forced to live out her life only to be forgotten by her friends and loved ones again and again. The only two that had ever lived long enough to remember her were the Lady of Dawn herself, Princess Celestia and the Lady of Dreams, Princess Luna. They had remained close friends ever since Luna had happened across the young filly on that fateful night.

Final ambled her way over to her favourite chaise and with her front hooves first, she climbed atop and lay across it.

There was a light red glow as a narrow rimmed tumbler levitated from it's perch within the celarette which was well stocked over the years of the mare having collecting the fine liquor, as well as the previous owner of the estate.

Now by no means was Final a bad mare, quite the contrary really. She had her twisted ways but she had a very strong moral compass.

Rather than steal this property, she would prefer the term appropriate. She was an opportunist after all and simply waited for the previous owner to be taken by time, ending his lineage forever.

With a content sigh, she levitated over a bottle of her favourite, albeit it inexpensive whisky, Wild Pegasus. The brand had seen it's debut in the years proceeding the Equestrian War, which Final had lived through to no surprise and her own chargrin.

"To life I suppose"

The mare said pouring the smooth golden liquid into the glass and throwing the serving back in one quick swig.

Nary a day went by where Final wasn't completely soused in one way or another, as it came to be liquor was her fuel. It kept her going year after year, living through each painful day. It kept her sane.

She seldom sought the company of others, as there was really nopony around who understood her way of life, all that she really had which she relished in each time it came about was the odd visit of the Princesses from time to time, whom at this point in time she could almost call family.

Final wasn't sentimental by any stretch of the imagination, but when it came to the two royal sisters, she acted like a foal on Christmas whenever they did visit, despite her age. I suppose you could say she was really quite taken by them and for good reason of course. They were caring, a riot to be around, and a little known fact is that they could each hold their liquor quite well and were fun drinking companions for the brash mare.

I suppose you could argue that drinking just makes things more interesting, but even without alcohol coursing through their veins, the royals sisters could provide plenty of entertainment. Although, at times Final did enjoy throwing shade their way as friends often do.

"So, were you planning on coming out of the closet at some point or were you waiting for Twilight to compliment your teats, Cel? You're not fooling anypony, especially me."

Final stated gracelessly, looking over the rim of the glass between sips of her beloved intoxicating nectar.

The alicorn replied wearily.

"Oh drat, I thought I was actually going to get you this time... Lulu, she found us! You can come out!"

As the Luna princess evacuated from her hiding place, Final damn near jumped out of her coat form the sudden movement.

"Sombra's frozen dick! I did not see you there, What the shit Luna?!"

The dark blue alicorn gazed at Final, her face full of a smugness that could rival the young Prince Blueblood. She then glared daggers, pouting back at her older sister as she corrected herself.

"Oh dear, it seems you weren't discovered... oops?"

Luna inhaled through her nose and let out a drawn out sigh.

"*sigh* oops..? OOPS!!! are you bucking kidding me right now?! we had her Cel, or more specifically, I had her and you gave me away, you traitor!!! Ugh!... I need a drink."

Luna huffed as she too made her way to the celarette to pour herself a drink, or to be more accurate, take an entire bottle of scotch. Making her way over to Final she stated simply.

"I'm taking this..."

Before popping the cork and necking half the thing. Luna let out a content sigh.

"Oh that is most definitely what we needed... I have had quite the day and having just returned from travelling abroad , I really could use a break. One of my clients, while he gets the job done, he has been leaving quite the cleanup for my crew and the Lunar guard who have also been complaining about said mess..."

Final, having just seen her beloved scotch drained within half a second before her very eyes had other things on her mind.

"Ok, well sweetie. That sounds like a 'you' problem, but this right here... this one hundred and fifty year old bottle of scotch, that is a 'me' problem..."

Final said begrudgingly, leaning in close and leering at the Luna princess, narrowing her eyes into slits with a frown...

"roughly translated, it is now going to be a 'you' problem..."

Luna cocked her eyebrow as the mare in front of her made blatant threats.

"My dear sweet Final.."

The goddess cautioned.

"I may not be able to best you physically but believe me when I say I will best you in logic and wit every time. Brains over brawn after all..."

Final smirked devilishly at the younger princess.

"How about I put the bottle in your wine cellar when you're done, sweetie..?"

Upon these words, Luna's eyes went comically wide at her less than elegant proposition and she immediately stepped down from her pedestal.

"I will buy you a new one on the morrow and it will be of equal or bigger size!"

she blurted out frantically due to her sudden panic.

Final chuckled at her friends hilarious backpedal.

"haha, I am teasing Lu... Don't get your panties in a tussle over it."

Final chastised the much older mare.

She really had no intention of bringing harm to who was effectively an older sister in her eyes.

"I will get a new bottle in the morning myself, I could use the exercise to be honest."

She paused and smirked gloatingly at Luna.

"Not that I really need it of course, we both know my body is stuck as is, fuck you very much, Discord... I simply don't wish to become as lazy as a princess sitting with her thunder thighs spanning her throne"

At this, the slightly more than inebriated Luna released her trademark flash of lightning, reserved for when she was utterly pissed.

"We will stuff the moon so far into your crevice that not even the stars can aid in it's escape!!!"

Yup, she was indeed pissed and Final was about to be the first mare around the moon in a manner of speaking...

"Lu, calm your teats... breathe... and remember who you're dealing with here..."

The alicorn inhaled slowly upon Final's suggestion and calmed herself, the pleasantness of her alcohol induced intoxication taking over her senses.

"We will forgo the stuffing... For now~"

Final breathed a sigh of relief, having averted the aforementioned threat. Despite being so perverted herself, she really did not take well to the idea of having anything larger than a hoof shoved in any of her orifices.

"Well, now that we have 'that' out of the way, why don't we just relax and enjoy the night shall we?"

The red head suggested eagerly. Before continuing on.

"I have hardly heard a word from Sun Butt an-"

She was interrupted before she could finish however.

"You know I hate that name, Tampon..."

The larger princess stated irritably, firing back with all the wit of a thousand lifetimes and the burn of a thousand suns.

"I'm not a fucking tampon you dense fucking queen wannabe! I swear, if you were any more dense, then you'd go fucking supernova and absorb every fucking stallions seed in Equestria, you gaping black hole of a cunt..."

Final blurted out to the Princess of dawn without any reservation.

The princesses eyebrows furrowed as she wore a blank expression and responded lazily.

"Are you quite done?"

The unicorn replied reluctantly.

"Quite..."

The princess smiled.

"Good then, because I too could use a drink. I will forgo my usual bloody mary in lieu of my former rebuttal..."

She then shuddered as she thought of actual blood of a certain variety in place of the usual tomato.

Having made her selection of what to drink, Celestia turned to Final and inquired.

"So, is there any lucky Stallion or Mare in your life at the moment? And no... Night Walkers do not count"

Before she could press further, her younger sister interjected.

"I do so wish you would stop referring to them as such, it sounds too close to my Lunar guard..."

Final then interjected

"It's ok Lu, I know where she was going with this and no Cel... no lucky hookers whatsoever"

Celestia rolled her eyes as the unicorn rested her chin on her hoof, supporting her head with a sigh.

"oh not this whole song and dance again"

Celestia chided with an aggravated tone.

"woe is me, I can't die so I refuse to be with anypony... I've heard it, hell Final I've lived it..."

releasing her hoof from her lower jaw and flattening it on the chair in front of her rather pointedly, she replied in a mock tone.

"Oh gee, okay mom... I'll find a nice Stallion who would be more than happy to spawn a little shit with me, I'll be extra sure to bring her on a destructive excursion to the royal palace and share the fucking fun!"

She scoffed at the Princess.

Celestia calmly raised her hoof to silence her and upon Final shutting up, she said her piece.

"I am not looking to control you or set you on a particular path, I have done so too many times. I simply wish for you to not be alone. Quiet solitude is nice, but only in small doses. please think on it, Final."

With a defeated sigh, Final looked sincerely at the Celestia.

"Ok Cel, I will for you. Thank you."

"Anytime my dearest friend."

The princess replied in kind as she crossed both hooves and lay her chin across them, letting her own drink take effect.

A knowing smile formed across Final's features as she had her own questions for the princess.

"So... Who is she? I bet I could wager a guess. Starts with 'T' ends with 'T' and comes at the end of the day. Twice if you're lucky."

Luna decided to chime in.

"eight was our count, we believe...."

The elder stared daggers into her younger sister

"Luna..."

She hissed in reprimand. Which to this, her younger trickster of a sister only snickered.

"You have no right to complain dear sister, it is we who have every right to complain being kept awake each time Twilight comes for a visit..."

The eldest turned scornfully to her sister.

"And what about you and that Witcher fellow? I couldn't care less if you can mount him as much as you like with little consequence... I still have to hear it! and I don't want to hear it..."

"Ah, ye olde sibling rivalry... Always a pleasure to watch, thank fuck I don't have one of my own..."

Final said while stifling a yawn.

"Though it is getting rather late and this mare is ready to pass out."

Final said nodding her head at the clock rather pointedly, which read 4:30am

"Ah yes, it was a lovely drink and chat Final, but we best be off. We have some important business to attend to come the sunrise and I and my dear sister need our beauty sleep."

The two rose from their positions and after a respectful bow, they pulled the red head into their embrace.

"Do try to visit soon dear friend, you are always welcome under our roof."

Luna said compassionately, while pulling the mare close.

Celestia then followed suit.

"If you ever need either of us, for whatever reason... simply call and we will be there."

With that, the two princesses departed the castle grounds as Final watched from below. The two sisters flew off into the night and as they set a course for home, flying side by side, Celestia bore a cocky grin.

"So dear sister... About this Witcher..."

The younger moon princess let loose a haughty and mischievous chuckle.

"Oh sister, why do you think we pilfered that bottle in particular?"

She could not hide her smirk as her plan would soon be set in motion. Celesia was still somewhat confused which lead to Luna explaining further.

"It was a bottle of wild pegasus if you recall? Dodge junction bought out all remaining stock and Final will have to trek right through his territory to get there."

Celestia then gave Luna a knowing smile.

"Brains over brawn..My dear sister, you truly are evil!"

The sun goddess chided with a snicker as they landed atop one of the castles many balconies.

After their usual formalities, they each said their goodbyes ans retreated to their respective chambers proper for the night.

With all being said and done, Luna made her way to her desk and levitated a dark blue feather quill, matching her own hue, it's glossy sheen reflecting off the moonlight.

With nothing more to distract her, she gathered her thoughts, put pen to paper and proceeded to write.

My dearest Witcher~

Content with her efforts, she smiled as she put her quill back in it's holder before hesitating and adding one final tidbit to her writing, the faintest hint of a blush adorning her cheeks.

Climbing into bed and pulling up the sheets, a small smile crept across her beautiful features... The princess of dreams would sleep well this morning.

End Chapter One