Gold had no idea how to properly describe how she felt at the moment. Embarrassment wasn't quite right, nor was ashamed, but they did feel like components of what she felt. Anger was close, but not quite there either. Fear was a massive component, but still not the emotion leading the parade.

Whatever it was that she was feeling, it refused to let her sleep.

She let out a tired sigh, staring blankly into a steaming mug of tea on the kitchen counter. Said room was hauntingly silent, the hour far too early even by the standards of her new family. A single candle was the only break in the shadows that surrounded her, the tiny beacon sitting a little off to her mug's left. As she silently stared at her own reflection in the tea, her mind played back yesterday's events over and over to her in a taunting loop.

"How could I have been so stupid?" she muttered, lips trembling. "How could I have let something like that slip? Has my madness taken me more than I thought?"

She let out a defeated sigh, unsure of what to do with herself as her tears started to fall.

Before her dark thoughts could take root, a familiar humming greeted her from the gloom. A bittersweet smile joined her tears, knowing all too well who the song preceded. A haunting chill and etherial glow approached her left side, but where most would've felt fear, she felt comfort.

"You have been active lately," Gold softly chuckled, taking her cup with unsteady hooves.

"I've always been pretty spry for my age," Manchineel giggled. "Something I hope you inherit later down the line."

"I feel that will not be too difficult," she sighed, taking a small sip of her drink. "After all, I will likely remain as I am long beyond how you were when you...passed."

"Perhaps," she allowed, her smile wilting. "We don't stay the same forever, though. Be it for the worst, or the better."

Gold couldn't hold back a brief bark of laughter at that, quickly putting a hoof over her muzzle and listening to hear if she had awakened anypony else in the house. Letting out a sigh of relief, she aimed a rueful smile at her grandmother. Said mare simply matched her smile with one of her own, this one holding a knowing slant and quirked brow.

"Point taken," she sighed, still smiling as she took a sip from her cup.

A triumphant air crept into the ghost's posture at the admission, only for concern to take its place a few seconds later.

"I heard that your meeting with Rarity did not end well."

"A massive understatement," Gold groaned, her whole body wilting like a flower in the desert.

"Would you like to talk about it?"

"No," Gold sighed, lightly trembling. "But I fear I must."

With a patience that took Gold back to her foalhood, Manchineel waited for her granddaughter find her tongue and tell her tale. If what Gold was telling her was true, things had gone fairly well at the start of the meeting. Granted, it sounded like it had been mostly awkward, but that was to be expected. All for it to completely fall apart due to one simple slip of the tongue. Funnily enough, that was also when something interesting had happened. Something that Manchineel had been completely unaware of until that moment.

***

Gold was numb, the whole world a muffled void as she sat curled into herself. She had no idea how she had conjured the iron shell that encased her, but she was still thankful for its presence. She was safe like this. Nothing could hurt her so long as she stayed safe and sound inside this shell. A faint tingle washed over her, making her shiver. She new that feeling. A scanning spell. They were trying to find a way past her defense. To hurt her. To punish her. To remind her of her place in the world.

A faint whimper crept past her trembling lips. She felt so weak. So helpless. Like a foal trapped in a dark room with a monster. Why had she agreed to this? This was foolish! She needed to run! To escape! She tried, but her body refused to move. It refused to stop shaking.

Please! she silently begged, tears pouring down her face. Somepony! Anypony! Save me!

As if pulled from the aether, she heard a familiar high-pitched mare's voice. It was muffled by her shielding, but it was impossible for her to confuse that voice with anypony else.

P...Pinkie Pie?

A second later, she felt her shell vibrate in a few places, Pinkie's voice sounding much closer at the same time. She still couldn't make out what her cousin was saying, but the fact that she was present was more than enough. Slowly, her fears started to fall away, grogginess taking its place. At the same time, her shell slowly started to crumble, falling off of her body in chucks that collapsed into piles of dark gray dust. Once her head was free, Gold drunkenly took in her surroundings with dead eyes.

Rarity and Starlight were sitting on their haunches in a corner of the room, both of them looking like fillies being chastised by a furious mother. Playing the role of said mother was Pinkie, the normally bubbly mare absolutely seething as she stood over them. Gold's hearing was still muffled, her head feeling as if it had been stuffed full of cotton while she dizzily watched the exchange.

She is so....pink, she mused, a tiny smile creeping onto her muzzle. It is really pretty. How would I look if I was pink? Would I look....that pretty?

Her foggy mind quickly conjured up an image of herself with pink fur. She couldn't hold back the giggles it inspired, falling out of her chair under the sheer force of the mirth filling her veins. She barely noticed the sudden end to Pinkie's tirade, still giggling like a school filly as she staggered to her hooves. It took less than a second for the pink mare to close the distance between them.

"Gold, are you okay?" Pinkie asked, putting a hoof on her shoulder to steady her.

"Pink," she giggled.

"Huh?" Pinkie blinked, confused.

Staring drunkenly at her cousin, she pressed an unsteady hoof into Pinkie's chest with a smile and said, "You....are pink."

"Um....yeeeeeaaaaaah?" Pinkie nodded, raising a brow.

"You...look sooooooooooo pretty,"

"Uh...thank...you?" Pinkie nervously replied, lips pulled into an awkward smile.

From her spot in the corner of the room, Starlight cautiously asked, "Gold, are you...are you drunk?"

"Drunk?" Gold frowned, putting a hoof to her chin in thought.

The fog in her mind made it hard for her to understand the word. It echoed in the fog, bringing with it memories of exotic wines and the burn of fine brandy. A hungry smile slid onto her muzzle as the word summoned even more pleasant memories.

"Um...Goldie? Are you okay?" Pinkie pressed, worry clear in her tone.

".....w.....b....," Gold mumbled, her body swaying and trembling from small giggles.

"Could you, erm, repeat that, darling?" Rarity worriedly asked, shimmying to sit further into the corner.

"Bring me the wine and brandy!" she cried, delirious smile plastered across her muzzle and pointing a hoof at the place-setting at the middle of the table.

Everypony stared warily at her, not sure what to make of the odd sudden turn things had taken. These turned into wide-eyed shock when the flower in the place-setting started to glow. Said flower twitched, then bent and coiled like a serpent. Their confusion grew as the flower slithered out of its vase onto the table, the flower's head pointing towards Gold.

"Y....You have your orders," Gold beamed. "Now....Now go!"

The flower nodded, then at a speed none of the mares thought possible, slithered off of the table and shot towards one of the doors. Rarity yelped at it, jumping clean over the table to get away from the plant, while Starlight and Pinkie watched it dart under the door.

"Gold, how did you-?" Starlight started to ask, only to freeze when she turned her head towards where Gold had been.

Key word being had.

"Where'd she go?!" she cried, frantically looking around.

"WHAT?!" Pinkie gaped, doing the same. "When? What? Where? Who? WHAT?!"

"B-But there are only two ways out of this room!" Rarity stammered, moving over to the other door. "And this one is locked!"

Using her magic, she jiggled the handle to confirm the fact.

"Can you find her Pinkie?" Starlight asked, turning towards the mare in question.

"I dunno. Maybe?" she frowned, worriedly prancing in place. "Um.....let's see....what can I... Oh! Let me try something."

As she said that, she reached into her mane, rustling around in it like she was trying to pull something out of a bag. A look of success crossed her face as she pulled her hoof out. Held in her grip was a bright pink wine bottle, cupcakes and ice cream sundays decorating its label.

"This should work," she smirked, struggling to uncork the bottle.

"I don't think this is the right time for a drink," Starlight deadpanned.

"LIES!" came a voice from above.

Everypony jumped, then looked up to see Gold standing on the ceiling. In one quick motion, she jumped down to Pinkie's side, grabbed the bottle with her mouth, and bolted out the door her plant-snake had exited through. Giggling like a loon, she quickly found her way out of the boutique, her prize held firmly in her grinning mouth. She zipped, bobbed, and weaved through the busy streets, ignoring the stares she was getting from the ponies she crossed along the way. When she finally stopped, she was left panting in an alleyway between two homes. Giggling past her breaths, she yanked the cork out of her prize with her teeth and took a pull.

An odd fruity-creamy taste hit her tongue, giving her a pleasant surprise. It was not the same as what she used to drink when she was a Unicorn, but it still met her standards. As she continued to savor the drink, the foggy feeling in her head grew heavier. Warmer. She pulled the bottle away from her muzzle with a satisfied sigh, the world around her spinning even more than before. She couldn't hold in a giggle. Everything was just so funny to her. She sat there, giggling like a loon as she took more pulls from her bottle.

By the time she ran empty, a small clattering from the front of the alley caught her attention.

Slithering towards her with roots rapped around a tall green wine bottle was the flower snake she had conjured up. Smiling, she set her empty bottle down and, once it had gotten close enough, took the new one from her summon. She hummed a disorganized tune to herself while she examined the bottle. Even in her stupor, she could see that the flower had found a fairly high quality brew for her. The label was made of golden foil with small images of grape vines slithering all across its surface. The name, Berry's Vineyard was proudly displayed at its center in brilliant magenta print. Before she could examine it further, an irate and slightly slurred female voice called into the alley.

"Give back my bottle you damn rose!"

Looking up towards the mouth of the alley, she saw a plum Earth Pony with a raspberry mane and tail glare towards her. Gold stared back at her, a look of confusion the only thing she could offer the mare. It didn't take the mare long to notice her, or what Gold held in her hooves. With an irritated snort, the mare stomped towards Gold, ready to give her a piece of her mind and get back her property.

"Alright," she growled. "Give back the bottle and I won't have to-"

"What's your name?" Gold asked, lips curved into a lopsided smile.

"Huh?" the mare blinked,

"Nice to meet you, Huh. My name is Gold Vine."

As she said that, she held out a hoof to shake.

The mare shook off her confusion, then said, "My name's not , Huh. It's Berry Punch."

"It's nice to meet her too," Gold nodded, letting her hoof fall. "But which is which?"

"What?" Berry asked, raising a brow.

"Are you Berry Punch or Huh?" Gold elaborated, pointing a hoof at her.

"I'm Berry," she said, pointing at herself.

"Then she must be Huh," Gold nodded, moving her hoof a little to Berry's left.

Berry let out a tired sigh, massaging the bridge of her muzzle.

"Okay, Gold Vine, was it?"

She nodded.

"Right, I just want my bottle back. So if you could just hoof it over-"

"We could share."

"Wait, what?" Berry blinked.

"It's no fun drinking alone," she pouted, slumping and staring dejectedly at the ground. "I hate being alone. It makes everything so cold. So dark. It's suffocating."

Berry awkwardly looked around as Gold started to softly cry, the mare not quite sure what to do in this bizarre situation.

After a few minutes of silent debate, the plum pony schooled her expression, nodded to herself, then moved to Gold's side.

"Alright, up you go," she grunted, draping one of Gold's forelegs over her shoulders and dragging her to her hooves.

"Wh-Where are we going?" Gold sniffled.

"My bar," Berry snorted. "If we're going to share a bottle, I want to at least do it without flies getting in my face."

"Okay," Gold nodded, then looked over her shoulder and chirped, "Come along now Spiggly. This nice mare wants to help us."

The rose serpent nodded, then darted up Gold's body to claim the back of Gold's left ear as its perch. To anypony else, the creature looked like nothing more than an elaborate mane decoration. Berry ignored the strange creature as she reached down to take the bottle with her mouth, suddenly a lot more eager to sample a glass then she had been previously.

"This was going to be a long day," she sighed around the bottle's neck.

With that, she began to guide her odd companion out of the dark alleyway and into the much more vibrant Ponyville streets.

***

Manchineel stared blankly at Gold, watching her granddaughter hide her shame behind stoic sips of tea. A silence that neither could properly describe sat between them as the ghost's mind struggled to digest what she had been told. Gold gave her all the time she needed to do so, willing, but not eager to continue her tale of foolishness. After a few long minutes, Manchineel found her voice again.

"You...were walking on the ceiling?"

"Yes," Gold nodded.

"How did you manage that?"

"I took root in it," she sighed.

"You...took root?" Manchineel blinked.

She nodded.

"I can sprout plants from my body. I am not completely sure how I can do it, but I can. I am going to have to find a way to pay Rarity back for the damage later."

"I....see...." she said, nodding slowly. "And you turned a rose into a snake named...um...."

"Mr. Spiggly, yes," Gold nodded, taking a sip from her cup.

"Yes, Mr. Spiggly. Quite the name you gave him."

"He told me that is what he went by. I simply acquiesced."

"I see," Manchineel nodded, looking around. "Is he around?"

"No. Berry adopted him. It would seem that he is quite adept at creating mixed drinks."

"A rose? Good at making cocktails?" she blinked.

"Quite good," Gold nodded, taking another sip. "Believe me. I have the experience to back that claim."

Manchineel just stared blankly at her for a few minutes, still trying to make sense of everything. Even her familiarity with Ponyville's reputation for insanity could not aid her in this task. Briefly, she wondered if the town's madness had grown, or simply changed from what it had been when she had been alive. Shelving that line of thought for later, she let out a defeated sigh and gave her granddaughter a tired smile.

"Getting back to the topic at hoof, I feel it is safe to assume that things settled down after this, "Berry Punch", brought you to her bar."

Gold let out a tired sigh, then glared bitterly into her mug.

"No, unfortunately. If anything, I feel that it merely exacerbated the situation."

***

The Punch Bowl was a very homey type of bar, holding an aura akin to that of a Shirish pub from an old fairy tale as opposed to the dimly lit watering holes one often found. Wooden wagon wheels repurposed into chandeliers hung from the ceiling with enchanted salt crystals in place of candles, filling the room with a vibrant golden light. A stage stood in a far right corner opposite of the bar's front door, waiting for a performer to add to the atmosphere. Wide, barrel-lid tables filled the main room with a polished, yet lovingly aged bar dominated the back of the room with enough space left over to not interfere with the activities performed on the stage. Cheers and the clanking of glasses filled the air, ponies of every size, shape, and tribe sharing their mirth with everypony within reach.

Two mares in particular were especially mirthful, the duo enthusiastically throwing back drinks with great gusto at the bar.

"Y...You know what, Gold? You're alright!" Berry slurred, taking a long pull from a mug.

"Thank you, Berry," Gold cackled, face red with mirth and spirits as she did the same. "Y...You are a....greeeeeeeaaaaaat company, too."

Berry just laughed like an idiot at that, before she called for a refill from the Earth Pony stallion manning the bar.

With a rumbling base of a voice, the stallion filled her mug with a chuckle and said, "Found a new drinking buddy, boss?"

Gold gave the stallion a slow once-over, a small blush not related to the number of brandy shots she had taken up to that point growing on her muzzle. He was slightly smaller than her cousin, but still held his bulk in spite of it. His coat was a rich chocolate brown and his mane was a messy short mop of fiery red hair. His hazel eyes were almost as warm as the smile he gave her, a fact that only added to her blush.

A knowing smile slipped onto Berry's muzzle as she said, "Sure looks like it. Why don't you introduce yourself, hun?"

"Sure," he shrugged. "Name's Brandy Barrel. And you are?"

"Thirsty," she smirked, licking her lips.

Brandy blinked owlishly at her, while Berry was banging a hoof on the bar and howling with laughter.The stallion shook off his shock before shaking his head with a chuckle.

"I'm flattered miss, but I'm afraid I'm off the market," he smiled, lifting a hoof to show a thin gold band on his left foreleg.

"Of course," Gold groaned, grabbing her drink with a deep frown. "To answer your question, my name is Gold Vine."

"Nice to meet ya'," he chuckled. "Can't say I've seen ya' around these parts before. Are ya' passing through, or settling down."

"Settling," she nodded, downing her shot. "Just moved in with my distant family a few weeks ago. I am....not fond of crowds, so I had yet to come to town until very recently."

"Geez Gold, don't be so formal," Berry giggled, swaying in her seat. "You talk like a noblemare or somethin'."

"I do not know any other way to speak," Gold huffed, gesturing for Brandy to refill her glass.

"Whatever," she shrugged. "Where'd you get that cloak from anyway. I....I've been wanting ta' ask ya', but..."

She trailed off, taking a long lazy pull from her mug.

Gold brought a hoof to her shoulder, affectionately stroking the cloak.

"Rarity made if for me."

"No kidding?" Berry hiccuped. "Now that I think about it, that does look like something she would make."

Gold nodded, taking a sip from her glass.

"She is.....a good mare. A decent mare. If only she was not born a Unicorn."

Berry and Brandy's eyes widened at that. Before either of them could speak their thoughts on that comment, the door to the bar slammed open. Everypony, the trio included, turned towards the door as four familiar mares crossed the threshold.

"Goldie?! Are you in here?!" Pinkie cried, frantically looking around.

"Are you sure you saw her come in here?" Starlight asked, doing the same.

"Positive," Rainbow nodded, stoically scanning the room while hovering in place.

"I hope she is alright," Rarity fretted, aiding in the search. "I can only imagine what kind of state she will be in if we do not find her soon."

"Telling-Applejack-about-this, 1-2-3 NOT IT!" Pinkie cried, raising a hoof.

"Not it!" Starlight and Rainbow said in unison, both raising a hoof.

"Not- Drat!" Rarity spat, glaring at her friends with a hoof half off of the ground.

Starlight and Rainbow met her ire with smug smiles before resuming their search. It didn't take them long to spot their quarry sitting at the bar. Letting out relieved sighs, they quickly made their way towards her. Gold tensed, but remained seated as they closed in on her.

"Gold, I'm so glad you're okay," Pinkie smiled, taking a seat and pulling her into a gentle hug. "You are okay, right?"

"Yes, Pinkie Pie," Gold smiled, leaning into the hug. "In fact, I am absolutely fantastic!"

Pinkie cringed a bit, her cousin's breath and unsteady posture giving her a good idea of just how much she had drank.

"That's...great," she replied, a stiff smile gracing her muzzle. "Soooooo, what do you say we head back to the farm and-"

"Do you know what I want to do right now?" Gold cut in, delirious giggles falling out of her mouth. "Have another round. Brandy! More of your name!"

As she said that, she waved a hoof at the bartender. He gave a reluctant nod before he headed off to fulfill her order.

"I, uh...believe you have had enough, darling," Rarity offered, nervously eyeing the drunk mare.

"She does have a way to pay for all of this, right?" Rainbow worriedly asked.

"Don't worry about it," Berry hiccuped, waving a hoof. "She beat my record, so her drinks are on me today."

"She did what?!" Rainbow gaped."B-B-But I've been trying to top that for years!"

"How may drinks are we talking about?" Starlight asked.

A proud smile spread across Berry's muzzle as she said,"Two hundred mugs,"

"And how many did she drink?" she pressed.

"So far? Two hundred and fifty."

Starlight's group all stared at Gold with wide eyes, neither of them sure what to make of the mare.

"I was thirsty," Gold shrugged. "Still am," she added, giving Brandy a playful wink.

"Still married," he smirked, setting her drink down in front of her.

"Do you have a brother?"

"Nope," he chuckled.

"Drat," she spat, taking a sip of her drink.

The mares watched the back and forth with mixed feelings, neither of them sure how they should proceed. At least, that was the case with three of them. Passing off a shrug, Rainbow reached into her mane, pulled out a hoofful of bits, and slammed them onto the table.

"One mug of cider, please."

"Sure thing Dash," Brandy nodded, heading off to pour her drink.

Starlight, Pinkie, and Rarity each gave her flat stares.

"When in Roam, right?" she shrugged, taking the only vacant seat next to Gold.

"That is the spirit!" Gold cheered.

The three remaining mares traded looks, then let out defeated sighs.

"While I am not proud to admit it, a drink does sound lovely right now," Rarity relented, taking a seat next to Rainbow.

"You know what? Why not?" Starlight snorted, taking a seat next to Pinkie. "I've got a few bits to burn and I guess there are worse ways to wrap up a crazy day."

"Sounds like you're gonna' become a regular, then," Berry chuckled.

Starlight rolled her eyes at that, then raised her hoof to get Brandy's attention and call out, "One burbon and cola."

"I will have a long island ice tea," Rarity added.

"I'll take three hurricanes," Pinkie cut in, still holding onto to Gold.

Everypony, Gold included, froze at that and gave the mare odd stares.

"What? They're good," Pinkie, shrugged, then bitterly muttered, "Not my fault I can't get drunk."

"I guess that's why you don't come in here," Berry nodded.

"Makes sense," Brandy shrugged, setting a tall mug of cider down in front of Rainbow and taking her offered bits. "I've seen her pound down a fifty mugs of Sweet Apple Orchard's cider like they were water."

"I am sure that the right mixture can fix that," Gold smirked.

Said smirk turned challenging as she turned towards him and added, "Do you mind if I make her drinks? I think I know of a combination that might do the trick."

"I don't know," he frowned. "Your hooves don't look all that steady to me."

"I have a way around that," she giggled. "Spiggly! Front and center!"

The rose sitting behind her ear twitched, then uncoiled itself before it slithered down from its perch onto the table and turned towards her.

"I have a special brew in mind for my dear cousin. Help me with this last request and I will free you from my service. Do you understand?"

It nodded, the tip of its stem twitching like the tail of an excited puppy.

"Good," she smirked, bending down to where the creature's right ear would be. "Now, follow these instructions to the letter."

She then whispered a long list of instructions to the creature, careful to keep her tone low enough to escape Pinkie's hearing. When she pulled back, the flower nodded, sprouted several long roots from the base of its stem, and then slithered off the bar table towards the rows of bottles on the wall behind it.

Brandy watched the odd creature with a critical eye, keeping just enough attention to himself to properly brew the other requests the group of mares had given him. Everypony did the same, mesmerized by the careful precision the rose displayed. With a tall mug set on the floor before it, the rose added varying amounts different spirits to the glass. Some parts of the drink were splashes while others were carefully measured numbers of drops. In almost perfect synch, Spiggly set his creation down onto the table at the same time as Brandy. Everypony ignored their own drinks in favor of the odd concoction set before Pinkie. The brew had a faint neon glow, slowly shifting back and forth between the colors purple and blue. A faint smell of wild flowers wafted off of it in a steady stream, adding to the intrigue the drink inspired.

Pinkie gave shifted nervous glances between her cousin and the drink, a rare hint of hesitation plain on her features. Gold gave her an encouraging nod, a knowing smile gracing her muzzle. Their friends were equally nervous, but also curious if the drink would actually do what Gold claimed. Subtly, Starlight cast a simple scanning spell on the drink to check for poisons. A second later, she gave the all clear with a relaxed nod, easing some of Pinkie's worries.

With a nervous audible gulp, the pink mare finally picked up the mug and took a small sip.

Her eyes widened the second the drink hit her tongue, smacking her lips as she pulled it away from her muzzle to stare down at it in wonder. Gold snickered at her reaction before she went back to enjoying her drink. Pinkie took a few more pulls from the mystery brew, a slight blush starting to form on her cheeks with each sip. When she finally finished off the mug, she set it down and sported a dreamy blush on her face. Everypony, sans Gold, watched her with caution, their own drinks forgotten in favor of the potential powder keg that had been set at the table.

Pinkie let out a giggling hiccup, nudging her empty mug towards the rose peeking at her from the other side of the bar.

"I'll have an*hic*other," she slurred, a dopy grin set across her muzzle.

Spiggly nodded at her, took the mug in his roots, and brought it down to his level to mix her another batch of brew.

"Uh, Gold, what did you give her?" Rainbow asked.

"Oh, just a special brew my teacher taught me," Gold chuckled, waving off her friend's concern with a hoof. "Sprits and those with spirt blood can not get drunk easily, so a special brew is needed."

"Pinkie has spirit blood?" Starlight gaped. "That....honestly makes more sense then it should."

"Agreed," Rarity nodded, taking sips from her glass.

"I still have a bad feeling about this," Rainbow frowned, watching Spiggly set a fresh mug down in front of Pinkie.

"Eh, what's the worst that could happen?" Berry shrugged.

The whole group, sans Pinkie and Gold, aimed sharp glares at her.

"What?" Berry blinked.

"Welp, I guess this is going to be my final drink," Rainbow frowned. "Better enjoy it."

"Yup," Starlight sighed, brining her own drink to her lips.

"I suppose this was a nice day for it to happen," Rarity sighed, taking a long pull.

"What? What did I say?" Berry asked, confusion mixing with her usual drunken haze.

Pinkie and Gold just laughed at their friend's reactions, both too drunk to care. Seconds turned into minutes, then to hours as drinks were enjoyed and laughs were shared. At least, that was how it was for Pinkie, Gold, and Berry. The rest of the group stayed mostly sober, ready to spring into action the second the disaster Berry's poor choice of words was summoned. By Pinkie's fifth drink, it looked like such vigilance was not going to be needed. Aside for Pinkie acting a bit more frisky towards her friends and extended family, it didn't look as if anything too chaotic had been called forth. At least not until Pinkie was given her sixth mug.

"G-G-Gooooooldie~ Goldie," Pinkie hiccuped, face almost burning red as she pulled her cousin to her side. "This stuff is *hic* amaaaaaaaazing!"

"I *hic* imagine it is," Gold slurred, barely able to keep herself from teetering out of her seat.

"Now I *hic* get why *hic* Rainbow likes cider soooooooooo much," she giggled. "I feel sooooooooooo waaaaaaarrrrrrm and fuzzy inside. And everything is all swirly and *hic* sparkly!"

"Not as warm and *hic* fuzzy as you," Gold purred, leaning into Pinkie's side.

"O-kay, I think she's had enough," Rainbow cut in, gently pulling the two mares apart.

Both of them burst out laughing at that, only able to stay seated thanks to some quick hoofwork from Rarity and Starlight.

"I will have you *hic* know, Rainbow Dash, that as drunk as I am, I am no where near gone enough to indulge in in*hic*cest."

"Yeah," Pinkie giggled. "Goldie's not my *hic* type, anyway."

"What is your type?" Berry asked, taking a pull from her mug.

"I don't know," Pinkie slurred, dizzily placing a hoof on her chin in thought. "I guess, somepony that can *hic* keep up with me."

Everypony at the table aside from Pinkie gave Rainbow knowing smirks.

"Hey! Don't give me those looks!" Rainbow barked. "Besides, you girls know I'm into stallions!"

"We did not say anything, my dear Rainbow," Gold chuckled, sipping her brandy.

Rainbow just huffed, crossing her forelegs and looking away from the group while muttering some very unflattering things under her breath. Everypony just chuckled and rolled their eyes at her sulking before they went back to their drinks.

At least, they tried to.

One by one, their glasses slowly started to float off of the bar. As they watched, it wasn't long before the phenomenon spread to the other patron's glasses. Then it started happening to the seats. Then the tables. Then eventually the patrons themselves started to float off of the ground. Everypony let out worried cries, most of them flailing around for something to grab onto to keep them anchored to the ground. Gold took in the sight with mild interest, her drunken and shattered mind too hazed to see any real danger. A small stream of giggles pulled her attention towards Pinkie, the mare in question letting her now empty mug drift away from her.

"Bubbly, bubbly, *hic* my tummy's aaaaaaalllll bubbly," Pinkie giggled, rubbing her stomach as she floated. "It's all sooooooooo bubbly! Like I'm *hic* flying!"

She looked up at where Gold was floating, a brilliant smile spread wide across her drunken face.

"Goldie! Let's fly!"

"To the moon and back!" Gold cheered, downing the rest of her drink.

With that, the two mares played a game of tag, zooming through the air like a pair of laughing, drunken sparrows.

***

Manchineel stared blankly at her, again struggling to digest what she had been told. Gold waited patently for her Grandmother to do so, taking stoic sips of her tea to pass the time. When she eventually found her voice, it came out as a barely contained stream of giggles.

"Just how did you manage to break gravity?" she forced out past a few stray chuckles.

"Turns out that there is a reason Pinkie Pie should not get drunk," Gold sighed. "A pony that holds spirit blood can do some very interesting things when they are under the influence."

"No pony was hurt, I hope," she sighed, regaining some of her composure.

"A few bumps and buses, but nothing beyond that," Gold frowned.

"Good to know," Manchineel nodded. "It would seem that you made it home safe at least."

"Yes...though it was not without some kind of price," Gold spat.

***

The night air was brisk, holding the chill of late summer as three ponies staggered their way down the worn dirt path towards Sweet Apple Acres. Gold giggled like a fool, barely stable enough to walk even with a foreleg draped across Starlight's shoulders. Starlight was silently fuming, her mane a mess from her unplanned flight and game of Catch the Flying Twits she was forced to partake in just an hour ago. Rarity walked next to them looking just as ragged, but still keeping a worried eye on the thoroughly smashed mare.

"Well......that was an adventure," Rarity offered.

"Yup," Starlight frowned, eyes locked on the road.

"I hope Rainbow can get Pinkie home safely," she continued.

"She should be fine," Starlight sighed. "Gravity started working again after she passed out."

"Ah, right, of course" she sheepishly giggled.

An awkward silence settled between them, neither of them in the mood nor able to find a topic to fill the silence. Eventually, Gold found a way to break it, but not in a way that settled the nerves of the two mares.

"When...we met. What did you mean?"

"Huh?" Starlight blinked, looking over her shoulder at Gold.

"You said, 'It's not like I'm one to give you any grief on that kind of stuff anyway'. What did you mean..... by that?"

Starlight froze, a conflicted look gracing her face.

Gold waited patiently, a hint of determination slipping past her drunken haze. Starlight met the gaze with a similar one of her own, then let out a defeated sigh.

"You know how I'm Twilight's student, right?"

"Y-Yes," Gold nodded, barely suppressing a shudder.

"Well...before that, I was a cult leader."

Gold blinked at that, but nodded for her to continue.

"I established a town called Our Town. There, I convinced ponies that cutie marks were a leash and that they would be free if they didn't have their special talents. That by being completely equal, that they could live in true happiness. That....didn't work for very long. Looking back at it, it was a really stupid way to do things. Food sucked. The buildings were bland and barely functioned. Heck, if we had a doctor, I'm pretty sure he would've been almost useless. Anyway, Twilight and her friends came and knocked the whole thing over in just two days. Everypony found out I was a hypocrite, the cult turned on me, everypony got their marks back, and I ran off to plan my revenge."

"I see," Gold nodded. "I take it that your attempt was unsuccessful?"

"In a way," Rarity frowned.

Starlight nodded.

"I used a modified time spell to try to prevent Twilight and her friends from getting their cutie marks when they were supposed to. It worked, but it also ended up causing a whole bunch of different alternate timelines that were really, really bad for everypony. Some of them involved wars. I'm sure that...that a lot of ponies died in those timelines because of me. Eventually, Twilight was able to talk me down and I canceled the spell. After that, I tried to do whatever I could to make up for everything and became her personal student."

Gold stared at her, eyes searching her face for any signs of deception. Seeing none, a sad smile slithered onto her muzzle. In a grim tone, she let out a bitter laugh and said something that chilled both Unicorn mares to their cores.

"I see. Then we are both the same. We both took lives and must live with the guilt."

"E-Excuse me?" Rarity gulped. "Darling, what exactly do you mean by that."

Gold let out another bitter laugh, then slid her foreleg off of Starlight's shoulders as she sat herself down.

"My tale is long, so I recommend you both take a seat."

Nervous, but curious, the two mares followed Gold's request.

With grim resolve, she met their eyes, and told them her tale.

***

"You told them?" Manchineel asked, raising a brow.

Gold nodded, her whole body sagging in her seat.

"Well...that was rather bold of you."

"I blame whatever drunken madness had a hold of me at the time," Gold spat.

"That may have had a hoof in it," she allowed. "Did they.....how did they react?"

Gold let out a tired sigh, then took a slow sip of her tea before giving a weary answer.

"Rarity was repulsed at first, but remained civil. At least, she was until I mentioned my time spent under Moonstone's 'care'. She said that she wished to, quote, 'snap that twisted cow's horn off of her head and ram it so far up her rear that she would need to open her mouth to cast spells'. I almost fell over laughing when she said that."

She said the last bit with a chuckle, one that she shared with her Grandmother.

"Quite the mouth on that one," she smiled. "And Starlight? How did she react?"

Gold's smile wilted, a thoughtful frown taking its place.

"Starlight was....hard to read. She waited through my tale without interruption or comment. When I was done, she was more...I suppose 'tender' is the right word. She even hugged me. It was an...odd experience."

"Was it unpleasant?"

Gold shook her head, confusion more apparent in her features as she stared into her half-full cup of tea.

"I...I do not know how to describe what I felt. It was different from the warmth I feel with my family, but it was more intimate than what I feel with Fluttershy or Rainbow Dash. The closest thing I can compare it to is the connection I have with Skully. As if Starlight and I are the same, yet still different."

"I see," Manchineel nodded, a knowing smile creeping across her muzzle. "Do you want to understand that feeling?"

"I do," she nodded. "Though I ...fear I may not like what it is."

"Well, like it or not, I feel you'll get to figure it out eventually," the ghost chuckled.

"I believe I have you and Lady Gaia to thank for that," she snorted rolling her eyes.

Manchineel held her knowing smile, earning a defeated sigh from her Granddaughter. A sigh that turned into a deep yawn as insomnia finally started to yield to exhaustion. Not wanting to let anything go to waste, she quickly forced down her mostly chilled cup of tea and staggered to her hooves.

"Thank you for your time and ear Grandmother, but I feel now is as good a time as any to finally put this disaster of a day behind me."

"Understood," she nodded, watching the mare make her way out of the kitchen. "Sweet dreams my little Goldie."

"Good night, Grammy," Gold softly smiled.

Manchineel kept her seat as she watched the mare make her exit. When Gold eventually left her sight, she shifted her attention off towards a nearby window. Slowly, she faded away, a soft smile gracing her muzzle as she was once again pulled back to the tree planted over her body. Before she vanished completely, the ghost offered one small prayer to her Granddaughter.

"Weather the storm that rages on this day my dear, for the Maker will bring a tomorrow with skies as clear as the purest diamonds."

With that, the room was once again devoid of life, with only the barest traces of spiritual magic to show that anything of note had come to pass.

Author's Note

sorry it took me so long to put this up. Life can be a huge bitch sometimes. Hopefully the next chapter won't take me so long to put up. Until next time my friends, ciao for now.