Chapters Author's Note
After banging out chapter after chapter of Fiery Hair, Aqua Eyes, I got burnt out - extremely burnt out. As a creative reprieve, this was birthed. As you can see, the story isn't finished, but obviously, because it's more of a side project, it won't take precedent over my other story, nor will it be anywhere near as long.
As always, feedback is appreciated.
Hope you enjoy.
Whiskey
I swirled my cup, watching auburn-colored drink slosh around. In its reflection, my burgundy skin looked sickly: night after night without meaningful sleep took its toll, resulting in paler skin and dark circles under what had once been bright green eyes. While the whiskey in my system worked warmth throughout my body, the light flush of the skin did little to improve my appearance.
In this sense, this bar and I shared a lot of characteristics. The dimly lit establishment consisted of the bar counter, a single pool table, and a couple booths and tables dispersed around the room. A single, small TV silently displayed sports highlights, giving me the rare opportunity to see what my rainbow-haired acquaintance was up to nowadays. Sometimes, that one famous animal rescue organization commercial would play, and it'd include the scene of Fluttershy brushing a shivering terrier.
It was certainly better than checking the counter for any new cracks in the wood.
I sighed, downing the rest of my drink. Tipping the glass back, the liquid slid down my throat, leaving two ice cubes in the cup as I put it back down.
Like many drinks, snacks, and meals before, nothing. Not a hint of flavor, only the dryness in my mouth that always came after.
I knew what that entailed, but frankly, I didn't care.
"Oh my gosh, Professor Chaser?"
Rotating ever so slightly in my stool, I tilted my head over to the voice. Two young girls stood excitedly, lighting up when they realized they had correctly guessed my identity. They looked incredibly young, almost deserving a second I.D. check, but considering they knew who I was, they were likely at least college students. Still, the drinks in their hands contrasted immensely with their schoolgirl costumes.
I cleared my throat. "Yes, how can I help you two?"
"Oh, wow, it really is you!" She turned to her friend then back to me. "We're huge fans of your work."
"Thank you, though there's a lot of it out there, so you might wanna be more specific." We chuckled, and I waved over to the bartender. "Another whiskey, Shaken."
The second woman chimed in. "Banana daiquiri."
"Put it on my tab."
She cocked an eyebrow, but I stared back blankly, waving a dismissive hand.
"Thank you, Professor."
"You're welcome." I turned to the other girl quizzically, but she politely waved my offer down. Instead, I gestured to the seats to my left, and they accepted my offer, pulling the rickety stools back and plopping onto them.
Spinning in my direction, the first one spoke. "If you don't mind me asking, what brings you around here?"
"Old people drink, too."
They giggled, though my deadpan also masked a certain level of sadness.
"I'm talking about this place. What brings you here in particular?"
I jerked a thumb back to the man mixing drinks. "Me 'n' Shaken Glass go back." Hearing his name, he glanced up, nodding in agreement once the words processed. Coming over to us, he slid another cup to me and a cocktail glass to the girl beside me.
"Too far back," he joked, smiling over at us.
I didn't feel compelled to return it, as was the norm.
"Actually, I don't believe I got your names."
"Oh!" The first one blushed. "My name's Petunia. Petunia Paleo."
"Apple Flora. Again, pleased to meet you," the second one said.
Nodding, I turned to my drink, taking a small sip. I knew that I wouldn't remember their names by the time I got home. That's how it went for everyone nowadays, but pretending to care had proven to be a valuable social habit.
"The pleasure's all mine," I lied. "I'm flattered that you two appreciate my work... though I hope it's not 'cause you plagiarized it."
Again, they giggled.
"No, seriously," the first one grinned, "I did a project on examining archeological evidence of magical organisms. The idea would've never even been considered if it wasn't for your paper proving all organisms are capable of some form of magic."
Raising an eyebrow, I gave the conversation more attention. "Oh, that paper? I wasn't even a major contributor."
"Really? You were one of the first names listed."
I winced. "Oh, right." Grabbing my cup again, I shrugged. "That was published years ago, so forgive my memory." Sipping again, I slipped into a bittersweet memory.
"Twilight, do you need anything?" Pulling the door handle and slowly pushing the door open, I peeked inside the office. Aside from the bookshelves lining every inch of the walls, two desks sat in the center of the room. In one, the purple girl typed away on her computer, word after word, paragraph after paragraph flowing from her fingers onto the screen. Then, with a huff, line after line was highlighted and disappeared before my eyes. Looking at the operator, I met her eyes. Behind those cute black glasses, though, exhaustion seeped out of those violet irises.
Sighing, she rubbed her neck. "More time."
I gave her a sad chuckle. Stepping into the room and plopping into the chair next to her. My arm went over her neck, and I pulled her closer to me. Closing my eyes, we relaxed in each other's presence, hoping this brief reprieve would provide her the energy to continue working.
"All I can offer is tea, coffee, or a snack," I joked.
Beside me, I heard a giggle. "I'll take tea, then." Lips pressed against my cheek. "Actually, define 'snack.'"
It was my turn to laugh. Opening my eyes, I returned her kiss, beaming at her. "We have all those pastries from when Pinkie visited the other day. Other than that," I played dumb, "I think we still have some tangerines."
"Never mind," she pouted.
"All in due time, Princess." Hearing her groan, I laughed, but I changed to a more serious topic. "Actually, though, how are you holding up?"
A sigh. "Not good. I've spent the past hour trying to condense all of the data on the magical capabilities of human, but I just can't find a good way to explain it. There's also the fact that Comet Tail wants to add another paper from Dr. Whooves, but we're already discussing so many other sources." She glanced over at me. "Honestly, I'm surprised you haven't been feeling weighed down like me."
I shrugged. "Maybe you just need to take a day or two off to recharge."
"I can't!" she protested. "We're supposed to submit the paper by next Friday, so I need to keep working. Otherwise, we might not make it by the deadline!" I felt a ragged breath come from her, so leaning back into my own chair, I looked at her.
"Just calm down, and take a breather."
Twilight stared back blankly.
"I'm serious, Twi. In and out. That's an order."
Rolling her eyes, she inhaled deeply, letting the air quietly leave her.
"How do you feel now?"
"Like I have a marginally higher level of oxygen in my bloodstream."
"Well, at least you aren't on the floor having a panic attack, so I'll take that." I stood up from my chair, beckoning her to follow me.
Wordlessly, I took her hand, pulling her into the bedroom. Stopping by the bed, I pulled the covers as Twilight watched silently. Suddenly, I yanked her hand to me, wrapping my arms around her. She squeaked in surprise but eventually settled into the embrace. However, after a moment, I pushed her off me, letting her land on the mattress with a yelp. Grabbing the unkempt layers of blankets and comforter, I threw them over the woman, carefully landing on top to keep her from escaping.
"Hey!" She gave a few futile attempts to shimmy out. "What gives?"
"Intervention," I smiled, playfully tapping her nose. I peeked over at the clock by the door. "You have to stay here for at least... two hours?"
"And if I don't?"
I feigned a sad smile, exhaling sharply. "I guess I'll have to sleep on the couch." Playing up the act, I hugged myself shyly, lip quivering. "After all, it'll be just as lonely as when you stay up working anyway." Eyes flickering up to her, I saw past the poker face, noting the flash of concern that briefly seeped through. While I always felt guilty using this threat, dangling the risk of sleeping separately worked without fail.
"Fine," she groaned. "Two hours. That's it."
Smiling, I got off the bed, delicately tucking her in. "Good. That's all I ask." Leaning over, I kissed her on the forehead, eliciting a giggle. Walking out the door, I closed it behind me, letting out a sigh of relief once it clicked shut. I rubbed my forehead, feeling the creases as I frowned. While the upcoming deadline seemed to stress Twilight beyond reason, it was true that I was mostly indifferent. Sure, it may because I had a couple research projects on my belt, but this dynamic existed all the way back in high school.
We were both immaculate students, the only reason I won valedictorian over her being the fact that she transferred in while I was a student at Canterlot High for all four years. Collaborating on schoolwork and extracurricular projects were how we bonded in the first place, yet some of the most prominent memories of those times were of her staying up night after night, pulling her hair out and texting me questions at two in the morning. Granted, I was also awake to answer said questions, but it was usually because of some recreational activity, like playing video games with friends or even just stargazing on my roof. Maybe relaxation wasn't a part of her DNA. Maybe mental health wasn't a priority of hers.
Regardless, it worried the heck out of me.
I suppose Lady Luck was on my side when we both ended up at the same prestigious college in Manehattan because it meant I could still be there to look out for the girl. Actually, I could guarantee that Lady Luck was on my side based on the fact that the girl on the other side of this wall shared the same bed as me.
Another deep breath. Pushing myself off the door, I made my way back to the office, hoping to wring out a few more paragraphs for my part of the paper.
I put the cup down, letting the soft thump of glass hitting wood ring throughout the near-empty bar. "That was a fun project to undertake," came out of my mouth, but my face did little to express that enjoyment.
The first girl gave a supportive smile before turning to the bartender.
"Shaken, can we get B-52's for everyone?"
He raised an eyebrow, searching for the recipe in his brain before nodding. As he prepared our shots, the girl gazed back at me.
"What made you undertake that project?"
I scratched my temple, shrugging. "A partner of mine knew the research team, and they asked us to join."
A slight blush formed on her blue face. "A 'partner?' Like, a romantic one?"
"I'd rather not talk about it," I grumbled, scowl slowly forming.
"Oh. Sorry."
"It's fine."
Shaken passed the shot glasses over to us, walking away without payment. I began to regret paying for the other girl's drink. Taking the glass, I inspected it, tipping it slightly and watching the layers of liquids mix before separating once more. Shrugging, I brought it to my mouth, smelling the tiniest coffee scent.
"Hey!" The second girl put a hand on my arm, stopping me from downing the shot with a playful smile. "Wait for us!"
I rolled my eyes. "Hurry up, then."
She scoffed, eyes glinting. "You should know that ladies prefer to take it slow."
"Tell that to Twilight," I snapped back, ignoring the innuendo.
They gasped.
Catching my slip-up, I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose.
"Oh my gosh!" The yellow-colored girl put her hands over her mouth.
The other one put a hand to her chest, eyes wide. "Wow! You and Twilight?"
Discomfort growing, my frown deepened as the ache in my chest grew. Still, the alcohol sold me out, and I was the one who drank it. Inhaling slowly, I disregarded my frustration, deciding to acknowledge the gossip to get it over with. "Yeah, yeah." Picking up my whiskey, I took another sip. "We did a bunch of research together."
Beaming, the blue girl put her head on her hand, propping it against the bar counter. "Is it true that you two went through high school and your degree programs together?"
"Yeah."
"That's amazing! I couldn't imagine being lucky enough to study and then work with a significant partner. How was it being able to do research with your partner?"
Mulling her question, I stared into the glass, watching the wavy reflection in the liquid.
"Fun, I suppose."
"Luck, Dr. Whooves told me you didn't sign the contract." Closing the front door behind her, Twilight put her hands on her hips, frowning at me.
Letting my eyes wander, I soaked in her appearance. Her typical straight hair had definitely seen better days, but the faded strands only enhanced her image, in my opinion. The black frames sitting on her face resembled those from her high school days. It was almost like a part of her person; with each renewal of her prescription, she refused again and again to pick a new style. As expected, she wore a light blue turtleneck and a black skirt. Usually, she sported a lab coat on top, but considering we were in between projects, this was technically her "casual" outfit.
We had just recently submitted another research proposal that would explore how one's magical abilities were determined. Considering that every human developed abilities unique to themselves, there was the possibility of manipulating whatever force determined who got what, which would be a monumental step in magic research.
Putting the remote down, I stood up from the couch, shrugging. "I didn't wanna do it."
"What do you mean?"
Walking over, she snuggled up against me as I wrapped my arms around her. Humming contentedly, she looked up at me, lips ready for a peck. Leaning down, I provided said kiss. Still, I sighed.
"I mean what I mean: I don't wanna do another research project."
"But why?"
I shrugged again. "I'm tired of it, I guess."
Twilight combed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "What do you mean you're 'tired?'" Furrowing her brow, she pushed herself off of me, taking a step back. "This research could fundamentally change how the world understands magic!"
Taking a deep breath, I met her gaze, folding my arms. "It's exhausting, Twi. We've dedicated nearly every year of our lives to research. When's the last time we've gone on trips, travelled to new places, visited friends ?"
She returned a look of confusion. "What are you talking about? It's not like we work all day, everyday." Putting a hand on my arm, she tried to give a supportive smile. "If you want to take a short vacation, you just need to ask."
"That's not the same." I began to mirror her frown. "Even when we're not at the lab or in the library, there's work. On weekdays, we get home, we cook dinner, but when I go to bed, you disappear into office. On weekends, we grab breakfast, we run errands, but when we get back, you disappear into the office. Notice a pattern?" That last question leaked through as my exasperation started to overflow. It seemed that Twilight picked up on it, and she didn't appreciate it at all.
She held a hand to her chest. "Me? Why is it my fault when you're the one always lazing about? Remember, the only reason your name came up near the front of that first paper was because they couldn't distinguish each of our contributions!" Her glare grew more intense, and it just made me more frustrated.
"Yeah, I'm the only one who takes breaks, but then you're the only one bitching and moaning about how stressed you are every hour of the day!" Hands, shaking, one shot up to her face, accusatory finger almost making contact with her nose.
Eyes widening at my hand, her face became a deep red. "If it weren't for my work, you'd be bitching and moaning about how homeless you are!" she screamed, gesticulating wildly.
"Oh, come on! If it wasn't for me, you'd be in a psychiatric ward by now!" I stared straight into her eyes, challenging her further.
Twilight slapped my hand away, anger taking over.
"Fuck you, Luck Chaser!"
Oh, so we're gonna cross that line.
"Fuck you, too, Twilight Sparkle!"
Forehead against forehead, we shook with fury, daring one or the other to scream, fight, something.
Grabbing her neck, I pulled her mouth to mine, smashing lips against lips. Her arms wrapped around my neck, kissing me back with all her might. Falling over onto the couch, we made out once more, wordlessly surrendering to passion. Ripping the clothes off one another and foregoing the bedroom, we made one connection that night, though it did little to change a bittersweet truth:
While we loved each other, our relationship could not coexist with our individual plans for the future.
"To luck, then! May Petunia find the fortune to meet a guy willing to shag her and work with her in the years to come!" The second girl held her shot glass up to the air, and the first one, while hanging her head in embarrassment, followed suit. Ignoring the double entendre, I brought my glass up with theirs, listening to the clink as they connected. Simultaneously, we all tipped our heads back, letting the slightly bitter taste coat their mouths. I held in a cough, feeling the slight burn of the alcohol, but other than that, I was unimpacted by the drink.
The first girl leaned into my vision, an incredulous look on her face.
"Two whiskeys and a shot. You can hold your drink!"
"Eh, it's more like one and a half whiskeys. But yeah," once more, I shrugged, a weak smile forming, "I guess I can."
"Mind if we test your limits?" Without waiting for an answer, she waved at Shaken. "Get us some Bazooka Joes!"
The bartender looked at me with a puzzled expression, but I didn't protest. Seeing my nonaction, he pulled more shot glasses out, preparing our drinks. I turned back to my whiskey glass. The ice was beginning to melt, providing a contrasting translucent pattern to the brown liquid as it became watered down. Not wanting to ruin it even more, I downed the drink, freezing up as the burning sensation made my sinuses sensitive. Placing the glass on the counter, I turned to girls.
"I'm going to head to the restroom real quick."
"Okay, we'll be here," the first one said.
"Not that there's anywhere else for us to go," the second one joked, eliciting a giggle from the both of them.
Spinning around, I hopped off the stool, walking to the right side of the bar into the restroom. Pushing the door open, I was met with the usual public restroom appearance. Out of the three urinals, only one of them looked relatively presentable, and it looked like one of the other ones was clogged with toilet paper. On the opposite wall, the two stalls looked ready to fall apart at the lightest touch, and knowing Shaken's laziness, the glory hole that had been drilled in the wall was likely still untouched. In front of the closer stall, the two sinks and their mirrors were covered in scratches where people had attempted to carve messages onto the ceramic and glass, respectively.
I stepped up to the only decent urinal, letting my thoughts wander as I did my business.
What are those two girls doing here, anyway?
They're obviously students or former students from Manehattan University, considering they referred to me as "Professor."
But why here of all places?
Maybe they're barhopping?
This is probably the worst part of town for two women to barhop around.
Then, maybe they were trying to meet you?
What for?
Research?
That ended a long time ago.
Advice?
There's plenty of better people to ask.
Social desire?
I might be a young professor, but I'm not that young.
Doesn't mean they wouldn't want to be friends.
I don't need new friends.
Whatever. There's one more question to consider, though.
Yeah.
What the hell are those costumes for?
Zipping up my pants, I stepped back, disregarding the flushing handle that had been jammed for as long as I'd been around. Walking over to the sink, I washed my hands, staring at the cracked reflection in the mirror. Unsatisfied by what gazed back, I turned my attention to my hands, watching them dance as they rinsed soap off. Pulling the door back, I returned over to the girls, who were peered over as they noticed my presence.
"Welcome back," the first said.
Nodding in acknowledgement, I examined their outfits. Both wore generically skimpy versions of a school uniform. Their short-sleeved button-up shirts were tied off at the waist, and below their tops were dangerous high skirts, showing off hints of their derriere, held up only by thin suspenders that noticeably conformed to their breasts. Underneath their Mary Jane shoes, they wore thigh-high socks that accentuated their long legs.
"Like what you see?" the second one asked, leaning forward and exposing her cleavage.
I steeled myself, maintaining eye contact. "What do you mean?" I deadpanned.
She leaned back, crossing her arms. "What a gentleman."
Sitting back in my stool, I noticed the new set of baby blue shots on the counter. Picking it up, the drink seemed to be mixed together unlike the B-52 from earlier. Considering its vibrant tint, I would assume it'd be a fairly fruit drink. I put it back down, turning to the ladies.
"What's the story behind those costumes?"
"We're going trick-or-treating," the yellow girl responded, smiling. "Wanna come with?"
I cocked an eyebrow at them. "Aren't you two a little too old to be doing that?"
"Aren't you a little too young to be drinking in a bar by yourself?"
"Not really, but I get your point." My eyes went over to our empty glasses. "Wait, you're going out drunk?"
"It's just a couple shots."
"A single shot of the wrong stuff can knock you out."
"Whatever," she shrugged, lifting the shot. "For this one... to age, I guess. Let's hope Professor Chaser stops nagging young adults like he's an old man."
Rolling my eyes, I joined her and her friend, touching our glasses once more and downing another drink. Beside me, the first girl held her fist to her mouth, a cough escaping her body, as the other one smiled at her.
"You gotta be able to hold your drink before you can find a husband," she cooed, giggling as her friend coughed even more violently.
"You're full of shit," the other one croaked between her wheezing.
"Nuh uh," the first snapped, shaking her head. She glanced over to me. "C'mon, back me up!"
"Well..." I studied the glass, rotating it to watch the remaining liquid spin around. "I haven't had an issue with partners getting too drunk," I lied.
Tipping back the bottle, I took a long gulp, feeling the alcoholic seltzer bubble down my throat. It tickled, and I had to stifle a giggle. Tilting it once more, I emptied the last few drops, placing the bottle over by the several others on the coffee table. Wanting another, I slowly worked my way off the couch, pushing myself up to make my way over to the kitchen. However, I found myself at the other side of the apartment by the office. An uncontrollable feeling of playfulness washing over me, I knocked on the door far too many times.
"Twi-Twi. It's meeeeee..."
Getting nothing in response, I put an ear against the door.
"Hellooooooo...?"
I knocked thrice more.
"Twiiiliiight..."
A sigh. "What do you want, Luck?"
"I looove you..."
Silence. Leather groaned as she leaned back in her chair.
"Just go to sleep, Luck, okay? I'll join you in a bit."
"I looove you... I love yooou so much..."
"Five minutes. Just five more minutes, okay, Luck?"
I mumbled in agreement, pushing myself off the door. Forgetting about the mess in the living room, I stumbled across the hallway into our bedroom, foregoing my sleeping clothes and flopping onto the mattress.
I was out like a light. In fact, I was so out that I never woke up to Twilight packing her bags and leaving.
"Aww, you're no fun!" the first girl lightly jabbed my arm, upset at my unwillingness to join in the joke.
"Whatever," the second one smacked her chest a few times. Suddenly, a beep came from her purse, and she pulled her phone out, reading the screen. "Apple Flora, we should probably get going. You're sister's on her way here."
"Alright." Picking her bag up from the stool next to her, she jumped off her seat, peeking over at me as she shouldered her purse. "Coming?"
"Maybe in another lifetime."
"Get your number?" She shrugged, grinning. "Who knows, maybe someone will manufacture magical age regression?"
Flattered by her persistence, another small smile crawled onto my face. "Maybe once you graduate," I chuckled. Waving, they turned for the exit, stepping outside, though the first girl seemed to have a bit of trouble walking straight.
Once more, I was alone.
"Luck."
Nothing.
"Luck!"
Jolting awake, I snapped my head up off the countertop, eyes darting around my surroundings until they landed on Shaken.
"Mango?"
"Yeah..." I mumbled, rubbing an eye. Looking out a graffitied window, I noticed how much darker it had gotten outside. "How long was I out?"
He shrugged. "Beats me. Oh, but someone stole your wallet."
"What?!" I put a hand on my pocket, stomach dropping when I didn't feel the familiar extrusion in my jeans. My gaze landed on person to person in the room, hoping any of them saw what happened. However, as expected, their eyes remained on their own drinks. Whipping my head back to the bartender, I saw him beaming at me with a certain fold of leather in his hand. Returning his smile with a scowl, I snatched it from him as he let out a chuckle.
"Sorry, I had to."
"Laugh it up, buddy. Keep this up and I'll never pay my tab."
"You wouldn't pay it off if I held a gun to your head."
"Can that be arranged?"
Sharing a laugh, I put the wallet away, switching it out for the phone in my other pocket. Tapping the screen, I was greeted by... nothing. Rolling my eyes, I placed it on the bar, screen down. On the other side, Shaken produced two cans with yellow accents.
He held one out. "Mango?"
Nodding, I grabbed it, cracking it open and listening as the liquid sizzled inside.
As with every night, the hard seltzer round was a sort of reprieve from the rest of the drinks I might indulge in throughout the night. Originally, it began when I had grown belligerent from the alcohol in my system, so Shaken had convinced me that this measly can was going to get me even more wasted. Thanking him, I had laid my entire history on the table, taking special care to highlight my relationship with Twilight. By the time I worked up the courage to come back, he suggested taking it easy during this specific round. We both drank it wordlessly, save for when Shaken served another patron, and it was a ritual that we came to enjoy.
I couldn't work up the courage to explain that after that first night, Twilight would be all I could ever think about during the seltzer break.
This time, I sipped my drink very slowly, using the time to decompress from my conversation with the two students. Person after person passed by, meeting their dates, ordering drinks, or stewing in their feelings like me, and person after person passed in the opposite direction, abandoning their drinks, expelling their drinks, or stewing in their feelings like me.
It was all background noise. All that mattered was the chilled aluminum in my hand, and that was fine.
I pulled on my collar, hoping the loosened tie would provide just enough space for cool air to keep the sweat-soaked poplin from sticking to my chest. I chewed the inside of my mouth, hating myself for even considering showing up to the party. Scanning the other attendees, they donned formal outfits much like my suit, but unlike me, they seemed to intermingle with each other perfectly.
"Do you know what this social is for?" one asked, tapping his partner on the shoulder.
"Twilight Sparkle did something again," another responded.
"Okay, but what is that 'something?'"
The second one rubbed her chin, but suddenly, her eyes lit up.
"Oh, I remember! Her team published findings about manipulating magical manifestation!"
A pause. "What does that mean?"
Groaning, the woman struggled to explain it in simpler terms, but even I found it difficult to continue eavesdropping.
Sipping my water, my eyes inspected the room. The auditorium-turned-dining hall was undeniably elegant and spacious. Each table had been draped in surprisingly high-quality cloths and held a ornamental flower in the center, which was a substantial contrast to the cheap folding chair that was giving me spine problems by the second. Readjusting my weight once again, I peeked over my shoulder at the stage. The podium featured some fancy symbol consisting of an open book with an ambiguous magic spell shooting out of it. That logo represented something about magic research, but it no longer meant anything to me.
I turned my attention to the people in the room with me. Among the various other tables, I spotted former acquaintances: peers, coworkers, friends. Seeing individuals like Dr. Whooves and Comet Tail made me happy as it meant my departure from research hadn't impacted them in any significant manner. Still, sure, they might still recognize me, but that didn't mean they'd enjoy seeing me again.
Finally deciding to look at the others at my table, I was reintroduced to the rainbow of colors surrounding me. Rainbow Dash had cut her once-flowing ponytail into a sharp undercut, and Sunset Shimmer sported a maternity dress, but other than the inevitable wrinkles of time, the rest of the girls looked relatively unchanged. A couple of them engaged in small talk, glancing over at me as our gazes accidentally met.
"Oh, Luck, darling! What about you? What are you up to these days?"
I shrugged. "Nothin' much. I still teach at Manehattan U., so same ol', same ol'."
"And you wouldn't have it any other way, no?"
I scratched my temple. "No, I suppose not."
Nodding, Rarity gave a gentle smile. "You must have a knack for teaching, considering you've been a resident professor for God-knows how long!"
"I suppose so."
Applejack leaned forward, locking eyes with me. "What made you decide to take up teachin'? Figured a bookworm like y'self would still be revolutionizin' the world like Twi." The purple-haired woman elbowed her friend, eliciting a quiet yelp, but once she realized her slip-up, Applejack looked away nervously. "Sorry."
"Don't worry about it," I lied. "It is what it is."
Quickly flickering my eyes over to the others, I was met with their gazes. Overhearing our conversation, they had all honed in, curiously hoping to hear why Canterlot High's academic power couple had so heartbreakingly fallen apart.
"You all heard about our research, right?" Everyone nodded, confirming my suspicion. "I loved it, truly. Being able to do research projects with someone I loved was a blessing, and I feel so lucky to have experienced it." I looked away. "I got tired, and she didn't. Simply a conflict of interests."
In my peripheries, Sunset shuffled in her seat. I initially dismissed it as pregnancy-related discomfort, but even Pinkie Pie's hair started to deflate slightly. Worried of ruining the mood for them, I waved a hand.
"Sorry, sorry. I didn't mean to ruin the mood." I turned to Fluttershy. "How are the 'pets?'"
She beamed at me. "They're doing amazing. If they continue recovering at this pace, we'll be able to release them by the end of next week..."
Feigning as strong of a smile as I could muster, I engaged with each and every one of them, catching up on all of their international escapades, though much of what surface-level updates they provided were already shown on the bar's TV. After a couple anecdotes and typical reminiscent comments about high school, a group of people walked onto the stage, catching everyone's attention. An elderly lady tapped on the microphone until the auditorium speakers projected the thumping sound at a volume just bordering into uncomfortably loud.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you all for coming. We're gathered here in this fine auditorium to honor the accomplishments of Ms. Twilight Sparkle." Applause followed, and once it died down, the lady continued. "With year after year of contributions to understanding magic in a world that had previously never even considered it. her team has revolutionized how we understand humans - all the way down to the biological level." She continued to drone on and on, stroking the researchers' egos by listing achievement after achievement. I took another sip of my water, wishing it was a different kind of clear liquid - particularly the kind that burned the throat just right.
Clearing her throat, the presenter beckoned an offstage volunteer over. As the helper brought a container full of medals, the older woman continued. "If it hadn't been for your work, the National Magic Foundation wouldn't even been here, so it's only right that we present your team with the first National Medal of Magic."
The crowd erupted in applause as the presenter took medal after medal out of the container and, starting with the violet-colored woman, placed them on each of the researchers. Among the roaring clapping, the girls beside me cheered, shouting her name until others joined in, all jumping out of their seats in elation. Glancing over at the stage, I searched Twilight's face.
Pride. Happiness. The works.
Once everyone calmed down, the presenter offered thanks for coming again before dismissing everyone. Immediately, people from the crowd left their tables to catch Twilight and the other researchers as they exited the stage. Many of the girls at my table did so, though Sunset remained with me, unwilling to stand up, much to everyone's amusement. Quietly, she watched her best friend and savior greet acquaintances, pride painted on her smiling face. Her grin was infectious, and I found myself relaxing somewhat in her presence.
"It's impressive - all the things she's done." I met gazes with Sunet.
"You can say that again," she giggled.
"Even though we don't really talk anymore, I'm glad that she's doing well without me."
A flash of discomfort crossed her face, but, again, I dismissed it.
"Yeah... I suppose she is."
Noticing her deflation, I cocked an eyebrow, but I decided to change the subject.
"By the way, if you don't mind me asking, what are you excited about when you have your kid?"
Instinctively, she put a hand on her stomach, beaming. "In order of importance? Everything." Another giggle. "Obviously, there's getting to meet my kid after all this time, but there's also the experiences. Maybe not the scolding, but being able to bond with him or her alongside their father."
"Oh, uh, who's the father?"
She pointed up at one of the researchers still greeting people at the stage stairs, resulting in an internal groan of mine. "That handsome man over there. Comet Tail and I met about seven years ago." Fiddling with her hands, she paused. "If you don't mind me mentioning, it was a bit after you and Twilight... y'know."
I nodded in acknowledgement. "It's fine. Go on."
"Well, she was having trouble managing her workload. Lots of stress, y'know? So she asked me to come over for advice, and Comet came over to drop off papers. We ended up talking for a bit, and then it was a lot, and then..." she gestured to her stomach, grinning, "this happened."
I forced a smile. "Congratulations." I chuckled, "I suppose it's a good thing we broke up. Otherwise, you two would've never met." Expecting to meet a smile of hers, I was surprised by a frown forming instead.
"You shouldn't look at it that way." I reached for my water glass, but Sunset put a hand on my arm. "You should know that during those sleepless nights, Twilight told me everything. Her love, her regrets , everything." She tried to catch my gaze, but my eyes wrestled away every time, afraid my emotions would get the best of me.
"She left our apartment one night. Just packed up and left without telling me."
Sunset patted my arm. "And she regrets that every single day of her life." I finally mustered the will to make eye contact. "Believe me, she still loves you. She loves you so much, it hurts her everyday."
I sighed. "I do, too."
"Then, why don't-"
"But I love her too much to be back with her again. We were too... toxic."
"People can change. I did."
"I'm not you." I caught her surprise, regret instantly flooding in. "Sorry."
Another pat on my arm. "Just please reconsider. Go talk to her at least, for me. She's grown so much from then, as I'm sure you have."
I gave a concerned look, but the deepening frown on her face made the air tense, pressuring me into accepting. I inhaled slowly.
"Fine. I'll talk to her later."
"Good." She crossed her arms. "I'm not leaving until you talk to her. If Comet has a problem with it, he talk to you about it."
Mulling the implication, I swallowed hard.
"Yes, ma'am."
Sipping at my cup, my face scrunched into a frown as I was met with a meager few drops of water. I put it down with a sigh, letting my eyes wander the room as it had for the past hour. Most of the attendees had long since left; the empty chairs around me were a testament of that.
Still, one chair to my right remained filled by a certain fiery-haired woman. Sunset swiped through her phone, occasionally glancing up at me for small talk or to offer words of encouragement. Regardless, I struggled to will myself off the chair and over to Twilight.
"What's the worst that could happen?" she asked for the third time that night.
"I talk to her and I make her even more upset."
"What's the best?" she countered.
"I leave without a word."
A groan. "I'm no goddess, but I know that's a fat lie." She crossed her arms. "You've got it all backwards. I'm willing to bet she'd want nothing more than for you to reenter her life - even if it's just for a moment."
I paused, rubbing my neck. "Just a moment?"
"Just a moment."
Taking a deep breath, I looked over at Twilight. She had been standing by the stage this entire time, talking to attendee after attendee as they congratulated her. All I had to do was walk over.
Focus.
Focus.
Focus...
A pause.
I can't focus.
"Lemme grab more water first."
Sunset rolled her eyes. "I'm gonna pop out a second round of babies by the time you grow some balls."
Not willing to entertain her joke, I walked in the opposite direction from Twilight, towards the refreshments table. Putting my glass on the table, I lifted the pitcher to pour water in.
"Excuse me, could you pour me one, too?"
"Sure." Moving the pitcher over to the other cup, I tilted it forward.
"Thanks." The woman bowed her head slightly before retreating to her table. Watching her walk away from my right shoulder, I heard someone clear their voice by my left.
"You've come along way. 'One, too? It's called "twelve."' Remember that?"
Freezing up, I slowly turned my head. To my side, Twilight Sparkle leaned over to catch my gaze.
"It's good to see you again, Luck."
Don't freak out.
"...hi..."
Don't freeze up either!
The purple-colored woman raised an eyebrow, but she continued. "I'm surprised you actually showed up," she scratched her temple, "considering..."
"Yeah," I already knew what she was referring to, "I'm surprised, too."
We stood in silence, unsure of how to proceed, whether to walk away or jump into each other's arms. After a few awkward seconds, I took the first step.
"Well," I picked up my cup, "it's nice seeing you." As I turned away, she grabbed my other hand.
Turning around, I was met with a look of distress. "Wait!" I rotated back towards her, but she shifted her weight nervously. "Look... about what happened... back then."
Uh oh. I steeled myself, holding onto my poker face for dear life.
"I'm sorry. I should've never ran away like I did."
I tilted my head back slightly, but I refused to succumb to my emotions.
"We were still fresh off that argument... and then when you kept drunkenly knocking on the door while I was working, I just... snapped."
I nodded, though it was quick to keep the glossy look in my eyes from spilling over.
"I just want you to know that I haven't forgotten anything, and I regret it all." She looked away, so I took the chance to swipe at my eye with a finger. "The first few days after, I thought I was fine, but..." she returned her gaze to mine, "I realize now that I was wrong. During these past seven years, research project after research project, I've been so overworked, and now, I realize how much you were looking out for me."
Clearing my throat, I squeezed her hand. "I was wrong, too. It's not my place to complain about your work ethic."
"It wasn't my place to complain about you wanting to take a break from research, too." Again, silence filled the air around us. Twilight inhaled sharply, shifted her weight once more. "I, uh... Do you... still have feelings for me?"
A pause. We made eye contact once more. Unable to respond immediately, I instead pulled on her hand, bringing her into an embrace.
"I missed you, too, Twilight. I missed you so much."
While initially shocked, the woman in front of me slowly eased into the hug, resting her head against my shoulder as I reciprocated. She sighed contentedly as I tightened the embrace, letting the familiar scent of lilacs fill my sinuses. There were no words necessary, just two people who cared deeply for one another. Eventually, though, after realizing how long we had remained connected, we stepped back, blushes coating our cheeks.
"I've, uh, been keeping up with your work. You're still writing papers at Mane U.?"
"Yeah. I'm still prioritizing teaching, but if I feel like it, I write an analysis or two." I shrugged.
"What else do you do?"
I cocked an eyebrow. That was a first. "Mostly just exploring new hobbies."
She rolled her eyes. "Does drinking still count as a 'new hobby' or something?"
Chuckling, I shrugged again. "It's all relative." As Twilight returned the smile, I gestured to her. "What about you? What's been keeping you up at night now that you've published all this?"
She tapped her chin. "I'm taking it easy for a bit."
Confused, I squinted at her. "That's a first."
"Yeah. Believe me, it took a lot of consideration before deciding to take a break."
Still suspicious, I crossed my arms. "You're still Twilight, right?" I jabbed.
Giggling, she nodded. "The one and only."
"Not necessarily."
"Oh, shut up. She doesn't count."
I waved dismissively. "Yeah, yeah. Anyway, what's the real reason."
Slowly, her grin disappeared, nervousness beginning to replace it. "Well..." Recognizing my wary expression, she continued. "I'm... uh... seeing someone."
Oh.
"Oh."
"Yeah."
"I see."
Whatever joy that we had once expressed was sucked into a vacuum, and in its place was more tense air.
"Is he...?"
"No, he's busy working."
"Oh, where does he work?"
"He's a high school teacher. Teaches math."
"Cool, cool."
I fought the sinking feeling in my stomach, the pounding ache in my chest, forcing the words to come out to prolong whatever conversation I could squeeze out.
The nervousness in her question wasn't because she was excited to reconnect; it was because she was afraid to tell me we couldn't reconnect.
It was just a friendly hug.
How could I be so naïve to think there was more to that - especially after seven years?
She cleared her throat. "So... what about you?"
I shrugged. "I'm still in the market."
A weak laugh. "It's a big market."
"Only makes it harder to find the right one."
"Fair enough."
Silence.
"Look, we're, um, getting married in September. You should check your schedule. We'd love to have you."
I swallowed hard. "Sure... sure thing."
Silence.
"Well," I rubbed my hands on my slacks, "I should probably get going."
"Yeah. It was nice seeing you, though."
"Agreed. Glad we could clear things up, y'know?"
"Keep in contact? I'm sure my fiancé would love to meet you."
"Of course."
Waving at her, I stepped away returning to my table. Peeking over my shoulder, I watched her linger for a minute longer, concern painted on her face, but with a sigh, she also left the refreshment area and reunited up with her research peers. Sunset glanced up from her phone, face filled with excitement, but upon spotting my discomfort, she put a hand to my arm.
"Luck, are you okay?"
Instinctively, I wrench my arm back to my side, holding it with my other hand, but realizing how forceful I was, I took a deep breath. "I'm sorry." Forcing the muscles on my face to contract, I produced a weak smile.
"It went great. I'm gonna head out now, though. Thanks for helping me out." Without waiting for a response, I walked out into the hallway. Still feeling overwhelmed, I retreated even further into nearby bathroom, slamming my hands onto the sink to steady myself. Despite my blurred vision, I felt the splash of tears on the back of my hands. Wiping an eye, I whipped my head up to the mirror, but my sight distorted once again. Rubbing once more, I caught a brief glimpse of my reflection. It stared back with rivers flowing down its face, raining down into the ceramic bowl.
A few droplets slid by my lips, coating them with a salty sheen.
My sense of taste was back... but why now?
Shortly after, my tears flooded my vision again, so I wiped... and wiped... and wiped... They refused to stop.
Why wouldn't they stop?
Author's Note
Alas, I'm already done. I think it was a nice creative outlet to allow me to recover from my main story.
As it currently stands, the completed status doesn't mean I'm particularly happy with how this came out. I think it's satisfactory given my intentions, and I think it's as good as I can produce at the moment. However, if I afforded myself more time, this could be improved, perhaps I'll revisit this later on to rewrite it.
Regardless, I hope you enjoyed, and as always, feedback is appreciated.