Unexpected Friendship

Jimbo walked out of the storage room, and as he came behind the bar counter, looked around. There was no trace of the previous customer and the only thing that was left behind was a single glass, underneath which was placed a small amount of money. Jimbo sighed and began cleaning the glass. It didn't take him long and, just as he finished, he heard a deep male voice ordering him.

"Pour me some whiskey and don't even think about putting it in a small glass."

Jimbo turned around and saw who this "charming" equine was. It was a jacked-up zebra - around in his late thirties or early fourties. The old donkey turned around and soon Striped Fist got his whiskey in a fairly big glass which was filled to the brim. The zebra looked at it and then at the bartender.

"Thanks," he mumbled out and took the glass. He lifted it up and took a big sip of the whiskey, leaving about half inside. Striped put the glass down with a slam and let out a sigh. His eyes were entirely focused on the brownish - gold liquid and his head was laid crooked in his hand.

Jimbo could see that something was not right with this guy. The donkey wondered if he should say something or let the zebra mope. But in the end he decided to just simply ask him.

"Hey, uh, is everything alright?"

At first there was no response. The question made Striped Fist lift his head and look at the bartender. Striped Fist sighed and responded. "Not exactly."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Striped lifted up one of his eyebrows and asked him, "Do you really want to listen to it? Besides why do you even care?"

"Come on, pal. Are you serious? Every bartender has to help or atleast try to cheer up his clients; besides, everything we talk about and discuss now, will stay only between us."

Striped still wasn't very sure if he should trust this donkey. But then again he had nothing to lose so he decided to open up. The zebra lifted up the glass, and after he drank the remaining whiskey, began talking.

"Well, alright then. You see, the thing that is bugging me involves a girl, a mature mare to be more exact."

The zebra paused for a long while which made Jimbo slightly tilt his head to the left side and ask, "And?"

Striped scratched the back of his neck and continued, a bit nervously, "Well, I kinda messed up the things and lost my temper, then shouted at her."

Jimbo squinted his eyes and said, "I think there is something missing in your story - and I mean a lot - but I won't ask for details becasue I am not sure if I want to know about them. Tell me, what is she like?"

"She is honestly an amazing mare: kind, sweet and sexy as hell," Striped Fist explained. His voice got more up-beat and his eyes sparked up with joy for a quick moment.

This made Jimbo to smile and he continued with another question. "I see. So, what relationship you two exactly have?"

This question made the zebra to look aside to avoid eye contact. "We met at the bar back in the resort we are both in. To be honest we have known eachother for like one day."

"And what exactly made you get so angry with her if you two just recently met?"

Striped letted out another sigh and looked at his empty glass. He stood like that for a few seconds and as he finally decided to answer, his voice was quiet and almost mumbling."I guess I am just not made for this kind of stuff." The zebra then lifted his head to look at the bartender who was just looking at him with a questioning look.

"Never mind," Striped Fist said with a bit of a groan. He then took out a few bits and after he placed them on the counter, he stood up, ready to go. Jimbo decided he could atleast give this guy some final advice before he goes away. And just when the zebra was ready to go, he heard Jimbo's voice.

"Look, buddy, I am not sure what has happened between you and this girl, but from what I can see, it seems you are not too good with making new friends. And in this particular case I want to ask you one simple question: do you want to establish a real relationship with this mare or it is just one night thing where you - " the bartender paused for a second before he forced the rest out "- try to satisfy your needs and then walk away?"

Instead of simply walking away, Striped Fist was just standing there, with his back turned against bartender. The zebra stallion was silent and his eyes were changing their focus from somewhere in the empty distance to the tips of his feet. He was breathing deep and slowly and the pose he had taken, with his fists clenched right next to his thighs, made Jimbo a little bit nervous since he wasn't sure what kind of emotions his words inflicted in this fella and more importantly, if this would backfire at him.

The donkey asked the right question. "What am I feeling towards her," Striped Fist questioned himself. Cookie was definitely an amazing mare but she was also way above his league.

Even if he and she got together would he be able to satisfy her? Would he be able to keep the spark between them burning? And most importantly, why exactly he wanted to be together with her? He thought about this and realised that he wasn't exactly sure if he sees Betty as a potential romantic partner or just as an object that no one else should have.

He met this mare yesterday and have known her for half a day yet she made him ask himself questions no previous girl has ever had. She sure was a special one.

Slowly, the zebra turned his head towards the old donkey and said in a quiet, almost whispering tone, "Thanks for the drink mate. Also, keep the change." With that Striped slowly walked away, leaving the bar and the confused bartender behind his back. He then headed towards the resort, thinking about what he would say to Betty.

Cookie Crumbles was sitting on the couch in the living room, staring into the black void of emptyness that was the screen of the TV. All of the curtains were closed but there were still small amounts of sunlight that was entering in.

The mare was all alone, her husband nowhere to be seen. Luckily for her, she still managed to unlock and get into the room thanks to second key she had.

Cookie letted out another sigh and looked up at the ceiling. Beams of light were entering through the curtain, leaving stripes on the ceiling. Stripes... Cookie grumbled to herself.

"Rude jerk," the mare suddenly bursted out. But as much she wanted to forget it, one thing in particular couldn't get out of her mind. His words. And as much she didn't want to admit it, he was right to some extent. She did find him attractive and to be honest with herself, she may have imagined him naked a little bit. But that didn't matter now.

Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the ringing of the bell on the front door. Cookie Crumbles guessed who this might be so at first she didn't move from her seat and began waiting for the annoying buzzing to stop. But as it kept going and going, the mare decided to finally open and see who this is. She got up, groaning a little bit, and headed towards the door. As she opened it, she saw the familiar face of Striped Fist.

But this time, instead of having his usual cocky and smug look, he appeared more guilty. The zebra was looking aside and his downcasted eyes were trying to avoid contact with the mare standing infront of him.

Cookie Crumbles slightly lifted one of her eyebrows. She was leaning against the casing of the door with her arms crossed, observing the zebra. But as she tried to say something, Striped Fist interrupted her with the words, "Please, before you say anything, can I speak?"

Cookie squinted her eyes slightly but then nodded in agrement and remained silent, wanting to hear what the zebra had to say.

Striped Fist took a deep breath and letted out a painful sigh. He then looked tha mare, standing infront him, in the eyes and started talking. "Okay, look. I know what I did was wrong, I shouldn't have yelled at you. It's just that -" Striped bit his lip, his eyes flashed left and right as he tried to conjure the right words "- you are the first mare I have genuinely tried to have actual conversations, instead of just flirting and then hop into the bed. If you haven't got it already I am a bit of a whore.' Striped Fist letted out a nervous chuckle and scratched the back of his neck.

Striped Fist managed to steal a glance at Cookie’s face wherein he noticed she hadn’t dropped her serious expression at all. Striped heart thumped hard in his chest.

"My point is, I would like to start from the begining and build up a genuine relationship-I mean friendship." With that the zebra stopped talking and looked at the mare, nervous about what she would say.

Cookie was sceptical about this. Askari's words sounded nice, but his intentions might not be. But then again Cookie had nothing major to loose if she accepts this. It also seemed he was somewhat honest, given his awkward behaviour. Unfortunatley there could be a problem if Hondo finds out and sees it in the wrong way. But right now he was no where to be seen so that was out of the way.

The mare sighed and said, "Alright, I forgive you for what you did and said back then and-"

Before she could finish her sentence, Striped Fist quickly wraped his arms around her and hugged her tightly. Cookie was caught off guard but she still smiled and patted him on the back. The things unfortunately got a more awkward turn the moment Cookie and Striped Fist broke the hug and saw how a few feet away from them a grey skinned male unicorn with a mustache was standing and was looking at them.

Striped raised his eyebrow, but as he turned towards Cookie Crumbles, he saw how terrified she was, the color of her face had completely dissapeared and her eyes were wide open.

"B-Betty?," Hondo said, almost forcing himself to do so.

"Magnum, it is not what it appears to be."