Around the center table of the Hay and Clover, Maretime Bays premiere bar, sat a group of five ponies.
Hitch had himself a beer. By his side, Pipp currently was sipping on a juice.
Across from the couple sat Izzy and Sunny, both mares enjoying a hard cider.
At the head of the large square table, Zipp had a whole side to herself. The white mare had a small selection of drinks and seemed to be deep in thought as the other four talked softly in pairs. Across from her was an empty space as though awaiting another pony or two to arrive.
“Yuck, what is that?”
Hitch smiled ruefully at his marefriend as he reclaimed his drink. “That Pipp, is beer. And my favourite one at that. Although I’m glad it’s not a taste you have acquired.”
Pipp glanced at the beer for a moment. “Why?”
“Because... well...”
Sunny snorted. “He’s happy that you will be the sober one to help him stagger back to his home afterward. Normally I have to be the sensible one in our group.”
Hitch cringed. “I wasn’t planning on getting drunk.”
Pipp rounded on her coltfriend. “Is this true? I thought you were all responsible and stuff.”
Hitch shot Sunny an annoyed look. “I was not planning on getting drunk. Thank you, Sunny.”
“Hmm... well I guess.” The pink princess turned to her sister. “But if I find something I like I’ll join in whatever crazy drinking games you ponies are about to play. You’re not going to block me this time.”
“Alright.” Zipp nodded once then brightened up. A playful smirk slipped out as she eyed her sister. “I think it’s about time we start. And since Pipp has just bought in... This means you need to try this...” The white mare passed her pink sister a short glass with golden liquid inside.
“What’s this?” Pipp inquired as she examined her glass.
“Try it.” Zipp prompted.
“Really?”
Zipp sat confidently back in her seat. “Come on, trust me.”
“Alright.” With a deep breath, Pipp pulled out her phone, tapped away with great speed then focused on the glass before her. “Hey there, grown up Pippsquesks! This is your one and only coming at you live from the Hay and Clover in Maretime Bay.”
“Do you really need to stream this?” Sunny asked, her frown showing a clear distaste at being live on camera at the bar.
Pipp nodded eagerly, “Of course! How else am I supposed to remember what the best drinks are?”
Hitch sighed at his marefriend’s response, not all that pleased at the hint of where she was expecting the night to go. He took a swing of his beer.
Quick to notice the stallion at her side, Pipp’s grin increased. “And with me, my number one Pippsqueak and date, Hitch!”
Realizing he was in fact, live to who knows how many ponies, Hitch sat up straight and put on his best smile as he nursed his beer. “Hi... everypony.”
“And,” Pipp continued, panning her phone around the others at the table. “My friends, and dear sister. Everypony say hi!”
The assembled group of friends waved at Pipp’s phone. “Hi.”
“Alright, and now for the whole reason for this special edition livestream. Taste test! Yay! Oh, Hitch, you have got to join me!”
The sheriff stared warmly back at his mare. “I’m quite happy with my beer, thank you.”
“Please!”
The stallion melted under the pleading look from his date. A sigh escaped as he gave in, “oh all right. Zipp, please pass me one of whatever you gave Pipp.”
“Right on it.” The speedy pegasus hurried off and returned with four more of the same drinks.”Let’s make this a taste testing game. See which drinks our group of friends thinks is the best of Maretime Bay?”
“You hear that Pimpsqueaks? For all of my adult followers out there beyond Maretime Bay, we are about to bring you the best that our lovable earth pony town has to offer.” The pink pegasus quickly rearranged her framing so she could include both herself and Hitch along with their drinks. “And a quick disclaimer from yours truly. This is an adults-only side channel. I totes listed it like that for a reason and any young ponies watching should stop now, please.”
Princess Pipp held the golden liquid up to the camera and did an exaggerated clearing of her throat. “Anyways, onwards with the livestream. Ooooh, look at this pretty drink, it looks almost like liquid gold!”
“You’re not far off there, sister,” Zipp replied with a grin as she sat at the head of their table. “What you see before you all is a special honey liquor; The golden glow. Alright, bottoms up!”
With an excited ‘Ooooh!’ Izzy grabbed her glass and was the first to throw the golden drink back.
Sunny eyed the eager unicorn at her side before taking a reserved sip.
Hitch and Pipp clinked their glasses together in front of the camera. While Pipp took a dainty sip, Hitch drained half the small glass and swirled the alcohol around in his mouth for a moment to appreciate the flavours before it fully went down the hatch.
“It’s nice...” Hitch commend. “Quite a different palate to my beer.”
Pipp closed her eyes as her wings fluffed up. “So warm, and sweet... I love it!”
“Totally. It feels as warm as one of Sunny’s hugs.” Izzy eagerly added.
Sunny flushed a darker shade, “um...”
Zipp chucked as she observed the others. “I would rate this. The honey is strong and sweet. But it’s really smooth.”
“There you have it Pippsqueaks! The first drink, a honey liqueur is a winner. It’s almost like drinking honey but better! Alright, sister, what do you have next for us?”
“Well...” Zip eyed the drinks she had first taken over. “I'll think about it while we finish these nice shots of honey off.”
“Agreed. I feel like this is a drink to enjoy slowly.” Sunny added.
“Better finish quickly.” Izzy eyed her companion’s drink.
“No. I’m not sharing it with you.”
“But mine is gone!” Izzy complained loudly.
“And that’s your own fault for drinking it so fast.” Sunny shot back then took another sip.
Pipp giggled at Sunny and Izzy’s antics as the latter tried and failed to steal the rest of the earth pony’s drink. As she drained the rest of her golden drink, Pipp noticed her date had returned to his beer. “You’re not going to finish the honey drink?”
“Oh, I’ll get back to it,” Hitch replied. “I just prefer my beer.”
Pipp drained the rest of her short glass. “If you don’t want it, I can finish it.”
“Did you really enjoy it that much?”
Pipp nodded.
The sheriff shrugged. He picked up the honey liqueur and took one last sip. With a light clink, he placed the half empty glass down on the table with a playful smirk. “For you, if you really want it.”
Pipp reached out then hesitated. With a smile and a nod Hitch moved the offered drink closer and took a sip of his beer.
With a deep breath, the young princess picked the glass up and under the watchful eyes of her friends, finished her date’s drink.
“You really must like that golden glow,” Zipp commented.
“And Hitch.” Izzy grinned. “That’s gotta be the first time I’ve ever seen you drink from his glass like ever.”
“It’s a really nice drink... okay?” Pipp shrank back a bit. Maybe that had been a bit too forward of her? Suddenly a comforting hoof from Hitch came to rest around her back in a loose hug. She smiled, if Hitch was okay, then she would be too.
“Alright.” Zipp broke the temporary silence as she held up one of her other drinks. “How about... this. A margarita. I’ll get more for the rest of you while my sister announces it to her fans.” With an eye roll, the elder princess departed the table for the bar nearby.
Pipp picked up a small conical glass that contained a light yellow-green drink and showed it off to her phone’s camera. “What do you think Pippsquesks? Looks interesting.”
“Are you really sure you want to try that?” Hitch asked carefully as he moved to better sit on his own seat again.
“Why? Pipp asked. “It smells...” The pink mare took a sniff of the mix and recoiled “Wow.. that smells like it’s trying to kick my nose.”
A smirk slipped out across Hitch’s muzzle as he finished off his beer. “That would be one way to put it, yes.”
“I think you should try it.” Izzy egged her friend on. “It looks cool.”
Pipp took another sniff then rubbed her nose. “You think? It still smells really kicky.”
Izzy giggled, “that’s all part of the fun!”
“Here you go,” Zipp announced her return with four more of the small glasses, each with a slice of lime on the side.
Izzy eagerly used her magic to serve herself and Sunny.
Hitch accepted his drink. He noticed Zipp keenly watching and quickly returned his gaze to his marefriend. “Alright then, Pipp. Shall we try these margaritas?”
Pipp nodded briskly. “Sure thing, alright Pippsqueks, bottoms up for drink number two!”
Pipp’s dainty sip turned into a wide eyed pause before she took another sip and her face contorted. The pink princess glanced between the glass and her phone “Woah. Who puts salt in that? It’s so weird...”
“Well... I think it’s kinda nice. Quite tart and in your face. But I like it.” Hitch commented as he continued to slowly enjoy his own drink
Pipp eyed the stallion at her side. “You earth ponies know how to make a strong kick you in the face alcohol. You know that?”
“Maybe. But I still think it's a nice drink.” Hitch commented.
“I don’t how you enjoy that.” Sunny interrupted the couple's to-camera moment. She placed her mostly full glass down. “That one didn’t work for me, sorry Zipp. I think I’m with Pipp here.”
“All part of the fun exploring new drinks. I rather think this will become a classic for me.” Zipp replied as she finished off her own drink.
“Does that mean I get to finish your drink?” Izzy eagerly asked her marefriend.
Sunny eyed the unicorn at her side. “Did you like it that much?”
“Yep, sure did!” Izzy slipped a quick peck onto the orange mare’s cheek before taking the mostly fully glass and gleefully finishing the lot.
Sunny dipped her head in embarrassment as she realised they were on camera.
“Awww, aren’t they cute!” Pipp squee’d. “Our group has such a cute couple!”
In all that fun, Zipp had somehow managed to sneak to the bar.
“Looks like my sister has gone again. I wonder what she will bring back this time.” Pipp wondered.
Hitch nicked his date's glass, “hope you don’t mind me finishing this while we wait.”
“Yeah... I don’t want any more of that.” Pipp waved her glass away.
Hitch lifted Pipp’s glass in cheers to Izzy. “I guess we two get the fun of doubling up here.”
“Indeed. Good thing for us, right?” Izzy grinned back.
Hitch shrugged. “Depends. I for one would like to remember this night.”
Izzy cackled, “I’m gonna roll with the night, even if it means getting super drunk. Right Sunny?”
Sunny stared flatly back at the grinning mare, “I’m with Hitch.”
“Nu uh! You’re with me.”
“No, I meant...” Sunny took a deep breath, “you know what I mean.”
“Good. Cause you’re always going to have me.” Izzy declared with a gleeful nuzzle.
With a light clinking, the group’s attention was drawn back to the head of their table as Zipp returned. This time, six drinks were on the platter. All shot glasses with a dark golden orange spirit. A seventh shot sat next to Zipps small collection of drinks on the table.
“Um, Zipp, why do you have extras?” Sunny eyed the collection on the tray.
“Because I see my family’s two favourite guards.” The white mare waved at the pegasus pair who had just walked in. “Hey you two, we got a tasting session going on here! Come and join us!”
Zoom perked up at the call and boldly led her more reserved companion over. “Thanks for the offer guys.”
The pair seated themselves at the last remaining side of the table, facing the white mare who was serving.
The green stallion leaned into his fellow guard and whispered something to her.
The blue mare eyed Pipp's phone. “Of course, she’s streaming.”
Thunder huffed. “Yea, but don’t you think-”
“Hey, if she wants to keep going. Let her.” Zoom shrugged.
“You... sure?”
“Relax Thunder, I really don’t care and neither should you,” Zoom commanded as she returned to attention to the group they had joined.
Izzy downed the drink she had been given in one go as she eyed the two off duty guards. The unicorn leaned toward the pair, a mighty curious expression upon her face. “Say... are you two a couple?”
“What?” Thunder withdrew, his muzzle suddenly flushed with surprise at such a question.
With a giggle, Izzy rounded on Zipp. She gave the empty glass wave. “That was a great shot! Can I have another please?”
Zipp rolled her eyes, “you’re stuck waiting for the next round unless Sunny decides this one is also not to her tastes.”
“Quick Sunny, you gotta try your drink!” Izzy rounded on her marefriend, eager for the shot held by orange forehooves.
Sunny smiled reassuringly at the unicorn by her side. “Relax Izzy.”
“But this is fun!”
Sunny shifted her own shot closer, keeping an eye on her companion. “You’re aware that the way you are drinking, you’re going to end up drunk?”
“So drunk you will have to carry me back to the Brighthouse with you. Then we two will crash and the real wild fun will begin.” The eager unicorn waggled her eyebrows suggestively.
“Looks like this night keeps getting more interesting.” Pipp giggled awkwardly as she returned the focus of her livestream to herself. “I wonder what this drink is...”
Hitch followed his marefriend’s lead as she picked up her drink and scrutinized it closely. She gave it a sniff and wrinkled her brow. “What is that smell? It smells like...
“Very oak’y.” Hitch’s eyes widened, cutting his mare off. “I know what this is... The very best of the Maretime Bay’s wiskey; Bay Gold. Ten year aged single malt, at a guess.”
“Were you in the alcohol business before you became a sheriff?” Zipp took a careful sample of her drink, eyes upon the amber stallion. “Cause you nailed that right down to its age.”
The stallion smiled. “Oh, I’ve helped out at that particular distillery on occasion. It would be a stretch to say I worked for them though.”
“So, no getting free booze then?” Zip lent forward, expectantly.
Hitch gave a dry laugh. “Sorry, no.”
“Well, after that interesting bit of information, I think it’s time to sample this whiskey,” Pipp concluded.
Hitch nodded in agreement with his marefriend and they clinked their glasses together in cheers.
Zoom and Thunder followed suit along with Sunny and Zip who exchanged cheers with Izzy’s empty glass.
Hitch smiled as he finished his shot. “Yep. Still tastes as rich as I remember with that hint of smokey oak and apple.”
“Wow Hitch, you really know your drink.” Pipp grinned. A cough wracked her system and she almost dropped her drink. The shocked princess carefully placed her drink down with wide eyes “I think this one’s a bit strong for me.”
With a loving smile on his glowing face, Hitch leaned in close to his marefriend. “I can finish it for you if you like.”
Pipp nodded then slid her half full shot glass into her coltfriend’s waiting grasp.
Zoom and Thunder watched the exchange with great interest.
“I see you both have become a lot more open and easygoing together,” Zoom commented.
“I think the three shots and a beer helps.” Zipp grinned at the guard couple.
Pipp rounded on her sister, “hey, Hitch is my firstest and only coltfriend. Go easy on us.”
Zipp simply smirked back at her sister. “What? Can’t an older sister have a little fun? I gotta admit though, I expected you to be green. But didn’t expect Hitch to be so clueless too. It's funny.”
“Sounds like we came late to the party.” Zoom gave her stallion a playful nudge.
Thunder blighted up as he finished sipping his drink and turned to Hitch. “Hey, I really like this...”
“I can show you where to buy a bottle too, if you like.” Hitch smiled back as he sipped the rest of his marefriend’s shot.
“Thanks, that would rock.” Thunder nodded.
Sunny was the last to place her drink on the table. She wore a thoughtful look.
Realising the part time alicorn was about to say something, Pipp hurried to flip the camera.
“I must have only ever had their cheap stuff. Because this is nothing like the Bay Black you tried to get me to drink a few years ago. It is so rich and... and... yeah. What you said, Hitch.”
Zoom giggled at the earth pony mare’s lack of drink specific knowledge.
“Thanks, Sunny.” Hitch found his gaze diverted to his fillyfriend as she leaned into his side.
“Hitch... Is this buzz what it feels like to be drunk?” The pink mare gazed imploringly up at her stallion.
A playful laugh escaped the stallion. “No Pipp what you are feeling is the first effects of the alcohol. At a guess, tipsy. Like how I’m beginning to feel.”
“Oh, so it’s okay to keep drinking? I’m not gonna lose my dinner or anything?”
“You’re fine. You’ve hardly even had anything yet.” Zoom spoke up. “But if your highness wants to stop, then stop.”
“I don’t mind.” Pipp shot a quick glance at her phone. “After all, I believe there are a few more exciting drinks for us to sample and judging by the comments, plenty of ponies are keen to see what’s next on the menu.”
Hitch gave his fillyfriend a gentle nuzzle. “Alright. But it’s okay if you want to stop at any time, I can keep sampling anything else for the both of us.”
Pipp smiled blissfully as she cuddled her coltfriend back.
The couple's cute display of affection was sure to melt many hearts across the three cities as they enjoyed the small break in between drinks. The rest of the group broke into quiet chatter amongst themselves. After a few minutes, the bringer of drinks slipped away to the bar.
Izzy scooted closer to Sunny, “hey, Zoom. Who’s cuter? Us or them?” She motioned at the princess and her sheriff.
Zoom met the eager unicorn’s gaze then glanced at her princess, “Pipp is the princess of cute, sorry.”
“Yeah, but what about couples combined cuteness?” Izzy asked hopefully.
Zoom glanced at the young princess, her phone resting against a glass in front of them while she shared a loose cuddle with Hitch. The pair whispered quiet words to each other and something that Hitch said caused Pipp to giggle softly.
The tough guard returned her gaze to Izzy and Sunny.
While Izzy was smiling brightly and cuddling her marefriend, Sunny looked less comfortable with such a public show of affection. Although the orange mare was accepting Izzy's hug and even offered a quick nuzzle, she was well aware of the ponies around.
Zoom glanced back at Hitch and Pipp, who were still in their own little world for two. “Na, they win. Sorry girls.”
“Awwww...” Izzy complained, playfully. “That's okay, we’ll win when there's less ponies around to spook Sunny.”
Sunny frowned, “I’m not spooked. It’s just, we’re at the most popular bar in town with all our friends and there's lots of other ponies in here.”
“Look everypony, they’re cuddling!” Zoom pointed at the two other couples on their table as she glanced around to check how many ponies reacted.
Sunny shrank toward her empty glass, while Izzy sat up straight, grinning.
Very few ponies so much as glanced up from their drinks and private conversations. The other couples in the room continued to share an up close and personal drink with their partner while friends laughed and drank to their hearts content.
“See, no pony cares.” Thunder smirked and playfully bumped his mare.
“Still, that wasn’t very nice.” Pipp chided her favourite guards.
“Says the mare livestreaming her cuddle session.” Zoom retorted.
Pipp sat up straight, picked up her phone then showed its screen to Zoom. “It’s on pause. Five minute break for everypony to get ready for round two.”
“You paused a livestream?” Thunder stared at the screen in surprise. “Wow, Hitch, she must really like you. She never gave anypony else a break like that back home.”
“Well- Zipp, you’re back.” Pipp hurriedly resumed her livestream and set her phone camera on her sister.
With a clink of glasses, Zipp placed a platter of fancy looking glasses down on the table. “Sorry about the wait. But I had to do something special seeing as we have two new additions to our group.”
Thunder eyed the drinks on the table. “Are those... Zephyr Heights Iced tea?”
“Correct!” Zip looked rather pleased with herself as she dished the rather full glasses out. Each looked almost like a dark iced tea, although they were clearly alcoholic. “Made by me, because the barmaid had no idea what our pegasus mix was. Luckily, they had recently imported the good stuff required to complete this from Zephyr Heights. So you can be sure, this stuff is legit. Oh, and you two get the largest glasses 'cause you’re late.”
“Well if it’s just like you make it at home...” Zoom smiled as she lifted the aromatic drink to her nose and inhaled the rich scent. The tough mare noticed she was on camera and decided to add a bit more for those watching. “This is one of the classic drinks my drinking buddy, Zipp and I like to enjoy during our time off. If you haven’t tried it, well... I think you’re missing out.”
And with that, Zoom lifted the large glass to her lips and took a draught. “Mmmm... yes... there’s that chaotic taste... So sweet. And I like how the flavours bombard my tongue.”
“Oh, I can’t wait to try this.” Pipp excitedly announced as she returned her fans focus to herself.
“You’ve never tried it before?” Hitch wondered as he swirled his own Zephyr Heights Iced tea.
Pipp shook her head, “na. Big old meanie over there always refuses to let me have any when she and Zoom went out for drinks.
“Really?” Surprised, Hitch lifted his gaze to stare at the grinning white pegasus.
“Hey, somepony didn’t seem all that interested in alcohol and I wasn’t going to drop something like this on my baby sister.” Zip shot back.
“I’m not a baby.” Pipp pouted.
“No? But you’re still short.” Zipp smirked back from behind her glass as she enjoyed her drink.
“Hitch...” Pipp rounded on her coltfriend, a strong wine to her tone. “You’re not gonna let her get away with calling me short are you?”
Hitch gave his fillyfriend a loose hug as he gazed down, lovingly into her eyes. “I like you just the way you are.”
“So... you think I’m short too?” A pout began to form on the pudgy pegaus’s lips as she matched her coltfriend’s gaze.
“Nothing wrong with being a bit shorter than other ponies, dear. In fact, I think it helps you look even cuter.”
“Really?” Pipp eyed her date, unsure if she had been given an underhoof compliment or if Hitch truly meant the best with his attempt at an endearing comment.
“Personally I think cute mares are the best kind. And you are the princess of cute.” Hitch placed a quick kiss on his mare’s forehead as he wrapped her in a loving hug. “Now, how about we try these special pegasus drinks?”
At that, Pipp blighted up again and nodded, her sister’s comments forgotten.
“Woah!” Izzy cried out. “You have got to make me and Sunny another. That was amazing! So fruity and mixy and yum.”
“It’s very strong,” Sunny added. She took another sip of her ‘tea’ before placing it thoughtfully down again. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”
“I thought you said it was an iced tea?” Pipp asked as she gave a very careful sniff of her own drink and recoiled as the kick of the mixed spirits hit her sinuses.
“Oh, that’s just the name.” Zipp giggled as she supped from her own glass.
“Ya know... because it looks kinda like ice tea.” Zoom giggled.
“But it tastes like a hangover.” Thunder muttered as he swirled his drink, then knocked it back in one.
Zoom shot her coltfriend a dirty look. “That’s because you drink it like that. What do you expect, dumb dumb?”
Thunder poked his tongue out at his mare. “I finished it. Too late.”
“Good boy. Oh yeah, we’re getting lit tonight!” Zoom giggled as she snatched the glass out of her coltfriend’s hooves and gave him a quick kiss.
Zipp returned her gaze to the hesitating pink pegasus. “What do you think, sis? Go on, give it a go. As your older sister, I think you're finally old enough to try it.”
With a gulp, Pipp readied herself and took a sip of the drink. A range of reactions flashed across the pink mare’s face as she tried to process the mix. She took a second, bigger sip then paused. “Well, I think I might rate this. It’s sweet with quite a lot of flavour packed in and...” The pink mare eyed her sister as she lowered her glass. “Is it supposed to give you like a second wave kind of hit?”
“It is,” Zipp confirmed with a level nod.
“Woah, yeah. That was a second kick alright. Uh... Hitch?” Pipp gazed into her strong stallion’s eyes.
A knowing smirk slipped out across the sheriff’s lips. “Want me to finish it?”
The pink pegasus nodded. She took one final sip before she placed her glass down and relaxed against her coltfriend.
“Well, for a mix of what... four?”
“Five serious drinkies. Lemon, cola and a few other top secret additions.” Zipp corrected with a smirk.
“Right. Five top shelf drinks in one, plus the lemon, cola... and anything else you snuck in there... It’s not half bad.” Hitch commented as he slowly sipped away. “I think I prefer the simpler mixes we have in Maretime Bay, but I would consider having this when I visit Zephyr Heights.”
“You hear that fans?” Pipp eagerly returned her attention to her mobile. “Hitch rates it!”
“I do. And you seemed to enjoy it too.” The stallion smiled as he took another sip.
Pipp nodded. “Yes. But I’m really starting to feel funny. Hitch, I- I think the alcohol is affecting me.”
The stallion chucked, “it does that.” He finished off his own glass and placed a hoof on his dates Zephyr Heights ice tea. “Now, are you sure you don’t want any more?”
“Um...” Pipp tentatively reached out and grabbed the drink. She took a final dainty sip and then lent back into Hitch’s warm embrace. “I’m done for now.”
“Whatcha got next for us?” Izzy asked as she leaned forward and eyed the last of the mix in her own glass. “We are almost out of the fun juice and this unicorn needs to feel it in her blood!”
A smirk slipped out across Zipp’s face. She knocked back the rest of her drink then rose and headed to the bar once more.
“Izzy.” Sunny attempted to placate her marefriend. “Shouldn’t we wait a little bit for the alcohol to settle?”
The buzzed unicorn tackled her fillyfriend and gave her a huge kiss. “Sunny, the nice guard from Zephyr Heights said it’s time to get lit. So let's get lit!” The excited mare leapt back up, forehooves outstretched, eager for more fun.
“Alright!” Zoom cheered. “Looks like we got some catching up to do too..”
Thunder tenderly eyed his predatory mate. “I guess we do.”
Pipp turned to her coltfriend, “how are you feeling Hitch, I’m not forcing too many drinks on you, am I?”
The stallion rolled his shoulders and glanced around the room. “No, I’m quite willingly finishing off anything you don’t. Plus, I think I have a higher level of alcohol tolerance than you do. I can feel it, but I still feel okay right now.”
“Yeah. Hitch still looks fine, Pipp.” Sunny added. “Trust me, I’ve seen how many beers it takes to get him drunk.”
“How about this fine drink?” Zipp announced as she navigated back to the group's table, her hold on the platter of drinks less sure than it had been at the start of the night. “I never heard of it before but the barkeep said it’s what we should try next.”
“What’s it called?” Zoom asked eagerly.
“The blackbay uh...” the pegasus came to a stop at their table and carefully placed the mugs filled with a lightly bubbling dark purple drink down as she thought carefully.
Izzy was quick to collect two drinks that looked like ciders for her side of the table. “The black bay uh?” A raucous giggle broke out. “What a name!”
“No. I forgot the rest of its name for a moment.” Zipp scowled back. As she placed the lost name aside a smile broke forth. “Whatever. Just enjoy it and make sure the fans know if it's worth not trying or not.”
“Alright.” Hitch reached out for two drinks, he somehow slipped and almost face-planted on the table. The stallion was quick to withdraw, his face flushed. “Uh... Pipp, please get our drinks.”
Pipp giggled loudly as she accepted the two glasses from her sister. “You’re funny, you know that Hitch?”
“Yes well, I slipped. Totally not drunk. Besides, I think I’m used to beer only. Not... whatever all these mixes are.” Hitch eyed their new drink suspiciously.
“Thank you for being so noble and finishing mine off like that...” the smaller pony gave her date a kiss on his jaw. Hitch smiled, lovestruck.
Pipp returned her gaze to her phone in time for a fresh swarm of heart emotes to fill the screen. She cooed with glee and nestled back into Hitch’s loose cuddle.
With an excited yell, Izzy leapt up. “Hi, Misty!”
A light blue unicorn with a frizzly mane froze halfway in the front door. She looked like she wanted to bolt. Clearly thinking better of it, she tried to ignore the delighted unicorn on the central table and shuffled along slowly toward the bar. A few ponies watched the unusual entrance but quickly went back to their drinks. Despite the dissipating weight of other ponies attention, the blue unicorn’s gaze remained downcast and her shoulders hunched. This was a young mare who did not want to be here.
“Misty!” Izzy waved franticly, trying to get the attention of her fellow unicorn. “Hey, blue horny pony with the big hair! Your friends are in the middle, come join us!”
Misty cringed. Her gaze landed on Zipp and she she seemed to loosen up a bit. She glanced back at the bar, eyes wide as she looked at the wide variety of fancy bottles on the top shelf. With a sigh, the blue mare turned and found a swaying unicorn waving happily back.
“Look, we saved a spot for you next to Zipp!” Izzy was quick to point the vacant space out as she leaned against Sunny.
Pipp and Hitch watched with happy smiles as their shy friend wandered up to their table and nervously took a set next to Zipp.
Izzy cheered then chugged her cider. The buzzing unicorn gave a rather loud welcoming belch to their newcomer. “Hi Misty! Looks like you get to sit on the singles side of the table!”
“Singles side?” Misty asked tentatively.
Zipp playfully nudged the sober unicorn. “That’s cause we are the only ones who don’t have a special pony.”
“Oh, I’m okay...”
“Yeah?” Zipp picked up her drink then offered it to the shy unicorn. “Well at least allow me to get you a drink since you’re joining our table.”
“Oh, I would hate to impose...” Misty shyly rubbed her forehooves together, her submissive gaze upon the base of the drink offered by her friend.
“Nonsense!” Pipp jumped in. “Look Pippsqueaks! Our good friend Misty decided to join us!”
“Just in time to join in too,” Hitch added as he lovingly nuzzled the pink pegasus who was cuddled up under his chin.
“Well... Um... I’ve actually never had an alcoholic drink before.” The blue unicorn admitted softly.
“No way!” Izzy cried out. “But all us horny types in Bridlewood always go to my uncle's bar for a drink!”
“Well, I might have been missing out...” The shy unicorn fidgeted a bit.
Realization dawned on the less than sober unicorn and she placed her mug down. “Oh... yeah... I guess the big ol’ meanie never let you into the good stuff, huh?”
Misty shook her head, “I don’t think she has any kind of special drinks in her castle.”
“Pfft. Boring!” Izzy exclaimed as she took another sip of her cider.
“Here. I’ll get me another.” Zipp thrust her undrunk cider into Misty’s hooves then stood up with a jerk.
“Uh, I can get it...”
“Nonesenses. You enjoy.” Zipp patted the unicorn on the shoulder with her wing then zig zagged off to the bar.
Pipp giggled. “Look at that everypony. My sister is totes getting drunk. I bet you all, she couldn't even fly up to a cloud.”
“Pipp, that’s mean.” Hitch playfully reprimanded his mare. “It’s not safe to fly for anypony who’s had that drunks that many.”
Pipp giggled. “I guess we won’t be flying either, Love.”
“No. We won't.” Hitch agreed as he raised his drink and took a sniff. “Um... Pipp? Help your stallion out here. My sniffer’s only telling me this is a good drink.”
“Pipp took a deep inhale of the drink before them.” Smells more fruity than anything we had before.”
“Must be cider. Well... I’m usually more of a beer stallion. But cheers, my cute princess.”
Hitch was about to cheers with his mare when Zoom interrupted him with a roar, “yeah, group cheers!”
Thunder followed his mare in and six ponies at the table stood for a drunken cheers. Misty sat her, mug in hoof nervously looking at the mugs held high.
“You too Misty,” Hitch prompted.
“Yeah, you’re one of our friends too.” Izzy agreed.
Misty glanced back at the bar, “can we wait for Zipp?”
“Sure, we can wait for my sister.” Pipp agreed, quickly settling back.
Soon enough, Zipp swaggered back. A mug of cider and a large golden shot of whiskey sat atop her platter. “Thanks for waiting everypony. Cheers!”
“Cheers!” The chorus rang from the other seven ponies around the table.
With that, it was down the hatch. A loud, satisfied belch followed as Thunder finished first alongside Zoom. The others placed their drinks down after a single long draught, content to pace themselves. Izzy simply stared at her empty mug, wishing it was still full.
“This is amazing!” Misty exclaimed. With much gusto, she unleashed the berry taste sensation upon herself once more.
“Not using your magic?” Izzy wondered.
The blue unicorn froze, mug held between her forehooves. “Oh...um... no? I guess I’m still getting used to the idea of it and-”
“It’s okay. You just do what you're comfortable with.” Zipp cut the rising tide of nerves off.
“Thanks...” Misty murmured back, barely audible over the general hubbub in the room.
With a shrug Izzy magically grabbed a hold of her partner’s drink and began to drink.
“Hey, that’s mine,” Sunny exclaimed.
“I finished first. So now you gotta share!” Izzy exclaimed then blew a kiss at her mare.
“Come here and try that again!”
“What, this?” Izzy leaned in and gave the waiting earth pony a huge sloppy kiss.
Misty recoiled from the open display. “I think I need another drink...”
“Good thing I thought you would need a boost. Here... try this.” Zipp announced as she placed the large shot glass before her companion.
“Oh... what’s this?” Misty asked as she leaned closer and gave the golden liquid a sniff.
“Try it. It’s one the rest of us already done.” Zipp explained as she continued to sip her cider.
Meanwhile, Pipp and Hitch were finishing their taste session on the cider and placed their mostly empty mugs down.
“You know, as a stallion who likes his beer, I gotta say. That was a great berry cider.” Hitch smiled at Pipp.
“I think Pipp called it the Blackberry. So folks, if you’re in town and you want the best cider in town. Just ask for this amazing drink!” Pipp energetically exclaimed as she held the remnants of her drink up close to her camera.
Misty placed the shot glass down on the table. “Can I please have another of this? It’s even nicer than the fruity drink.”
“You liked the whiskey even more than the berry cider?” Zipp stared incredulously at the normally timid mare by her side.
Misty nodded with much gusto, “yes, I’ve never tasted anything like it before.”
A smirk broke out across Zipp's maw. “Sure, I’ll get you another. And maybe make another surprise for you too since you seem to like it strong.”
With that, Zipp got carefully to her hooves and zig-zagged off to the bar.
Another round sped past for Pipp and Hitch. At this point, the buzz was dimming the taste and the carefully presented wine went down easier than expected. It was clear to the few who bothered to observe the raucous table of ponies that the newest addition seemed to loosen up fast, having three drinks in the extended period that the rest enjoyed their wine. Zipp staggered up to get a third round since the inclusion of Misty, only for one of the passing barmaids to stop her.
“Miss... I think you’ve had enough.” The grey earth pony glanced around the table and then back at the drunk pegaus before her.
Zipp snorted. “Nonsense. I’m only like eight deep."
“Thunder can do me eight deep.” Zoom joked as she leaned against said stallion, a mostly empty shot of rum teetering in her forehoof.
“Me!” Izzy’s shout drew everypony’s attention from the suddenly rather awkward looking stallion.
“What?” The barmare rubbed her forehead, “what do you mean, me?”
Zoom glanced down her lover's form. “Hey, Thunder, or was it inside-”
The flushed male guard captured his mare's lips in his own, silencing her with a kiss.
“Oh my gosh! I’ve been live for well over an hour now!” Pipp exclaimed.
“Where did...” The barmare noticed the white pegasus she had tried to stop had somehow made it to the bar and was talking to the pony serving. “Oh, whatever...”
“Did you say an hour?” Hitch glanced at his fillyfriend’s phone. “Feels like it’s been longer than that...”
“Well, an hour thirty-five. I think this makes it my longest livestream!” Pipp cheered happily.
Hitch simply smiled back.
“And I love this!” Misty exclaimed loudly.
“That’s moonshine.” Thunder declared, a grin upon his lips. “And you’re the only pony drinking it.”
Misty glanced at her half empty glass then slowly back up to the pegasus couple opposite her. “Why? It’s nice...”
“Don’t worry, you’ll find out.” Zoom chucked. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it now.”
“Then Yeaaah!” The well buzzed blue unicorn poured the rest of the drink onto her own horn and allowed the strong drink to slowly find its way down to her waiting tongue.
Izzy giggled loudly at the display. “Hey, Sunny bunny, wanna pour some juicy stuff on my horn?”
“I’m not wasting good alcohol on your horn.” Sunny shot back. “Besides... my shot is empty.”
“Who said you had to pour party drinkies on my horn?” Izzy grinned back.
“I can fix that...” Glasses rattled as the drunk white mare sat heavily down. “This beer could look rather funny on Izzy.”
“See!” Izzy gleefully took drinks off the white pegasus, with magic that was shorting out, and almost dropped the two beer mugs.
“My beer!” Hitch excitedly tried and failed to grab the drinks on the platter.
Pipp giggled. “Sis. Please pass the beer before Hitch hurts himself.”
Zipp smirked. “This proves it. Hitch is a regular. The hottie behind the bar knew his order and now it’s time for the last of what I call the normal drinks.”
“Normal?” Hitch asked.
“You gonna pull out the grand finale?” Zoom smirked confidently as she snagged two full mugs.
Zipp raised her own mug, paused then eyed the grinning guard. “Maybe I am.”
Thunder took a deep inhale of the scent of his beer. A sigh escaped the stallion, “Hitch, bro to bro... I gotta tell you. I’m probably too drunk to properly assess your beer now.”
“We could always have another evening with just beers.” Hitch offered as he sipped his favourite drink.
“Sounds good to me.” Thunder agreed as he too savored the fine beer.
“To all those still watching,” Hitch rounded on the camera. “This is what I consider to be the best drink in our town. Bunker beer.” And with that, he took a deep draught. A delighted sigh escaped the stallion.
Pipp giggled as she tentatively sampled her own beer. “You know... This not so yucky anymore.”
“Girl, you’re drunk.” Zoom proudly announced. “This is what, your first time?”
With a nod, Pipp softly admitted; “this feels like a night for firsts...”
“Speak up, it’s loud in here,” Zoom instructed.
“Go easy honey,” Thunder rounded on his mare. “I think this is a whole new thing.”
“Yeah, unlike Zipp!” Izzy spoke up. “She’s holding her liquor almost as good as me!”
“And I can still mostly taste okay too,” Zipp replied. “Like this beer... it’s... pretty good, it’s very bold. A lot more hoppy than the pegasus beers I tried back home.”
*Bang!*
All eyes turned to a buzzed-looking Misty who continued to clutch the empty tankard she had just slammed on the table. “That’s a beer!?”
“Yes, Misty.” Hitch smiled back.
“It’s amazing! I want another.” Misty rounded on Zipp, eager for a second serving.
“She’s said that about pretty much every drink...” Sunny commented dryly.
“What’s wrong with that?” Izzy rounded on her marefriend. “You say that to me pretty much every night too.”
“Izzy!” Sunny shot upright and her stool clattered to the ground behind her.
The drunk unicorn at her side broke out into gales of laughter.
“Does drinkies always do this?” Pipp asked her coltfriend as she filmed the antics before her. Izzy fell over onto Sunny, still laughing.
Hitch nodded, “feels wilder tonight. But yes, Sunny’s a fun drunk.”
The pink princess stood up from within Hitch’s grasp. Her eyes went wide as she fell back with a gasp into his loose cuddle. “Hitch! Why is the room moving?”
“My little sister is drunk! Ha!” Zipp giggled. “To all those watching, I’m glad it happened in such a safe environment. I mean, just look at that cuddle...”
“Indeed. Great company... drinks and some rather interesting conversation.” Hitch mused.
“I like that proposition.” Thunder spoke up loud and proud. “Tonight is the night!”
“What proposition?” Sunny asked.
“The baby making one.” The stallion smirked as he stood, wings spread on proud display.
With a thud, Zoom’s glass landed on the table. “That was private.”
“It was?” Thunder turned to his mare, confused.
“Well yeah, most of the ponies here don’t even know we’re married. That’s why I whispered it to you. To keep it between us.”
“Shit.. yeah. Oops...” the embarised stallion took a quick swing of his beer. “Um... I- uh... got a bit excited. Forgot you didn’t let the others hear.” He sheepishly glanced at the others at the table before back to the mare who sat close by his side.
“What?” Sunny stared blankly at the pegauss couple. “You’re married?”
“You told me you two were gonna wait another year for foals,” Zipp added.
Zoom shot her husband a dirty look. “Maybe we won’t. Maybe we will.”
Zoom's reply caught her husband’s attention and he seemed to freak out a bit. “No. That’s not what you said-”
“Well, somepony needs to think with his head more and not his dick.”
“Penisus can’t think.” Sunny shot the couple a disgusted look. “And can we please change the topic?”
“You’ve clearly never been with a stallion.” Zoom chucked.
A deep frown creased Sunny’s forehead.
“Hey, Izzy keeps dropping hits about your sex life, what's wrong... can’t consider couples who like it the natural way? You know only couples like us can make babies right?” Thunder retorted. His wife faceplanted into his shoulder.
“First off that’s rude. What if I’m okay with stallions but just prefer Izzy.” Sunny retorted knocking her drink over as she stumbled to her feet.
“Yeah!” Izzy gleefully added. “Besides, you haven't seen some of the ancient spells we’ve been uncovering. That Luna pony was super horny for Twilight and they had all kinds of kinky spells!”
“Who’s Twilight.” Thunder wondered.
“A really old princess of Equestria and my idol since I was a filly.” Sunny huffed as she righted her drink.
“Let me guess... this Luna was a mare too?” Thunder wondered.
“Yep,” Sunny confirmed smugly.
“Right. Well... I like to shag my wife the old fashioned way. You two can... do whatever freaky thing it is you do with magic. But don’t tell me, I really don’t need to know.” Thunder shook his head slowly as if trying to clear mental images.
“Break the occasional bed, go hole for hole all night long and oh! Horn jobs rule!” Izzy supplied helpfully.
“Wha-” Thunder gawped at the grinning unicorn. “Really?”
“What’s a horn job?” Misty asked. “It sounds.. interesting.”
Izzy leaned on Sunny’s side and presented her horn before the earth pony’s maw. “Go on Sunny wunny, give us a demo.”
“Not in front of the others...” Sunny clumsily backed away.
“Yeah, I agree. I don’t think we need that on stream.” Pipp giggled.
“Right... We’re live.” Thunder hid with great embarrassment behind his mostly empty beer.
“Too late now, aye thunder...?” Zoom chucked. “At least I know there won’t be any unexpected competition for my stallion here... he’s taken. Just in case anypony missed that little bit about us banging married.”
“Um... sis?” Pipp tentatively spoke up.
“Yes, Pipp?” Zipp rounded on her sibling.
“I think I only have one more that I can sample before I call it a night.”
“Maybe two for me,” Hitch added. “Then I’ll tail my princess home for the night.”
“Be careful what you do with her tail,” Zipp warned.
“What? Oh, no. I meant take her home.” Hitch eyed the potentially dangerous sister, “I didn’t mean anything bad.”
“Heh, I know. Besides... you knock her up and Mom would probably kill you and then force you to marry her. Be a pretty unfun way to get a brother added to the family.” Zipp dryly joked.
“I will keep that in mind...” Hitch replied slowly.
“Say... Zipp? You still insisting that you gonna stay single?” Pipp asked.
“Yeah, I think I’ll leave the whole marriage and foals thing to my little sis.” Zipp eyed her sister and her coltfriend. “I mean, Mom already met Hitch and likes him so I kinda feel off the hook there.”
“What about a mare? Like how I found Sunny?” Izzy spoke up.
“You did a bit more than just find me.” The orange mare commented with a nostalgic smile.
Zipp tilted her head to the side and tapped her drink idly. Her slow response was barely audible over the background chatter; “Well... I- maybe.”
“Yeah, there’s nothing quite like a loaded husband.” Zoom chuckled.
The rather drunk Thunder barked out a laugh and spread a wing possessively across his mare's back.
“Alright, what about you Misty?” Izzy addressed her fellow unicorn.
“Me?” Misty blinked innocently, unsure what exactly was being asked of her.
“Yeah!” Izzy eagerly nodded.
“What about me?”
“Do you like mares or stallions?”
“Um...” Misty gazed around the table looking a little lost. “How am I supposed to like them if I’ve not met them?”
“No. Like what do you consider hot or really good looking.” Izzy extrapolated.
The young blue mare fidgeted with her drink. “Um... I don’t know?”
Izzy grinned and leaned forward. “Well, it’s either take a comfortable pony with the same equipment you gots.”
“Hey, I can assure you, my stallion feels real comfortable.” Zoom was quick to cut in.
“Long as my sister hasn’t yet discovered anything about that.” Zipp eyed the local sheriff.
“Don’t worry. I’m happy to wait till marriage. That's our agreement.” Hitch was quick to defend himself.
Izzy shot the still grinning guardsmare an annoyed look then rounded back to her fellow unicorn. “Anyway. Which would you take? Surely you’ve looked at another pony before and wanted them to be your extra special friend with all the benefits?”
“I don’t know. I guess I never thought about other ponies like that. I guess it’s because I grew up in a very sheltered place.” The blue unicorn was suddenly extra shy as she glanced around at her fellow drinking buddies. “I-is that okay?”
“Sure it is!” Zipp nudged the shy unicorn. “Hey, since you enjoyed that beer so much, do you wanna finish this?”
“Yes.” Misty eagerly accepted Zipp's half beer and eagerly took a good sip. She sighed, delighted, “you know... I think this beer really is one of the best things I’ve ever had to drink.”
Hitch couldn’t help but grin at such a remark.
Izzy meanwhile was watching Zipps’ mug with great interest.
“I’ll be back. I think it’s time.” Zipp carefully got up and zigzagged with quite an overly careful stagger to the bar.
“How is she allowed to keep ordering drinks?” Hitch wondered. “They usually shut me down about now.”
“No pony can stop my sister when she’s on a mission.” Pipp proudly declared.
Zoom grinned as she noticed a large bowl get placed on the bar countertop. “Oh, this next part should be good.”
“Really?” Hitch glanced over and frowned as he saw one, then another... then a fourth, fifth and eighth spirit get added into the mixture. “Uh, Pipp... have you ever seen your sister make something like that? It looks dangerous.”
“That is a hangover in liquid form.” Thunder added helpfully, the grinning stallion clapped his hooves together like an excited filly. “I think the tasting game is about to officially turn into a drinking game. I like these!”
“Ooooh!” Izzy bounced excitedly, her horn fizzling. “Now Sunny. You are about to witness your 'mazing marefriend drink all the ponies out!”
Sunny chucked and accepted an energetic hug.
“I’m in.” Zoom firmly slammed a hoof onto the table her frame swayed a bit as she sized up the eager unicorn. “I bet you twenty bits, I win.”
“I’ll take that!” Izzy shoved twenty bits onto the table.
“Wait, where did you get that from?” Sunny rounded on her partner who simply smiled back.
Zoom nudged her husband, “Thunder, put forty on, we both take her.”
“Yeah!” Thunder cheered as he clumsily dug out a pile of loose change.
“I’ll take that bet.” Hitch cooly added to the pile of cash.
“Hitch..?” Pipp enquired. “Are you sure?”
“I’ll enter for us both. You only need a small sample for the stream live.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m not entering. Somepony’s gotta carry Izzy home.” Sunny Spoke up.
“Good mare!” Izzy slapped her partner’s flank.
Zipp slipped a clear bowl that swirled with what looked like a few shots of every top shelf alcohol from the bar. The grinning mare plonked herself down in place. “And this... is what I call... last mare standing.”
“Pony.” Hitch corrected.
“Yeah.” Thunder added. “There’s not just mares here.”
Zipp scoffed. “You’ve never been the last one standing.”
“Why is it called last mare standing?” Pipp asked tentatively.
“Because we keep going till there’s one mare standing.” Zipp smugly answered. “And since you only wanted one more shot... You can go first.”
Pipp gazed into the swirling liquid, eyes wide. “Oh. But you didn’t bring glasses.”
Zipp shrugged as she gently swirled the bowl. “Dunk a used one in. Who cares.”
Pipp shared a shocked look with her phone then Hitch. “Really?”
Hitch reached out and dipped his previously used shot glass into the bowl. He offered it to his date, a tender look on his face. “For you my dear, if you’re sure you want to try.”
“I...” Pipp glanced from her coltfriend down to her phone’s camera for additional support. Noticing the continued rush of emotes and comments, she squared her shoulders. With a nod, the pink princess accepted the shot. With a deep breath, she knocked the potent mix back-
-and spat it right back out at Hitch. “Pwah- Oh Hitch! I’m so sorry!”
The shocked stallion blinked a few times, “I take it... that was a bit strong?”
“I haven’t had enough to drink to drink... whatever that is...” Pipp shot the bowl of everything a dirty look. “How could you even drink that, Zipp?”
“Bet is?” Zipp eyed the cash next to the booze bowl.
“Twenty, Your Highness.” Thunder grinned back.
“Don’t call me that.” The white pegasus growled. “Look, I’m sure I got the mix right.” With a deft motion, she scooped out a shot of her own, then threw it back. With a slam, the empty shot glass hit the table. “Yeah. Nailed it. One.”
Hitch refilled his glass. “So you have a thing you follow or you just chucked drinks in?” He sniffed the shot.
“A bit of everything good. Usually whatever is left from as many bottles as possible.” Zipp replied with a confident smirk as she too refilled her glass. “This bar has all the right drinks. It does not get better than this.”
The other three ponies who were involved in the drinking game rushed to take a shot of the last mare standing.
Thunder gave a cough as the mixture burned on its way down. “Yeah. That's the lit juice alright.”
“I’m telling everypony in Bridle about this!” Izzy excitedly dunked her shot glass back in for seconds. Her magic fizzled but continued to hold the glass aloft. “My uncle has to try this!”
“I’m in too!” Misty declared as she dunked her wineglass into the potent mix then carefully sampled it.
“Where’s your twenty?” Thunder swayed as he leaned in, challenging the new unicorn.
“Oh, right... Um...” Misty fumbled around for a moment before she found the required cash. “Is that enough.”
“Yep, now you’re in.” Zipp grinned. “What do you think of my ultimate drink?”
“It’s like nothing I’ve ever tasted. It’s so weird and burns, but I want more!” The excited blue unicorn tipped her wineglass back and slowly finished it.
Hitch snickered as she leaned into Pipp, “That’s about twice what we’re drinking.”
“You should tell her.” Pipp shot back. When the giddy grin from the earth pony who was cuddling her was the only response, the pink princess turned to their new friend. “Say Misty... your-”
“Doing great!” Zipp cut her sister off eagerly. “Pipp count us in, it’s time for round two!”
Misty hurried to join in the refilling of glasses.
“Alright, everypony.” Pipp hesitated. At a nod from Hitch, she held her phone high. “Alright. And go!”
With that, the group threw their shots back.
As Hitch unsteadily placed his glass down upon the table he swayed as he leaned back. He noticed Pipp looking at him with concern. “You know... I might have to bail. Any more and I think I’ll fall over.”
“Too strong for the mighty sheriff?” Zipp chucked.
“I’m used to beer. Not spirits and mixed... things. And that second shot has made everything suddenly catch up... rooms spinning.”
Thunder laughed. “Looks like I need to show these fillies how a real stallion can drink!”
“Alright. Hitch is out. Everypony else ready for round three?” Zipp asked.
“Oh, Misty!” Izzy cut in. “Look at that pony there- what do you think of ...that- that blue pony!?”
“Huh?” The drunk blue unicorn abandoned her wineglass as she glanced across a few tables to a group of mares who were talking and enjoying their wines. “Uh... I don’t know.”
Zipp clumsily swapped Misty’s glass for her shot glass. She then quickly shoved the mostly empty wineglass to the side.
Misty meanwhile continued to stare at the blue earth pony mare with about as much scrutiny as a well watered unicorn possibly could.
“Um... She looks fine. But I’m not feeling like what you said earlier.” Misty returned her gaze back to the other ponies at her own table.
“Three!” Izzy cheered then threw the third shot back.
Misty hurried to fill her new smaller glass and as those still in the drinking game followed Izzy’s lead.
Thunder followed slowly, carefully lifting his own drink.
Hitch observed the ease that the guard mare tossed the potent mix down. Though unsteady, she looked like the tougher competitor of the two.
“Saay..” Zipp leaned in a little closer to Misty. “What about that yellow stallion?”
“Um. I guess he looks okay.” Misty giggled, her gaze quickly returning to the mare at her side. After a few moments, Misty realized they were still staring at each other. She withdrew, a light blush upon her face.
“Would you... Go out with a mare instead then?” Zipp quietly asked the shy unicorn at her side.
“Oh, why don’t you invite your magic stallion over here too!” Izzy brightened up and began to bounce eagerly in her seat, “then he can watch you do number four.”
“N-no... I-.” Misty sank toward the table.
“Try this, liquid courage. Then give him a shout.” Zipp sat up rigidly and passed Misty her fourth shot.
“Maybe he can be your drinking buddy,” Zoom remarked as she pressed into her husband’s side, cradling a fresh shot.
“I guess...” The shy unicorn threw back the potent mix then took a few deep breaths. “Hey, yellow stallion pony!”
Two tables away and closest to the bar, Posey glanced around and realized there were no yellow stallions. “Are you talking to me?”
“Uh, oh.” Sprout shrank back, “I think that unicorn just called you a dude.” A sudden resolve took hold and the stallion as he smashed back his beer. “No pony calls my fillyfriend a stallion!”
“That's a mare?” Misty stared at Posey for a moment before realization struck. “Oh, you are... I’m sorry.”
Sprout wasn't listening though as he boldly rushed Misty and tackled her off her chair. Zipp was quick to shove the angry stallion off her drinking buddy. Sprout immediately rounded on the princess, attacking her too.
“Hey, you! Ease off!” Thunder barged his way around the table. He threw Sprout off Zipp only to get stuck from behind and knocked to the floor.
A large grey stallion towered over the pegasus guard. “You made me spill my drunk.”
“And I think you’ve had enough.” Thunder staggered to his feet.
“Well, you’re getting me a new-” The grey earth pony was cut off by Thunder’s head smashing into his face.
“There you are.” Sprout eyed Misty who tried to duck behind the temporally stunned Thunder only to be cut off by a rather mad looking Posey.
“No magic wielding moron is allowed to call me a stallion.” Posey swiped at Misty and missed, hitting Thunder’s flank.
Zipp tacked Sprout into the table. The sudden jolt caused some of the booze in the bowl to spill. Zoom quickly steadied the mix then rose slowly.
“Barfight!” A tough looking unicorn rushed over.
The blue unicorn was joined by a dark grey pegasus. “Earth ponies goin’ down!”
“No fighting in the bar!” Hitch demanded.
“Shut it sheriff!” Somepony called out.
Pipp spotted the earth pony in question and her eyes grew wide. She shoved Hitch’s head down as a glass flew overhead and crashed into the table behind them. The three unicorns at that table rushed the earth pony who had thrown the glass.
Hitch stared at the broken glass in shock. His gaze snapped over to the increasing number of ponies fighting between their table and the bar. “Stop! Everypony stop or I’ll-”
“Hitch, no!” Pipp grabbed her drunk coltfriend and pulled him into a tight hug as he tried to stand against the pack of fighting ponies.
Hitch found his legs unable to move as he melted into the embrace. “But...”
“I don’t want you to get hurt.” Pipp winced Zipp was punched in the face by Sprout. Misty hid behind the elder princess and guard who were fighting off the angry couple.
“But-”
“Stay there Hitch,” Zoom ambled up alongside Hitch. “You want them stopped or jailed?”
The drunk stallion paused for a moment before responding; “stopped?”
Zoom chugged the last of her drink. “Right. Thunder, let's break them up!”
“Yeah!” From right in the middle of the dozen pony brawl, Thunder cracked two unicorns’ heads together then stood tall. He spotted Posey making a break for Misty and charged at her. The angry yellow mare crashed to the floor. Thunder delivered a swift stomp that completely missed as she lay stunned for a moment. He glared at his hooves and tried again, this time succeeding in pinning Posey down. The guard shook his head to try quickly try clear the drunken sway, well aware that others were fighting nearby.
Sprout leapt at Thunder and wailed on him with as many quick hits as possible. “You let her go!”
The green guard glanced down at the red stallion's hooves as they pummeled his side. He began to laugh, relinquishing Posey to attack his assailant.
With Zipp distracted by an earth pony trying to buck her, Misty found herself thrown to the floor by Posey.
The angry yellow mare began to strike Misty any way she could with her forehooves. The panicking blue unicorn tried to escape only to be kicked down again. Posey paused her assault to tower over the unicorn who had dared call her a stallion. With an enraged shout, she raised a forehoof to deliver a more powerful blow only to be picked up and thrown into Sprout. Thunder glared down at the downed couple. “You twos stay here.”
“No.” Posey retorted.
The couple found themselves pinned down by green forehooves. “Alright.”
With a shout, Thunder hefted the couple up, rushed at the nearest open window and tossed them outside.
Zoom was caught staring hungrily at her husband till a glass smashed into her flank. She rounded on the unicorn who tried to swing at her with the broken remains. “Oh, you want some?”
The tottering stallion lunged again only for Zoom to duck and hit the floor. Thunder rammed the unicorn, tossing him neatly over Zoom. Together, the guard couple picked the drunk stallion up. Zoom pulled an earth pony from the brawling mix then they slammed the two together. The earth pony and unicorn sunk into a heap on the floor between the grinning pair.
“That was hot.” Zoom complimented her husband and gave him a quick kiss.
A chair smashed Thunder in the shoulder almost knocking him to the floor. With a sudden burst of power, Thunder bucked the earth pony stallion in the face and he fell like a brick. The green stallion winced, “I’m gonna need another drink.”
“On it!” Zipp announced, all too eager to break away from the fighting.
Zoom shot the downed stallion a warning glare. Faced with the tough couple he was sober enough to stay down.
The guard couple set their sights on three earth ponies who were duking it out with a trio of unicorns in the center of the room.
“Pegasus power!” Thunder charged into the mix, slamming into the earth ponies and knocking two of them onto a nearby table. One slumped to the ground out cold while the other struck back, hitting green feathers then Thunder’s shoulder.
Zoom tacked the third earth pony to the ground. The pale purple mare bit, kicked and yelled as the pair struggled for dominance. Zoom frantically grabbed and grabbed and finally succeeded in nabbing a beer bottle off a nearby table. She smashed the unlucky mare over the head. The pale purple earth pony cried out in pain and bucked Zoom off, sending her crashing into the table nearby.
Thunder meanwhile grabbed his earth pony and flipped the stallion over his back, sending him crashing to the floor. The stunned stallion received a warning hoof, lighting pinning him down. Meeting Thunder’s fired up expression, the earth pony decided to lie there and not fight back. Triumphant, the green stallion returned his attention to his wife in time to see her getting attacked by the hardy mare’s flailing forehooves.
Thunder charged headlong at his wife’s assailant. With his brilliant drunken aim he slammed into his wife and they collapsed onto the floor.
“I had her,” Zoom growled at her husband.
“And I saved you.” Thunder sheepishly smiled back.
With an angry heave, Zoom thrust her husband off and rose to face the laughing earth pony. The mare readied herself. “Wanna try again? Or need that idiot's help?”
Zoom flared her wings and leapt at the grinning earth pony. Her swing swung wide and left her open. The earth pony managed to punch her back and Zoom growled as the pain shot from her cheek.
“I’ve got this!” Zoom warned her husband as she circled looking for an opening.
With a confident swagger, the earth pony mare charged at Zoom. With a drunken sway the guard barely dodged her opponent. Zoom grabbed the back of the mare's neck then smashed her onto the floor.
"Owww... Bitch broke my nose." The mare complained as she lay there, forehooves covering her muzzle.
Zoom towered over the downed pony. "Stay down, or I'll break something else too."
With a venomous glare at Zoom, the injured mare crawled off toward the bar.
Zoom turned to her husband who nodded back.
"Glad you're okay. I was worried for a sec." Thunder admitted.
"Heh, don't be. I might be drunk, but I can still land hits. Now let's finish this." Zoom rounded on the three unicorns.
...Only to find the trio had returned to their table in the corner.
“Doing the sensible thing and sitting this out?” Thunder asked as he stepped forward to stand next to his wife.
As one, the three stallions threw back their tankards. A black stallion with violet flecks in his coat took the lead and levitated his mug unsteadily over to the bar. “One more please, barkeep.”
With a defeated sigh, the barmare huffed and refilled the tankard. “You pay for any damages.”
“Fine by me,” the stallion strode up to the guard couple and the black stallion lightly kicked one of the downed pegasi. “See that? You two gonna join him...” The confident stallion began to chug his beer while his two friends, one orange and one grey stallion lit their horns and levitated a nearby chair each, ready for a fight.
“Guys! One more for the fight?” Zipp ambled up and offered the guards one last shot of her mix.
“Thanks... ah... this is better...” Zoom returned her now empty glass.
Thunder nodded in thanks as he too accepted his shot. He took a light sip then splashed the rest on his injured wing. He hissed softly as the alcohol burned his wounds.
“Wanna a quick sample?” Izzy spoke up, offering three shot glasses to the trio of trouble. The unicorns stared back at the grinning mare, suspicious.
“Sure.” The grey stallion accepted one tentatively. As he carefully drank his expression softened and he was smiling by the time he lowered the empty glass. “Wow... this is better than the mixes back home.”
“I know right!” Izzy cheered.
The lead unicorn huffed as his other friend took a sample too.
“Hey, this is good boss.” The dark blue stallion grinned at his leader.
With a warning look at Izzy, the black stallion tried ‘last mare standing.’ His tentative sip turned into a single long draught. He eyed the empty glass, his eyes wide, mouth agape. “Once I beat your friends, I want another.”
Izzy burst out laughing. “Good luck!”
“Come get it!” The black stallion aggressively rounded on the injured couple, his empty beer mug swinging from side to side.
Thunder backed up slowly, favouring his injured left side. The two unicorns with chairs advanced, emboldened by the display of weakness.
The black stallion charged at Zoom. She knocked his flying mug out of the air with her right forehoof just in time to deliver a backhoofed the stallion’s face. He smashed into her and they collapsed onto the ground. The black stallion bit and kicked at Zoom. She deflected most of his kicks and was swift and powerful in executing her own return strikes as they rolled around scrapping on the floor.
Seeing their boss entangled with the blue guard, the remaining pair swung their chairs at Thunder as they rushed him. He bucked one right back and it narrowly missed the grey stallion’s face. Thunder quickly readied himself and caught the second chair, stomping it to the floor.
The dark blue unicorn stared at the wounded pegasus in shock. “You shouldn’t be able to do that. It was in my magic.”
“Magic is only as strong as the pony who uses it.” Thunder grinned back, ready for more.
“Whatever. You’re still going down.”
“A drink!” Thunder cried out as the grey stallion charged at him, horn down.
Thunder narrowly dodged the sharp horn, shoving his assailant to the floor. The dark blue stallion rushed in and tackled Thunder, almost knocking him over. With expert skill, the pale green guard reversed the tackle and bucked the blue unicorn away. He then grabbed the rising grey stallion and dragged his face along the tile floor. The unicorn cried out in pain
Zoom managed to disentangle herself from the black unicorn just in time to catch a glimpse of Thunder laying into the stallion on the floor. With a mighty beating of wings, she rose and quickly threw her hooves back down.
Eyes wide, the black stallion dodged the stomp and staggered to his hooves. The drunk mare swayed, wings splayed for balance, room spinning as she eyed the grinning stallion.
The black stallion rose, a smirk on his face. “Say... I bet a girl like you is fun in bed.”
“I don’t bang pussies.” Zoom shot back as her wings continued to flap a bit for support.
“Do I need to buy you a few more drinks first or...” The black stallion caught Zoom watching Thunder finish the grey stallion off. “Wait, you're not with that tiny stallion? I can offer you a better time and I got magic too...” A grin crept across the unicorn’s face as he slowly advanced on Zoom.
A glass smashed over the black unicorn’s head and he staggered. Wings out, eyes full of deadly fire, Thunder bowled the surprised unicorn over and began to beat the living shit out of him with the blunt end of a broken glass. “No pony hits on my Zoom!”
With a final blow, Thunder cast the ruined glass aside and stood tall, wings out and swaying slightly. He breathed heavily for a few moments as the whole room fell quiet.
The dark blue unicorns stared at the spot where Thunder had been a moment ago. He then looked at the pegasus pair with their wings out. “You’se pretty fast for a drunk stallion. I ain’t fighting that.”
The dark blue unicorn turned tail and haphazardly ran. The front door slammed shut and a hushed silence fell on the bar.
Zoom and Thunder stood tall in the middle. The black unicorn who lay before Thunder groaned softly but stayed down. When no other ponies challenged the pair, their wings began to fold and they leaned against each other.
“I think... we won, hon.” Thunder gave Zoom a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Yeah. Pretty crazy considering how much the room is moving.” Zoom chucked as she turned to face their table.
“Wanna go, or-”
“Let’s make this room spin some more. We have a game to win.” The tough mare encircled her husband with a possessive wing. Together they staggered back to their seats.
“Remind me never to piss you two off...” Princess Zipp eyed the carnage. “How are you feeling, Misty?”
“Me, what about you?” The frizzily maned unicorn stared back with wide eyes.
The white princess smirked as she dipped a shot glass into the bowl in the middle of their table. “I’ve had worse.”
“Oh, it’s flat,” Pipp spoke up. “I wonder when that happened?”
Zipp threw back her shot and rubbed at her swelling black eye. “That’s gotta be a first. Hope you didn’t catch too much of the bar fight. Or me getting punched in the face by that dick, Sprout.”
“Oh... well... I thought...” Pipp sighed. “I guess it doesn't matter now.”
“After all that excitement... I might head out.” Hitch spoke up as he rose unsteadily to his feet.
Pipp rushed to join him, “I’ll help you.”
“I’m fine.” The stallion took a few unsteady steps before finding himself supported by his short marefriend. “You sure?”
Pipp rounded on those still seated at the table. “Goodnight everypony.”
“Goodnight you two, don’t have too much fun!” Izzy sang back.
“Hey, that’s my sister you're talking about.” Zipp rounded on the grinning mare.
“Don’t worry about my friends! I’ll sort this mess out in the morning!” Hitch called out as he waved to the barmaid behind the counter who stared back, unimpressed but allowed the couple to leave.
“And we still have a bet to finish.” Izzy grinned as she dipped her shot glass back into the central bowl.
Zipp and Misty followed suit. As she was about to toss the shot back, Zipp eyed the pegasus pair, “you two gonna sit there cuddling and giggling or you gonna drink?”
Zoom broke away from her grinning husband then dipped one last glass in and took a careful sip. “Sorry Zipp, but we are gonna bounce.”
“What?” White wings shot out in surprise. “No way. You always finish the game.”
“Thunder made me an offer I can’t refuse. If you see it raining, watch out!” Zoom stood and all but dragged her grinning husband out.
“What she mean that by?” Misty asked a slight sway as she stared at the departing couple.
Izzy broke out into a fit of giggles. “There’s no way those two are making it up to a cloud for that.”
“You don’t want to know,” Zipp answered hurriedly, a hearty blush upon her already flushed muzzle. “So, just us three.”
Misty nodded eagerly. Izzy wrapped Sunny in a great big hug as she drew her own glass close. “I’m gonna drink you under the table, Zipp!”
“We’ll see about that.” The white princess smirked as he raised her own glass, ready to drink.
“And I... can I lean on Zipp?” Misty asked as tipped sideways and landed on the soft wing of the white pegasus at her side. "Wings... so soft..."
Zipp grinned, blushing as she adjusted herself to sit more comfortably. "Sure."
"Zipp and Misty sitting on a cloud-"
Zipp shot Izzy a warning look. "Shut it Izzy. After all the times I've heard you two being loud... just. No."
"Awww... but it's fun teasing the new couple."
"Izzy, she's drunk and probably won't remember any of this in the morning." Zipp shot back. Her wing escaped the pressure of Misty only to settle back over the drunk unicorn's back like a protective blanket.
"Any of what?" Misty asked as she admired the pegasus she was cuddled up to. "You're pretty..."
Izzy broke out into gales of laughter as she collapsed into Sunny's side.
"Alright, drink!" Zipp called out then threw her back shot.
Izzy and Misty hurried to join in. For this trio, the drinking game would continue.
Queen Haven stared at her phone, an empty wine glass in hoof. Alphabittle settled back into the loveseat, almost slipping out of the winged hug as he thought carefully about what he had just watched.
After a long moment, Haven finally broke out of her stupor. “Alpha, what exactly did we just watch?”
The unicorn snorted, “nothing like any other stream your Pipp has ever done. And what was that with your guards? And my daughter...”
The queen of the pegasi continued to gaze blankly at her phone.
“Do we need another bottle?” Alphabittle softly prompted.
A dainty hoof touched the wine glass. Queen Haven otherwise continued to stare at her phone.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Alphabittle sauntered off.
Queen Haven settled back, closed her eyes and rubbed gently at her forehead. “Tomorrow is going to be... interesting...” A sigh escaped as she returned her gaze back to her phone.
Author's Note
So the barfight was inspired by some of the fights and heat moves in the Yakuza series.
This one shot turned into something big that I have worked on and off throughout the year. Chapter one ends where my original plans did.
Chapter two is an epilogue with some other fun ideas I had.
Hitch and Pipp wandered through town singing random parts of the princess's music and jiggling around to beats that no pony else could hear. Hitch in particular was clearly struggling to walk straight. As they rounded the last corner to his home, the couple fell into silence.
A sigh escaped the pink princess and she gave her drunk coltfriend a hug. “I’m glad you didn’t do anything stupid back there.”
“I- really? I thought should have broken them up or something.” Hitch mused.
A smile crept across Pipp’s lips as she tightened her hug. “And I’m glad you didn't get hurt in that big fight. It was scary.”
Hitch shrugged, “yeah?”
Pipp giggled as her coltfriend leaned harder on her. “let’s just get home.”
Hitch stared at his fillyfriend as they continued to slowly progress down the road. A grin formed on his muzzle. “Yeah.”
In the dark of Hitch’s bedroom, Pipp boldly pulled her coltfriend onto the bed.
The pink princess straddled her date. “I Pipp claim the mighty Hitch.”
“Mighty drunk maybe.”
Pipp burst into a fit of giggles. “Yes you are.”
Hitch laughed and pulled his mare closer.
And so began their cuddle session.
Sunny and Izzy burst through the front door of the bright house, lips locked in an epic battle for dominance. The couple slammed into a wall. Izzy’s horn lit up, “I’m gonna-”
“No Izzy, don’t!”
“Yes!”
With a poof, the lovers appeared a foot above Sunny’s bed and crashed down onto the soft covers.
“Bad Izzy, no drunks while teleporting!”
The inebriated unicorn laughed maniacally, “I have you now Sunny Wunny!”
With a sudden burst of earth pony strength, Izzy found herself on the bottom. Sunny placed a kiss upon her lover’s forehead. “Now I’m in control!”
The totally smashed unicorn laughed, “oh noes! Whatever do you shall!?”
Sunny towered over her marefriend, her eyes affixed on the horn that had recently been illuminated. “Now for my price.” And she went down upon Izzy’s horn and began to suck.
The following morning was a quiet one in Maretime Bay.
Two particular guards came to on a depleted raincloud with a slight crater in it. After an untold duration passed, the stallion finally built up enough energy to glance over the side. Their low flying cloud was right over some streets, near a bunch of houses.
Thunder groaned as he withdrew and resumed cuddling his wife. “You know... I think we picked a bad cloud.”
Zoom’s eyes remained tightly shut as she eagerly accepted cuddles. “Pretty sure we picked a good one.”
“How can you remember anything?” Thunder eyed his wife.
Blue wings slowly stretched out to shield her eyes from the sun. Zoom’s eyes flickered open to behold her roughed up looking spouse. “Well, I don’t remember flying drunk but...” she gazed down at their skinny cloud. “I think we are kinda sleeping in a bit of a crater. I think our drunken hustle made it rain.”
Thunder glanced at the house they were floating past and noticed two particular passed out ponies inside the window they were looking down on. “Uh... I hope our cloud wasn’t near their house when we did it.”
“Huh?” Zoom lazily glanced down and smirked at the couples close and cuddly position. “Good on Pipp... wonder if she got any action too?”
“I don’t want to know.” Thunder retreated to the center of their depleted cloud and wrinkled his snout, his eyes shutting under the suns harsh morning glare.
“Aww come on. At least admit it, they are cute together.”
“Well... yeah.” Thunder met his wife’s look and couldn’t help but smile too. “But my head is killing me and I really don’t wanna get up.”
“Heh, lightweight.” Zoom snickered.
“No, I’m not. And I can see by how your face crinkles in that way, you're feeling it too.”
“Yeah. But I bet we ain't suffering the worst.” Zoom's smirk flickered to a grimace and back. "Alright, Mr. More cuddles. Then we need to find a coffee."
Pipp found herself slowly coming into wakefulness in a warm bed with a safe, loving hoof draped over her barrel. She sighed in contentment as she wiggled backward a little bit to better snuggle into who she assumed was her sister. As her lower back touched something that was definitely not of Zipp, she squeaked and flipped over.
“Hitch-” Pink hooves covered her own mouth as she gazed, wide eyed at the sleeping stallion. He mumbled something incoherent and reached out lamely for the missing warmth of his bed buddy.
With her panicking brain in overdrive, the startled princess remembered that she had in fact helped Hitch home the night before. Then rather than doing the expected thing and leaving for her own bed, she had wound up here.
She slept with Hitch!
In a panic, she tried to recall the last moments before sleep but her foggy brain refused to divulge anything. To make matters worse, she realized her head hurt. It was like there was a pack of ponies trying to keep last night’s barfight going. Pipp carefully flipped over again and fumbled for her phone on the dresser beside the bed. She lifted it up and groaned softly.
Flat.
Why did it have to be flat?
Careful not to wake her coltfriend, Pipp crept out of bed and plugged her device in. She rested against the bedside as she waited for her screen to light up. The nervous princess couldn’t help but find her gaze drawn back to the sleeping stallion. A smile flickered across her lips. He looked so peaceful and cute sleeping like that. She desperately wanted to take a photo to remember the moment.
Once her phone finally booted up, she first noticed the time, 9:42am.
She had slept in.
In the same bed at Hitch.
She had slept with her coltfriend.
Pipp took a deep breath to steady herself as the fantastical reality kicked in. Her phone vibrated as it informed her she had missed eight calls from her mother. Pipp froze.
This was bad. What had caused her mother to call so early in the morning? Had she seen the stream? When did the stream even end?
Suddenly light headed, Pipp took a quick photo of her coltfriend in his adorable slumbering state. Pipp leaned heavily against the bed and again checked her missed calls list. All her mother. Oh, dear...
With a shaking hoof, Pipp called her mother. Just as she registered she had pressed the wrong button, her mother’s face appeared on screen.
“Pipp. I’m glad to see you’re awake and looking okay.”
“Mom.” Pipp’s wings rose in surprise. Too late to change to voice only.
The older mare's face creased with concern as she examined the unusual background of the video call. “Where are you? Wait. Who is that in bed behind you?”
The pink princess froze. “That... is... is-”
“Pipp Pettles, are you hiding something from me?”
“No, Mom. It’s not what it looks like. Hitch is just sleeping.”
“And where did you sleep?”
Pipp hunched down a bit, her muzzle heating up in embarrassment. “Um... with him. We were just sleeping! I think? Can I get pregnant by sleeping with him?” Panic began to take hold of Pipp as she stared at her mother, urgently seeking an answer.
A wistful look crept across the Queen’s face and she sighed. “Are you sure the only thing you both did was sleep? Nothing else?”
“What else?”
Haven nodded slowly. “My little girl, you’ve grown up so much... Although I’m glad the two of you are only at the cuddles stage. I think it’s safe to say you’re not pregnant...”
“Oh good...” Pipp sighed with relief.
“While I admit that it was a surprise to see you both so open about your relationship last night-”
“You saw the live stream?” Pipp asked fearfully.
A dry smile crept across the queen mother’s lips. “Of course, you shared it with all your adult subscribers.”
The bedbound stallion groaned. Pipp’s wings shot up.
Queen Haven observed the reaction with great interest. “Are you sure you two didn’t do anything last night?”
“Q-quite sure.” Pipp fought to close her wings as quickly as possible.
A deep laugh sounded from the queen’s end of the video call. With a quiver, Haven’s wings rose. Alphabittle’s horn, then grinning face came into view from the left side of the screen. “Because it looked exactly like what I did just then.”
Queen Haven shoved her stallion back out of frame. “Alpha dear, not in front of the kids.”
“Just saying.” He playfully shot back.
Haven rolled her eyes.
Pipp stared with wide eyes at her phone for a few long moments. “Um... has he gone?”
The queen glanced over her shoulder. “Indeed.”
“I might be getting used to you having a stallion around who isn’t dad, but that was weird.”
Haven shrugged. “It was quite an experience seeing my girls and their friends live sampling drinks, getting drunker than I had ever seen Zipp before. And Hitch... I didn’t know the two of you were so close, although I guess if you are in fact ready to sleep with him in his own house...”
Pipp stared nervously at her mother who remained deep in thought for several agonizing moments.
“Are you sure you don’t need anything? Alpha and I would be more than happy to come by and-”
“No. Thank you, Mom but... I think we are fine. Great even!” Pipp’s wide, fake smile said otherwise, but she was clearly keen for her mother to not visit.
“Well, it would be nice to officially meet Hitch, your serious partner and not just Hitch, your good friend.”
Pipp softened and her smile became real, “yes, Mom.”
“Right.”
The two mares stared ever so slightly awkwardly at each other over video chat for a few moments before Pipp cleared her throat. “Sooo, I might go.”
Queen Haven’s face fell and she nodded.
“But once Hitch and I settle down a bit, maybe... maybe you could come and visit us.”
A smile crept accross Haven’s face. “I would like that.”
“Bye, mom.”
“Goodbye, my darling. And I really am happy to see you’ve found somepony special.”
“Thanks.” And with that, Pipp ended the video call and relaxed against the side of the bed.
“Glad your mother seemed okay with us,” Hitch spoke up softly.
A shrill squeak escaped Pipp and her phone flew out of her hooves as she leapt into the air. The suddenly airborne pegasus rounded on her coltfriend. “Hitch! Don’t scare me like that.”
With a dopey, lovestruck grin on his face, Hitch nodded slowly. “That’s funny, coming from you...” A groan of pain escaped the stallion and he sank back down into bed. “Oh... ow... my head...”
As the morning progressed quietly onward, Sunny bumped into Zipp lounging around outside of the ‘Hay and Clover’ bar. The white princess’s pose could almost be taken for a pony sunning themselves in the late morning sun.
“Good morning Zipp.”
The downtrodden looking princess nodded and waved.
Sunny came to a halt, concerned by her friend’s response. “Are you okay?”
“I will be.”
“So... why are you here?”
Zipp grunted. “Cause it's close.”
“To where?”
“We we slept.”
Sunny stared at her friend. “We?”
Zipp groaned. “Don’t ask.. unless you really wanna know, I guess.”
“Alright. Do you... wanna help me find a new bed”
“Did I hear right?” Zipp stared at Sunny in disbelief.
Sunny’s cheeks flushed dark. “You don’t have to... I just thought it might be nice to have some company while Izzy sleeps off her hangover.”
“Right. Well, I... in that case, do you mind if I drop Misty off at the Brighthouse first?”
“Misty’s with you?”
A faint blush settled on Zipp’s muzzle. “Yeah.”
“Great! I’m glad she had somepony to keep her safe once we finished last night.”
“Yeah. Totally safe.” Zipp replied, an odd quiver to her voice.
Sunny gave her friend an odd look. “Are you alright, Zipp?”
“Fine. Just... still in shock, I guess.”
“I’m sure it will be okay. Does this mean Misty was the pony you crashed with last night?”
The white princess nodded as they headed around the bar and into a nearby side street. “Yeah... Say... what would you think about another couple in the group?”
“Another couple? Wait, really?”
Later in the afternoon, a delivery crew of earth ponies were seen leaving the crystal brighthouse with a flatbed wagon large enough to fit a large double bed. Unusually for such a delivery crew, there were the splintered remains of what most likely used to be a large bed now on the wagon.
Hitch passed the crew as he wandered up the path. The stallion was quick to spot Sunny standing in the entrance watching. “Keep that up and you two may need to sleep on the floor.”
Sunny giggled. “Oh come, we aren’t that bad.”
Hitch cast one last glance at the departing cart. “How did you two actually manage to break a bed?”
Sunny blushed and headed inside. “That’s between Izzy and me.”
“What is?” The unicorn herself approached with a spring in her step.
“How you broke that bed,” Hitch couldn't help but grin at the silliness of such a notion as he followed his longtime friend inside.
“Ooooh, that.” Izzy scoffed. “Just a night of fun and games. I’m sure Pipp enjoyed her sleep over at your place just as much.”
“Well, it was nice.” Hitch conceded.
“Aaannd...” Izzy prompted as she drew real close.
Hitch backed up a step somewhat confused.
“The cuddles were delightful, but I really don’t know what you mean,” Pipp spoke up as she flew down from the upper level.
Zipp wandered out of the kitchen with Misty trailing shyly behind. It was clear from the unicorn’s hunched posture that she was yet to be fully recovered from her hangover.
Zipp stared incredulously at her sister, “really? Mom rang me when she couldn’t get you on the line.”
Pipp “Wait, mom called you? She never said anything about ringing you first. Did she react to seeing who you were sleeping with?”
Misty blushed and shrank behind Zipp.
Zipp smirked. “Oh, all she saw was me and cloud.”
Pipp eyed Misty. “But Misty-”
“Was framed out of shot. Besides, Mom doesn’t need to know.”
“But she knows about me and Hitch.”
“Sis, yesterday we were just friends. I’m still not even sure where we stand. Besides, you and Hitch have been making googly eyes at each other for ages.”
Pipp frowned, “I thought I heard Misty call you like a really cute name. Friends don’t call each other names like that and you were mean to me last time I tried to give you a cute nickname.”
Zipp stared back at her sister as casually as possible. “So, maybe Misty is special.”
“I do quite like her.” Misty pipped up. She quickly retreated behind Zipp as soon as she noticed all eyes on her. “Um, I think it just took drunk me to be brave enough. Although I don’t think I ever want to touch that stuff again.”
“Why, it was fun. Right?” Izzy asked.
“But I still feel terrible,” Misty admitted, leaning on Zipp.
“Don’t worry Misty, first time I got that drunk it sucked too.” Zipp smiled and brought a comforting wing to rest upon her special friend.
“But... why would you keep doing it if you have such a bad next day?”
Zipp shrugged. “Well, we usually stick to just a few drinks. But when we really get going... I guess it makes good stress relief? Also means I can forget my duties... it's fun? Hm...” A cheeky smile crossed her face. “Oh and because I can sometimes out drink Zoom.”
Misty eyed her companion with wide eyes. “Wow.”
“Yeah, after last night, I think I’ll stick to beer for a while,” Hitch added as he headed for the kitchen.
“Oh, everypony must try Sunny’s special smoothy. It’s extra good at making ponies feel better.” Izzy cut in front of the sheriff and eagerly led the way.
Everypony followed and soon enough, they were settled in with a nice smoothy. They had quietly split up into couples around the table. Hitch and Pipp were comfortable around the others and were even sharing their different smoothies. Izzy and Sunny were also sharing a cuddle as they enjoyed their shared extra large swirly smoothy.
Zipp and Misty shared a cushion but kept to their own smoothies. Misty carefully watched the others and occasionally caught Zipp looking at her. Each time Zipp was caught checking the frizzily maned unicorn out she would grin then focus on her drink.
Hitch took a good long sip of his smoothie then relaxed back in his seat. “Probably best to stay clear of the Hay and Clover for a few days at least. I don’t wanna see another bill like that either.”
Izzy spoke up. “Why do you need to pay when other ponies broke stuff?”
Hitch chucked. “Well, I’m sure my deputy will be surprised to discover just how much of that bill he’s expected to cover for starting the bar fight. Thanks to Pipp’s livestream we have footage of all the others involved right up till the final stand off. I’ll be rounding them up tomorrow.”
“Why not today?” Zipp asked.
“Because...” Hitch took another long sip of his smoothie. “This is the most normal I’ve felt all day and the other ponies aren't lucky enough to have a Sunny smoothie to help.”
“Awww...” Izzy gave Sunny a big hug. “See Sunny, everypony finds your smoothies are super good. Say... who wants to check out our new bed? It’s extra bouncy!”
“You two do,” Zipp smirked. “I think I’ll pass on your offer.”
“Aww, you’re no fun,” Izzy replied with a playful edge. She then rounded on her marefriend and leaned in extra close, “does Sunny want to try our new bed?”
The part time alicorn broke out in a coughing fit and almost knocked over the smoothie she was sharing. “Izzy!”
“Well, it’s not like we don’t have some idea what you two get up to. I mean, I even got to see the remains of your last bed get carried away.” Hitch smirked.
Pipp leaned in close to her coltfriend and whispered; “I still don’t know how they could break a bed.”
The sheriff’s smirk softened into a loving smile.
Zipp eyed her sister, “You know, I was gonna say something smart... but you’re being too wholesome, sis.”
“But I feel left out of the loop,” Pipp complained.
Zipp rolled her eyes. “This is one of those times I think you're lucky.”
“Really?”
As Izzy quietly led Sunny away the elder princess nodded. “Yeah, just... enjoy your cuddles with Hitch and be glad you’re head is playing nice this afternoon.”
Pipp huffed and returned to drinking slowly.
Zipp downed the last of her smoothie and rose. “I’ll see you two later.”
“Where are you going?” Pipp asked.
The elder princess shrugged. “To wherever my wings take me.”
Misty watched on as Zipp left her side. The quiet unicorn looked like she wanted to say something.
Pipp noticed and smiled, “Oh big sis... I think Misty wants something...”
The singsong tone caused Zipp to turn.
Misty quickly hunkered low, an intense blush forming as she stared down at her half-full smoothie.
Zipp chuckled, “Hey if you’re not tired of hanging around with me, then I’m sure we can find a quiet spot on the ground to relax.”
Misty perked up, “I don’t think I could ever tire of your company. You’re nice.”
Pipp giggled and leaned in closer to her coltfriend, “That sounds like you.”
“Well, you are nice,” Hitch confirmed and gave his pink princess a quick nuzzle.
Zipp rolled her eyes at the couple. “Come on Misty, let's go.”
The blue unicorn excitedly chugged her smoothie, returned it to the table then clutched at her head. “Aaah... brain freeze.”
Zipp couldn't help but chuckle. “Need a moment?”
“No... I’m okay.” Misty staggered into Zipp and sighed as she nuzzled into the soft feathers.
The white princess carefully corrected the recovering unicorn’s path. A hearty blush covered her face as the light blue unicorn continued to press her face into white feathers. As she led Misty toward the door she cast one last glance back at her grinning sister. “Enjoy.”
As the pair left the room Pipp let out an excited squeal and gave her coltfriend a hug. "They are so cute... I wish I had filmed that."
Hitch chuckled softly as he nuzzled his mare back. "How about rather than filming your sister... would it be alright if you helped me with a little something?"
"I would love to. What do you need?"
The following morning saw Sprout slouched over his desk in the sheriff’s office. A single remaining slice of pizza was calling to the deputy. Just as he was about to reach for it the front door opened and Hitch strode in. The usually easygoing and happy stallion was positively beaming this morning.
“Good morning deputy.”
Sprout sprang up and sat like he was busy working. “Morning Hitch. You’re late.”
“I am.” Hitch nonchalantly replied as he wandered up to his own desk and sat down.
Sprout stared at his friend surprised that he even heard the mighty sheriff agree with him. “So, why are you late?”
Hitch dismissed his friend’s question with a shrug. “Oh, I just slept in.”
A frown crept across the red stallion’s face. “But you’re always up early.”
Hitch began checking through the papers on his desk. “Well, today I slept in.”
“Were you busy with Pipp?” Sprout probed, a cheeky smile creeping out.
“So, what if I was.”
A smirk crossed the red stallion’s muzzle. “You’re using protection, right?”
“Sprout!” Hitch jerked. Papers flew everywhere as the shocked stallion rounded on his grinning deputy. “It’s not like that.”
“Aww don’t be like that. It’s gotta be something juicy to keep you away from work and I’m just looking out for my best friend. I’m sure you don’t want mini Hitch’s and Pipp’s running around quite yet.”
“I’ll tell you one last time. Nothing like that happened. Pipp is very cuddly and we accidentally slept in. Then she uh... refused to get up. It was too adorable and there was nothing I could do.” Hitch gushed. With a hearty blush, he caught himself and took a deep, careful breath. “Besides... aren’t you one to talk.”
Sprout stared at his long time friend like he had grown a second head. “Wow. Does that mean chubby mares are only good for cuddles or is she too innocent to even know what sex is?”
“Sprout...”
“Seriously. It’s like you're dating a teenager.”
“Look,” Hitch cut his friend off, “Pipp is perfect just the way she is. And don’t make a joke out of getting somepony pregnant. I’m still waiting for that shotgun wedding invite, Mr. I don’t need a condom.”
A Spout pout quickly formed. “Aww come on, I was just having a little fun.”
“I certainly hope Posey was more than a little fun.”
“No! I was meaning that I was just messing with you.”
“I know.” A faint smile ghosted the sheriff’s muzzle before it vanished. “Say... What were you doing at the bar with a pregnant mare anyway, Sprout? The two of you started quite the bar fight, it kinda seemed like she was as buzzed as you were.”
Sprout huffed, “You know what I’m like.”
“As in, while I keep to beers... you try all kinds of wild mixes and get hammered?”
“And that bar is the best place for mixes, especially when drinking for three.”
Hitch let back in his chair, “three?”
“Me, Posey and you know...”
Realization dawned on Hitch and he swung forward, a cheeky smirk adorning his face. “Oh. So she monitoring your drinking?”
“Posey was my cut off date. We were even just about to wrap it up with a banger when your dumb pegasus guards threw us out that window.”
A dry chuckle escaped Hitch. “Pipp captured a great action shot of you two learning how to fly.”
A dark scowl ripped across Sprout’s face. “Not funny, Hitch. My back can still feel where Posey landed on me.”
“Be glad you were there to cushion her fall. She is, after all, carrying your foal.”
Spout huffed. “Oh come on, she's not even that far along. She's not made of glass or anything.”
“Well, even so... I’m glad somepony was being responsible up until the bar fight.”
“Of course I was.”
“I’m talking about Posey, Sprout. Although I guess her being sober explains how she heard somepony calling her a stallion in a busy bar.” Hitch chuckled.
“How could any pony look at her and not immediately know she's a mare?” Sprout gestured wildly as he imagined his mare in all her beauty.
Hitch gave his friend a quirky look then began to pick up the many fallen papers around his desk. “You’ve been drunk before?”
“How is that even a question?”
A chuckle broke forth from Hitch, “That’s how a mare gets mistaken for a stallion in a crowded bar.”
“I still say that new friend of yours needs her eyesight checked.” Sprout shot back.
“Honestly Sprout, I really don’t think you need to worry about Misty.”
“Why?”
“She and a certain other pony seem to have made quite the connection.”
The red stallion instantly relaxed. “Oh good.”
Hitch carefully withdrew a long, narrow piece of paper from his draw and wandered over to his deputy. “But this...”
“What’s that?” Sprout wondered.
Hitch placed the slip of paper before his deputy then stepped back.
Sprout gave his friend a dry look then glanced down at the printout. His brow creased and a growing panic ripped across his face as he read. “Um, Hitch. Why’s me and Posey’s names at the bottom of this?”
“Pipp and I sat down and reviewed the livestream. Although you were not the pony who caused most of the damage, you are still to blame for inciting a bar fight, attacking a unicorn-”
“She started it!” Sprout loudly complained.
“Misty made an honest mistake. Now let me finish...”
Sprout huffed and shoved the slip of paper away. “Why should I? You’re just going to quote a whole bunch of boring rules you made up just so your friends and those two guards don’t have to pay.”
“For requesting their aid, I have already covered Zoom and Thunder’s reparation costs.”
Sprout stared back at his friend like he was crazy. “And what about all those other ponies? Surely you can slap them with a lot of fines!”
Hitch smiled, “Pipp has helped me with the letters to the other participants. Don’t worry my dear deputy, thanks to the evidence in her livestream and testimonies of key eyewitnesses, all ponies involved will soon know exactly how much they are required to pay and the staff at the Hay and Clover will be properly compensated.”
“But... Posey will not like this...” Sprout pawed at the bill as it teetered at the edge of his desk.
Hitch slid the paper closer to his friend. “Then ask your mother for help.”
Sprout recoiled, “Mom will kill me if she sees this.”
“Ah, I’m sure you can work it out. I need my deputy to finish his rehabilitation and you have a family to care for. I’ll see you after lunch Sprout.” Hitch waved at his friend as he left the building.
Sprout glanced at his slice of pizza and then at the reparation bill. With a groan, he lightly face planted onto the desk.
Outside the office, Pipp lightly bounced up to her coltfriend and gave him a kiss. “So, how did it go?”
“I think he took it pretty well. Did you manage to finish preparing the rest of the letters?”
Pipp withdrew a small stack from a small saddlebag. “Printed, packed and ready to go.”
Hitch smiled at her singsong tone. “Nice. First stop post office.”
The couple set off at a leisurely pace. Hitch kept a watchful eye on the town around them as they meandered along. All in all, it was turning out to be a lovely day.
Author's Note
So there is this ending I started before the 5th set of episodes came out where the mane 5 meet Opaline and free Misty from her clutches. It was also written before I wrote Pipp’s waking moments and talk with her mother (which spurred me into writing the rest of this chapter..)
It’s set the morning after the big night out and it is as follows...
ALT ENDING:
Near lunchtime, Misty staggered back into Opaline's palace and was met by a highly irate alicorn.
“Where have you been!?”
Misty shrank back. “Ssssh... My head hurts...”
“Your- your head? Do you mean to tell me that instead of stealing that dragon you went and got drunk with those fools!”
“Kinda?”
The purple alicorn stared at the white pegasus who staggered in behind the unicorn. “What is she doing here!”
Zipp stared back at the alicorn. “Well we kinda did it and she's my marefriend now. So... yeah.”
“Whaaat!” Opaline just about exploded with shock.
