Happy new year! At least for all kirins, today, the new year started. And I was happy to celebrate this day with Golden. In Hono this day was a holiday but I was well aware that in Maren, a village with pony traditions, this was just a normal day. So, it was a bit stressful for me to rush home from work and make the last preparations. Lucky me, I didn’t have to work tomorrow.

But it all had gotten sorted out in the end. The decorations were set, the food was cooked, the house clean and I was freshly showered. And just in time it seemed because a knock on the door announced the arrival of my guest of honour.

I opened the door and the sight of the golden maned pegasus greeted me. She was carring a happy smile on her face and some sort of box with one of her front legs and held some flat plates under her left wing.

“Hello, Spring”, she said. “How is my favorite kirin nirik doing?”

“I uuum… good.” I replied a bit taken aback by the strange device Golden was carrying.

I made some space and let Golden enter. She accepted the invite and stepped inside.

“Lovely decoration you have”, she meant and pointed at the red fabric that was loosely attached to the ceiling. There were also candles set up and balloons. (I have to admit, I liked these rubber air balls.)

“Thank you but can I ask you what do you have here? Didn’t I say you don’t have to bring anything?”, I asked and pointed at her box.

“I know you did but I was sure you don’t have something like this”, Golden said and placed the box on the floor. “This is a basic music player and these are some vinyl disks. It is like a recorder. You capture a sound on the vinyl disc and then can place the disc inside the player. The box then will reproduce whatever is captured on the vinyl. It is often used to record music and songs so you can listen it again or make copies of it to let others listen to it.”

To prove her point, Golden took one of the vinyl discs and placed it in the player. After some butten presses the disc started to spin and music came out of the box. It wasn't very fast, but it was heavy on the instrumentals and gave off a great party mood. I was fastinated by this whole thing. It was like actually somepony, or more like multiple ponies together, were playing right now.

“How does this work?”, I wanted to know.

“That, I do not know”, Golden laughed. “But it is something very common around Equestria. Also, it is perfect for our evening since now we can have some music wihtout the need to actually play them our selves. I guess you kirins don’t have a recorder.”

I shook my head before saying: “Not really. On celebration days like this we always had some kirins who played as a live band. For example Rain Shine sung the most beautiful harmonies or Autumn Afternoon was very talented with the guqin.

But yes, on such day it was often our whole village celebrating together in one big party. And since we are only two this vinyl player is way more suitable.”

“How did you kirins celebrate new years then?”, Golden asked as we made our way to the kitchen while we let the music continue to play.

“Well, some kirins do like to celebrate in a quieter and smaller family circle. But the day should be spent with the ones you love so there is a big celebration in Hono. Many kirins first light some incense sticks before heading to the party. Then there will be food, drinks, music and laughter. The village will be decorated, we light up some fireworks, careful not to hit any trees, some kirins also wear costumes and there will be some traditional dancing.”

“Oh, a traditional dance? Would you like to show me that later”, Golden said and bumped her flank on mine while playfully sticking her tongue out.

I felt the heat rise up in me and I had to look away.

“I don’t think that would be a good idea. When I dance it looks more like I only have three hooves and they all are left.”

“Oh that is what everpony says in the beginning”, Golden tried to encourage me.

Most of the stuff in the kitchen was already ready. Only two frying pans and a bamboo steamer were left.

“Here, can you take these into the living room?”, I tried to change the subject and pointed at two bowls on the table.

Golden gave a nod and balanced each bowl on one of her wings.

“If you want you can snack a bit. I'll be with you soon. Just have to cook the spring rolls and take out the dumplings”, I said while heating up the pan.

“This white corn is good. Reminds me of popcorn. What is it?”, I heard Golden say from the living room.

“Popped rice. A classic snack for us kirins”, I answered.

“And in the other bowl are nuts I assume?”

I gave a nod but then realized that Golden could not see me while standing in the living room.

“Indeed. Nuts and seeds have different meanings for us. For example, in the bowl are sunflowers for happiness, pumpkin for health, macadamia for wealth and cashew for friendliness.”

After a short cooking process I floated the vegetable filled dumplings and spring rolls on a plate and carried them with my magic to the living room. Together, of course, with a pot of fresh tea and a bowl of egg fried rice.

Golden was already sitting on the couch eating some nuts and waiting for me.

“Would you like to have some chopsticks for eating?”, I asked her and placed the food on the coffee table.

“Oh har har. You know exactly how it went the last time I tried to eat with two sticks. I doubt they are made for pony hooves”, Golden said and rolled her eyes. Still she had to smirk. “But I am curious about this drink you had already placed on the table.”

She pointed at the small bottle filled with a transparent liquid. I took a seat next to her and floated the bottle in my hooves so that she could see it better.

“Oh this is Nihon-shu or sake. An alcoholic drink that is made out of rice. Similar to your wine. I took this one from Hono and never really had the chance to open it. But I think a day like this asks for celebration”, I explained and went to open the bottle but then hesitated. “I hope you don’t mind. If you don’t want to drink that is also alright.”

“Nono. It’s good”, Golden assured and gave me a smile. “I am interested in how it tastes. Also on new year it is common to celebrate a bit.”

I returned the smile and fully opened the bottle. I used my magic to fill up two glasses and gave her one.

“To us and a new kirin year with my favorite kirin”, Golden cheered.

I felt charmed and clinked my glass on hers. As I took a sip that was a bit too big, I felt the alcohols burn in my throat. But also a sweetness and the taste of rice filled my mouth. I wasn’t much of a drinker, I still enjoyed a glass here and there with the right occasion.

“Not bad. Not bad at all. Light but very sweet”, I heard Golden say as she smacked her lips. Her glass already half empty.

“Light? I would more say it is a stronger one”, I said and took a second, more careful sip now. “But anyways, let’s dig in as long as it is still hot.”

Time was passing by on this kirin new year party and I cherished every moment. Golden and I talked, laughed, ate and drank. Especially drank. I had my third glass of sake, and I started to feel a bit lightheaded. I was not drunk but I did feel tipsy.

But that was a bit dangerous for me. I did not only enjoy the time here with Golden, I also enjoyed… her. Her nonstop presence combined with this very light mood and the attraction I felt for her… It made me want to do stupid things. Especially since Golden had way more to drink than I did. Sure, she seemed to take the alcohol better than I did but I still didn’t want to exploit her weakened mind to force her to do something she might not want to.

Golden was a great friend. The best I could have ever hoped for, and I didn’t want to put this all at risk just because of some needs.

“I always wanted to ask you this, but I always forgot. Whenever you watched my tea ritual you never said a word. Did you know that it was not allowed or what?”, I asked Golden and took another sip from my glass.

The food, once so rich and full, was now reduced to a fraction of what it once was. Just a few leftovers but neither I nor Golden had the space in our bellies for the last little bit. Which meant that we put even more focus on the sake.

“I didn’t know”, Golden admitted. “But you put so much focus on the ceremony that it felt impolite to say something. And since I had never seen you talk while serving, I just assumed that this actually was the way it should be.”

“Smart mare”, I chuckled and sunk a bit into the sofa.

Golden looked at me for a moment that made me wonder what she was thinking.

She then stood up, offered me a hoof and calmly said: “Come. Stand up.”

I hesitated a bit. I knew she was up to something, but I didn’t know what. And of course, in my drunken mind I was only thinking about one thing… And this made my heartrate increase...

Come on! Stop thinking with your lower part and focus. She is your friend, and she enjoys the time here with you. Now don’t mess this up by making it awkward! My brain yelled at me.

I grabbed Golden’s hoof, and she pulled me out of the comfy sofa. She didn’t let go of my hoof and dragged me back to the entrance stopping in front of the music box.

“Here, let me put another vinyl in. This one is from the famous DJ pon3. A bit slower and more gentle, though still based on the EDM music genre. Perfect to dance a bit”, she said and changed the disk on the box and pressed play.

“Heh, I see you have a huge knowledge when it comes to music”, I said, rubbing the back of my head nervously.

"Well, my job only involves building and repairing instrument but I still feel very close with music.”, she said and went back into the living room, starting to move with the beat. “Now come, show me your three left hooves.”

Still very nervous I followed and also made some first movements. Mostly trying to copy something that Golden did since I was, like said, not a good dancer. Especially when it came to free style dancing.

Golden in the meantime watched my dancing and even in my current state I could sense how she tried to hide a smirk. But I didn’t try to get irritated by it and after a while I was able to find my rhythm. Lifting my hooves, nodding my head a bit and swung my tail. Like Golden had said the music was slower than the previous party music but still easy to dance to. Maybe even to dance together then I noticed how close Golden was dancing in front of me.

Was she always so close? I thought.

But I found my body unable to back away. Her beauty was more captivating than ever and the moment as we faced each other. And she looked right at me with a such a demanding smile... with such inviting aura

Isn’t that normally given sign that tells you that she wants to be kissed?

But maybe it was just the alcohol, my love for her or just simply lust, that was speaking. I felt nervous. I didn’t want to risk it. Especially not when my mind was so fogged up.

Besides, maybe she doesn’t want it and it is just the sake that lightens her-

“Stop being so shy and kiss me already”, Golden then said and took another step towards me. Our bodies now touching each other.

I couldn’t contain myself anymore. Not when she had literally said it. I threw all reservations beside, closed my eyes, leaned forward and kissed her on the lips. And when I felt her return the kiss, it made all my worries disappear. Our dance stopped and I couldn’t sense anything anymore. Just the feeling of the kiss and the presence of Golden.

I couldn’t tell how long this lasted, but in one moment Golden wrapped her front legs around my neck and the kiss intensified. She pressed her tongue inside my mouth, and I accepted it by playing with it. My body was running on autopilot and I just let it happen. Let my feelings for her guide it.

I grabbed her and pressed her back on the nearby wall. Standing on my hind legs and holding her in place as we continued to make out. And Golden, for her part held tight on me with all four legs.

As we two separated our kiss, she guided my head with her front hoof to her neck and without words I understood her. While the mane of kirins spreads around the neck, ponies had it open and that made it possible for me to spread kisses and gentle nibbles around it. Each one earning a lustful gasp from Golden.

After again a moment that felt like an eternity, Golden lifted my chin and forced me to look in her beautiful eyes.

“Show me how kirins love”, she whispered.

She didn’t have to tell me twice and with a swift movement I pushed us from the wall and before losing balance we both dropped on the sofa. Golden on the bottom who smiled up to me. I returned the smile and kissed her again. And it definitely wasn’t the last one in this long love filled night while the music gently continued to play in the background.

Author's Note

Even though, this scene would make a great opening, I do not plan to make a clop chapter. Not because I am against it but for me this story doesn’t need it. And I don’t want to add one just because of the sake of it. Also, I would like to keep this story as T rated. Even though this whole scene is on a very grey line. For me it is circumscribed not mature. But maybe it is just me so feel free to give objections.