Look Before You Sleep

Sunset had been right, Trixie realized as she finished off her hot chocolate and bowl of popcorn.

“That was amazing!” Trixie exclaimed and Sunset gave a smug grin as she took a swig of her whiskey glass, the ice rattling against the glass as she and the other two savored the burning sensation of alcohol going down their throats.

“Damn right,” Sunset agreed and filled her glass again. “So what do we do now?”

“I asked Rarity one time what she did when she chaperoned a sleepover for Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. She said something about them doing makeovers or something?”

“Drunk makeovers, woo!” Trixie cheered and pumped a hoof in the air. “Trixie isn’t really an expert at make up. She wears the basics. You know, eyeliner and lipstick on an occasion. Shoeshine obviously isn’t gonna know shit because she wears no makeup.”

“I own makeup!” Shoeshine snapped and Trixie raised an eyebrow. “Just because I’m not a stereotypical mare who’s all into dresses and shit doesn’t mean I don’t like to look nice.”

“Uh huh.”

“At least I could afford make up growing up,” Shoeshine shot back and her eyes widened as Trixie recoiled. “Trixie, I didn’t mean that.”

“Yes, you did,” Trixie muttered and hid her hurt expression as Sunset watched in stunned silence. “You meant every word that came out of your mouth. You’re right, I never had a lot of toys growing up or money, but daddy did his best to take care of me and feed me. He went nights without food some times to make sure Mom and I had enough. But you can’t relate to that, can you?”

“Trixie, calm down. She knows she made a mistake and is sorry,” Sunset cut in and shot looks at the two. “You’re friends.”

“Shoeshine, if you ever had to fight for anything in your perfect little life, would you?”

“I’ve fought for more than you would ever know,” Shoeshine sneered and Trixie glared back. “Enough of this. I said I’m sorry, okay? I don’t get kicks going around hurting ponies for my own entertainment. That’s not who I am.”

“Whatever. Come on.”

Trixie ignored Shoeshine and trotted up the stairs with Sunset behind her.

“I’m such a fucking idiot,” Shoeshine slammed her head hard against the wall and blinked back tears. “So fucking stupid.”

Trixie stood in front of a mirror on swaying hooves as she resisted the urge to vomit into the toilet that Sunset was currently bent over, vomiting.

“Are you done yet?” Shoeshine asked as she pulled herself into the bathroom and internally hated how Trixie refused to look at her. She never liked making ponies mad or getting drunk. She always seemed to say things she didn’t mean when she had some shots in her.

“Yeah,” Sunset moaned and wiped her mouth with a foreleg. “Anypony got more alcohol?”

Trixie shoved a beer into her hooves and Sunset bit the cap off, taking a long sip before setting it down.

“You. Here,” Trixie ordered and pointed at Shoeshine. “Now and don’t move until I say.”

Shoeshine stood still and stared into Trixie’s eyes awkwardly as Shoeshine felt something forcing her eyes closed and something being placed on her eyelids.

“What are you-?”

“Don’t fucking move,” Trixie growled and Shoeshine bit her lip nervously but complied as she felt Trixie open her eyes. Sunset stood next to her and was apparently doing her own makeup. “Almost done.”

Shoeshine wasn’t entirely fond of this whole thing. She didn’t like other ponies getting up and close with her face like Trixie was. The last pony who got anywhere close to her face was Sunset months ago.

“Done. You can look now,” Trixie spun her around and Shoeshine international prepared for herself to look awful as some sort of revenge on Trixie’s part for the comment Shoeshine made earlier. Shoeshine quickly realized how mistaken she was.

“Woah,” Shoeshine whispered and stared at her reflection in the mirror. In her self musings, Trixie had gone all out on Shoeshine. “I actually look pretty?”

“Mhm.”

Shoeshine hesitantly pressed a hoof against the mirror and opened and closed her jaw repeatedly.

“I don’t look ugly,” Shoeshine said mostly to herself but the other two mares heard her. “I’m not used to looking this beautiful or well, pretty in general. I was always the single one in high school. Heh, guess the same thing is happening to me as an adult, eh?”

Shoeshine tilted her head slightly to continue examination before finally closing her jaw.

“I thought you would have intentionally made me look bad as revenge for earlier,” Shoeshine looked at Trixie who scoffed in response.

“Trixie did briefly entertain the idea. Very briefly, mind you, but no Trixie wasn’t going to mess you up with looks. She usually berates ponies verbally and laughs at their misfortune if she dislikes them enough.”

Shoeshine rolled her eyes and took another sip of her beer, setting it down on the sink.

“How do I look?” Sunset asked and swayed on her hooves as Trixie held her up. The two froze and looked at her face. “Awful, right? Never do makeup and use magic drunk.”

Shoeshine and Trixie burst out laughing. Sunset glanced at the mirror and covered her mouth before she started laughing herself.

“Oh fuck,” Shoeshine breathed and hastily pushed her way to the toilet, vomiting inside as Trixie and Sunset both gagged in disgusting.

“Okay, I’m going back downstairs. This is gross,” Sunset groaned and turned green as Shoeshine made a coughing sound. “I’ll get some buckets and meds.”

“Thanks,” Shoeshine rested her head against the wall and she yawned. “Urghhhh.”

She reminded Trixie more of a zombie than a living pony with the sounds she was making.

“Yeah, I’m going too. Trixie needs more alcohol in her system.”

“If I hear that word one more time, I’m gonna hit something,” Shoeshine glared at Trixie and the unicorn snickered before stumbling into the wall. “I don’t think you need anymore of well, you know. The A word.”

“Trixie disagrees.”

Shoeshine rolled her eyes and instantly regretted it, idly hoping her other friends were having a better night than she currently was.

Derpy sat on her swing on her with her wings wrapped around Sparkler and Dinky. The two sat on either side of her as they watched the rain from the safety of their porch. The three always enjoyed watching the storms that came this time of year.

“Raindrops, Cloudkicker and Dizzy sure did a crazy job this time, didn’t they?” Derpy leaned down to nuzzled Dinky before switching to do the same to Sparkler.

“Mhm!” Dinky nodded enthusiastically as she pressed her smaller body against Derpy’s and yawned. “It’s super calming.”

“Got that right,” Sparkler agreed readily and watched some lightning in the sky. “Woah.”

“Pretty,” Derpy commented and tilted her head up. “I hope nopony is caught out in this.”

“I heard the trains are down. Something about a bunch of fallen trees and other debris on the tracks,” Sparkler shifted slightly and rested her head against Derpy’s as Dinky gave a quiet breathing sound. “Looks like Dinks is out.”

Derpy nodded and wrapped her wing tighter around the sleeping filly.

“Can we stay like this a bit longer?” Sparkler asked and Derpy nodded with a smile. Derpy kissed her forehead and her teen unicorn daughter blushed.

“Of course, muffin.”

Roseluck sat on the couch in the dark, tossing popcorn into her mouth as she and Daisy watched a sci fi movie.

“If you don’t do your job, I’ll kill you and do it myself!” The character on the screen shouted and Daisy sipped on her water lazily.

“Good movie. Where’s Lily?” Daisy asked and Roseluck rolled a hoof in the air. “Words, Rosie. Use em.”

“She’s out doing Celestia knows what. Think she went up the mountain again from last month or so. She’s been going up there a lot more now.”

“In this weather? I swear, that mare is gonna be the end of me. What even is so nice about up a mountain?” Daisy complained and Roseluck shrugged.

“She likes camping now. Says she mountain is pretty at sunset and sunrise. She’s gone for days on end with barely any words of warning. I’m happy for her that she has hobbies but damn, some time with Lily would be nice.”

“We can talk to her about this later. I just hope she’s safe in the downpour.”

“You and me both Daisy, you and me both.”

Silverspeed hummed happily to herself as she stirred the soup she and Silver Spoon were making, the spitting image of Silverspeed wearing a chefs hat peering into the pot.

“What other spices should we add?” Silver Spoon asked and the gray pegasus shook her head.

“I think we are good, Spoonie. Can you grab some bowls and glass please?” Silverspeed turned off the stove and stretched out her wings.

“Yeah sure Sis. Can we invite Diamond Tiara for dinner sometime?” Silver Spoon asked hopefully and Silverspeed grimaced.

Silverspeed wasn’t entirely fond of Diamond Tiara. She didn’t know anypony who was in town. That kid had an attitude issue and Silverspeed didn’t necessarily trust her relationship with Silver Spoon. Especially with Silver Spoon starting to act like Diamond Tiara, according to rumors she heard from Cotton Candy and Minty.

Silverspeed was half tempted to force Silver Spoon to go to a royal guard training as punishment. She knew a bunch of drill sergeant that would straighten her out quickly.

“No promises,” Silverspeed said finally and bit the handle of a spoon. “Bowl.” Silver Spoon nodded and complied, glancing outside at the dark clouds.

“Surprised you’re not at your girlfriends house,” Silver Spoon teased and Silverspeeds eyes went wide as she spit out her water.

“I don’t have a girlfriend. What in Tartarus are you talking about?” Silverspeed demanded and Silver Spoon gave her an innocent smirk.

“Oh you know, the daughter of Princess Celestia? I’ve seen the way you looked at her and I read your diary. You talk an awful lot about her cute she is for not having any feelings for her,” Silver Spoons grin grew wider. “You are a bad keeper of secrets.”

“I swear, I hate you some days,” Silverspeed glared angrily at her sister and narrowed her deep purple eyes. “Give me my diary. Now.”

This kid drives me fucking up the wall, Silverspeed thought to herself and angrily stabbed at some potatoes with a fork.