'My Little Pony' belongs to Hasbro
Swish, swish, swish, went the rag, it's squeaking reminiscent of an old, creaky door's hinges. The purple pony wielding it polished the worn oak tables, her head bowed in a rare moment of candidness. Everything about the dimly-lit hall emanated a homely, lazy atmosphere, from the rustic lanterns to the warm, low-burning stone fireplace. The building wasn't even hooked up to the electrical grid. The largest contributor to that heavy feeling, however, was probably the large rack of beverages lined up against one wall.
Most of them were intoxicating.
Berry Punch finished cleaning in preparation for the evening rush. She picked herself up, straightening her posture and squaring her shoulders. Her figure was pleasantly full (but not fat, she told herself) and of average height, her sleek, magenta mane falling down her neck haphazardly in a way that she couldn't reproduce if she tried to comb it. She was still fairly young, not much older than she needed to be to legally drink.
Berry performed a perfunctory scan of the bar's interior. Everything was ready for the influx of ponies. She allowed a final sigh to escape her lips as she plodded towards the plain oak double doors that opened into the town. Composing herself, she plastered on her customary friendly smile and unlocked the door. Immediately, half a dozen eager ponies barged in, vying for seats at the table in the far back corner; it was the most popular spot aside from the bar itself, as there was a cozy little alcove that sheltered the occupants from the rest of the hall.
As usual, Rainbow Dash beat out her competitors and claimed the table with victorious whoops, the former hopefuls grumbling and settling in elsewhere around the room. Berry recognized each of them; Rainbow Dash, obviously, was Ponyville's weather mare, and the fastest pony Berry knew. Lyra played a lovely tune on the harp, and she clung closely to her friend, Bon-bon. Also present were Aloe and Lotus, the Spa ponies; their business day wrapped up earlier than most, so they almost always came in just at the bar's opening each evening. Lastly, trotting in slowly, came Screwball. She was widely known as runner-up to Pinkie Pie for kookiest pony in Ponyville, always dreaming up some scheme for giggles and gags. Berry could honestly never figure out where Screwball got her money from, as the loopy pony had never been observed to work at a job.
The bartender trotted behind the counter and glanced at the large grandfather clock standing opposite the room near the front entrance; only six o'clock, still eight hours to go. She checked the calendar hanging underneath the counter, days past crossed out with red X's. Three full rows were crossed off, in addition to five boxes of the last. Berry sighed; the last Friday of the month was always the rowdiest, what with ponies' paychecks arriving.
The purple earth pony retrieved the mop from the back closet, so that it was available at a moment's notice. She knew better than to be unprepared for the surge of ponies consuming alcohol; not only did they have a disturbingly high tendency to disgorge the contents of their stomachs, but they were also reliably aggressive. More than once Berry had had to fend off would-be suitors and even break up the occasional bar fight. She'd come to think of herself as something of a mop-ninja over the years, flourishing the everyday cleaning instrument in graceful and concussion-inducing sweeps. She'd been in training since her youth, or so she thought, working as the bouncer while her mother still owned the Punch Bowl.
Berry shivered at the thought of her mother, so she shut the imagery out of her mind. She felt bad enough already, without the memories weighing her down.
The first customer of the night approached the bar; it was Rainbow Dash, of course. The rainbow pegasus just had to be first at everything. It made Berry's breath quicken, accumulated frustration leaking through her facade.
“Heya, Berry! Just get me the usual,” enthused the weather pony.
“Coming right up!” Berry promised with a half-smile. She turned and browsed through the rows and rows of drinks, finally settling on some Sweet Apple Acres cider. A mug full of the golden drink in her hoof, the purple earth pony returned to the waiting pegasus, who had an eager glint in her eye. The mare behind the counter slid the glass to the blue pony, receiving in its place the empty-sounding clattering of bits being tossed down.
“Thanks a bunch, Berry!” blurted Dash before taking a huge gulp of the frothy cider. Letting out a satisfied sigh, Rainbow let the mug clank on the old wood of the bar. “You know, it's almost as good as when it's right out of the press. Almost.”
“Yeah, I hear that a lot,” commented Berry, her voice momentarily betraying the facade she wore. “Their cider loses something when it sits around. There's just something about it's freshness that can't be preserved.”
The blue pony cocked her head inquisitively.
“Hey, are you okay, Berry?” asked Rainbow, her voice losing the aggressive, tomboyish edge it normally exuded. “You seem kinda... off. Is something up?”
The bartender shook her head and began moving on to the other customers. Over her shoulder, she replied “No, no, I'm just fine. Thank you, though.”
Dash looked like she wanted to press the issue, but upon hearing a familiar, quiet voice call her name she shrugged and flew off to meet her friend. There was a group, actually; they were almost always together. The six of them seemed to be at the heart of every disaster, mishap, and noteworthy event in the town. Berry and several other ponies had taken to referring to them as the Mane Six, since they were the six most well known ponies in Ponyville. The bartender couldn't help but sneak a jealous glance at the group chatting at the door before putting on a big, fake smile and addressing the next pony.
Berry Punch had dealt with a lot of strange-looking ponies in her time, but this one took the cake. She was wearing a full cloak that obscured her entire body, as well as a wide-brimmed hat that made her face difficult to observe from the shade it cast. The only reason Berry could even tell that the pony was a mare was by the proportions of her body.
“I'll have, uh, three hard ciders, please. To go.” The mare's voice was off-putting, like somepony trying to sound completely different than their usual voice. On top of that, the bartender couldn't help but pick up on the obvious tone of nervousness that pervaded the pony's speech.
“I'm sorry, ma'am, but I don't offer carry-out,” replied Berry. She frowned, obviously unhappy with having to deal with a stranger that exuded red flags like this one. On a hunch, she decided to throw out a line and see if she could get a bite, if only to resolve the mess faster. “You shouldn't be afraid of having a drink in here, right? Unless you had something to hide, of course.” She threw in a sarcastic chuckle for extra effect.
“Oh no, no, we- I don't have anything to hide, nope! It'll be fine, I'll just have a seat over there,” said the mysterious mare, pointing to an area that was already full of ponies.
Berry Punch groaned and cradled her head in her hooves for a moment. Without warning, she reached out and snatched the giant hat from the mare's head. When the purple pony saw Scootaloo's sheepish grin, she scowled.
“Yeah, I thought so,” said Berry, “your disguise was pretty bad. Are Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom down there, too?” A pair of yelps confirmed her query. She leaned over the counter and looked the little orange filly right in the eyes. “Look, girls, I don't have time for your shenanigans. I ought to- you know what? I- I'm not even mad. Just- just go.”
Scootaloo sighed, and the conglomerate of fillies inside the cloak dispersed as they headed for the door.
“Shucks, and we were so close, too,” Apple Bloom mumbled as the three fillies departed.
Berry turned to look at the entrance, where a steady stream of ponies were now trotting gaily into the bar. Next to them, the clock read five minutes after six. It was going to be a long night.
===
Berry rushed back and forth, filling out the orders of the initial customers, who had crowded around the bar in the same old way. She had gone through this exact same routine hundreds, if not thousands of times before. There was always a huge commotion during the first half-hour, when most ponies got off of work. Many would stop by for a drink or two before heading home from work, and those who did constituted a considerable fraction of Ponyville's workforce.
The hubbub of thirsty ponies clamoring for respite dropped to a buzz, giving Berry a few moments to catch her breath. She glanced at the clock; three minutes to seven. She could already feel her shoulders slumping and her head drooping; the bartender had no idea how she could possibly make it through the evening without collapsing from sheer... whatever it was she was feeling. Not-wellness? Berry couldn't pin down a name for it, and didn't feel like trying very hard.
Her attention was caught by the familiar sound of breaking glass. Every eye within hearing distance turned to look, and saw the town's librarian wearing a sheepish grin as some kind of beverage leaked over the floor from a nearby broken bottle. Berry took a deep, steadying breath as she hefted the mop and a bucket of soapy water in her mouth and went to go clean up the mess in the back corner of the bar. As the purple earth pony was approaching, she heard a few snippets of the conversations going on around her.
“You know, Lyra, you're really not so bad,” said one blue stallion. Berry only recognized him by his cutie mark, a pair of black music notes. “Maybe we should set aside our rivalry, start up a band.”
“Hey, I kind of like that idea! Maybe we could even get Vinyl involved...”
“So, Big Macintosh, I heard that you had a record apple harvest this season. Is it true?” asked Miss Cheerilee.
“Eeyup.”
“...Mr. Macintosh, I have a question. Is 'eeyup' the only word you know how to say?”
“Eeyup.”
A chorus of chuckling faded as Berry moved on. The barkeep's stony face slid from grimly neutral to simply neutral as she continued on, the leaden, sagging gait lessening its grip on her.
The Mane Six sat around the corner table, casting brief glances at Berry Punch as she came closer. A sudden knot twisted its way into the Berry's stomach as she closed the last bit of distance between her and the six mares. She set down the bucket as gently as she could, but even so there was a little bit that splashed out onto the floor. Despite being not even being a minor inconvenience, the spill elevated the purple mare's frustration a level. Berry took the mop in her hooves and expertly wiped up the mess, manipulating the glass shards into a small pile.
“Great job, Twi. The one time this week that we all have the evening free, and you just had to go and spill the drinks,” snarked Rainbow Dash.
“Hey!” protested the accused Twilight, a few shots of alcohol slurring her voice just a bit. “I was trying not to use my magic, like the card said.” The librarian emphasized the words by holding up a small card in her hooves, one that was similar to others spread across the table. Depicted on the card was a small image of a unicorn horn with a large red X over it, beneath which were two small bottle icons.
Berry Punch finished wiping up the liquid half of the mess, and so set the bucket of soap, alcohol, and water off to the side. All the while she kept her head down, trying to keep her presence at a minimum. Not only that, but also she hoped to give the impression that she wasn't trying to keep to herself. It was a relatively easy task, she thought; simply stay silent, and put a near supernatural focus on the task at hoof. Maybe they wouldn't notice.
“Anyway, I'm really sorry about the spill, Merry- I mean, Berry. Hee hee, I think I've had a little too much to drink,” tittered Twilight. “I hope it's not too much trouble.”
“Sheesh, you have like, zero tolerance. I suppose I should expect that from an egghead.”
“Really, Rainbow, you're being quite harsh on dear Twilight. She's only a mare, after all,” interjected Rarity, her horn aglow as a crystal glass of vintage wine levitated to her lips. The white pony took a sip before continuing. “Berry, darling, I beg you forgive us for this horrible mess. Pinkie insisted that we try this 'drinking game,' as she called it. I don't fully understand-”
“Oh, but you see, Rarity, it's actually super-duper easy-peasy! You just draw a card, and do what it says, and other cards will modify your cards, which might modify other ponies' cards, which might modify the modifying cards, maybe even modify the modifying of the modifying cards, and whenever you mess up, you have to drink! It's loads of fun!” Pinkie Pie blurted out.
Everypony's expression fell flat as their attention was drawn back to the world insulated inside the corner. Berry took advantage of the situation to dodge out with the glass shards safely nestled in the bucket. Why she always felt so tense in the presence of the Six was something that bothered her, especially since they were such an inclusive and lovable group.
Setting down the mop in its familiar place behind the counter, Berry grumbled and disposed of the contents of the bucket. She trotted back to the bar, just in time to be greeted by a warm, smiling face. The gray pony that it belonged to was leaning familiarly against the counter. The sight of her old friend filled Berry with a sense of warmth that she'd been sorely lacking.
“Octavia! What are you doing here? I didn't know you had a performance in town,” the purple pony gushed.
“I don't have a performance; that's probably why you didn't hear about it.” All the while, Octavia's smile remained constant, if not widening some. “I'm really just here to take a break, catch up with my childhood friends. I just arrived, and you know I couldn't resist stopping by for some of that famous Punch Bowl Punch... and maybe some other drinks as well.” The smile on Octavia's face took on a playful air.
“You always were a drunkard, you know that, Octy?” Berry teased. “If I hadn't been there to siphon off half those drinks you would've died from alcohol poisoning twice over! Matter of fact, we both should've died from alcohol poisoning anyway.” Both of their gazes glassed over, thoughts of their youth flashing in their minds.
“We were a couple of rapscallions, you know that?” murmured the musician, mocking herself and her friend good-naturedly. “The only difference between us was that you made a life out of drinking, and I actually pursued a career.”
The bartender knew this was meant as a jest, but the words cut much deeper than intended. She must have let something slip in her face, because the gray pony recoiled as if struck.
“Oh, I'm sorry, Berry. I didn't mean anything, you know I'd never make fun of you seriously.” Berry's response was a less-than-convincing smile and a nod. A frown slashed its way across Octavia's expression. “Okay, what's going on? You can't slip anything past me, I know all of your tells.”
“It's nothing, Octy, I'm just a little tired,” stammered the purple mare. Her hopes crumbled as she was treated to the famousLook of Disapproval. It was something that only her gray friend seemed to be able to pull off, combining disapproval, doubt, and disinterest in just the right amounts to lay bare anypony's deepest self. Berry had only had to suffer through it once before, thankfully enough, and she squirmed as her second go-round with the Look went equally poorly. Her salvation arrived in the form of a wooden-and-fleshy thump at the bar.
“Oh, uh, hey Berry. I hope I'm not interrupting anything too important here,” mumbled a gray pegasus, an empty mailbag slung across her back. She rubbed a hoof on her snout, the remnants of pain plainly evident on the mare's face.
“No, not at all, Derpy!” blurted Berry, anxious for an excuse to wriggle out from under Octavia's implacable gaze. She could feel the heat radiating from the suspicion in her friend's eyes, and it made her uncomfortable. “W-what can I get for you t-this evening?”
“I think I'll just have some punch, actually. Nothing alcoholic.” The mailpony's soft words were accompanied by a sheepish look.
Berry and Octavia raised a collective eyebrow at that, but nodded and retrieved some of the requested beverage. As she set down the mug, Derpy gently slid a few bits across the counter in exchange.
“Do you mind me asking why the sudden change? I mean, let's be honest, you weren't exactly a light drinker.”
Derpy turned away, shame creeping over her visage.
“I-I'm going sober.”
Berry was the first to regain her composure.
“Oh. Well. Um, I wish you the best, then. I... hope everything's okay?” inquired the barkeep.
“Yeah, things are fine. I just figured it was time to, you know, shape up.” The nervous shuffling of gray hooves was a giveaway, but neither Berry nor Octavia had the heart to pursue the matter further. With a reserved nod, the pegasus mare turned and trotted away to find a seat somewhere.
Octavia watched Derpy go, her eyebrows arched up in a confused, almost inquisitive manner.
“I go to live in Canterlot for what, two or three years, and you girls just start falling apart on me?” wondered the gray earth pony out loud. “Come on, what's going on in this little town? Please tell me Carrot Top isn't going down the tubes, too. She was the only sane one in our group.”
Berry's face wrinkled in self-conflict, although she tried not to let it show too much. After a short pause, she replied to her friend's question.
“Tell you what, Octy. I'll close up the bar a little early, and you and I can sit and talk. Sound alright?”
“Berry, that doesn't sound alright, that sounds like a plan.” Satisfied with her victory, the musician smiled and nodded. “I'll go save us a table. After you get me some cider, of course. On the rocks.”
===
Berry Punch sat at the counter, miserably tired. The clock across the room read only seventeen minutes past nine. The last hour had trudged by in an agonizingly slow, energy-sapping haze. Most of the ponies who wanted a drink or two had already gotten theirs and left. The only ponies Berry had to fetch drinks for now were the ones who planned on staying all night.
Coincidentally, this group consisted of the ponies who tended to drink the most. And that was what kept Berry busy. She would serve one pony their umpteenth refill, only to have the next wobble up to the bar right as the previous left. It was the steadiness of the whole affair that bothered her; at least with a flood of ponies or the complete lack thereof she'd have an excuse to feel sorry for herself. As it was, the constant trickle of customers afforded her no such pleasure. Serving at a leisurely pace wasn't very difficult. But still she was frustrated, the reason for which felt like it was just beyond her reach. The purple mare couldn't help but scowl inwardly at herself.
Berry was snapped out of her malaise when an unfamiliar, timid-looking pony slid the door open with such care that it hardly made a sound. The purple bartender watched as the stranger, a dark blue unicorn sporting a much lighter, almost teal-blue mane, made her way hesitantly through the room. The two locked eyes for a moment, and Berry thought she saw a look of fear flash through the mare's eyes before they were face to face, only the smooth wooden counter separating them. Berry summoned up a smile that was only half fake before greeting the newcomer.
“Hey there! I'm Berry Punch,” said the purple mare. “I don't think I've seen you around before; what can I do for you?”
“Greetings, Berry Punch. Our- My name is, uh, Starshine,” the blue unicorn replied, her voice louder and of fuller volume than Berry had thought a pony of that size could produce. “I was informed of thee- er, you by a friend, actually. They said that you provide the best drinks in all of Equestria. Is that true?”
Berry blushed profusely as she responded. “Well, I don't know if I would go that far, but I do make sure that everything I sell to my customers is of the utmost quality. Would you like to try anything in particular?”
“Well, my friend instructed me that I simply had to try thy- pardon, your- 'Punch Bowl Punch,' as she referred to it. Could I perhaps sample some of this beverege?”
The bartender's expression wrinkled into something resembling an apologetic frown.
“Well, um, you could try some,” began the purple pony, “but I only have one bottle right now, and I had been hoping to save it for a special friend of mine.” Berry winced when she saw Starshine's disappointed face. The barkeep's own countenance softened as she thought about what it might feel like to be turned down because the pony on the other end of the table was too selfish to care.
“Tell you what, Starshine,” sighed Berry, “You can have half the bottle and I'll save the other half for my friend. Fair enough?”
“Huzzah! Many thanks, dear Berry,” gushed the unicorn. “How much does one half of a bottle of thy punch cost?”
Berry pursed her lips for a moment, thinking not about the cost, which was an easy calculation, but rather about the odd way the strange mare spoke. It hadn't occurred to her until Starshine had spoken that last line, but the blue unicorn spoke with a strange, rustic accent and a matching vocabulary to boot. The bartender was certainly curious, but she could wait for a little while before satisfying that urge to know.
“Well, a whole bottle normally goes for about two hundred bits, so I'll pour you a half for one hundred.”
“That is indeed a very high price for but a draught of Punch. Why is this drink so expensive?” asked Starshine as she reached telekinetically back into her saddlebags for some bits.
“Well, you see, it's rather time- and labor-intensive to brew a bottle of Punch Bowl Punch, and I just haven't really gotten around to it recently,” admitted Berry Punch, a sheepish frown adorning her face. This was the excuse she always used for not having enough Punch Bowl Punch; it was easier to tell a little half-truth than admit that she didn't actually know the recipe, that her mother had never taught her how to make the Punch before she... left.
As she spoke, the barkeep turned and retrieved the last lonely bottle of Punch from its safe. She popped the cork off with a quick flick of her neck, a small whoosh of air escaping the glass container. With expert precision, a fine crystal glass was procured and filled to the brim with deep purple punch. The liquid was almost surreal with its clarity and intensity of color; it was like an artist had taken a paintbrush and painted a little piece of air inside the glass.
Berry waited patiently as the midnight mare began to frown and search more vigorously through her bags. A panicked look began to creep into the unicorn's eyes as she didn't find what she was looking for.
“We- we are certain that we were in possession of our purse when we left...” muttered Starshine. She lifted the saddlebags up and turned them upside down, a few possessions falling onto the floor; no coin purse was among them. The unicorn sat dejected on the floor, a soft sigh escaping her lungs. “We deeply apologize for our negligence, whereby thy valuable time was put to waste.”
Listening distantly to Starshine's apology, Berry Punch sighed and closed her eyes. She knew how it felt to have caused another inadvertent harm or loss, especially as one who furnished intoxicating drinks to ponies.
“Look, Starshine,” mumbled the purple mare, “It's not that big of a deal.” The fatigue faintly evident in her voice seemed contradictory. “I don't mind too much if you take up a little time; it's not like I don't have as much as I need already.” Berry closed her eyes again, as though there was a weight straining her endurance. “The same goes for money; I don't really need the bits.” The earth pony breathed in and relaxed her expression and muscles as much as she could manage. “I guess what I'm trying to say is, you can have the Punch. I won't ask you for something I know you can't give me.”
There was a poignant pause, the words almost seeming to hang in the air as if by magic. Berry risked a glance and saw in Starshine's eyes a shining mixture of awe, surprise, and gratitude which made a blush overtake her cheeks. The bartender slid the crystal glass across the counter, and felt the unicorn's hoof wrap around hers for a moment. Without either mare looking at the other, the raw, brief sensation of physical contact between them said everything. Starshine gently squeezed, then Berry let go of the crystal and the two parted ways, albeit reluctantly.
The bartender looked at the clock. Twenty minutes past nine.
===
Time has a funny way of playing with ponies' minds. In the same way that a day will often feel longer than a week, Berry glanced at the clock in dread but was rewarded instead by the blessed sight of each of the old clock's hooves approaching a vertical position. The purple pony sighed in relief; midnight wasn't too bad a time to close up. The hard part was informing her patrons of the change.
With a strange mixture of excitement and dread, Berry Punch took a glass and rapped the side for everypony's attention. After a few moments, all eyes were on her; the bartender gulped before beginning to speak.
“Alright everypony, I need to close up a bit early tonight. You don't have to leave or anything, but I won't be selling any more drinks after midnight. Okay?”
This elicited a chorus of disappointed groans and sighs from the ponies, as well as a mad rush to get enough alcohol to last them through the remaining two hours. Berry made it through only by thinking of the respite that was coming in a few minutes. After five or ten minutes of back-and-forth between the counter and the drink racks, the line had cleared, all except for one pony wearing a stetson.
“Sugarcube,” began Applejack in a less-than-sober voice, “ya alright? Ya don' look so good, I been watchin' ya all night.”
Berry sucked in a sharp breath, caught off guard by the sudden question.
“Uh, yeah, I'm fine, Applejack. Just a little tired, is all.”
The orange mare gave Berry a look of concern that made her wonder whether or not Applejack saw through her little white lie. The purple pony set her expression in a firm stance that she hoped conveyed reassurance.
“Really, I'm okay. Go ahead and have some more fun with your friends,” said Berry Punch, a minuscule break in her facade slipping in during the last word or two. “I'm going to go have a nice talk with mine.”
With finality, the bartender turned away from Applejack and fetched the bottle of Punch. The farmer shook her head and went away, back to the far corner with the Mane Six. Armed with the legendary drink, Berry left the counter and drink racks behind, moving through the room towards the waving, gray pony sitting near the door. Berry finished the last leg of the trip and practically collapsed into the offered chair, setting the bottle onto the table with less reverence than it was due.
Looking up, she found the surprise of her life. Sitting at the table were four other ponies; Octavia, of course, but more interesting was that Derpy, Carrot Top, and Starshine were also present. Berry Punch was stunned into silence for a moment before she began sputtering an incoherent protest.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” said Berry, “when did you girls get here? Well, Derpy, I know you were here, but- but-” Octavia grinned mischievously as she gestured for the midnight blue unicorn to explain.
“You see, Berry, Octavia here was the one who recommended that I visit your establishment,” said Starshine, a teasing smile adorning her face. “We happened to meet at one of her more notorious performances, the Grand Galloping Gala. I'm sure you are acquainted with that.”
“Well, yeah,” said the purple mare, “it was kind of hard to not hear about that one. But, I mean, Octy, I thought it was just going to be you and me.”
“What kind of homecoming would it be for me if the whole gang wasn't here?” asked Octavia. “I mean, as it is, we're missing Vinyl and Redheart, and that's a third of us. I want some of my friends with me, I want to catch up with you girls, and what better way than all of us together?”
Berry's jaw worked up and down for a few moments before she came up with a cohesive response.
“Fair enough, but what about Starshine? I hardly know her,” said the purple pony.
“We are present at this moment, you know,” grumbled Starshine. Berry sighed an apology and rested her head in her hooves.
“Look, I know you're a decent pony, but we've only just met,” Berry said. “I'm not going to share my life's story with you yet. Would you mind?”
“Of course, Miss Punch,” assented the midnight mare. She stood up to leave. “The Punch was quite delectable, by the way. Perhaps we could speak again some-”
Starshine was interrupted by the clattering sounds of glasses being shattered.
“Tha's it, Rainbow Dash,” shouted somepony in a tipsy slur. “I seen you sneakin' those cards! You're a dirty cheater, you!”
The two ponies began throwing punches and wrestling and knocking into tables and making a general mess of the place. One was a rainbow-streaked blue blur, the other an orange juggernaut. A few obscenities flew hither and thither, prompting several of the less intoxicated ponies to wince.
Berry groaned audibly, trudged up to the bar where the mop was kept, and soaked the end in water from the nearby bucket. Gripping the tool tightly in her mouth, she strode towards the brawling pair with an air of resignation. Once in reach, she rapped the wet mop on their heads, eliciting grunts from the orange and blue ponies. She continued her focused attack, driving the two apart with a finesse born of experience. At last Berry separated them, and the three stood panting in the middle of the room, with dead silence in the air and all eyes on them.
“What do you two have to say for yourselves?” demanded Berry Punch, her tone unusually sharp, like that of an adult scolding a child.
Applejack and Rainbow Dash both looked away, like fillies caught red-hoofed.
“Well, shucks, sugarcube, I'm mighty sorry about what we done to your stuff,” said the orange mare. Although verbally apologizing, Applejack sounded like she still wanted to lunge at her rival.
“What we did?” the rainbow-maned pegasus shouted. “What AJ means is, what she did.”
“Now you jus' hold on one buckin'-”
Applejack was silenced by a wet mop to the face, which brought out a laugh from the blue pegasus. That too was quickly suppressed by the mop.
“Both of you are making a mess of my property,” said the purple pony. “I'm tired of it!”
Berry Punch tossed the mop to the ground at their hooves, then stormed off into the back room, her hooves making sharp clop sounds as they stomped forcefully against the hard wood floor.
===
Berry laid on the roof of her building, staring fixedly up at the stars. The night was incredibly comfortable, the air cool and sweet under the silvery light of the quarter moon. Berry took calm, measured breaths, trying to restrain the churning feelings threatening to burst out of her and throw themselves at the sky. She wasn't sure how long she stayed there in such a state, but it felt like a small eternity before she heard the sound of hooves approaching. The purple pony didn't bother to look up; she recognized Octavia by the distinct weight of each step of the hoof.
“Berry, what's wrong?” asked Octavia. “Seriously, you're acting really weird. What happened to the old Berry Punch, the one that let the chips fall as they may, that didn't have a care in the world? This is not like you.”
The bar owner gestured for her friend to come and lie next to her; Octavia obliged, and the two lay on the roof for a minute or so before Berry gestured with a hoof at the sky.
“Do you see those lights up there, Octy?” asked the purple mare. “Sometimes I think we all have one representing us.” She paused for a long time, and sporadic tears began to leak out of her eyes. “And I want so badly to... to be the brightest of them all.” Berry accompanied this with a gesture at the waning crescent moon.
Octavia wrapped a hoof around her friend's frame, and Berry leaned against her gray shoulder.
“I go to work every day, and it's always the same,” said the purple mare, her words and thoughts tumbling out in a flurry. “I have it down to a science, you know. I can run this bar blindfolded and with my hooves tied. And that's it; I'm a bartender, Octy, a bartender in a backwater town, but I want to be so much more. I mean, look at Rainbow Dash, she's the Best Young Flier in Equestria. Look at Twilight Sparkle, she's the Princess' personal student. The six of them even saved the world, for Celestia's sake. And I want to be like that. I don't want to be in the background anymore.”
Berry's light sobs choked out any further words. She pressed her face deeper into Octavia's shoulder, her tears dampening her friend's gray fur. Octavia patted her gently on the back and hugged her purple friend tightly, whispering comforting words to her.
“Shhh, shhh. I know, I know. I know what it's like to want to be somepony. I was there once,” said the musician. “I wanted to be the pony that everypony talks about. So you know what I did? I played my best, I practiced endlessly, and now here I am, performing at the Grand Galloping Gala. And you know what, Berry? It's not all it's cracked up to be.”
Berry looked up with a mix of surprise and disbelief.
“You're joking,” said the purple mare.
“No, I'm not. The biggest thing I learned was that being famous was not the same thing as being somepony,” said Octavia, a knowing and tender smile adorning her face. “No, there are ponies that wreck their lives and get paid millions of bits for it. They have all the things they could ever want, but it's not enough.” Octavia paused for a moment before continuing.
“You see, Berry, sometimes it's better to stay hidden in the background than to come out into the forefront.”
The purple pony let out a last sniffle or two even as she nodded for her friend to continue.
“You've got everything you want already,” said Octavia, nudging her friend with a hoof. “You should've seen everypony's reaction when you stomped out like that. They all wanted to come up and see what was the matter.
“It's true,” said the musician, answering Berry's suspicious look. “Derpy and Carrot Top calmed them all down, and everypony helped clean up all the mess, and even started up a collection to pay for the damage. You should've seen Applejack, she was almost crying, she felt so bad. I guess my point is, Berry, that you have so much more love than you can even know. The love of your neighbors is in the friendly hello at the marketplace, the warm smiles during a conversation, the minutes you spend waiting together in line at Sugarcube Corner. You just don't see it, because it's in the little things.
“And before I forget, you know that I can't go without a good drink every now and then. So, living in Canterlot, I have access to many of the classier clubs. And you know what? They can't compare at all to the love that surrounds the Punch Bowl. Up in Canterlot, all of the fancy bars are as cold as ice and lofty as the stars. You'd be surprised how many side conversations I've been a part of where the Punch Bowl becomes the subject of wistful thoughts. The work, the life that you put into the Punch Bowl makes it more than just a business- it's a legend. You know what that means, Berry? You already are somepony, not just a bartender- you are the bartender.”
A soft smile broke into the purple pony's countenance.
“You still say 'you know what' way too much,” said Berry. Both ponies giggled a bit.
The purple mare smiled wider, and felt laughter beginning to bubble up inside of her; it was a feeling she hadn't had in a long time. Berry laughed a good, hearty laugh and it felt fantastic. She gripped her friend in a light-hearted hug, her enthusiasm infecting the gray musician. The two shared a moment of giggling before they heard a relieved sigh from the opening into the building.
Whipping around to see who was there, both were surprised to see Starshine.
“Oh, hey,” said Berry, her shoulders and posture relaxed, but healthy. “How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough,” replied Starshine. She looked up at the stars. “That was an interesting comparison you made. One that I am quite familiar with.”
Berry cocked her head inquisitively. Starshine smiled a wicked grin, and her horn began to glow. Before the purple pony's eyes, the slight frame of the strange unicorn distorted and grew until standing proudly before them was none other than Princess Luna. Octavia bowed respectfully, and her eyes widened when Berry didn't do the same.
Instead, the purple pony walked right up to the midnight alicorn and wrapped her in a big bear hug.
“Heya, Princess!” said Berry. “I didn't recognize you in your disguise. It was pretty clever, actually.”
Luna was stunned for a moment at the levity with which this purple pony treated her royal presence.
“Thy- Your lightness of spirit, it is... most intriguing,” said the princess. “Most ponies tremble at our approach. You simply treat us- me- as a normal pony.”
Berry Punch released the bear hug and took a step back.
“Oh, well, I guess if you wanted me to, I could-”
“No, no, it is quite alright,” interrupted Luna. “I would welcome such behavior from my subjects.”
Berry beamed.
“And, ah, while we are on the topic of behavior, I would like to commend you for yours, Berry Punch,” said the princess, a glimmering smile appearing on her face. “You were willing to part with something of great value to a stranger, out of kindness alone. I thank you for that, and I promise, it will not be forgotten.”
“Well, thank you, Luna,” said the purple pony, “but it was nothing. I mean, any pony would have done the same.”
“No, my little pony, and that is what makes you the perfect choice for the assignment I had in mind,” the princess said, obviously pleased by Berry's reply. “As you know, I was... away for a long time, and I am still in the process of adjusting to the times. If you noticed, I still slip into the old way of speaking when I am anxious. Anyway, I want you to help me. I need to learn what normal life is like in Equestria these days, and using a disguise is an excellent way to do that.
“Therefore, I request that you show me around Ponyville for a time, so that I may gain a feel for the societal patterns of the age. Also, when I cannot be here, I request that you send me letters detailing your day-to-day experiences. I am certain you are familiar with the bearers of the Elements of Harmony, and that they send reports on friendship to my sister; I ask that you do the same for me, only that nopony be privy to the knowledge of it. Are you up to the task, Berry Punch?”
Berry rubbed a hoof against her chin for a moment before offering her hoof to Luna. The princess stared at it curiously.
“Er, Miss Punch, why are you pointing your hoof at me?”
“I'm not pointing at you, I'm offering to shake on it,” explained Berry. “Alright, lesson number one; a pony that offers their hoof like so is asking you to shake it, like this.” The purple pony demonstrated with a smiling Octavia, who had receded into the background during this exchange. “Usually a hoofshake is a sign of trust, good faith, and friendliness.”
“I... see. It is an interesting custom, certainly.”
Berry continued to discuss hoof-shaking and other modern customs with Luna as the purple mare trotted back into her building's interior, leading the princess. Octavia waited a moment before coming after them, a faint smile on her lips.
The ponies in the bar all sat around in their chairs, their half-glazed eyes reflecting a general feeling of concern. Many tapped their hooves anxiously or twitched their tails. When at last there came the sound of hooves clopping through the back room, everypony, regardless of their level of intoxication, became unnaturally silent and still in anticipation.
Berry Punch trotted slowly out of the back room and into the main area behind the counter. She whispered something in a low tone to Starshine, who was directly behind her; the loudness of her whisper forced her to notice just how quiet the room was. Standing near the front of the now-spotless bar were Rainbow Dash and Applejack, both looking uncomfortable and apologetic. Rainbow Dash stepped forward, rubbing a hoof nervously through her mane.
“Uh, hey Berry,” Dash began, her voice tinny compared to her normal volume, “Me and AJ are, uh, really sorry about what happened, and, uh-”
“Oh, that?” said the bar owner, cutting of Rainbow mid-sentence. “I understand, it happens sometimes. Just try not to do it again, okay?” Then, turning to the rest of the ponies, she continued, her speech more robust than the last time she'd spoken to the group. “And seriously, what's up with you all? It's like a tomb in here.”
At that, there was an audible, collective sigh in the room, and the buzz of conversation once again filled the warm hall.
Smiling at the spirit that permeated the familiar space, Berry held out a hoof to stop the two former combatants from leaving. They cocked their heads in sync, waiting to hear what the purple pony had to say.
“I know you wanted to apologize, Rainbow,” said Berry, “but really, I'm the one who should be apologizing to you and your friends.”
Applejack shook her head and was about to protest, but Berry Punch continued despite it.
“I overreacted to you two, and for that, I'm sorry. I, uh, I was kind of jealous of you, and that might have had something to do with it,” said Berry, a blush creeping onto her face.
“Jealous? Of me?” the farmer asked, her eyebrows raised doubtfully.
“Well, really it's you and Rainbow, and Twilight, and Pinkie and the others. I wanted to be somepony important, that pony that everypony knows, and you all were outshining me. I guess I let that affect my attitude towards you.”
“Shucks, sugarcube, it's all good,” said Applejack. She ran a hoof through her mane, looking down at the floor with a bit of color creeping into her cheeks.
“Yeah, really, you don't have to apologize. It's natural to be jealous of a pony like me,” Dash said, which earned her a sharp jab in the side from her orange rival. “Hey!”
Berry smiled and left the two to their argument. She sat on her haunches, leaning comfortably on the counter. She heard a pony come up next to her, and glanced over to see Starshine grinning at her.
“You seem to have come to the knowledge of some great truth; perhaps you wouldn't mind sharing?” asked the midnight pony.
“Sure!” Berry enthused. “I learned that when you're feeling like you're a nopony in the background, just remember that you are surrounded by the love and friendship of countless ponies, even if it doesn't always make itself apparent.”
“Very insightful, Miss Punch. You have quite the level head for a pony as young as yourself,” commented Starshine. “That is a lesson that I have unfortunately had to learn the hard way.” A wistful gleam flashed in her eyes for a brief moment. “But enough of that, I had another thing I wanted to mention. You may not know it, but before my exile I was known for my patronage of the arts, including that of the brewery. As a matter of fact, I used to make my own special Moonshine, and your Punch tasted almost exactly like it. I would love to spend some time with you going over it, if you are free.”
Berry gasped.
“You know the recipe for it?”
“Of course I do; I created it,” said Starshine with a wink.
The purple pony let out a whoop and grabbed the midnight unicorn in a giant hug. At that, Octavia approached from her vantage point and tapped Berry lightly on the shoulder.
“Does this mean you're back to normal? No more depressed Berry Punch?”
“Yes, Octy, I'm done being depressed. How can I not be, when I have you all? Speaking of which,” said the purple pony, dropping her hug with Starshine and turning to address the other ponies in the bar. “The Punch Bowl will be staying open until normal time, everypony! And you know what, drinks are on the house!”
Everypony in the bar drank their fill and laughed and partied until the night began to give way to dawn. Pinkie Pie whipped out her party cannon and produced something akin to a massive flash rave party, somehow acquiring and setting up strobe lights throughout the room. Octavia played a quick and lively melody on her cello, accompanied by Lyra and Noteworthy. Everypony contributed something, no matter how small, and everything that could possibly go wrong did; this was likely due to the high amounts of alcohol imbibed by all involved. Fortunately, though, somepony always had a solution, and the multitude of problems that arose faded into the past just as quickly as they arose.
After several ponies began to collapse from exhaustion and intoxication, Berry began to shoo the revelers away, but each insisted on staying to help clean up. Finally, after the very last pony, Octavia, had left the bar, Berry was left standing alone in the room, a tired smile on her face and a crooked party hat resting on her head.
She surveyed the bar; it looked cleaner than it had in months. Sighing contentedly, the purple pony ambled up to her bedroom on the second floor. Berry collapsed onto her bed, on the verge of passing out from giddy exhaustion.
“My name is Berry Punch,” she mumbled to herself as she began to drift off, “and I am the bartender.”
High above in the night sky, a bright star twinkled.
