Dusk

Instead of waking up peacefully like he used to when he was young, Dusk woke up instead to the shrill, loud, annoying sounds of a bugle.

Stupid bugle, he thought furiously. I swear, one of these days…

“ATTENTION!” came a booming yell.

Jumping quickly out of his cot, Dusk silently added the drill sergeant to his list, right alongside the bugle player.

The other ponies quickly followed Dusk, jumping out of bed and standing firmly at attention, facing the aisle that ran down through the middle of the barrack, separating it into two rows of cots.

As the drill sergeant walked down the row, examining each of the Unicorns, Dusk’s mind started to wander. Nowhere in particular.

“DUSK!”

Apparently, Dusk let his mind wander for longer than he thought. The sergeant was staring him down, their faces inches from each other.

Naturally, Dusk got startled and flinched, which prompted a smile from the sergeant.

“Heh. Jumpier than a cat. Bet you’d even run toward the enemy in battle if it meant getting’ away from your shadow.”

The rest of the soldiers smiled and softly laughed. Secretly, Dusk wanted to join them, but being a soldier meant a little bit of stone-coldness at times. Instead, he just stood at attention and didn’t even move a muscle.

As the sergeant moved onto the next pony, Dusk let his happiness out in a small grin. Sometimes, you even have to laugh at yourself.

When he was done, the sergeant walked to the entrance of the long, wooden barrack. “Alright, fillies. Sprints today. Fall out to the hall!”

As the door shut, the mood suddenly lightened. Everypony began walking to the trunks at the foot of their beds, and Dusk did the same.

Opening up the large, wooden chest, he looked inside. His saddlebags were there (they hadn’t been used since he joined the military), along with a few identical shirts folded neatly next to some identical pants.

Gee, I wonder what I’ll wear today, he silently joked to himself. He grabbed a white shirt and a pair of white pants and put them on.

After getting dressed, he walked outside. The clouds were thick and grey. There was moisture hanging in the air like a thick blanket. Rain was coming. Just his luck.

“Dusk, wait up!” a voice from behind him yelled. As he turned around, he saw another pony in white clothes running up to him.

“Come on, Miles, hurry up, or they’ll be out of oatmeal, and you know how much I hate the pancakes they serve here!”

Miles slowed down to a trot when he heard this. “Oh, okay then. I’ll take my time,” he joked.

Dusk smiled and shook his head while he waited for Miles to catch up. “Yeah, thanks for that. You know, last time I got the pancakes here, I found a whole lump of grass in mine. They can’t even mix their batter well!”

Miles laughed. “Oh, you doing anything tonight?”

Searching his mind, thinking about that night. “No, why?”

“We should head into town. I heard there’s a new bar opening up.”

“Sure, that might be fun.”

“Yeah. You’ll need a break from doing so average all the time.”

Dusk laughed again. “Hey, somepony’s got to do it.”

Miles poked Dusk in the shoulder and pointed at the line entering the dining hall. “Looks like you might have to have pancakes after all.”

Dusk silently cursed to himself.

***

“Here it is!” Miles shouted, pointing at the small, wooden building. A sign hung from the top, saying The Walking Frog – Grand Opening!

Dusk smiled. It had so long since he went into a bar, he could hardly wait until the taste of cheap wine filled his mouth. Occasionally, since military salary wasn’t known to be very high, he’d opt out of a few visits and buy only a glass or two of the more expensive stuff. But not tonight; the only way he wanted to leave the bar was passed out on somepony else’s back.

The scene inside the bar was lively. Ponies were packed like too much luggage in a bag much too small for its contents. They were all drinking, laughing, having a good time. A small group of ponies sat on the stage overlooking the bar, playing instruments. Many trays filled with both full and empty glasses floated above the crowds as the waiters and waitresses tried to weave through the crowds.

Miles and Dusk fought their way to the counter, a feat much easier said than done.

“What’ll it be, boys?” the bartender asked.

Miles ordered a Manehattan Iced Tea, while Dusk just wanted a glass of whatever was cheapest, which turned out to be some nasty, watered-down beer. He decided he might have to part with a few of his bits tonight if he wanted his fantasy of being hammered to come true.

Miles tapped his friend on the shoulder. “Hey, Dusk.”

“Yes?” he asked a bit too excitedly. He just wanted some excuse to stop drinking his beer.

“You should go talk to that mare playing the violin. She’s kinda cute.”

He looked up at the stage. He’s right, she is cute.

Instead, he shook his head. “Nah. I just don’t feel right picking up a filly in a bar for a one night stand.”

“Who said it had to last for one night?”

Dusk opened his mouth to counter his argument, but frankly, he was right. It could last for longer, couldn’t it?

Dusk placed his drink down, hoping it would be lost when he returned. Good riddance.

When he finally managed to get himself close to the stage, the mare was off to the side, opening a case and putting her instrument into it.

“Hey there,” Dusk said, walking up to her. “That was some pretty good violin playing there.”

“Viola,” she said, turning around.

Wow, she’s even prettier up close.

“I think it’s pronounced ‘Wah-lah’”

She giggled. “No, silly, viola. I wasn’t playing the violin, I was playing the viola.”

“Oh…whoops. Good viola playing?”

She smiled again. “Thanks.”

“Listen, can I…” Dusk started blushing lightly. “Can I buy you a drink?” She smiled again.

Man, does she look good when she smiles.

“How about I buy you one? I don’t drink much, and I get free drinks for performing here.”

A mare? Buying a stallion a drink? Normally, Dusk would say no, but she was getting them for free too, which meant top of the shelf alcohol…

“Sure.”

The mare flagged down a waitress and placed an order for two of the best glasses of wine.

“So, what’s your name?” she asked.

“I’m Dusk. And you?”

“I’m Soprano.”

A waiter walked up and levitated two glasses of deep, purple wine onto the table.

Soprano levitated her glass, and Dusk did the same. They toasted to their new friendship.

Dusk put his lips to the glass and drank. It was strong, sweet, and slightly chilled. It certainly deserved the position as the most expensive wine offered.

“Wow, what is this?” he asked.

“It’s from the Northwoods Monastery. They're incredibly exclusive, and they certainly make good wine.”

The two ponies finished their glasses in silence. Come on, Dusk egged himself on. Do it.

“Thank you so much for the wine, Soprano,” he thanked, putting his empty glass on the table right by them. “Allow me to make it up to you. Can I treat you to dinner sometime soon?”

She smiled in response and put her glass down a little harder than a sober pony would. “That’d be lovely. Would tomorrow night work for you?”

“It should,” he nodded. “Eight o’clock here, tomorrow night?”

She put her viola case on her back and smiled. “Sounds delightful.”

When she walked out of the doors of the bar, Dusk pumped his hoof in victory and ran back to where Miles was standing at the bar.

“How’d it go?”

Dusk smiled widely. “I’ve got a date tomorrow night.”