An ocean of sound inundated my body, and I drowned in it zealously. Letting the fanfare fill and surround me was euphoria unlike any other. As we finished the third movement of Gustav Colt’s 1st suite, I found myself on my hind legs as my entire body stretch towards the sky in exultation as the crescendo of my ensemble crested and came to bear on my audience. My coat was glossed with sweat from the lights, my mane alight with wild passion. We reached the end of the song, and following a fermata, I dropped my hooves. Applause greeted the conclusion; I stepped towards the wings and extended a hoof towards the players, directing the audience’s adoration to where it truly belonged. I saluted my troops, for they had done it again. They had again rained glory and majesty upon the night.
Backstage, I had little to do. I drank deeply from a Green Bottle, and put away my music. I looked at myself in the mirror, locking eyes with myself. Pride and ecstasy were plastered across my face, yet I found my attention was quickly drawn to the disorder my vehement conducting had imposed on the delicate flow of my mane, and the perspiration which soaked my amethyst coat. I chuckled at my vanity as I brought a comb to my head. As I returned my mane to its delicate cascade, I thought of a certain mare, a dear companion. I wasn’t grooming purely for myself after all. As I finished setting my alternating white and black locks, I mulled over the word “companion,” considering what it meant to me. Upon opening the door, I encountered the embodiment of that meaning in the form of another violet pony.
“You were awesome, sweetie.” Berry Punch had a habit of turning her words into purrs when she spoke to me. I answered her by nuzzling her neck with my jaw, an act which illicitly a giggle like bells. That most musical and sweet of giggles was what had drawn me to her in the first place.
Berry had come to a concert with a friend, and I heard her giggle a few feet away from where I was conversing. With that bubbly mirth, I knew that she would be worth romancing. I sacrificed my dialogue immediately, for a chance to speak to the beautiful pony. It turned out she’d gone for the first time that night, and complemented me for my conducting. Normally, I defer such compliments to the ensemble, but she offered to buy me drinks before I could say another word. She promptly proceeded to drink me under the table, and we’d been seeing each other regularly for weeks now. Fraternizing with a habitual drunk was usually something I tended to avoid with compulsory obedience, but her carefree charms had sideswiped my reservations. She drank not because she had nothing to celebrate, but because she wanted to celebrate everything. When I was on stage, my heart soared; when I was with Berry, it shot straight to Luna’s moon.
Tonight she took me to our favorite pub. I was particularly pleased with the performance we’d just put on, and I opted to avoid alcohol so as not to numb the glee which surged through my cells.
“Hey, baby, I wanna *hic* treat ‘ya tomorrow night. *hic*” She was drinking a strawberry highball, and was on her seventh by this point. Silliness, contentment, and adoration melded into the tableau her face presented. Her disheveled mane had always irked me slightly, but the wayward strands windowed the light which danced in her eyes, and I could never stay upset at such a tranquil vision. “You’re in front of that *hic* band all the time. I wanna take you *hic* to listen, for a change.”
“That sounds wonderful, love.” She giggled again and grinned from ear to ear before she passed out and fell off her stool. I gave a resigned chuckle, before situating her on my back and carrying her home.
It was far too late by the time I had her home. This was not the first time I’d carried her home, and I’d memorized the various paths to her house by this point. Her chest rose and fell against my back as I walked, and snores were obnoxious yet endearing. I was drawn by her giggle, but captivated by her unabashed personality. Her extroversion always made me feel warm when I was around her, and I cherished her for it. I smiled to myself as I pushed the front door open. Her house had a single story, and her bedroom was at the left end. I laid her gently on her bed, and attempted to leave before she seized me and pulled me next to her. She nestled into my chest, and drooled a little. I put a foreleg around her shoulders and we drifted off to sleep together.
Sunlight grazed my eyelids as the morning lifted me from my slumber. I was still tightly wrapped in Berry Punch, snored softly next to me. Even her snores were endearing, so much so that I liked to think she was actually purring. I gingerly replaced my body with a fallen pillow, and made my way to the kitchen. She’d drank quite a bit, so I decide to make her a light breakfast. I prepared a waffle, some fruit, and a glass of cranberry juice on a tray, and was about to carry it upstairs before there was a loud thud. I cringed, hoping Berry would still be asleep, and went to open the front door.
“Hiya, Triple Forte!” I smiled at the grey pegasus sprawled on the porch. Her mane was blonde and radiant, and her golden eyes may have been…unsynchronized, but the enthusiasm and vigor they conveyed were the qualities that made everypony adore the mailmare.
“Good morning, Derpy. I hope you didn’t hurt yourself.”
“Naw, I’m fine. I run into stuff all the time. Is Berry Punch here?”
“She’s still asleep, I hope. I was just making breakfast for her.”
“She’s so lucky to have you, Fort!” I winced at the nickname. I did not care for being referred to as a military structure.
“Well, since you’re here, I’ll give you the mail for both of you. See you around!”
“Of course. Enjoy your day, Derpy.” She smiled, and flew off into streetlight before continuing her rounds. I always admired her outlook. She made all sorts of mistakes each day, but none of them could take the smile from her face. I set Berry’s mail side, and sorted through my own. It was the usual post: invest in real-estate…vote Mayor Mare this election…enlarge your stallionhood in 12 easy steps…etc.
“Baby?” Uh-oh, she was awake. I dropped the spam and grabbed the tray, and carefully made my way back to the bed. She gasped as I opened the door.
“Breakfast in bed? For me? You’re just the sweetest!” I set the tray on her lap, and kissed her cheek.
“Only the sweetest for my sweet.” She giggled again, and demolished the food. I lay next to her on the bed as she ate, and stared at her mouth, watching the muscles flex and gyrate as she chewed and swallowed. I could have stayed for hours, but I had work to do.
“Hey, Forte, don’t you have a job today?” I was grateful that she paid such attention to my work. I had rehearsal to attend, as well as a student to tutor. While a light load for one day, the student had to meet me early.
“I do indeed have work to do, but I’ll be back in the afternoon.”
“Don’t worry about it, sweetheart. I was going to meet up with some of the girls today.”
“Then have a lovely time.”
“Without you? I’ll have to try my hardest.” I aimed for her check a second time, but she latched onto my neck and intercepted with her mouth. I enjoyed the contact until she released me, and then I trotted reluctantly away. Teaching is normally an immense joy for me, but I was not particularly looking forward to this.
