//------------------------------// // A Drink // Story: Drinks to Dragons // by Odd_Sarge //------------------------------// “Cheers!” There was a heap of approval to the gesture as the seven friends raised their glasses simultaneously. Tempered Steel waved Aurelia over with a hand, grinning broadly as the beverage in his left hand frothed over the rim. “Come on Aurelia, even Flotsam’s got a drink!” “It’s watered down!” Flotsam cried from her stool beside the minotaur. She peeked around the lumbering mass of muscle. “Don’t fall for it!” The teenage dragon rolled her eyes and walked over. “Ah’ reckon Aurelia’s old enough for just a lil' bit of hard cider,” Powder Keg stated with a grin, pouring a small glass for the drake as she settled down into the seat besides Steel. As the small filly pouted over the drake’s success in earning an alcoholic beverage, Xencarn chuckled, patting Flotsam on the shoulder consolingly. “Maybe next year,” he teased. Firelight’s ears perked up at the zebra's comment. “Next year?” Xencarn shrugged. “I dunno, this seems like a kinda cool thing to do every year.” Tibbs frowned at that. “Doubt I could make it, mate; I’ve got some business to attend to. I’ve been leaving it to the runts, and they aren’t the best at maximizing sales.” “Aw, come Tibbs! Please?” “No.” “Please? “I said no.” “Please?” Tibbs sighed, rubbing the spot just below his horn in slow circles. “Will it get ya off of me if I agree?” “Heck yeah!” “Then I guess...” “Yay!” Xencarn began clapping his hooves together happily, much to the amusement of Tempered Steel and Flotsam. “Javolt!” Powder Keg was swift in his response to the cybernetic donkey’s tampering with the liquor cabinet near the seated friends. “Don’t ya even think about it!” “What?” The donkey shrugged the hoof off his metal claw and eyed the angered unicorn passively. “I just noticed that the door could use some improvements.” His hoof was smacked away by Powder Keg during its second foray towards the cabinet. “Ah’ don’t know if you remember, but the last time ya touched the liquor cabinet, ya made a mess.” “But I don’t recall making any sort of mess!” “I do.” Tibbs leaned forward in his stool. “So just be a good little donkey and uh, get away from the cabinet, will ya?” He drank from his glass. “I’d hate for a good drink to go to waste.” Much to nobody’s surprise, the donkey continued to reach for the cabinet. “Alright Javolt, I think you’ve had a little too much to drink,” Firelight spoke up from behind the scientist, pulling him right off the stool by the scruff of his neck. “But I haven’t even finished my glass!” “And I don’t think you should,” Firelight grinned as he dragged Javolt towards the shop’s exit. “Honestly, Flotsam would be more trustworthy with alcohol than you, Javolt,” Tempered Steel chuckled. “Oh, oh! I’ll take Javolt’s drink then!” The filly leaped over Xencarn, reaching for the glass, only for the zebra to yank the glass away, downing it in one gulp. “Oh that’s good.” He rolled the taste around his mouth, much to the filly’s dismay. “Xencarn!” Flotsam scowled at Xencarn as her traitorous friends shared a laugh at her expense. “Like I said,” Xencarn repeated, taking a sip of his bourbon while the filly returned to her seat. “Maybe next year.” “Speaking of next year...” Powder Keg gave an embarrassed grin from behind the counter as he watched a disheveled Firelight and grinning Javolt return. The minotaur, the filly, the necromancer, the drug dealer, the scientist, and the doctor all looked up at their previous explosives expert. Powder Keg gave a light pull on the tie hanging around his neck, nervously stepping in place. “Blinkie and I are going to be uh, heading on a new, adventure, of our own.” “Aw!” Flotsam piped up, squishing her cheeks in delight. “Are you finally going on that stamp collecting expedition?” Powder Keg looked a little sheepish as he spoke. “Er, not quite... “ He thought for a moment. “Though I think that might be something to look forward to a while from now.” Powder Keg shook his head. “No uh, me and Blinkie, we uh…” A blush suddenly began to grow on the orange stallion’s cheeks. “Powder Keg…” Xencarn began, smiling devilishly while he leant forward. “We’re expecting a colt!” The poor stallion blurted out. “Oh my gosh, Powder!” Flotsam flew over the counter, wrapping her hooves tightly around the expectant father’s neck. “That is so awesome!” Xencarn let his smile fall to something a little more cool. “Congratulations, buddy.” “That’s great!” Firelight grinned. Tempered Steel had been in the middle of drinking, and was now in the middle of coughing as he swallowed what was left of the drink. He offered a thumbs-up as he recovered. Aurelia nodded slowly with an ever growing grin. Tibbs shrugged, a smile tugging at his lips. “Good luck,” he chuckled. “And I will be there to make sure that he is healthy!” Javolt finished. “No!” came the collective shout. Javolt blinked. “Why not?” Confusion furrowed into his brows as his metal claw swept across the counter. “And where did my drink go?” “Ignoring Javolt, that’s really great to hear, Powder Keg.” Tempered Steel offered a fist to Powder Keg, who bumped it without hesitation. There was broad grin on the unicorn’s face as he looked over the group of friends. His group of friends, he realized. “Thanks ya’ll. Ah... ah really do appreciate it.” He chuckled as Flotsam finally let go of his neck, ruffling her mane as she returned to her seat. He looked back to the now whole group. “If it weren’t for us meeting up by chance in that inn, ah’d still be out there killing raiders, wanderin’ without purpose. Ya’ll got me ta finally look elsewhere from mah grenades, and even helped me find Blinkie.” Powder Keg momentarily turned to face the back of the shop, staring wistfully in the direction of his mare. “Sometimes, I don’t think ah rightfully deserve that mare.” He looked back at the friends, tears threatening to escape his eyes. “Ah don’t think I could thank ya’ll properly…” Powder Keg ran a hoof over his eyes, grinning happily. “To hay with it,” he spread his hooves wide. “C’mere, ya’ll.” Flotsam was the first into the pony pile, and the others followed.