Tony couldn't stop snickering as the video ended. Rainbow, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie were all cracking up while Fluttershy and Rarity were bright red with embarrasment. Twilight was a bit embarrased as well, but her friends had done much more than her.
"At least we didn't go too overboard," Twilight said, a bit relieved.
Pinkie started laughing even harder, then stopped abruptly when she saw everypony staring at her. Except Tony, of course.
"What?" she giggled.
Rarity turned to Tony who was still grinning. "That was all we did, wasn't it Tony?" she questioned.
"Well," he began. "Not exactly."
"Yeah, silly!" Pinkie laughed as she wrapped a hoof around Rarity. "I always take a nap before partying when I drink! It keeps me up waaaaaaay longer!"
Tony groaned and facepalmed lightly. "You have no ide-wait. C'mere, I'll show you what happened."
They gathered around Tony again as he scrolled past the videos he recorded while searching for Celestia. He promised her not to show anypony else, and he wasn't going to break a promise as easy as this. He remembered recording right when he and Luna left Celestia's chambers, which had a blurry red carpet for the viewing image.
"I'n gonna go check on the girls; make sure they're alright," Tony said to his mare.
"Alright. I saw many of the guests leaving, so I'll be waiting in my room," Luna said with a teasing grin.
Tony chuckled, gave her a quick kiss to show his agreement, and went to the room he put the mares in. As he got closer to the guest rooms, his ears picked up on some… music? It had to be; there were small vibrations shaking him gently in rhythm. But Luna said that most of the ponies that showed up had left. There was only one way a party could be arranged this quickly, and Tony started sprinting down the hall. He practically charged through the door, and what he saw confirmed his fears.
The drunken pink partier was gone, along with Fluttershy, Rainbow, Twilight, and Applejack.
Rarity was still snoring with her flank in the air and her dress getting some wrinkles from sleeping in it.
Well… shit
Slamming the door shut and running back into the halls, Tony went for the nearest exit which lead him to the courtyard. He ran across to the ballroom, the vibrations and music getting louder and more violent as he approached. As soon as he stepped inside, hundreds of ponies were dancing with strobe lights overhead. He looked over to the stairs, which had been transformed into a stage for the turntables and speakers.
The banner overhead read DJ-PON3, and sure enough, Vinyl was busy scratching records behind the stand. One of the lens' on her shades was cracked, and with the mug of cider in her magic he knew she wasn't in the right mind.
"Tony!" He looked over to Twilight who had a gleeful smile and a stumble in her step.
"Where is everypony?" he shouted over the music
"What?!"
"I said," he yelled as he cupped his hands around his mouth. "Where are the girls?"
"Oh! I don't know," she shouted with a smile. "Good news! There's more punch!"
Twilight threw her head back and started to gulp down the un-spiked drink. Tony passed through the crowd as he started his search once again for the other mares.
"Nice 'f you to wake up shilly!" Pinkie shouted as she appeared on his shoulders.
"I thought you were all asleep!" He went to grab the mare but she got off and laid down between his legs.
"Yur funny!" she giggled drunkenly. "I take napsh always before a booze party! Sho I shtay up more longer!"
Tony looked around and noticed that the ponies dancing - he didn't know what else to call it - were all here a half hour ago. "How did you get everypony here?"
Using her ability to defy logic, Pinkie sat on one of his shoulders and ruffled his hair. "Vinyl owed me after her birthday lasht year! Sho I went to Ponyville, brought her, got the ponies to come and then got some more punch!"
"Well where is everypony?" Pinkie shrugged and dived back into the crowd.
I should've known she wouldn't be this easy to put to sleep
Tony looked around to try and find the others, but with the thick mass of ponies it would definitely be a challenge. Twilight would probably be around the punch since she was craving it, and with Rarity still asleep, all he needed to do was find the others.
The first place he decided to check was near the barrels of beer and hard cider. To his surprise, neither Rainbow nor Applejack were downing their drinks. Instead, Fluttershy was grinning moronically at a familiar mare struggling with her drink.
"C'mon Ber-Berry!" Rainbow burped. "You do thish all time."
Berry Punch finished her mug and slammed it on the table. "But Fluttshy, she can drink!" she giggled. "'Member? Shhe was so-*hic*-so good in school!"
Rainbow dropped another mug in front of both mares, then drank some herself as the two downed their drinks. Fluttershy surprisingly finished first, then Berry following soon after. Tony couldn't believe what he was seeing as Fluttershy took mug after mug of the heavy stuff and didn't look too different from before. But the drinks were having a dramatic effect on Berry, who was looking more and more loopy after every cup. Rainbow kept groaning in frustration as Fluttershy kept smiling and finishing before Ponyville's champion drinker.
"Funny seeing you here." Tony turned his head to the side and raised a brow when he saw Mirror Crescent.
The blue stallion still had that creepy grin, and he appeared to be sober. "What are you doing here?" Tony asked him.
Mirror chuckled and pulled out an envelope with a smudged ink stamp. "Pinkie invited well near everypony from here to Ponyville," he said. "And I was just down the road selling some gems when she dragged me and a few other merchants in here."
It sounded like something Pinkie would do, that was for sure. "Do you know Applejack?"
"The mare that works at the Apple Family Farm, yes?" Tony nodded.
"Any idea where she might be?" he asked. Mirror shrugged and looked off to the side.
"Would that be her?" he said while pointing behind Tony. The man followed his directions and looked behind himself.
There were a few ponies tumbling around, but one thing was certain. Applejack was in the middle of them. Tony bolted, pushing the ponies aside as he went. As he got closer he heard more and more cheers for the farm pony. When he was in front of the crowd, he could fully see what was going on. Applejack wasn't actually throwing hooves, nor was the mare across from her. When she pinned the other mare down, another mare pushed out from the crowd and got down.
"1, 2, 3!" she counted.
"Snap!" the mare under Applejack shouted.
"Yeah that'sh we do it on th' farm, Sally!" Applejack smirked as she stumbled onto her hooves. "Who'sh holdin' mah cider?" She yanked it away from a stallion and downed it. "Who'sh next?!"
Tony stepped forward and kneeled down to Applejack. "I think it's time to go back to bed AJ," Tony said.
"Oh hay no." Applejack threw her mug away and tackled Tony, getting his arm behind his back. "Ah thank it's yer bedtime!"
Tony chuckled a bit, both from her drunken interpretation and the feeling of pain in his arm. Usually, it would be some buffed up Signa or a lucky soldier, but this time it was his friend. He used his rites to levitate the iPod away from them to record.
He yanked his arm out of her hold and flipped over. Before she could register what happened he took a hind leg, and a front leg and pulled them back while pinning her down with his weight. The referee came out and started the count.
"1, 2-!"
Tony's jaw dropped when Applejack used her free limbs to grab him and roll over. Her strained legs slipped out of his hold and wrapped around his arm and neck.
"1!"
Grinning, Tony rolled over and pulled his right arm out to grab her by the hind leg and pull her out from under him. Wrapping his arm tightly around her hind legs, and using his other arm to squeeze her hooves and body, Tony pinned her once again.
"1!" Applejack struggled strongly to get out of his hold. "2!" Tony held tightly as she kept thrashing around. "3!"
The ponies watching cheered loudly as he stood up and let go of her. When he looked down at her he noticed a small puddle of drool beginning to form. He shook his head and laughed as he slung her over his shoulder.
Really hope she stays asleep this time
He grabbed the iPod and made his way back to the drinking contest. Fluttershy was giggling with her head craned back while Berry laid her head on the table. Rainbow was steaming as she emptied the third barrel and set the drinks down. The two mares looked sleepily at the mugs, and Berry shrugged as she got a hold of it. Fluttershy stretched her wing out and brought the mug up to her mouth. Both started drinking slowly, much of the booze streaming out from the sides.
"Ca-hah Brry! (Come on Berry!)" Rainbow slurred.
Fluttershy set the mug down, covering her hoof to stop the upchuck, and Berry set hers down. "Huh hesh (Buck this)," she giggled. Her head slammed onto the table and she started snoring away.
Fluttershy did a small 'yay' and fell out of her seat. Rainbow started to bang her head onto the table and whine incoherently. "Okay guys, let's go," Tony called to them.
"Ah juh loh hen hits! (I just lost ten bits!)" Rainbow groaned. "Nee more cirer (Need more cider)"
Tony rolled his eyes and gathered Fluttershy, while Rainbow stumbled after him. Just as he had thought, Twilight was busy slurping away the punch near the exit. When he tried to tug her along, she started teleporting the juice and herself away.
"Twilight! Stop… doing that!" Tony said as straight-faced as he could. "We need to go!"
"But I'm not done!" she protested. "I need more!"
Tony looked over to the table she was at and noticed only one bowl was left. Twilight was half-way done with hers, and at the rate she was drinking she'd be done soon. He used his rite to levitate the bowl towards the door, and when she noticed she started following.
Her horn started glowing, and Tony was prepared to tangle with her for the bowl. But the punch never started glowing. Twilight noticed this, which only made her more annoyed.
Strange. Can my rites really cancel out her spells? She's probably too drunk to focus it.
With that thought aside, Tony led her and Rainbow away and back to the castle. He put the two passed out mares in bed and left the other two to do what they wanted. After ordering two Lunar guards to make sure they don't leave, he went to get the last mare.
Pinkie Pie.
How the hell am I going to get her to stop partying?
He had to come up with an idea soon, or the party might as well go into the day. His iPod read 2:33 in the morning, making him yawn as a reminder. Thinking of a possible solution, only one would be easy and quick.
Just as he reached the hall, Tony made a B-line to the castle. He looked for the nearest Lunar guard (since they respected him a bit more than the Solar Guards).
"Excuse me," he said. "Where would the wine cellar be?"
Thankfully, the guard didn't question his intent. "Just a ways down, sir. Would you like me to show you?" he saluted.
Tony nodded, then followed behind the bat-pony. "And if you wouldn't mind, call me Tony," he smiled.
The guard nodded, and a few more turns later they were in front of a steel door. He opened it with a twist of a key, then left to return to his post. Tony stepped inside and his nostrils flared with the strong scents of aged wine. He could smell hundreds, if not thousands of different brands. Any would do the trick, but he didn't want to get any top notch wines.
Moonlit Grapes. Deep Rose. White Devil. Creamy what? Hmm, H&G Family Recipe? Holy shit, 1887?!
The goddesses' age left his mind again. Tony grabbed as many bottles as he could carry in his arms and rites, then carried them out of the cellar. He went directly into the kitchen and brought a tall pot over. Once the tops were popped off, he poured each bottle into it. The thirteen different colors began to mix and bubble as they were mixed in. The end result was a bloody purple concoction.
I'm sure Lulu and Celestia can forget about a few drinks. They've got another seven thousand in there.
Tony churned the brew while covering his nose to make sure the tastes would combine. When that was done, he put a lid on it and carried it out of the kitchen. He walked back to the ballroom with the pot above his head, and Pinkie appeared on his shoulders.
"Whadtha got Tones?" she slurred. Tony ignored the question and set the pot down on the buffet table.
He cupped his hands around his mouth and took a deep breath. "WE GOT SOME MORE BOOZE HERE! ONE JUG ONLY! GET IT BEFORE THE PONY NEXT TO YOU CAN!"
Everypony looked over to him, then to the pony next to them, then pushed past each other to get to him. Tony levitated the red cups over to him and start dipping them in. Pinkie got curious and stuck her head into the pot, and Tony had to pull her out before she drank too much. She swallowed the two bulges of wine and smiled lazily.
"Thith sthtuffs good!" Pinkie slurred. She hiccuped loudly and fell on her side.
Pot doesn't look too empty. A couple more ponies and I'd bet there'll be half left. Maybe… hmmm. I really freaking hope Lulu doesn't have a strong nose.
Each and every pony threw back their cups, sloppily drinking the wine mixture. Pinkie was scooping some out with her hoof before Tony slammed two tin mugs on the table.
"Me and you, drinking contest, thirty bits says I win!" Tony announced.
The record scratched at the front, and everypony fell silent as they stared at Tony. Pinkie wiped her mouth before throwing herself into a nearby chair. "Yer on!" she giggled.
Good. She probably can't take much more.
"We need a ref!" Tony looked around for a volunteer, who happened to be Mirror Crescent.
"Thought you said not to drink too much?" the blue stallion snickered.
Tony rolled his eyes and turned to stare down Pinkie, who was stroking her mane. Mirror's horn glowed blue, as did the two mugs. They dipped into the pot, filling each to the brim with wine. "Go!"
Tony drained the cup in sync with the pink demon. Mirror dunked them in again, set them down, and watched as the two slurped them away. Tony's throat felt on fire after the second, and the third seemed to calm that fire into a fuzzy tingling. He thanked Minira for his advanced resistance to these types of things, then downed his fourth cup.
Pinkie Pie kept giggling at the funny faces Tony was making, but she still kept focused on the mugs coming her way. The booze tasted a bit strong, but booze was booze no matter how much booze goes into the booze! She happily sipped the fifth cup and shivered as the wine eased down her throat.
"Ten bits on the big guy!"
"Twenty on Pinks!"
"I'll put a hundred on her!"
"Hav-err heh hraa"
Tony stifled his chuckles with the wine, which was starting to feel nice going down his throat. The only other time he was even close to tipsy was at his graduation party. He could feel the same dizzy but relaxed feeling that came with it. Still, he could force himself to at least act sober until (or if) he drank his pink opponent under the table. But from the looks of things, Pinkie wasn't any worse than before.
They dropped their mugs onto the table, Tony taking a minute to look around. His gaze randomly scanned the room, taking interest in the other drunken ponies antics. DJ-P0N3 was stil passed out, Lyra and Octavia were wildly mashing lips while they were tangled in the ocean-mare's harp. He quickly averted his eyes, but where they landed gave him another idea. He grabbed both of their mugs and dumped the wine into the pot.
"Hechk! Ah wah hinking hat!" Tony levitated the empty bowls to the table and poured the rest of the wine into them.
Pinkie smiled and placed her hooves on either end. Tony did the same with his, and they both started chugging. The party mare tipped it further and further, spilling some over her dress and mane. To keep up with her, Tony ignored his lungs' plea for air and kept swallowing. He glanced over to Pinkie Pie, who looked like she was reaching her limit. Everypony gasped as Pinkie leaned the bowl onto her head and fell back in her chair. Tony dropped his and started coughing out some of the wine. He wiped some that was running from his nose and threw his arms up.
He went over to Pinkie's side, who was hiccuping in her sleep. "Thank fu-*hic*-freaking Minira," he mumbled. Slinging Pinkie over his shoulder, and setting the chair right, Tony carried the mare out of the ballroom for the second time.
Party shouldn't last long without her. And it's… damn, 3:02?
Sighing, Tony carried Pinkie back into the castle, into the guest rooms, and put her in bed. She started pushing up against the headboard until her legs were on the wall. Tony shook his head and left the room, ordering the guards not to let them out. The iPod floated into his palm, then he placed it in his pocket. He stumbled down the halls until he found the staircase going up to Luna's tower.
Climbing the stone steps was a nightmare. The wine was starting to get to him, and the result was a spinning stairwell. He groaned as he leaned against the wall until the swirling calmed. The bile in his throat wasn't much of a relief.
Hope I don't throw up in my sleep.
The usually onyx gates seemed to glow as he reached the peak of the tower. He spread the doors open and dragged himself inside. Without another thought, he kicked off his shoes, took off his mixed-blue suit, and threw himself onto the bed. He moaned softly as he sank into the cool mattress.
"I'm guessing things are fine now?" he heard Luna giggle. She walked over from balcony and laid beside Tony.
"Yep," he groaned. Luna snuggled up to his side, and he wrapped an arm around her.
They laid like that for a while, Tony falling in and out of sleep.
"Is that… wine?"
Tony chuckled and kissed her softly. "Like I said, everything's fine now."
Pinkie's jaw, along with the other mares, was wide open. "Dang. Ya drank Pinkie under th' table?" Applejack chuckled.
"Loki'irian resistance," Tony smiled. "And… Pinkie had a pretty good head start."
"Well, somepony's owes Flutters some bits," Applejack winked at Rainbow. "Didn't know ya had it in ya!"
Fluttershy's blush was hidden behind her mane, along with the rest of her face. "Y-You don't have to do that, Rainbow," she whispered.
Twilight closed Rainbow's mouth and cleared her throat. "Well! Would you look at that, we're almost to Ponyville!" Twilight smiled sheepishly. "We should get our things and be ready to go!"
Fluttershy, Rarity, and Applejack followed their purple friend's lesd and left the car. Pinkie gathered her sense and started laughing. Rainbow then started snickering, and Tony only watched with some curiosity.
"What's so funny?" he asked. Rainbow smirked at him, then got directly in his face.
"Me an' Pinkie know a thing or two about pranks," she began. "And this is the best so far. Y'know what this means?"
Tony gulped some, not afraid or anything. Mostly disturbed by the calm tone Rainbow never, ever had. "What?"
A pie smacked him in the face, and Rainbow pushed him onto a whoopie cushion. "PRANK WAAAAAR!!" Pinkie shouted. The two retreated to the next car, leaving Tony to taste the pie.
"Blech, I hate strawberry."
A few miles North of Ponyville…
Nyla flapped her strong wings as the winds died down. Her descendant sat on her back, unsure of what to do or say. He looked over to Ponyville, which was still pretty far from where they were. The train she had said Twilight and the others were on, entered the town station.
It's been so long since I've seen another of my family
Spike jumped a bit at her sudden speech. He still didn't understand why she didn't just talk normally. "Uh, well, you said I was your great grandson or something, right?"
Yes. It's a miracle I laid before I was turned to stone.
"But, if you were a statue, how'd you get out?" Spike asked. Nyla slowed herself even more, as she came to the point she had wanted to reach.
You see, every Nera'ak has their own partner. An egg won't hatch unless it is affected by energy, or magic on this world.
"So, Twilight wasn't supposed to hatch me?" Nyla sighed and went higher into the clouds.
Yes, and no. Yes, because you were supposed to wait until a Signa were to find you. We are destined to meet our partners within our lifetimes, but with the attack on Loki'ir, it wouldn't have been possible.
"Oh. So why no then?"
No, because of two things. The first, is that you would have waited millions of years just to hatch. You wouldn't be here speaking to me. The second, is because the unicorn-
"Twilight," Spike corrected.
-Twilight, understood the concept of energy, but did not realize it. Unicorn spells and magic are all altered forms of our original energy. She hatched you, and she gave you a name after the Loki'irians were thought gone. In a way, she is your partner.
Spike was still a little fuzzy on what she was talking about, mostly because Twilight had to fill him in on the story a month ago.
Child. I know that you know nothing of our kind, and that there are new behaviors to them. But listen to me. When the surviving Loki'irians come, when they join for the battle to protect this world, you'll know war. You'll know what it is to feel power, to be able to control it as they do. You must fight to protect your friends. And when you find your partner, you'll know power, and your true name.
Nyla growled lowly, then her scales went from red to silver. Her snout grew out an outer array of teeth like pincers, and another set of wings grew out behind the first pair.
"I thought only Tony could do that!" Spike exclaimed, both surprised and awe struck.
He was, at first. But when we matured, our minds joined fully.
The extra wings receded into her body, and her scales returned to their red scales. The teeth also went back under her scales.
It is called Ina. There are three stages to it. The first, is during adolescency. A Nera'ak and their partner may speak through their minds, or any other they see as trustworthy. The second stage, is what I showed you. The Signa's rites channel into their Nera'ak, allowing them to use it as well. And the third, is a last resort. The Signa and Nera'ak use their connection to combine their power into one being. I have never seen it, but it is supposed to require massive amounts of energy only to keep them connected.
"Whoa. So you and Tony can get stronger than you already are?" Spike asked.
Yes. And when you find your partner, you will get stronger as well.
Spike nodded, but scratched his spines nervously. "But, Twilight said I'm not going to fight," he told his grandmother. "She says it's too dangerous."
Nyla huffed a plume of smoke and descended through the sky. Ponyville was just ahead, and she could sense her partner waiting.
When the time comes, you'll know what true courage is. Whether you fight or not is Minira's decision. But you're a Nera'ak. You live to join your comrades and help us defeat the horde. But I cannot force you to. We're here, by the way.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
I'm sure a fully grown Nera'ak will not be taken kindly to in this town. Go and be with Twilight. When the time comes, you'll know whether to listen or to neglect Twilight's decision. So until then, goodbye.
Nyla landed just between the gap seperating the Everfree and Ponyville. Spike got off and waved at Nyla as he went into the town.
Salemos, my grandson
Nyla did an about face, coming eye to eye with Tony. They stared for several minutes before Tony looked away.
I heard everything
Nyla chuckled and made her way into the twisted forest.