//------------------------------// // Song in a Bottle // Story: Crying in a Bottle // by Starlight_Flight //------------------------------// Chapter Three: Song in a Bottle Along the way to the tavern, the urge rose in Trixie to just spend all she'd earned on intoxicants, but more practical thoughts suggested she'd better earn another day's pay before she even thought about it. That way if she pushed her credit too far and had to skip town, she'd have something in her pocket to last a little while. When the young unicorn arrived, there was a voice inside croaking out an old spiritual, from a disastrous invasion long ago that had taken some time to push out of Equestria, when many ponies had been taken from their homes and made to work in terrible conditions. Princess Celestia herself had stepped in to save her people, ending the war. "Nopony knows the trouble I've seen Nopony knows the sorrow Nopony knows the trouble I've seen Glory hail Celestia!" Trixie giggled at the sad, hoarse, terrible singing. Then she felt a sting inside, as if her mother had frowned. The shame stopped her, but there was also that hint of warmth she'd been missing. "I hope that's you, Mother," she whispered, then stepped inside. As she looked around, Trixie noticed that the singer was an older pegasus up on the low stage at the end of the main room. Oh, he's performing. She considered approaching him with suggestions on his presentation, but there was no point. He was just awful, and probably wouldn't get any better anyway. Jars stepped up to Trixie as she approached the bar. "Sorry, Miss. I can't let you have anything until your bill's been paid." "That is quite all right," she said, with a hint of her old confidence. "I have some money for you anyway." "Good, then." The bits changed hooves. "That'll cover about half your bill. You still get no bar tab until the rest is paid." That bothered the filly, but a question rose up to cover it. "Why do you let that old one sing? His voice is as harsh as stones." The frowning feeling got worse, but Trixie ignored it. "That's old Rocket Shot. He used to be a Guardian, defending the realm and keeping Equestria's borders safe. He's been in a few battles, he can be allowed a little time to share." Trixie nodded, almost ordered something to drink, but held off. "Is it all right if I walk around the room a bit?" "Go ahead, just don't bother anyone." Trixie wandered among the tables, observing the three other patrons, plus Rocket. The pegasus was heading back to his table just as Trixie found herself stepping onto the stage. She nodded politely, even if she reserved a bit of sarcasm at the back of her mind. Then suddenly, it was like she was at the Whole Equestria Talent Competition, where ponies from all over the nation gathered in a different city each year to judge performances of all kinds. She'd won first place the year her mother died, and gotten to meet Princess Celestria herself! The wonder of that brief encounter, and the inspiration of her fireworks-and-magic show winning it, had built her confidence to astronomical heights. As Trixie looked out over the room, she was seeing that huge audience, rather than a small tavern with only five or six ponies to watch. "Thank you for your song," she began. "I'm sure you earned your voice quite thoroughly. I- I don't have any fireworks tonight, but--" and then something took over, and her own voice, so untrained to song, started to sing. "Oohhhhh... I've been drowning my sorrows in A bottle of tears, (oh, Don't you love me no more?) I told you I loved you and You covered your ears, (oh, Don't you love me no more?) That empty space taking Room in my heart Must have pushed Me out of yours I'm crying in a bottle and Drinking my tears, So you can't get more from me. I'm crying in a bottle and Drinking my tears, You'll never get more from me! I'll cry 'em for love Cry over money No more sorrow over you... Baby don't you dare-- (Don't you!) Baby don't you dare! (Don't you!) Baby don't you dare Lo--ve me no mo - - - - re." The last note lingered over the scene as the vision dissolved before her. Trixie suddenly saw once again that she was in a run-down tiny village tavern with a handful of hillbilly farmers and nobody big or important left in her life but her. Those sultry tones coming from her throat wavered, and she stumbled a little, then ran across the room and out the door, not seeing the stunned expressions or hearing the stomping of applause that followed her. "Miss! Miss!" Jars was at the door, calling for her, but Trixie had run back down the road to Harvest's.