Just because Alphabittle donated the Crystal Tea Room to Sunset Shimmer's teaching efforts, it didn't mean he was out of the bartending and foodservice business. Since the decision was made to convert one of the largest structures in Bridlewood into a classroom, the Bridlewood elder rented out a much smaller bistro on the west side of town, and it was here that Sunset decided to get some dinner on this brisk Friday evening.
"Evening, Sunset. Come on up, what can I get you?" Alphabittle greeted from behind the bar as the mare walked through the door. She took a quick glance around, seeing three other ponies in the small restaurant that could seat about twenty.
"Daisy Deluxe with lettuce, tomato, and mayo, please," Sunset said, placing her order as she took a seat at the bar. "And an apple ale, too. Not much of a rush tonight, eh?"
"Ah it just ended, this is the last of the dinner crowd," Alphabittle told her as he quickly wrote her order down and got to work making it. A couple minutes later, he came to the counter with a scrumptious looking daisy sandwich and a mug of foamy apple ale, setting both down in front of the unicorn. "So, how are you settling into Bridlewood, Sunset?"
"Well enough," Sunset replied before taking a bite of her sandwich. When she did, Alphabittle smirked at the look of bliss on her face. "Mmmm, amazing. That's why I've always loved little hole-in-the-wall dives like this. It's where you always get the best food."
"Glad you like it. Since I moved out of the Tea Room, I've moved to a much quicker menu," Alphabittle told her. "So, plans for the weekend?"
"Probably finalize the lessons for practical spellcasting in the fields outside the forest. I think we should start with defensive spells; those are the easiest spells to demonstrate the strengths of casting cooperatively."
"Well, I certainly hope you set aside some time for yourself. You can't be expected to work seven days a week, now can you?"
"No worries," Sunset said, taking a sip of her ale. "I'm not gonna work myself to the bone. I'm gonna take a little bit to continue familiarizing myself with Bridlewood. By the way," Sunset paused, reaching around to her saddlebags and pulled out a file folder, opening it up to look at whatever papers were inside. "Could you tell me where Acorn Avenue is?"
"Yeah, that's actually close by. Just a half-mile north. Those are just residences, though. Nothing to do up there at this time of night," the white unicorn told her.
"Oh I'm not planning on doing anything, just wanted to make sure the paperwork of a new student is all in order before I file it away and forget about it," Sunset replied.
"I know I'm not a part of the first class, but I don't open this place on Monday. Could we observe the defensive spell lesson?" Alphabittle asked.
"Of course. Anything to give yourself a leg up when the next class begins. It's still Class II material. It's one of those spells that strengthens with expertise... And the number of ponies."
"It certainly sounds like the best kind of spells to start out practical use lessons, especially after the accident," Alphabittle reasoned.
"My thoughts exactly. Have some defensive and protective spells learned and memorized before we move onto other types of spells, so if there's a chance of injury, magical defenses can help mitigate those chances."
Sunset finished the last bite of her sandwich and gulped down the last of her ale, covering her mouth with her hoof to let out a small burp.
"Mm. Alphabittle, that absolutely hit the spot. Keep the change," Sunset said, reaching into her saddlebag and sliding a 10-bit coin across the bar counter to him. "I'll be seeing you around."
With that, Sunset got up and turned to leave.
"Always a pleasure, Sunset. Come again!" Alphabittle called, taking the plate and mug and setting it on the pile of dishes to be done after he closed up.
Sunset double-checked the address on Misty's student file, confirmed it as 926 Acorn Avenue, and headed towards the north edge of Bridlewood; not that the forest was anywhere close to ending, but it is where unicorn settlement had largely ended, and where Bridlewood's town limits were currently considered to be. Sure enough, about a half mile down the path, there was a sign post in the ground on the corner, with an acorn engraved into it, with the words 'Acorn Ave' in basic ponish.
The addresses began with 902. There weren't a lot of dwellings out this far. The house numbers were either carved into the bark, or painted on rocks out front. They were easy enough to see in the ambient light the crystals protruding from the ground gave out, mostly various shades of blue, pink, and green.
Sunset came to the end of the path, where there was just a single house on the right, with the numbers '922' painted on a rock to the left of the path up to the door. The house was dark, so the occupants were likely in bed, or out in town. It didn't matter; this was clearly the last house on the road; the forest quickly thickened into wilds where there was no discernible path.
'Well,' Sunset thought to herself. 'Guess I'm not finding out anymore about her tonight. It's not exactly easy to get your address wrong... What's going on here?'
Clutching her small lantern, Misty hopped from rock to rock, keeping her hooves off of the forest floor as much as she could. The luminescent crystals of Bridlewood were long gone, and she depended on her dim lantern to show her the way. She had to be at least a mile out from the village by now, and hopefully the markers she had left to find her way through the thick forest would be incognito enough to not be noticed. It may have been a moot point, who would come out this far anyway? But she had been instructed to not leave clear tracks back to her campsite, so it was going through brush, kicking off of trees, and hopping across boulders and rocks to throw off anypony who got a whiff of her path.
Finally, she came to a clandestine campsite. A simple tent and sleeping arrangements, and nothing more. Keeping her lantern dim, she set it down next to her tent, and reached inside through the flap, coming out with a small golden compact mirror, flipping it open to see her reflection for but a moment, before it swirled with hazy smoke, and a dark purple equine figure took her reflection's place.
"Opaline? I'm in."
Oh dear I kind of figured that would happen
Well it looks like Sunset is about to head out and taking a break so she went to a bar where Alphabittle open a new bar and it looks like he's doing pretty well and sunset ask him where the address where Misty supposed to live and he told her where it is and when she was done she went over there but apparently nobody's not home or they're asleep but Sunset has a strange feeling about this girl which unfortunately her suspicious was correct because Misty is giving out information to Opaline it looks like Misty is spying on Sunset I wonder how this will go guess we'll find out next time
So I’m betting there’s going to be a bigger difference between the Flurry and Sunset stories which that would be the Flurry will have the opportunity to have the show events from both TYT and MYM happening within her story so she can be part of it while Sunset is more an alternate take like say it’s the 3rd option for Opaline trying to gain her magic back by sending Misty to get Sunset instead of Sparky?
So far things are building up which is really cool to see. Can’t wait for more Sunset.
At least he's still doing well after he donated the building.
Good to know.
This can't be good.
Not much I can say really that the other reviewers haven't already said better, but yeah, this is another well-done chapter. The dialogue between Sunset and Alphabittle was really good. I particularly liked Sunset and Alphabittle working on that defensive spell that works better with a group. And, yeah, pretty sure we all saw the last part coming a mile away, but it DOES give me the "bad feeling that is good for story telling".
Anyway, really looking forward to more of this.
interesting chapter
Ooh, can't wait to see how this works out
Oh, no. That can't be good.
Preach it girl, PREACH IT!!!!!
Isn't Alphabittle's coat more dark grey?
Next on Eeeeepic RapBatttlesOfEquestria!
Opaline!
VERSES!
Oooooooopalescence!
11392793
One of 49 shades I think..
11387897
To be fair to Misty, magic was mostly gone at the time she ended up in Opaline's "care" (the only remaining signs of magic would be the "magnetic hooves" the ponies still had as well as the ability to still get Cutie Marks, even if only on one side instead of both) and Opaline doesn't strike me as the type who would care enough to teach Misty once it returned, probably afraid that if Misty DID learn magic, she might decide that she didn't need Opaline anymore and stop working for her which would greatly reduce her threat (since Opaline needs Misty to operate in the areas the shield specifically aimed at Opaline would prevent her from going into).
The addresses began with 902. There weren't a lot of dwellings out this far. The house numbers were either carved into the bark or painted on rocks out front. They were easy enough to see in the ambient light the crystals protruding from the ground gave out, mostly various shades of blue, pink, and green.
Sunset double-checked the address on Misty's student file, confirmed it as 926 Acorn Avenue, and headed towards the north edge of Bridlewood; not that the forest was anywhere close to ending, but it is where unicorn settlement had largely ended, and where Bridlewood's town limits were currently considered to be. Sure enough, about a half mile down the path, there was a signpost in the ground on the corner, with an acorn engraved into it, with the words 'Acorn Ave' in basic ponish.
"Oh, I'm not planning on doing anything, just wanted to make sure the paperwork of a new student is all in order before I file it away and forget about it," Sunset replied.
"Ah, it just ended, this is the last of the dinner crowd," Alphabittle told her as he quickly wrote her order down and got to work making it. A couple of minutes later, he came to the counter with a scrumptious-looking daisy sandwich and a mug of foamy apple ale, setting both down in front of the unicorn. "So, how are you settling into Bridlewood, Sunset?"
Ooh, espionage foul, don't midpoint yourself, makes tracking easier...!
Oh, Misty. You worked so hard to make yourself incognito, your absence is painfully visible to the likes of Sunset.