Out With the Night
Berry Punch was never too low on bits, it seemed that no matter how hard time got, ponies always needed a good drink. Some nights had less patrons than others, and the weekends at the bar were usually quite crowded, with the raucous assortment of customers creating a cacophony of noise and clatter that could be heard clearly a block away.
There were a few days, of course, that Berry had to look out for, those days that happen only once or twice a year that require preparation for the huge swell in ponies who just really need a drink. She thought of these days in code, so that no one else would know how much she hated dealing with the customers, no matter how much money she was making. In her mind, they were, in ascending dislike: the explosive one; the new one; the green one; and, today: the desperate one.
Not an entirely original codename, but for those unaware, desperation day is the day before Hearts and Hooves Day. This was the day when all the ponies desperate to be with someone on the national day of love, go out to wherever they can think of to find someone. Most of them came to the bar at one point or another, either in search of someone, or out of the sadness that come after failing to do so.
Some ponies, however, came to the bar just to come to the bar, those who were slightly unaware of the level of activity. These ponies never found a need to understand the romantic inclinations of everyone else and, therefore, did not know why this day would be so crowded. One of these ponies, was Raindrops.
Sitting in a booth on the far side of the bar, Raindrops and Trixie faced each other, attempting to have a normal conversation over the raucous commotion that was the interior of the bar that evening. Needless to say, it was not working out very well for them.
“ Shouldn't it be a quiet night? It’s Tuesday!” Raindrops shouted over the din in the bar.
“I thought it would be, what in Equestria is going on?” Trixie shouted back. They both proceeded to look outside their booth for the first time since arriving, and realized that the entire bar was covered in hearts and pink decorations.
Trixie gasped, and damned their luck. How could I be so stupid, she thought, I always plan ahead for this time of year, my cupboard should be stocked already!
Out loud she said, “oh no, is it the thirteenth?”
“What?” Raindrops leaned in closer
“I said, IS IT THE THIRTEENTH?” Trixie’s question came out slightly louder than she had anticipated and quite a few nearby ponies turned and glared at the two ponies in their booth. She smiled sheepishly and turned back to Raindrops.
“Does it matter?” Raindrops asked, thoroughly confused.
“What?”
“I said-” Raindrops stopped and leaned in very close to Trixie and spoke, “ never mind, let’s go outside.”
Trixie nodded her consent and gulped down the last of her bourbon before getting up and following Raindrops out the main door to the street. They glared at the bar for a moment, and continued walking down the street until they could barely hear the noise.
“What I was asking,” Raindrops continued, “is why it mattered if it was Tuesday or not. Did I miss something?”
Trixie looked puzzled, but suddenly realized that her friend had no idea what day it was, or why they should not have gone out for drinks tonight. She explained Desperation Day to Raindrops, getting a few raised eyebrows and at least one snicker.
“Ha, I never knew that anypony cared so much about such a stupid holiday. I've never given a second thought to Hearts and Hooves day.”
“That’s just because no one ever asked you out for it,” Trixie replied, nodding sagely.
“Yeah right,” Raindrops scoffed, “it’s a waste of time and an even bigger waste of money. Plus, you clearly don’t care either, so why is it so weird that I don’t?”
“ Never mind that,” Trixie said hurriedly, “the point is, we shouldn't be out tonight, ponies are likely to do something crazy if they get desperate enough. I’d steer clear and head home, if I were you. I think I will.”
“Alright, fine. Only because everywhere is so crowded though, I don’t think anypony would be crazy enough to try and get me for the night.”
“Don’t tempt fate,” Trixie said quickly and under her breath.
“What?” Raindrops said, turning back towards the unicorn.
“Oh nothing, just heading home,” and with that, Trixie did an about face, and went off towards the residency, weaving only slightly.
“Hmph, she doesn't know what she’s talking about. Again.” Raindrops turned down a side street and also began heading home for a night she would never forget.
It was as Raindrops approached her house that she realized something was... off. Yes, that was a good word for it, she thought. Every other house on the street, and the street itself for that matter looked completely normal. Except for her house, it was as if there was no light on it. At all. Well okay, a little bit of light, you could still see it after all, but it was extremely dark compared to everything else.
Raindrops stopped where she was and just stared for a few moments, unsure of how she should proceed. She tilted her head, she walked to the other side of the street, but nothing helped. so, given no other options, she went up to the door, and went inside. Suddenly she was compelled to go into her living room. She did so, finding Princess Luna waiting for her on her couch, looking on with a smile.
“Ah, hello Raindrops. Welcome home,” Luna said, completely calm. Raindrops stared at the alicorn currently inhabiting her couch. Entirely puzzled by this sudden turn of events, she kept staring. A moment later she opened her mouth to say something, but decided against it and shut it again. After a moment, Raindrops got out:
“Whubbuhuh?”
“I feared this reaction,” Luna continued, “I’m sorry to have startled you by just being here, but I couldn't wait any longer. I think I've known for a long time now, but only just got the courage to act on my instincts. I love you, Raindrops.”
Without anything else to say, Raindrops said, “I love you too.”
“Ah, excellent. I was hoping, rather than fearing, that particular reaction. I am very glad that what I feel is mutual.”
“I... I feel exactly the same way!” Raindrops started smiling, her surprise and anxiety being completely overwritten by happiness.
“Wonderful,” Luna said, standing up, “I was hoping you could accompany me for, what is to me at least, lunch. I am sure the café will open for us. Would you like to come on a date with me?”
“That would be great,” Raindrops exclaimed, slightly louder than she meant to, “I mean, thank you.” Raindrops ran up to Princess Luna, and they met each other in a very warm embrace.
“Now then, let’s go and get some food,” Luna smiled. So, with a newfound happiness in their hearts, the new couple set off for the town center, for the first of what both hoped to be a very large number of dates.
“Why is it that we never acted on these feelings before, Princess?” The two sat alone in an empty, outdoor café that the owner was more than happy to open at one in the morning for the Princess.
“Well first, if this is going to work, you should probably call me Luna, not Princess. It could get a bit...” Luna paused, “awkward. Also, I want you to feel completely comfortable around me.”
“Oh, of course. Sorry P- err, Luna.” Raindrops said,turning her jasmine coat closer to that of Cheerilee’s.
There was a moment of awkward silence when neither of them really knew what to say to the other. They both glanced nervously at the other tables, the stars, the floor, and pretty much everything except their companion.
“I just-”
“We should-”
They both started at the same time, causing their faces to flush one more time.
“You first,” Luna stated, “I insist.”
Smiling at her courtesy, Raindrops spoke, “I’m just really glad you invited me here, Luna. I’m having a great time and, for the first time ever, I actually have a date on Hearts and Hooves day. It’s just, so much has happened in the last few hours that, well I really don’t know where to begin, but it has all just been so great. First you, and this date and-”
She was cut off as the moon princess leaned in, and covered her lips with hers, and together they shared their first kiss. A long, and passionate kiss. Not the kiss of a normal first date, this was the kiss of true love, the kind that felt as though it would last forever.
Without another word they left their food behind, and began the short trot back to Raindrops’ house. As they got closer, Raindrops became so nervous, entirely unsure of what was going to happen. As they entered the door, she scraped the dirt from her hooves, and saw that Luna, somehow, was perfectly clean. She looked at how royal and majestic she seemed, and marveled at her glory.
As both ran up the stairs, their hooves knocking on the wooden floor, they each glanced at each other, and smiled. Even once they were up the stairs, the loud knocking continued, but neither pony seemed to notice. They ended up in Raindrops’ bedroom, and still the sound of a hoof pounding on wood went on, louder and louder without either pony noticing. Just as Luna and Raindrops leaned in for another kiss-
Cheerilee suddenly shot up, drenched in a cold sweat at the knocking on her door. She looked around, making sure she was in her own house.
“ Whoa,” she said, “where in the world did that come from?”