Some days just do not start well. For one Starlight Glimmer, this was certainly true. As her best friend Trixie was touring around Equestria, she had been very much feeling unmotivated to leave the crystal castle that she called home. Even leaving her room was a struggle lately, as thoughts of Trixie occupied her mind. It didn’t help that she now owned a small plush of her, made by Rarity in order to ease the pain of loneliness. At least it was warm.
Unfortunately for the unmotivated unicorn, Twilight Sparkle was there to attempt to “motivate” her out of her self imposed exile. Key word being attempt, as Starlight was having none of it. At first, she merely grunted at the alicorn to “Bugger off.” or something to that effect. Then there was assault from her various covers, pillows and sheets until there was nothing left on the bed aside from Starlight herself and the mattress.
By this point, Twilight had gotten sick of Starlight’s non-friendship nonsense. “Starlight!” she shrilly shrieked as she carefully tore the door off of it’s hinges, storming into her student’s room, a piece of paper within her magical grasp.
Starlight had also gotten sick of this, as indicated by a low grumbling noise. “The door was unlocked, you know.”
Twilight either didn’t know, or didn’t care, “I provide you with an ultimatum, go out, meet friends and socialize, or I throw you out to live with Trixie in her cramped caravan instead of this cosy crystal castle.” she stated plainly, glaring at her former rival.
For the first time in what seemed like weeks, Starlight hoisted herself from her barren bed, allowing her limbs to once more carry her weight as she stumbled, before finally getting face to face with the bane of her existence.
“Alright, you got me out of my bed, at least. Is that piece of paper my eviction notice? Because I’m not exactly sure if this is legal otherwise.”
Twilight ignored the possible legal ramifications of kicking her friend out as she levitated the leaflet towards her unicorn friend. The aura around the paper switched colour from a light lavender to a more blueish hue, as it exchanged metaphorical hands.
Villain's Night!
Big Bads get a free drink!
Are you a former foe? A villain who has turned their back on their ways and embraced Harmony? Are you also feeling like there's nopony around to understand your plight in your attempts to change your ways?
Then come on down to The Salt Lick this Friday night for Villain's Night! Not only will this be an exclusive event for erstwhile evils, but all drinks will be half price! So come on down, meet new friends and get absolutely blackout drunk so I can recoup the losses!
Foamy Top reserves the right to to enforce a two-drink minimum on all new patrons of The Salt Lick and may or may not be hosting this in order to have one last ditch effort at keeping the place alive.
Starlight's eyes stopped scanning the flyer and looked towards her mentor/friend. Judging by the happier look on her face, she could tell that some levity had been achieved. Good lord, was she smiling?
"So... What do you say?" Twilight asked, her grin widening into something possibly psychotic that caused Starlight to instinctively scoot back a little.
"I've still got a few days to mull it over, Twilight. I'll let you know then."
Twilight's face fell. "Starlight. It's Friday."
Oh. Had she really been locked up in here that long? "Well then... Guess I should go." before hopping off of her bed with a satisfying CLUNK as her hooves hit the floor, leaflet flying with her due to magic, before slowly trotting past her teacher/buddy and out of the door.
Twilight's facade finally gave as soon as she could no longer hear the hoofsteps of her former rival/student/possible lover and she collapsed upon the bed in which she had laid in not minutes ago.
"Princess Celestia must have had the patience of a saint when I was a filly." she contemplated to herself. "Now I hope she doesn't end up costing me more Bits..."
The night air was crisp as Starlight trotted out of the large crystalline castle. The wind ruffled through her mane, while the sounds of a typical Friday night occurred in Ponyville. Ponies passed by, exchanging stories of events gone by during the week, and many bouts of laughter and embarrassment were had. Ever since becoming Twilight’s full time student, Starlight had wanted to get in on this action out of a sense of loneliness and slight jealousy for what they had. Despite what she told herself, a small part of her still wanted to tear friendships apart out of spite and bitterness.
These thoughts were quickly interrupted by Starlight meandering into a wooden door, eliciting a noise similar to tapping wood against wood, as her horn bounced off of it, causing her to fall onto her behind. Rather conveniently, it also happened to be the place where she was instructed to go, judging by the worn sign hanging nearby simply reading “The Salt Lick.”
A moment passed, as Starlight got back up onto her hooves, before the small slit in the door suddenly slammed open, a pair of brown eyes staring at the mare. “What do you want?” it said, in a timbre voice. Either a male or a very unlucky female was behind that door, then.
“Uhh, my “friend”, Twilight Sparkle told me to come here and-”
Starlight was cut off as the slit closed, followed by the door opening inwards, leading the body attatched to the eyes that were starting at her not a moment ago to step out, revealing his scruffy brown mane and dull yellow coat. Stepping out a little further, the dim lighting of the establishment inside revealed his cutiemark; a mug with some froth on top, possibly cider judging by how he smelled slightly of apples.
“Okay, “Miss Glimmer,”” he said, taking time to analyse her as he trotted around the mare, taking her in at all angles. “I need to ask you a few questions. Policy for first timers to prevent any... Dopplegangers from entering, if you catch my drift.”
Starlight felt very uncomfortable at this point, but let him proceed with his questioning with a simple and clean nod.
“What is your name?” The strange stallion asked.
“Starlight Glimmer.”
“Why are you here, on this particular night?”
“Because my tutor/friend/princess/landlady demanded me to otherwise she would throw me out.”
“What is love?”
“... Baby don’t hurt me?”
He nodded sagely, “Fair enough then. You gave some honest answers, at least. Name’s Foamy Top. Owner of The Salt Lick and personal Reformed Rehaber of Princess Twilight Sparkle. Good to meet you! He said happily, holding out a hoof in a gesture of greetings, which was then shaken by Starlight before both hooves returned to their owners. Foamy Top then started to walk into the place he called home, with Starlight following suit, before the door shut again, hiding what lruked within to all but the few who dared inquire within...