The Pathfinder were empty other than the members of the Legion. Not much of a Legion if I’m to be honest, not enough ponies.
I had made sure to hire the place for a private party, sending somepony to talk to the owner before I picked everyone up from the barracks.
I had sent them Sunset on ahead as I took care of some paperwork to finish everything up for now before I followed them.
Pushing the door open, I shook the snow from my mane. The place was silent other than the sound of cups clicking against the tables, a warm fire crackling in the central fireplace.
Not at all the normal atmosphere of the place.
Everypony just looked… tired and defeated.
That just won’t do. That won’t do at all.
I headed up to the bar, “Barkeep, something strong and warm.”
He nodded, “Wintercider, coming right up,” he agreed and headed to get it.
Turning I looked over the pub, “What’s with all the downer looks?”
“…We got our tails kicked, sir,” Bright Glow answered from her table, “Badly.”
I looked at her and then across the group, “Is that how you all feel?”
There was a smattering of nods and mumbling, a lot of ponies not meeting my gaze. Sunset was looking on with a curious look on her face from her seat furthest from the door.
“That’s fucking stupid,” I said and shook my head, “Look at yourselves! Look at what happened!”
Confusion.
I grinned at them, “You have been training for a year. You went up against the First Solar Guard. The Elite of the elite of the Solar guard, the Canterlot Castle garrison. They outnumbered you ten to one. They have traditions tracing back since the beginning of Equestria and the experience to go with it… and we almost won. Does that sound like a bunch of losers to you?”
You could almost feel the mood of the tavern rising.
“We had an alicorn on our side. Without you making sure they couldn’t sleep…”
“They had Celestia!” I countered with a grin and picking up the mug of heated strong cider from the bar, rising in the air in a salute to them, “The Princess that with her sister united Equestria into a force to be reckoned with. I’m a brand new alicorn that rule dreams. Let’s say at absolute best, Princess Celestia and I cancel each other out. What does that leave you against the Solar Guard?”
Some excited muttering between them.
“I’ll tell you where that leave you,” I continued, “That leave you standing up against the most powerful army of the land and not breaking. You accomplished your objective. You got me into that throneroom against all odds.”
Grinning at them, I pointed at one of the pegasi, “You, Storm Swell. I personally saw you lead a group of twenty ponies on a wild goosechase halfway across the city. Brilliant.”
Her ears flicked and she folded her wings a bit tighter at being singled out, “They tagged me though, Sir.”
“But not without you tagging three of them with your crossbow. One against twenty and you still took some down and bought your squad time to handle even more,” I saluted her with my cup, “You brought glory to the legion.”
I turned to look across them, meeting each of their eyes, “I could tell similar stories about each and every one of you. Whatever happen next time, you won’t be underestimated again. They know to fear you now.”
Bright Glow blinked at me, “Next time!?”
I gave her a predatory grin, “Next time. Don’t you want a rematch?”
She hesitated for a split second before she set her jaw stubbornly, “I do.”
I nodded, “So do I,” I agreed before looking at the rest and raising my voice again, “What say you!?”
“YES!”
“Good!” I agreed and spread my wings, drinking down the entire mug of cider, “But that’s for another day. Now! Drink and be merry! Enjoy yourselves because tomorrow, you’ll all be too damn hungover to!”
With that, I smashed the wooden cup against the stone floor, “Everything tonight is on me!”
I exclaimed, “A round to everyone!” I commanded the barkeep and the tavern erupted into cheers.
Grabbing another pair of mugs of the warmed cider, I crossed the tavern as I folded my wings before sitting down across Sunset, sliding one over to her.
She caught it with her hoof and smiled at me, “You’re so hot right now.”
“Damn right,” I agreed and sipped the cider, “That was a kind of spur of the moment thing. How did I do?”
“Right now if you told them they’d do it all over tomorrow, they would,” Sunset answered and took in the scent of the her drink, “…It was just what they needed.”
“Well, I am the Alicorn of Inspiration,” I said and shifted my wings, “Kinda anyway…I think it may have been about time I did something on that side of things.”
It just… kind of felt like the right thing to do.