//------------------------------// // 125. Neighagra Falls Inn // Story: Azure Edge // by Leaf Blade //------------------------------// The Neighagra Falls Inn was possibly the most well-known and travelled rest stop in Equestria, and it is exactly what Twilight Sparkle and her weary party needed after what felt like a ten-thousand-hour train ride. The inside was bright and welcoming, and spacious to boot! There were patrons busily chatting in all corners, and servers rushing between tables with food and drink, the aroma of which assaulted Twilight’s nose instantly and made her wish that perhaps she hadn't devoured quite so many cookies on the train. There were four adults and one child in Twilight’s party, but Applejack and Rarity would be returning within a day or two as well, and Twilight wasn’t certain how many rooms each of them would need, or how many days they would be staying, and before she could even start to ask the others, Pinkie Pie was dragging Fluttershy toward the bar, Spike was following them, and Rainbow was flirting with a cute waitress. Honestly, everyone here was just so irresponsible! Twilight had to do everything. “You alright there, space cadet?” Rainbow said, slapping Twilight on her forearm. “Everyone’s just going off and doing their own thing!” Twilight huffed, speaking loudly to overcome the busy chatter that soaked the entire building. “We need to get checked in and we need to make sure Rarity and Applejack have rooms when they get back and we need to—” “Twilight, chillax!” Rainbow scoffed. “I am ‘chillaxed’!” Twilight fumed. “Whatever that means!” “Just let me check everypony in, okay?” Rainbow said, putting her arm around Twilight’s waist, likely because Rainbow couldn’t reach Twilight’s shoulders. “It’s not like I’ve never checked into an inn before. I kinda travel all the time, remember?” “Yeah, I guess,” Twilight puffed up her cheeks and took a look around the busy inn lobby, feeling rather anxious about the number of ponies. She hoped Fluttershy was faring alright. “Tell you what,” Rainbow puffed up her chest, and it was adorable. “If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll go check everyone in right the heck now, but in exchange, you gotta go get a drink and sit down for a bit. Deal?” “Sounds good,” Twilight said, shaking Rainbow’s hand, and as she watched Rainbow rush to the reception desk, she found herself feeling very grateful for Rainbow’s kindness. It was actually weirdly nice to let someone else be the responsible one for once. She did promise Rainbow she’d grab a drink though, so Twilight made a beeline for the bar, and honestly a tall glass of hard cider sounded like it’d really hit the spot right now. And while the cider did help, Twilight couldn’t stop anxiously tapping her fingers against the side of her mug, or against the bar, and once Rainbow had finished checking everyone in and joined Twilight and the others at the bar, Twilight couldn’t help but try and focus on her voice to make sure Rainbow did everything right. Also where was Spike? Twilight realized suddenly she didn’t know exactly where he was and he could be anywhere! He could be at the bar ordering drinks that weren’t appropriate for him, he could be talking with flirtatious servers who would try and take advantage of his naivety and steal all his money, or maybe he was doing back alley drug deals behind the inn! But then she noticed the slurping sound he made as he drank a milkshake and realized he was sitting right next to her, and he waved at her when she looked over, Twilight offering a shaky smile in return. Twilight was beginning to consider that maybe, perhaps, just POSSIBLY, she was freaking out a little bit. Just a little bit though! Twilight felt something graze her shoulder and jumped out of her chair, knocking over her cider mug and screaming at the top of her lungs as she huddled on top of the bar, only to realize what touched her was Fluttershy’s spindly little fingers. “Um, Twilight?” Fluttershy asked, her eyes darting at the other bar patrons who were now all staring in silence at Twilight. “Do you want to step outside for a moment?” “Yeah,” Twilight choked out, “I think that’d be best.” After making Pinkie promise—Pinkie Promise at that—about a dozen times to look after Spike while Twilight was gone, and Rainbow and Spike both pushing Twilight toward the door, Twilight exited the inn with Fluttershy, and what had been an eerie silence outside when the party had approached the inn— with the only sound being the distant rushing of Neighagra Falls— was now a welcome relief from the wall of noise that assaulted Twilight’s ears inside. “How are you feeling?” Fluttershy asked, holding Twilight’s hand as the two walked down the many stone steps in front of the inn entrance. “Overwhelmed,” Twilight answered honestly. “Me too,” Fluttershy chuckled. “I’m sorry,” Twilight said reflexively. “Don’t be!” Fluttershy giggled. “We’re both a little overwhelmed, but how could we not be? We’ve been through a lot the last couple days.” “Has it only been a couple days?” Twilight groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Feels like a year.” “I know,” Fluttershy laughed, and she gently embraced both of Twilight’s hands and looked Twilight in the eye for about one second before they both had to look away, both of them laughing at how silly they were being. “Thank you, Fluttershy,” Twilight sighed, and she felt like a million pounds had been lifted off her shoulders. “I really appreciate this.” “Believe it or not,” Fluttershy hummed, “I do too. So thank you also, Twilight Sparkle.” “You ready to get back to the others?” Twilight asked, cocking her head toward the inn. “I really am dying to get that drink.” “Thought you’d never ask,” Fluttershy said coyly, giving Twilight a playful wink that made her smile. When Twilight and Fluttershy returned to the inn hand-in-hand, the wall of noise that pounded them the second they opened the door didn’t feel as intimidating this time, at least not to Twilight, and if the bright smile Fluttershy flashed as Twilight looked over to her was any indication, she was feeling pretty alright too. Rainbow, Pinkie and Spike all cheered when they saw the two women returning to the bar, Rainbow practically forcing a mug of cider into Twilight’s hands and Pinkie chomping at the bit to regale Fluttershy with the story of how Spike had just sprayed cider out his nose all over the bar. And as Twilight settled down between Fluttershy, who was listening enraptured to Pinkie’s tale, and Spike who was sharing his own fun stories with Rainbow Dash as she gulped down an entire mug of cider in one sip, she was reminded of her old library. This wasn’t the library though, and yet it felt like home regardless because despite everything, she still loved the people she was with, and they still loved her. And she smiled at that thought, until she realized. She wished Rarity was here.