//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 - It's Just Another New Year's Eve/Birthday // Story: A New Year's Toast of Tea // by Witching Hour //------------------------------// Witch looks up as the bell over the door jingles, letting a gust of blustery winter air and a russet colored stallion through the door. As the door swings closed behind him, he removes his cloak and hangs it by the door on a hook for that purpose, revealing him to be a pegasus. “Lady Brew, would you- Oh… If it isn’t the Honorable Doctor minding the counter today? What brought this about this holiday season, if I may ask?” he asks with a charming smile for Witch, making her roll her eyes even as she smiles. “Senior Chief Treble kicked me out of the sound lab when I got to work this morning, and Master Chief Bliss wouldn’t hear anything of me working in the Trainer Room either. It’s like they’ve never heard of someone who doesn’t want their routine disrupted… So I offered to take over counter duty while my mother helps my father next door,” Witch explains, chuckling. “Now, if I may ask, what brings you to this humble establishment, Lord Star, as I happen to know you don’t partake of my mother’s wares unless under duress…” she adds, her eyes twinkling with mirth over the rims of her glasses. “Ah, well now… You know how it is,” Lord Star explains with a dismissive wave of his hoof. “When General Grandmother gives an order, it’s best to follow it without question, and it seems that her supply of her favorite blend, which only your lovely mother can provide, has run low… So I, a Commander in the Royal Equestrian Navy, Executive Officer of Her Majesty’s Ship, the Enterprise D,” he continues, puffing up his chest and holding his head high as he waved an arm expansively, “have been ordered, like a common commissary sergeant, to rectify the situation,” he finishes, deflating dramatically. The flat and defeated expression on the stallion’s face makes Witch quickly smother a laugh. “So I gather then you were going to ask if Her Grace’s tea order was ready to be picked up?” Witch queries, unable to keep her amusement from her voice. At the commander’s resigned sigh and nod, she rummages under the counter and levitates a small parcel to sit atop the counter. “It appears as though it is, so Her Grace will not need to court martial you for disobeying her orders.” “And for that reprieve, my dear doctor, you have my deepest gratitude,” he responds, bowing gratefully to her. As he leans against the counter, Witch looks away briefly to smile and wave as a pair of older mares leave, wishing her a happy birthday as they depart before she turns back to Commander Star. “You have kind superiors that they refuse to let you work on your birthday, Doctor; why work on a day you could have to yourself or that you could spend with friends?” Witch smiles dryly at him. “And you would know what to do with yourself if your captain suddenly relieved you of duty for a day? When all your friends still have work to do?” she retorts. “No… As I said before, Commander, I don’t like my routine being disrupted. In an hour or two, I’ll go back to the compound and do my usual workout, and then I’ll be back here with friends from work for tea. After that, I make sure my son finishes his homework before having dinner here with my parents and then going home.” “Ah yes, Grandmother did mention something about you announcing the adoption in the Canterlot Times. My congratulations,” smiles the stallion warmly, his voice carrying genuine warmth in spite of the formal tone of his words before his eyes took on a hint of mischief. “Or perhaps I should offer my sympathies, if he’s anything like my younger brother or myself at that age. I’m sure he must be quite the hoof full.” Witch laughs. “As long as he’s nothing like his new uncle, I think I can survive a few kitchen mishaps… Though they did get into quite a bit of trouble with your cousin, Ebony. Something about damaged practice swords in your family armory, I believe?” “Captain Emissary was slightly peeved before returning to the Glory Defiant,” chuckles Commander Star. “Given how Ebony was ranting about it, I can’t say I’m too surprised. Honestly, I want to know how they managed to get a claymore caught in the chandelier, but I suppose there are some questions that shall remain unanswered.” “I’ll wager that was my Tricks, trying levitation again… I doubt Magenta could’ve done that stunt…” Witch chuckles as well. “An unfair wager for anypony betting against him, I’d think,” Commander Star muses before looking to Witch again with an infectious smirk. “So, besides all of the stuff you listed earlier, do you have any plans for New Years, or your birthday?” “Nothing more than any other Metalsday,” Witch answers with a shrug. “I haven’t done anything for my birthday since I moved into my first apartment.” “Then I think it’s time we changed that,” Star says, his smile remaining. “Come over to House Star’s manor later, and we can host a proper celebration for your birthday, and for New Years.” He coughs and looks away, sighing. “Also, I’d love to have more sane company to help combat my father’s… unorthodox personality.” “And the rest of your family as well, I’m sure,” Witch retorts, smirking. “I mean, one of the members of the infamous ‘Troll Squad’ of Wonderbolt Squad Twelve is a Star, isn't she?” “An unfortunate family relation..." Bronze grumbles sourly. “How Azzy hasn't brought the press and tabloids pounding at our door every hour, I have no idea…” “Her Captain and Second do tend to steal the spotlight, and Lieutenant Bear Claw is classified as ‘Unnatural Disaster, First Class’...” sighs Witch as she massages her right temple with a hoof. “I should know, since I work in the same building as them.” “Oh now I must insist you accept,” Commander Star states firmly. “I’ll even buy whatever tea you have in stock you want to have on hoof at the party; my present, and apology, to you.” A violet aura of magic places a small bag labeled as the House Blend Black Tea before him, and Fine Brew steps behind the counter to join Witch. “Will that be all, Bronze? Or does the General need anything else?” the tea-maker asks, smiling slyly at her daughter’s surprised and mildly scandalized expression. The pegasus shakes his head. “If she does, I’ll bring the note over myself before I go back to the Enterprise,” Bronze Star replies, though his eyes don’t leave Witch but for a brief glance to Fine. “My thanks Lady Grey, Doctor Hour,” he adds, tucking the additional package under his wing as he pulls his cloak back on and departs. “Close your mouth before you start catching flies, dear,” Fine taunts her daughter with a smirk. “And you could do much worse, you know… House Star’s a respectable enough family, and they care more about individual accomplishments over bloodlines. You’ll-” “MOTHER!” Witch exclaims, finally giving voice to her abject horror. “What?” Fine retorts, innocently. “I was just going to say that you’d technically outrank your grandparents if it were to come to pass…” Witch grumbles sour incoherencies, disliking her mother’s matchmaking thoughts but also rather liking the prospect of no longer having to play nice with the Earl and Countess Grey.