//------------------------------//
// Ch. 1 Hello There 
// Story: Lilac Wine 
// by Closer-To-The-Sun 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 1: Hello There

The sun had set on the land of Equestria and Princess Luna's evening had begun. It was during this time that the many of the Ponyville stores would close and the workers would get off of work. For the blue unicorn Pokey Pierce, it was no exception. After working at Sugarcube Corner all day, it was a relief for Mr. and Mrs. Cake to take over. Now the rest of the evening was his to spend with his friend. The unicorn exited the bakery and leisurely made his way to the town's tavern, the Salt Lick.

Entering the tavern, the aroma of fermented drinks filled his lungs. With a smirk, he scanned the room to see a number of ponies were already there enjoying themselves. Pokey was quick to find his friend up at the bar.

"Heya, Caramel," Pokey trotted up to the tan pony.

Turning his head, the brown maned pony raised his glass up to his friend, "Hey, Pokey. I was wondering when you were going to show up."

With a small laugh, Pokey took the seat next to Caramel's right, "Well, some of us actually have to clean up before we end our work day."

"Oh just relax, will ya? Come on, first drink is on me, how about that?" Caramel offered.

"Cant' say no to that," Pokey chuckled before ordering a drink from the barkeep, "could I get an ale?"

"Ale? Trying something new, are we?" the tan earth stallion asked.

Pokey shrugged, "Why not? Never hurts to be adventurous."

The bartender placed the glass ale in front of the unicorn and gave a polite nod. Pokey took a gulp of the liquid and let out a favorable response.

"Well, how's it treating ya?" Caramel asked before he took a sip of his cider.

"Tart and sweet, and a very nice taste to it."

"Thinking of making it a habit?"

The blue stallion shook his head, "Nah, I'll still keep trying different things. You know, keep things from getting boring."

Caramel shook his head and laugh, "You always were a weird one, Pokey."

"Says the screw up who somehow got the Winter-Wrap Up seeds on the roof of a building. Honestly, how does that happen?" Pokey retorted with a light, friendly punch to the earth pony's limb.

"I'm still trying to figure that one out myself. I'm just thankful that Twilight Sparkle found them."

"Speaking of the librarian, how's it going between you two? You get enough guts to say a complete sentence to her?" Pokey joked before taking another drink of his ale.

"For your information, we are actually dating now."

"Really now?"

"Yeah, for some reason, she found something she likes in me."

"Well, congratulations. Invite me to the wedding when it happens"

With a drink of his cider, Caramel playfully returned a shove to his friend, "Oh come on, lay off. Besides, I think you wouldn't be giving me a hard time about it since you're the one who never had somepony special."

Pokey rolled his eyes, "Oh, come off it. I did have somepony a while back, but it's not something I need to worry about right away."

"Well, at least think about it, alright?" Caramel hopped off the stool and placed a few bits on the counter, "and if you want another drink, it's out of your pocket."

Pokey waved to his friend as he left the Salt Lick. He turned his attention back to his ale, taking another drink of the bittersweet beverage. He then noticed the stool where Caramel was seat had been taken by a berry-colored earth mare with a violet mane. The unicorn had seen her around before but never put much thought on who she was.

"Bartender…." she began to speak with a slight slur in her speech, "can I get a merlot, aged three years? Or four? Oh, why not, how about five?"

The barkeep gave a worried look to the mare, "Berry, just because you change your seat doesn't mean I don't already know how much you've had to drink."

The mare plopped the front of her body on the counter with her front limbs stretched out and her head held up to keep talking, "Oh, by why not? I trotted over to this seat. Doesn't that prove I'm fine?"

"Um, you used the barstool as a walker to aid yourself over here. Sorry, but I think you've had enough for tonight," the barkeep trotted to another part of the bar.

"Aw….but I didn't get a vinho do porto! Come on, please?" Berry pleaded, but her words were ignored. She then turned her head to the right to see a half empty glass of ale. Her eyes then trailed up to the blue unicorn seated next to her, "Oh, hello there, mister unicorn!"

"Um….hello."