//------------------------------// // Ch. 5 The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me) // Story: Lilac Wine // by Closer-To-The-Sun //------------------------------// Chapter 5: The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me) Later in the evening, after the Celestia's sun had set for the day and Luna's moon began to rise high in night sky, the blue unicorn departed from his job at the Ponyville's bakery. While Pokey was a bit nervous, he was excited to meet up with Berry Punch and have a few drinks with her. With a small smile, he laughed at his previous encounters with Berry. He enjoyed spending time with her, despite the fact she had a tendency to drink a bit much and would often have an issue with it later. Nevertheless, Pokey felt confident that their rendezvous this evening would be better than the night before. So a small gallop in his pace, the stallion made his way to the Salt Lick. Arriving at the tavern, Pokey opened the door to see a sight he saw just the night before. At the bar, he saw a pink-coated mare with a darker red mane collapsed and her limbs across the surface of the counter. The bartender was speaking to the earth pony. "Berry, I'm sorry but you've had enough," he spoke, cleaning a glass. The mare's voice was heavily slurred, "Come on….*hick*….just one more….I have a friend coming….*hick*….I swear!" "You drank down three glasses of vinho do porto and four glasses of cherry rakia. To be honest, I'm surprised you haven't passed out. I'm sorry, no more," the barkeep finished cleaning the glass and moved to another part of the bar to assist another customers. With a thunk, Berry placed her head down in defeat. Trotting up, the blue unicorn spoke, "Hey Berry, are you alright?" Lifting up her head, her exhausted expression turned to one of joy as she saw her new friend, "Oh….Pokey! Can you tell this mean mister bartender that I'm okay to have another drink?" Pokey was hesitant to answer, "Uh….it does seem you've had enough. Maybe you should get some rest? I can walk you home so you don't have to stay at my place again." The mare began to whine, "Aww….do I have to? Can't I stay just a little more?" "No, it's time to go home." Pouting, Berry gave in, "Okay….but you have to carry me!" "Huh?" Before Pokey realized what was happening, she flopped right on the stallion's back. With a hoof in the air, Berry shouted, "Onward!" She began singing a nonsensical song as Pokey trotted out of the Salt Lick with the intoxicated pony on his back. Trotting through the night, Berry abruptly stopped her signing and started chatting with Pokey. "Hey….why are you carrying me?" she asked, confused. "Because you hopped on my back," Pokey explained, puzzled as well. "But why can't I trot?" "Well, because you're intoxicated." "No way! I've never felt better!" after her statement, Berry vomited on the ground while still on Pokey's back, "Okay, now I've never better." With a slightly bothered expression, Pokey continued his trotting, "Let's just get you home, how's that?" "That way!" she pointed with her hoof to the stallion giving her a ride. --------------- Finally, after a few false alarms from Berry, the two ponies arrived at Berry Punch's home. A few lights were on inside, but the house looked empty. Trotting up to the door, Pokey turned his head to look at the mare on his back, "Do you have a key?" "Oh, don't worry! Just knock on the door. Like this!" Berry knocked on the stallion's body hard, which caused the pony to wince a bit in pain. Bearing the pain, Pokey nodded, "Duly noted." He did just as the mare instructed except on the door instead of a pony's body. After a few moments, the door opened up to a small filly. The small unicorn had a lighter coloration to that of Berry Punch. She stared at Pokey for a few moments until she noticed the mare on his back. "Oh, hello mom," the small pony said. Berry looked at the filly and waved, "Hi sweetie! We're there always two of you?" "No, mom. Come on in," the filly spoke. At her words, Berry dragged herself off of Pokey's back and into her home. As soon as the mare entered the house and disappeared from sight, the filly turned to the blue stallion, "Thanks for dragging my mom home." It took a second for Pokey to reply, "Oh, not a problem…." "Ruby Pinch." "Right, Ruby. It's no big deal," Pokey added as soon as he got her name, "Um, if you don't mind me asking, does this…." "Happen a lot? More than you would think. But I'm used to it. Sometimes I have to be the parent of the two of us. And when she doesn't show up, it doesn't worry me too much," Ruby explained. Pokey gave a small worried look, "Alright. Is she going to be okay?" With a small chuckle, Ruby replied, "She will. A glass of fruit juice and a bit of tea will fix her up in the morning." "Good to hear," the stallion gave a sigh of relief "Well, I'll see you two around." Pokey turned around and began to trot away. "Hey, mister?" the filly called." Pokey turned towards back to the door. "Thanks for bringing back my mom."