At Berry Punch’s tavern in Ponyville, an unknown unicorn staggered through the saloon doors.
She was an unusual pony, at least for Ponyville. A snow white unicorn, her horn curved forward instead of straight. She had a short, messy white mane and a similarly messy tail. She had crimson eyes, and a sour expression plastered to her muzzle. She wore a red button up shirt, its sleeves wrinkled, and a black vest buttoned over top of it.
And her cutie mark was a green, hoofheld mirror.
She slumped onto a stool at the bar with a groan. Berry Punch, polishing a mug behind the bar, eyed her up and down.
“What can I get for you, stranger?” she asked.
“Strongest stuff you got,” the unicorn muttered.
Berry hummed in thought, disappearing beneath the bar. She reemerged with a bottle of amber liquid and a glass. The bottle had a green label on it, adorned with a red apple. Berry poured a glass of the drink and slid it over to the unicorn.
Berry’s eyes widened as the unicorn took the glass in her crimson magic and downed it in one swig. Setting the glass back down, the unicorn smacked her lips, squinting.
“Strong apple taste… what even was that?” she asked.
“Apple Family Cider, one of the last bottles we got,” Berry replied. “Good?”
“Good enough,” the unicorn replied. “I’ll take the bottle.” She reached into her vest pocket, set some bits on the counter, and slid them over to Berry. “Keep the change.”
Berry’s eyes widened further, but she nodded and slid the bottle over to the unicorn. As she went to attend to some of the other patrons, the unicorn poured herself another glass and downed it too.
There came a plop and the sound of a squeaky barstool spinning, and the unicorn’s peripheral vision in that direction became pink.
“Hey there!” Pinkie Pie chirped. “I’m Pinkie Pie. I’m sort of the town greeter, and I’ve never seen you in town before.”
“Malina. And that’s because I’m just passing through,” the unicorn replied dryly, pouring another drink. “Don’t plan on staying.”
“Aww. Well, that’s ok. Sometimes life’s like that, ya know?” Pinkie kicked her rear legs as she leaned back against the bar. “Rough day at work or something?”
Malina huffed. “You could say that,” she said, downing her third drink.
“I’ve had those before. They’re the worst!” Pinkie exclaimed.
“Not as bad as this,” Malina grunted. “First the freaking errand run to that backwater town, then the breakout… ugh. I have a headache just thinking about it all.”
“Well, I’m here if you want to talk, Malina,” Pinkie said, beaming at the unicorn.
“Uh… thanks,” Malina said slowly. Her eyes slid to the mostly full bottle, then back to the pink pony. “You, uh, want a drink?”
Pinkie reached into her puffy mane and produced her own glass. “Yes please! Applejack’s family makes the best apple cider.”
Malina chuckled softly, pouring Pinkie a glass. “Not what I’m used to, but… yeah, not half bad.”
“Here’s to better days!” Pinkie cheered, holding up her filled glass.
Malina sighed, smiling softly for once. “Yeah, to better days.”
And she lightly clinked their glasses together.