//------------------------------//
// Chapter Eight 
// Story: A Heart Like The Sea 
// by Drunk Luna 
//------------------------------//

Cassie smiled as several sets of metal horseshoes clattered in the cobblestone courtyard.  Celestia was the first to greet the three alicorns and three unicorns who stood at the foot of the palace's curving alabaster walkway.  

"Twilight, my faithful stu--" Celestia stopped herself and blushed a bit.  "Forgive me, dear Twilight; sometimes I still forget that you're also a princess!"  

"So do I," Twilight said with a chuckle.  "I want to thank you and Luna for inviting us on this trip.  I've never been to Silver Shoals before.  Everything here is so beautiful!"

"Flurry Heart!" Luna greeted her great-niece warmly, wrapping the younger alicorn in a hug.  "How are you, my dear?"

"I'm great, Auntie Lulu," Flurry gushed, her eyes sparkling as she hugged Luna back.  "I can't wait for you all to meet my boyfriend, Fireblood.  He's arriving tomorrow."

"It's his first vacation with our entire family," Cadance added, greeting Luna and Celestia with kisses on both of their cheeks.   "If Shiny, Twilight Sparkle, and Night Light haven't scared him off by the time it's over, then our trip will have been a success."  Flurry giggled and rolled her eyes at her mother's teasing.

"Mom, Twilight is the literal princess of friendship," Flurry Heart said.  "Wouldn't she be a bit of a hypocrite if she tried to scare her niece's boyfriend away?"

"Not if said boyfriend has been given a gag order," Twilight joked, smirking.  "In all seriousness, Flurry, you have nothing to worry about.  As long as this guy understands that he will face the wrath of four enraged alicorns if he breaks your heart, then we should get along well."  Luna snorted and stifled a giggle, covering her mouth with her hoof.

"How about some cocktails?" Cassie suggested.  "There's nothing like a refreshing drink after a long trip."

"Oh, yes, please!'' Twilight Velvet agreed as she stepped out of the carriage she had shared with Night Light.  Twilight's father walked two steps behind her, and the valets began to unload their massive assortment of Louis Vuitton luggage.  

"Well, then, to the bar!" Luna said with a grin.  "Your luggage will be delivered to your apartments while we all enjoy a few drinks.  The only thing we have to do now is relax; that includes you, Twilight Sparkle," she warned jokingly.  The purple alicorn blushed slightly, then they all headed to the beachfront bar.

"Can we get a round of tequila shots?" Luna called.  The young bartender nodded and passed out shot glasses.

"Lemme do the toast. I know a good one," Cadance said.  "Here's to you. Here's to me.  Best of friends we'll ever be, but if we ever disagree, then fuck you, here's to me."

"I'll drink to that," Twilight laughed, throwing back her shot along with everypony else.  

Two hours later, Flurry clung to Luna and began to sob.

"Look at this gorgeous pony," she slurred, her tears and snot coating Luna's neck.  "Her mane has stars and shit in it.  When am I gonna be as beautiful as you, Auntie Lulu?"  Luna put both of her front hooves on Flurry's shoulders and shook her gently.

"Look at me, Hurry Flart," Luna slurred.  "Look at me.  You are already soooo beautiful.  If that stallion breaks yer heart, Lestia and I will banish his dumb ass to the sun."

"And... and... and he'll get set on fire!" Twilight added.  "I will sic Spike on him.  We will make him suffer!"

Four hours later, the princesses stumbled out of the bar and passed out in random rooms all over the palace, unprepared for the massive hangovers that would plague them the next morning.