Moondancer
I yawned as I stretched a bit and continued trotting forward. We had left the orphanage about an hour ago and we’re going to a restaurant upon Lemon Hearts insistence. I was perfectly happy going back home but oh well.
“So Moondancer,” Twinkleshine said as she slowed down to trot alongside me. “Who’s the filly?”
“What do you mean?” I asked even though I damn well knew what she meant.
“The bookworm filly.”
I shrugged in response as Twinkleshine nudged me with a smile.
“Come on, you can tell me. We’re friends after all,” Twinkleshine commented as she maintained her smile. I sighed and she looked at me expectantly.
“Cotton Cloudy. Interesting filly,” I answered as I watched Minuette and Lemon Hearts slowed down to look at a restaurant.
“I’d say so. The three of us have tried many times to get her to talk to us and she refused. Must like you a lot then,” Twinkleshine said casually as we followed the other two into the restaurant. “Oh great pasta again.”
“What’s wrong with pasta?” Minuette asked in confusion as we waited for a pony to come seat us.
“We have it every time we come back from the orphanage,” Twinkleshine answered as she flicked her tail back and forth.
“It’s closest to all of our houses,” Minuette explained as she looked at me. “Well, almost all of our houses.”
I watched curiously as the three continued their conversation as a pony with a black shirt on trotted up. I didn’t really know they argued ever.
“Table for four please,” Twinkleshine smiled as Lemon Hearts hid a yawn behind her hoof. It was pretty late, I’d guess about seven or eight pm. Give or take.
“Right this way.” we followed the mare to a booth and Minuette sat next to me as Lemon Hearts and Twinkleshine sat across from us. “What can I can get you to drink?”
“Wine please,” Twinkleshine said. “Red.”
“Vodka for me,” Lemon Hearts raised a hoof and I watched curiously. I didn’t know they drank at all. Well that’s not true. I mean hard alcohol like vodka.
“Just a margarita for me please,” Minuette said as they all looked at me expectantly and I took a breath.
“Old Forester one hundred proof if you have it,” I said as my friends gave me incredulous looks.
“We unfortunately do not. We have Jim Bean if you want that instead,” the mare suggested.
“Got vanilla flavored?” I asked and she nodded. “I’ll take that please. Thank you.”
The mare trotted away as I levitated the menu up to my face as a blue aura slapped it down. Startled, I looked at my friends stern faces.
“Old Forester one hundred proof?” Minuette demanded. “Are you trying to kill yourself?”
“No of course not! Why would ask me that?”
“Because that’s a super strong whiskey. We’ve only tried it once and we were knocked out on flanks so fast after two shots,” Twinkleshine explained as she glanced at Lemon Hearts. “This one is a touchy drunk. Couldn’t keep her hooves above my waist that night. Lucky I didn’t blast her out of the house.”
“It’s not that strong. I used to drink it at night when I was studying. Especially in the winter. Used to warm me up,” I admitted sheepishly as my friends expression changed slightly. “Having a blanket wrapped around me with a candle, good book and a nice glass of whiskey to make a cold December night better.”
“Moondancer, do you think you have a problem?” Lemon Hearts asked gently. “I don’t think having a tolerance to that strong a whiskey is good.”
“I don’t know,” I shrugged and continued reading the menu. I half expected Minuette to slap it down again but she never did.
“We’re only asking because we care about you. That’s all,” Twinkleshine added as she peered over my menu. “We worry about you, with you in that empty old house that’s falling apart.”
“I know. And it’s not that old! Or falling apart. It’s quaint and besides, it’s just a house. Who cares about the looks as long as it houses me, holds my food and books and keeps me warm? I asked as the waiter mare gave us our drinks and quickly took our orders. Naturally, I got hay lasagna.
“Moonie, it’s old and falling apart. A house is more than just a place to sleep. It’s supposed to bring happiness and all,” Minuette pointed out with a smile. “Why don’t you come over in a few nights and we have a sleepover? It’ll be fun.”
I sipped my whiskey, savoring the burning sensation followed by hints of vanilla as I pondered her suggestion. I didn’t really have any research work this week and I didn’t want to potentially lose my friends by saying no.
“Yeah sure why not?” I said and Minuette gave a quiet cheer. Lemon Hearts and Twinkleshine grinned and clapped their hooves a bit as I hid my face.
I’ll have to read up on what to do in a sleep over. The last one I had was when I was a filly with my sister, Amethyst Star, Sea Swirl and Minuette. I heard a rumor that Amethyst and Sea Swirl lived in Ponyville now. Apparently Amethyst even got adopted in the middle of the school year by a pegasus and that’s why she left Canterlot.
None of us had even known she was an orphan but I kinda was obsessed with gaining Twilight’s friendship that I didn’t really pay attention to anypony else.
“So how’s the astronomy work going? Is it hard rewriting all the astronomy books now that Luna isn’t in the moon anymore?” Minuette asked Twinkleshine curiously as she tossed the lime out of her drink and into her mouth.
“You have no idea. It’s pretty stressful. I always thought it was just how the moon was made or from a rock impacting it. I didnt realize there was a pony in it.”
“None of us did,” Lemon Hearts chuckled and stretched a bit.
I did but I wasn’t going to say anything. Our waiter returned with our food and we all started eating with small talk taking place randomly.
I was pretty damn lucky to have the friends I do.