Roseluck scrunched her muzzle up in disgust as a mare threw up into a toilet in the corner of the drunk tank she was stuck in.
“What time is it?” Roseluck asked tiredly as she looked away from the mare quickly.
“About one am,” the guard answered without looking up from his book.
“Joy. How long have I been in this hellhole?”
“About two hours, give or take.”
“I want out now,” Roseluck demanded as she rattled the bars angrily.
“No.”
Roseluck glared at him as she back on the bench.
“What’s that saying that green unicorn is always saying? Oh yeah. If I had fingers, I’d be showing you one!” Roseluck screamed as she shook a hoof angrily.
“What’s a finger?”
“Look it up dummy!” A drunk mare shouted as Berry Punch sat next to Roseluck. “Ay, Rosie. Didn’t know you were in here with me. How’s it hanging?”
“Pratty shit. What are you here for?”
“Public intoxication. Came to see Minuette but she was busy with her friends allegedly so I got drunk. Don’t be like Berry and get depressed drunk,” Berry sighed as she kicked her hindlegs back and forth.
Roseluck hugged the mare as a amber unicorn trotted into the room with a guard.
“Sunset!” Roseluck shot to her hooves as Sunset sighed.
“You here for her?” The guard at the desk asked.
“Yep,” Sunset sighed as she levitated a pen and signed the paperwork.
“Me too?” Berry said hopefully as she joined Roseluck at the bars. “Please? I gotta get home to Ruby.”
Sunset paused and examined the mare who looked on the verge of tears as Sunset rolled her eyes.
“Yeah Berry is with me too. Both of em are,” Sunset answered as the guard unlocked the door. “Let’s go you two. The others are waiting for us at a donut shop.”
Roseluck and Berry stumbled out of the cell as Sunset caught them both in her magic as the guard locked the cell behind them.
“You two smell awful,” Sunset grumbled as she levitated the two behind her. “Probably drank all the alcohol in Canterlot.”
“Damn right!” Berry cheered as Sunset kept her straight. “I wasn’t even here for the Gala but Minuette abandoned me. No bucking surprise there. Ungrateful little bi-”
“Berry!”
The three looked back as a blue unicorn came galloping up panting as Berry gave her a flat look.
“What do you want Minuette?” Berry snapped as Minuette gave her a confused look.
“I was looking for you. But uh why are you with Sunset Shimmer?” Minuette asked as she pointed a hoof. She admittedly didn’t have that many good memories of the unicorn so she was a bit nervous seeing Sunset again.
“With my friends. At least Sunset bailed me outta jail. Unlike you who decided her marefriend and the plans she made with her wasn’t important. Apparently your friends are more important than me and our daughter,” Berry glared as she swayed and Sunset gave Roseluck a nervous look.
“I had to make sure Twinkleshine and Lemon Hearts got home safe. You know how much they are afraid of the dark.”
“Because Moondancer or Lyra or Twilight couldn’t have done that, right?” Berry shot back as Roseluck and Sunset backed away nervously. “Today was our anniversary. You left me waiting for an hour at a restaurant I specifically reserved for us. I was embarrassed. I spent almost damn near all my bits on tonight, even paying Junebug to watch over Ruby for me. And you couldn’t even show up.”
“This is awkward,” Roseluck whispered as Sunset nodded her agreement.
“You said it sister.”
“Berry-” Minuette started as she held out a hoof and Berry spun around.
“Don’t come home tonight,” Berry said as she flicked her tail and trotted away. “Let’s go. This mare needs more alcohol.”
“I think you’ve had enough,” Sunset interjected as she narrowly avoided Berry throwing up. “Ew!”
“Sorry,” Berry muttered as she dragged a protesting Sunset and Roseluck along, leaving behind a stunned Minuette.
“Where are they?” Trixie demanded as she ate another donut. “Trixie is bored!”
“They’ll be here. Sunset apparently found out Roseluck got arrested so she’s bailing her out,” Shoeshine answered as Silverspeed wiped her makeup off with a napkin.
“Sweet Celestia,” Derpy muttered as she stared at the table. “I should have stayed with her and not with her cousin.”
“Well, she did encourage you to hang out with him,” Silverspeed commented as she smiled slyly. “And based how you’ve been talking about him the past hour, seems to me you quite like him.”
Derpy blushed as the others laughed quietly as Raindrops drank from a hot chocolate mug.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Derpy said as she hastily bit a donut. “I have my daughters, I don’t have time for dating stallions girls.”
“Berry Punch has a daughter and is dating,” Trixie pointed out. “They make it work.”
“I know but they’ve known each other for a while. I just met Time Turner so we will see. But if my daughters don’t like him, then I say no,” Derpy stated as she pressed a hoof on the table. “And that’s final.”
The five looked at each other and nodded. When Sunset isn’t around, what Derpy says goes. Trixie had started the vote of Derpy becoming the group second in command in Sunset’s absence which the pegasus had argued had for hours against before reluctantly agreeing. Silverspeed had agreed mainly because Derpy already acted as the group mom.
Sunset had reluctantly accepted being the group leader as well after Trixie yet again brought it up, unanimously being voted.
“Hey,” Sunset pushed open the doors to Donut Joe’s as she trotted to the table with a drunk Roseluck and Berry giggling behind her. “Found Roseluck and her friend. She was screaming at a guard in an attempt to get out.”
Derpy and the others raises eyebrows as Roseluck sat down with Sunset and Berry as Screw Loose licked Roseluck’s cheek.
“Thank the stars mom hasn’t shown up,” Sunset grumbled as she levitated a glazed donut up to her mouth and opened her mouth. “This is the worst Gala ever. We most definitely ruined this year’s Gala. Shoeshine fighting Blueblood, Roseluck got arrested, Trixie accidentally starting a riot, me getting into a verbal fight with Twilight and-”
“Oh I wouldn’t say that,” Celestia said behind them as they spun around and stared to bow as Celestia stopped them with a hoof. “No need for that my little ponies.”
“What do you mean? This Gala was awful!” Sunset said as Celestia sat next to her. “We definitely ruined it.”
“Sunset, the Gala is always awful,” Celestia chuckled as the others gave her confused looks.
“Wait what?” Roseluck said as she lifted her head and Berry handed her a water. “Thanks. How is it always awful?”
“The same stuffy nobles trying to gain favor every year, Blueblood being annoying, me getting bored every year. I invited you and your friends to liven things up a bit and well, you didn’t disappoint. And I did hear about a certain fight with my nephew,” Celestia said as Shoeshine blushed and sheepishly looked away.
“Yeah sorry about that. I may have over reacted a tad,” Shoeshine admitted.
“A tad is an understatement,” Silverspeed snarked as Celestia shot her a smirk.
“I’d be careful. Some maids were telling me about hearing an odd amount of moaning and cursing coming from a bedroom,” Celestia said casually as Silverspeed turned bright red.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Uh huh.”
“So why not just tell us to liven things up?” Sunset asked as Celestia bit a donut. “Might have made that a bit easier.”
“What’s the fun in just telling you? This is more entertaining for me and you know I’m always a bit secretive,” Celestia explained. “Now shush and enjoy your donuts. And I expect a letter from you when you get to Ponyville what you learned about friendship tonight.”
“Yes Princess,” Sunset bowed her head slightly. “Hey, we’re friends?”
“Yeah,” Berry shrugged as she laid on the floor. “You got me outta jail so thanks for that. Anypony who does that is immediately my friend. Anything you need, I’m here for you. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”
With a faint smile, Sunset turned to the rest of her friends and mentor to finish talking about the rest of their nights.