//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7: Shattered Dreams 
// Story: Equestria: Awakening 
// by Fighterx345 
//------------------------------//

	'Hnnnngh, my head....'
It was some party last night. After I gave my short speech, my memory devolved into a blur.
'I shortly remember meeting Twilight's friends (and that... uncomfortably placed image of my troops in my mind), but something happened after that. Something, ugh, I can't remember. What was it...? Oh, OH.'
'...Pinkie Pie.' I sighed.
Pinkie Pie brought out this concoction once the younger members of the crowd went home. It was this odd combination of partially dissolved gelatinous candy and a very high-proof alcoholic beverage.
'Leave it to Pinkie to create something to knock you on your ass after two shots,' I mused. 'And of course, it had to be candy-themed. Nothing else could be more fitting for her profession, appearance and demeanor.'
I remembered tasting the mixture - 'quite sweet, but pleasant to the senses overall' - and then... nothing.
'Great. Gods, where am I, first of all? And... why is my shirt off?!'
I felt my bare chest in the dark room I was in. Once my vision adjusted (and my pounding headache subsided a little), I noticed my shirt, lumped up in the corner. I got up, grabbed it and-
'EUUUUGHHHH... It smells like gumdrops and vomit!' I wrinkled my nose and looked around.
I was standing barefoot in what looked like a guest room. I looked back at my violated article of clothing, and began to piece together what happened. I forced thoughts through the haze of what Sully amiably refers to as 'weekend weakness'.
'Okay... let's see. What would rationally have happened after I got heavily intoxicated? ...Oh, duh.'
The state of my shirt gave one occurrence away in an instant.
'So, I definitely had more than my fill of drink. They don't have anything that strong back at Ylisse, though. It's all regulated. ...I'll have to ask Pinkie later whether that stuff she makes is even legal.'
I racked my brain.
'Well, this is Twilight's home, and she seems to be a gracious enough hostess. Once it became apparent I was done for the night- I wrinkled my nose at my shirt again -she probably took it off for me (surely at the length of her magic instead of by hand) and put me in a guest room to sleep off the alcohol.'
I shook my head and chuckled a bit. I looked at the bed I was lumped in beforehand.
'My soldiers would have a field day with me if they figured out I couldn't hold my liquor. I'm not normally this weak-gutted either; these ponies must be able to handle some strong stuff.'
I pondered the thought of allowing Nowi to get drunk the next time we hold a celebration.
'She's definitely old enough, but I'm not exactly sure how her body would react. Huh, let's just be sure to keep her Dragon Stone out of reach during such events.'
I brought my mind back to my current situation, but found there wasn't much else to think about.
'I guess there's nothing much else to do but sleep until morning. I can talk to Twilight about getting into contact with this Princess Celestia then. And... it's been a while since I've slept in an actual bed. I guess I should just appreciate the res-'
I froze as I was crawling back into the bed. I noticed that the other half of the bed was already taken, occupied by a certain female equine.
I was in bed with Twilight.
"GAAHAAAAAHHHH!"