Bounding ahead of Twilight, you do your best to maintain your excitement. “You're going to love it here Twi'! They've got this great sound system with any kind of song you can think of and the lyrics right there if you don't know them off the top of your head! And even better, it's couple's duet night with a prize and everything!”
“It definitely sounds like it's-wait, couple's duet night?” Twilight asks. “You mean, like, we both get to sing?”
“That's what I said, sugar,” you say as you break into a little skip.
A small grin starts to creep across Twilight's mouth. “How long have you been planning this?” she asks with a giggle.
“Oh, not that long,” you say nonchalantly.
Twilight gives you a little smirk as you walk her up to the door of the club. “So, what song are we going to sing?”
Digging into your wallet, you give the large stallion blocking the door a few bits and a nod. “That's the fun part,” you say as he steps out of the way. “The song is chosen at random. It isn't about the song itself, but the harmony of the couple. The better the harmony, the higher the judges score you.”
“Huh... Sounds like fun,” Twilight says you lead her into the bar. “Oh! There's Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash!” she says as she points to a nearby table.
“Well there you are, you slowpokes!” Pinkie says as she almost splashes her drink. “We've been waiting for like, ever!”
“Yeah, what took you so long?” Rainbow asks as you and Twilight sit down.
“He had to stop by the bank real quick and get some spending money,” Twilight says as she nods in your direction.
“Oh, well, We ordered drinks for you already,” Rainbow says as she points to the two glasses of tomato juice in front of you.
“You mean I ordered drinks already,” the white unicorn says sullenly. “I had no idea things were so expensive here! I've already spent thirty some odd bits already on drinks and that doesn't even include what I had to pay the bouncer to get inside.”
“Oh hey, sorry about that,” you say as you reach for your wallet. “Let me pay you back and a little extra for the rest of the night.”
“No, you don't have to,” the white unicorn says in protest “I-”
Before he can finish you pull out a silvery bit and place them on the table in front of him. As soon as he sees them, he stops talking and simply looks at them in surprise. “That's a one hundred bit piece...” he says dumbly.
“No way, lemme see!” The brown stallion next to Pinkie says as he leans across the table. “Damn... Is it real?”
You watch as the white unicorn bites onto the edge of the bit, only to have his eyes go wide. “It is! Where did you get this?” he asks you in shock. “The only pony I've ever seen pull out a hundred bit piece was this old codger I had visit me in Manehattan who tried to hire me as his personal doctor.”
Realizing your folly, you do your best to cover your ass and explain it away. “Well you see, I-”
“Jumping jingling Jimmie-He's got like eight or nine more of those in here!” Pinkie says as she looks into your wallet.
Slowly, Twilight turns to you, her mouth slightly agape. “Nine hundred bits? That's spending money?” she asks in complete shock.
“What are you, loaded or something?” Rainbow asks as she starts to scrutinize the money.
Looking all around and realizing all eyes are on you now, you let out a heavy sigh and take a long sip of your tomato juice before leaning back in your chair. “Yeah... I know what you're thinking and you're right. I'm loaded. Filthy rich, even,” you say with no modesty. “I take it you aren't going to let this go until I tell you the whole story, right?”
“Well, I doubt I could forget about it,” the white unicorn says as he pockets the silver bit “So-”
“So spill the beans already! How'd you get all that money?” Rainbow finished for him.
With a heavy sigh, you jingle your wallet and drop it on the table. “This? This is the tip of the iceberg. In Ponyville Bank alone, I have enough money stashed away to keep me living comfortable for years and years to come.”
“Where'd you get all that money?” Twilight asks.
“Years back, when I was just a colt, I found a lottery ticket in the dumpster,” you say with a stupid grin. “Call it dumb luck or divine grace, but I checked the numbers and found myself with more money than what I knew what to do with.” Taking another sip of tomato juice, you let out a content sigh as you take a trip down memory lane. “I had hoped that this wasn't some sort of big cosmic joke, because I spent what little money I had left on a carriage to Canterlot to claim my prize. Luckily, the ticket was legit and I was the first kid to win the Equestrian Powerball. Twenty-five thousand bits.”
Everyone's jaw seems to drop at the number.
“Twenty five thousand...” Rainbow says above a whisper. “You must have bought so many toys with that kind of money!”
You almost choke on your tomato juice as you laugh aloud. “Oddly enough, no. I was living on my own at the time. With my dad gone, I had to take care of myself. Life was hard before I won the lottery, but with that kind of money, I realized I could actually have a nice home. So I started to make some renovations; fixed the leaky roof, remodeled the kitchen, got all new appliances, actually stocked up the fridge and pantries for the first time, and by the end of it all, I still had enough money to keep me well off.”
“Wait...” the white unicorn says with a puzzled look. “You said 'In Ponyville Bank alone'... What did you mean be that?”
Dear Celestia, I feel like such a big-shot mogul... Control your ego, you say as you mentally slap yourself.
“Well, after fixing up the house and buying a few... Luxury items, I was visited by a pony named Trump Card, he-”
“Isn't he that big shot business guy with the bad toupee?” Pinkie asks as she plays with her straw.
“Yeah, he is,” you say with a bit of a chuckle. “He actually came to my door and introduced himself as a financial advisor and said with his help, I'd had my own mansion, yachts, and butlers waiting on me hoof and foot.”
“What did you do?” Twilight asks.
“At first, I declined. I didn't want anypony I just met handling my money. But he was persistent and by the end of the day, I agreed to his terms and invested ten thousand bits in him. I didn't see anything for a year and I seriously thought he ran away with it to some beach resort on Summerset Keys.”
“But he came back, didn't he?” the brown stallion asks. “Otherwise you wouldn't be talking so fondly of him.”
“Well, yeah. He did come back a year later with a stack of papers, explaining I was now the major shareholder of EqTrak, invested in three inventors who created three best selling products, and had real estate in Canterlot that most ponies would pay a small fortune to have. When he showed me just how much I had made, I nearly lost it. After all those years of struggling to pay the bills and working long nights, I could move somewhere nice and live my life the way I wanted to. And I almost did.”
“Why didn't you?” Twilight asked with a puzzled expression.
“Because I was already happy,” you say with a content smile. “I got up early, had a nice breakfast, went to school, hung out with my friends, and came home, ready to start the next day. On weekends, we hung out, smoked a bowl or just had the times of out lives. What fun is there in have your own butler if he wasn't going to laugh or call you his buddy? I'd rather be surrounded by my friends than things.”
Pinkie holds up her glass in a toast. “Here-here!” she says with a smile. “To friends!”
“To friends.” everyone echoes as they toast.
Just as you finish your glass of tomato juice, Rainbow pokes at you to get your attention. “Hey, where did you work exactly when you were a kid? You never really went into that.”
“Oh, I worked at Sug-” You feel your breath catch in your throat as your eyes pass by Pinkie Pie, who was looking at you expectingly, waiting for you to finish your sentence. “I-I don't want to talk about it. It's embarrassing,” you say, hoping she'll drop it. Unfrotunately, Twi' buts in and lets the cat out of the bag.
“What do you mean 'embarrassing'? What's embarrassing about working as a janitor for that little bakery you were telling me about? The one owned by that nice couple?”
All at once, Pinkie's eyes go wide and she gasps aloud. “OH! MY! GOSH!” she cries. “I knew I recognized you from somewhere!” she says as she reaches out and grabs you before you can shrink away. She looks you over before smiling from ear to ear. “You're that little night cleaner the Cake's hired when I was just a little filly! It's been way too long!”
You feel yourself go completely red as she wraps her hooves around your neck and bring you in for a tight hug.
“You know him Pinks?” Rainbow asks with a giggle as you try to squirm out of her embrace.
“Uh-huh! We used to be good friends! He even had a crush on me and didn't even know I knew!” With that final statement, you feel your face go so blush, you thought you were going to pass out from embarrassment.
Both Twilight and the brown stallion looks to you and Pinkie before finally opening up there mouth. “What?” they asked in unison.
“Yeah! He really really liked me! I figured it out when he got all awkward and red around me one day and I waited, hoping he'd just come out and ask me out or something, but he never did! Which is too bad, because he was really cute back then and I probably would have said yes if he did, cause-”
In one swift movement, the brown stallion grabs a hold of Pinkie breaking the hug. “We need to talk,” he said as he began to drag her off to a corner of the bar.
You try not to look to Twilight, but you can already hear her open her mouth and you knew she was going to say the same exact thing. “You don't even have to say it,” you tell her as you get to your hooves. “Just lead the way.”
Without a word, Twilight gets up from the table and leads you across the club floor to one of the darker corners, where she sits down at one of the booths. As soon as you sit down, you open your mouth and start explaining as quickly as possible. “Twilight, you can't hold it against me. I was just a colt, for Celestia's sake! I didn't even know you back then and it was just a crush and even then, I-”
She holds up a hoof and you stop talking as she takes a deep breath and looks to you with those big, soulful eyes. “I'm not mad at you for having a crush on her. I know you don't feel anything for her anymore. You weren't trying to hide it because you liked her. You were hiding it because you didn't want things to get awkward.”
You nod quickly, surprised how easily she picked up on that. “Spot on, sugar,” you say with a chuckle. “I love it when you go all 'Detective Sparkle'.”
Twilight doesn't seem to react at your little quip and instead just keeps her eyes locked with yours. “I'm still mad at you.”
“Mad? Mad at what?” you ask nervously “I thought-”
“No, I thought you'd tell me these kind of things. I mean, I had my suspicions about the money thing, but you were also hiding that you knew Pinkie already and...” she says with growing irritation. “If you're hiding this much from me, then what else are you keeping a secret?”
“Nothing!” you cry defiantly. “I didn't want to tell you because I thought it'd muck up our relationship...”
“How so?” Twilight asks curiously.
“Last few girls I dated got all crazy and clingy when I told them what I told you guys. It wasn't about love anymore, it was about money. I've lost too many girlfriends AND friends because of that. And I didn't know how you'd react if I told you I had a crush on your best friend. I figured it was all water under the bridge and I didn't want to much up anything and... And... And I don't wanna lose you.”
A small smile starts to creep across Twilight's face before she puts a hoof around your shoulder and draws you in for a hug. “Oh you crazy colt, you. I don't care about that kind of stuff. And you're not going to lose me, I promise.”
A weight seems to have been lifted from your chest as you take a deep breath. “Oh thank Celestia...”
“But you can't hide stuff from me like that, okay?” she says strongly. “I'd tell you anything, you should do the same.”
“Alright... I promise...” you say as you wrap a hoof around Twilight and squeeze back. “We should really get back to the table... They're starting to stare.”
“Okay then,” she says before giving you a quick peck on the cheek. “Let's go enjoy ourselves.”
As you get to your hooves, something occurs to you. “Hey Twi'? What did you mean when you had your suspicions?”
Twilight simply smiles at you. “All the times we've been talking about a child, not once did you bring up how we were going to support them. Which meant either a, you already had that covered and it didn't even cross your mind or b, I seriously misjudged you.”
“Why didn't you think it was b?” you ask out of curiosity.
“Well, I had considered it, but I believed in you,” she says with a smile. “You're better than that.”
You feel yourself blush slightly. “Thanks.”
Sitting back down at the table, you notice Pinkie and the brown stallion smiling and acting better to each other than earlier. “Got everything sorted out?” Rainbow asks as you get yourself comfortable.
“Yup, we're good. What about you two?”
Pinkie looks to you with a smile. “Yeah, we're good, too. I just got a little lost on memory lane,” she says with a giggle. “Sorry about that.”
“Oh, no biggie,” you say as you reach for your glass. “Now come on, let's enjoy ourselves. I'm on my second glass of tomato juice and starting to get hungry. Let's order our food and you know what? It's on me. Order whatever you want.”
“Really? For reals-ie?” Pinkie asks with a twinkle in her eye. “Like, anything I want, really?”
You simply shrug as you get the attention of a nearby waitress. “Sure, go nuts.”
“Oh boy, you're going to regret saying that,” the brown stallion says with a stifled laugh. “She's going to eat you out of house and home.”
All you can do is laugh aloud. “Good luck.”
The brown stallion gives you a funny look before nodding. “Oh yeah, I forgot who I was talking to.”
“Can I still order anything I want, right?” Pinkie asks with a hopeful smile.
A teal unicorn finally makes her way over to you and sets a stack of menus in the center of the table before she brushes a golden lock out of her hair. “Hi, I'm Jubilee and I'll be your waitress. What can I get you folks tonight?” she asks as she levitates a pad of paper and pen in front of her face.
Browsing the menu quickly, you opt for something different than your usual and pick something at random.
“How's the three cheese ziti tonight?” you ask Jubilee with a smile.
She smiles back and takes a step forward. “Fresh. Just saw one of the chefs pop it in the oven, love. Gonna be about thirty minutes, though.”
“Oh, not a problem dear. We were going to do some karaoke anyway, right gang?”
Twilight nods as she finishes off the last of her tomato juice. “Yeah... Hey, may I get a refill?” she asks as she holds up her empty glass.
Pinkie Pie holds up her empty glass and shakes it a bit. “Another bloody marry for me! Extra EXTRA vodka!”
With a shrug, you push your glass into the center. “I could go for a refill myself, sure.”
Jubilee gives you a smile before looking over to Twilight. “And what about you all? Need a moment?”
“I'll have the spinach and strawberry salad,” Twilight says as she puts the menu down.
“We'll split your coltpania pizza, if that's no trouble,” Rainbow Dash says with a smirk. “And a side of garlic bread,” the white unicorn adds.
Jubilee jots down the order quickly before turning to Pinkie Pie and the brown stallion. “And you two?”
“Well...” Pinkie says with a sly grin. “For an appetizer, I'd like a bowl of strawberries, the sliced banana, and a bowl of melted chocolate. For a main course, can I get the spinach and feta pasta with buttered noodles? Oh! Can't forget about desert either! I'd like the banana split in cherry sauce with extra whip cream! You got all that?”
Jubilee blinks a few times at Pinkie's order before looking back up at her. “You going to want a doggy bag when you're done there, sweetie?” she asks with a dry chuckle.
Pinkie shakes her head. “Nope, I plan on eating it all here!”
She doesn't press further and instead turns to the stallion beside Pinkie. “And what can I get you?”
“Oh, uh... How about spanakopita? Whatever that is...” He says with a little blush.
“That's the spinach and feta-cheese pie, topped with phyllo dough, then? Alright-y then. You folks just enjoy yourself and I'll be back with your drinks soon.”
As Jubilee makes her way back to the kitchen, she turns back and gives you a little wave. You wave back before turning back around and leaning on the table.
“Alright then... Who's singing first?”
Rainbow gives you a funny look. “Wait, you were serious about the singing thing?”
“Well of course, Rainbow,” Twilight says with a giggle. “This is a karaoke bar. Where's the fun in not singing?”
Both the white unicorn and Rainbow Dash shoot each other a look before turning back to you and Twilight. “We'd rather not.”
“Oh, how come Dashie?” Pinkie asks with a little pout.
“I-I just get all nervous when preforming in front of a crowd,” the white unicorn says bashfully.
“And I'm not that good of a singer, I don't think-”
“Oh come on Dashie,” you say teasingly. “It's a karaoke club! The majority of ponies here can't sing very well and are just as nervous as you!”
Rainbow wiggles nervously in her seat. “I don't-”
“What are ya, chicken, Dashie?” Pinkie asks teasingly.
In an instant, Dash leans forward and glares at Pinkie Pie. “What did you say?”
“You heard her Dashie, she said you're chicken!” you say egging her on even further, stretching out the word 'chicken'.
Dash turns bright red before grabbing a hold of the white unicorn and dragging him towards the stage. “Come on, we're doing this.”
“But I don't wanna!” he cries in protest.
With a final heave, Rainbow drags the white unicorn onto the stage and pushes him up to the microphone.
Just as Rainbow and the unicorn take their place, Jubilee comes back over with the refills and sets a glass of tomato juice with a celery stalk in. “Here ya go, hun.”
“Thank ya sugar,” you say as you go to take a sip. Out of the corner of your eye, you see Twilight stare at you with an odd look on her face. “What?”
“N...Nothing,” she says uneasily as she sips her drink.
In one smooth motion, you put a hoof around Twilight's shoulder and draw her a little closer. “What's wrong?”
Twilight shakes her head before inching away. “I said it's nothing,” she declares firmly.
Looking back up at the stage, you watch as Rainbow and the unicorn are given lyrics to the song by one of the passing waiters.
“Do you want to sing next?” you ask as you try to snuggle closer. “I bet you've got a singing voice like an angel.”
Twilight giggles at the compliment before moving a bit closer to you. “I don't want to brag, but I was the lead singer back in the College of Canterlot's music program.”
“So, is that a yes?” you ask as you bring your glass to your mouth.
Twilight gives you a quick peck on the cheek before giggling. “It's a yes.”
You nod dumbly as you take a rather large swig from your cup, only to cough heavily as it runs down your throat.
“Are you alright?” Twilight asks as she puts a comforting hoof on your back.
Shaking your head, you rub the tears out of your eyes as the juice hits your stomach. “Didn't think tomato juice was that strong...” you say in-between the coughs.
Pinkie bangs on the table excitedly as she motions towards the stage. “They're about to start!”
Clearing your throat for a final time, you turn your attention to the couple. “Guess they're finally ready,” you say with a final cough.
The lights dim slightly as Rainbow and the unicorn walk up to the microphones; in the back you hear a piano start to play a sad tune.
After a few moments, Rainbow Dash opens her mouth and glances at the lyric sheet before her voice carries a soulful melody.
“You don't bring me flowers, You don't sing me love songs...”
The white unicorn shifts nervously as he picks up the next part, his voice carrying the same soulful song.
“You hardly talk to me anymore, when I come through the door at the end of the day...”
Rainbow Dash's face softens a bit as she sings the next part before glancing over at the white unicorn.
“I remember when you couldn't wait to love me... Used to hate to leave me...Now after loving me late at night...”
The unicorn seems to calm down a bit as he actually starts to get into the song.
“When it's good for you, babe... And you're feeling all right...”
Dash's mouth hangs agape slightly before she continues the song with even more passion before.
“When you just roll over and turn out the light... And you don't bring me flowers anymore...”
Rainbow Dash and the unicorn keep going back and forth, their singing getting more confident and stronger as the song goes on until it reaches the crescendo. As soon as they finish, the crowd of ponies clap loudly for the couple as they make their way back to the table, rather solemnly.
“They don't look to happy...” you say aloud as you nurse your drink.
Taking her seat, Rainbow Dash sits rathes slowly. “So... Yeah... That was fun...” she says rather dryly.
“Yeah, fun...” The unicorn says idly as he stares off into space.
After a few moments of awkward silence, the unicorn gets to his feet and starts walking towards the exit.
“Where are you going?” Dash asks as she sits up abruptly.
“Don't worry, I'll be right back,” he says as he makes his way for the exit. “Just enjoy yourself.”
“I'll go with him,” the brown stallion says as he gets to his feet.
Pinkie watches as the brown stallion starts after the white unicorn. “Yeah, you better do that...”
You watch as Rainbow's face twists in agony as the white unicorn leaves the club with the brown stallion hot on his heels. “No no no no no...” she says as her eyes tear up.
“Hey, hey, hey,” you say as you get to your hooves. “What's with all the tears?”
Walking over to her, you put a hoof on Rainbow's back and comfort her as she starts to cry her eyes out. “He doesn't love me anymore, I just know it...” she says with a sniffle. “We haven't been as lovey-dovey as we've usually been and he's been acting distant and-and strange and-”
Grabbing a hold of Rainbow, you stop her and bring her face a few inches in front of yours. “Hey. Quit freakin' out.”
“But-”
“No buts. You... Are lucky,” you say as you out a hoof around her shoulder. “And you are an amazing mare. And that's not just because you're bi-curious,” you say with a chuckle.
Rainbow Dash blushes heavily before shrinking a bit in her seat.
“You're amazing because you two are in love and you love each other so much, you want to spend your entiiiiiiire life with him. And he wants to do the same. You understand now?”
Rainbow Dash nods meekly, still blushing from the 'bi-curious' statement.
“Then you have no reason to worry. He said to enjoy yourself, so enjoy yourself,” you say as you reach for your glass of tomato juice. “And if he said he's going to be back, then he's going to be back, so just chill.”
“Yeah... Yeah, you're right. I should just chill out. He's a straight forward guy, anyway. If something bugged him, he'd tell me,” Rainbow says with renewed confidence. “Yeah, I shouldn't worry.”
“Now you're getting it.” Throwing your head back, you finish off the last of your tomato juice and set on the table. “I don't know what they're putting in these, but it's good!”
Scooting over to Twilight, you put a hoof around her shoulder and draw her close. “Nothing's stronger than the force of love.”
Her eyes widen a bit before she pushes you back. “Except maybe your breath,” she says before waving a hoof in front of her face. “What is that smell?”
Putting a hoof in front of your face, you breath onto it before taking a whiff. “Whew!” you say as you shake your head. “I smell pickled.”
“Well that explains it!” Pinkie declares as she pushes her drink towards you. “I'm on my second one of these and I'm not even buzzed!”
Holding up a hoof, you get the attention of the waitress again and wave her over.
“What can I get you, hun? A refill?” she asks with a spring in her step.
“Lemme ask you something...” you say as you point to yourself and Pinkie. “What are we drinking?”
Thinking for a minute, she points to Pinkie's drink first. “She ordered the tomato juice and you had the bloody marry #3.”
“Nuh-uh,” Pinkie says as she holds up your glass. “I wanted one of these and he had the tomato juice.”
“Oh I'm so sorry!” Jubilee cries. “I could have sworn it was the other way around! I hope I didn't cause too much of a problem.”
“Well,” Twilight says as finishes the last of her tomato juice. “You did get my boyfriend rather drunk,” she says, putting emphasis on boyfriend. “And he's not really himself right now, so our night has been ruined, so we better-”
“Well hold on here,” you say as you butt into the conversation. “First off, I'm more tipsy then drunk. Second, it wasn't her fault, I should have noticed something at least and finally, our night isn't over yet, so nothing has been ruined.”
Reaching for your glass, you give it to Jubilee with a smirk. “Why don't you get me an actual tomato juice, this time love and we'll forget about this whole mess, right Twi'?”
Twilight folds her hooves into her chest before sighing heavily. “Fine, whatever.”
Jubilee lets out a sigh of relief as she collects yours and Pinkie's glass. “I am so sorry about that. These two will be on the house, kay honey?”
“Thank ya darling,” you say as Jubilee saunters back to the bar.
Looking over to the stage, you nudge at Twilight. “Hey, the stage is empty. Let's go have some fun, shall we?”
“...Alright, fine.” Twilight says with a tired look. Slowly, she gets up from her seat and you follow her all the way to the stage as you and her step up to the microphone. Within a few moments, a brown earth pony walks up to you with two pieces paper.
“You have five minutes to look over the lyrics to get yourself ready before the music starts,” he says rather plainly. “The song is 'I've got you babe'.”
Twilight lets out a squeal as a giant smile spreads across her face. “Oh my gosh, I love this song!” she says as she puts the lyric sheet down. “I know it by heart.”
You can't help but smile at Twilight's excitement. “Then we've got this in the bag.”
Glancing over the paper, you mouth the highlighted parts of the songs labeled 'Him'.
Seems simple enough... you say as go over your part for a final time.
Just as before, the lights of the club dim until only you and Twilight stand in the spotlight. All at once, the sound of a scratched record fills the air before an upbeat tune starts to fill the air.
With a smile, Twilight opens her mouth and sings into the microphone, her voice carrying with it a beautiful melody.
“They say we're young and we don't know... We won't find out until we grow...”
You stumble a bit with the words, but manage to carry on the next part of the song.
“Well I don't know if all that's true, 'Cause you got me, and b-baby I got you...Babe”
You new for the next part that you and Twilight had to sing, so you turn to her and sing the next part with her.
“I got you babe I got you babe.”
Twilight turns to you as well, but she wasn't smiling. She was wearing this almost annoyed look as she tried to carry on the song. And that's when you realized it.
Oh crap, how loud was I singing?
You lower your voice a few octaves and start singing again, but sure enough, you found yourself growing a little louder each line.
When the song finally ends, you get a few half-hearted claps from the audience.
“I-I'm sorry,” you say sheepishly as you step off from the stage. “I guess I'm not as good singer as you are.”
“I'm surprised you could hear me over yourself,” Twilight says sharply as she make her way to the table.
“Gee Twi', don't bite the guy's head off,” Pinkie says as she dips one of her strawberries in chocolate. “It wasn't all bad.”
Rainbow nods as she reaches for one of Pinkie's strawberries. “Yeah, you two were pretty cute up there.”
“...Thanks,” Twilight says as she takes her seat. “I was just hoping that it'd be just a little more...”
“Little more what?” you ask as you sit down beside her.
Twilight lets out a quiet sigh before smiling.”Nothing, it's nothing.”
Grabbing a hold of your drink, you take a quick swig before letting out a heavy sigh.
What else can go wrong?
Looking over to the kitchen your spirits lift a bit when you see Jubilee step out with plates of food that looked familiar.
“Foods here,” you say with a half smile.
“Sorry it took so long,” Jubilee says as she sets the platter down. “We have just been swamped with orders tonight.”
“Oh it's not a problem,” you say as you take the three cheese ziti from her. “How's the food?”
Rainbow looks soulfully down at her pizza. “Yeah... It's-”
She stops suddenly as a bouquet flowers are thrusted into her face. “Don't ever say I don't bring you flowers,” the white unicorn says with a grin.
With a wide smile, Rainbow wraps her hooves around his neck and hugs tightly. “Oh you... I love you.”
Sitting down next to Rainbow, the unicorn's smile drifts away before he takes a deep breath. “I have a lot to tell you tonight. Stuff I have to get off my chest that I haven't been telling you.”
Rainbow's face contorts a bit. “Is it bad?” she asks above a whisper.
He simply shakes his head. “No, nothing bad. Just stuff I haven't been telling you.”
As the brown stallion next to Pinkie, you give him a little smile as he sits down.
“What took you guys so long?”
“Do you know how many flower shops are open at nine at night?” he asks with a deep sigh. “Not a lot. We had to track down one of the owners to open up shop.”
“Sounds really dedicated,” you say as before taking a bite of your ziti. As it hits your stomach, you feel your head spin as your stomach does flip flops in protest.
Easy stomach... you think as you do your best to keep a straight face. I might have had a little too much to drink.
Grabbing a hold of your drink, you take a sip only to stop and take a deep breath. Putting the glass down, you run a hoof down your face before pushing it aside. Rotten.
“How is everything?” you ask before forcing another fork full of ziti down your throat.
“Really good!” Pinkie says through a mouthful of pasta. “And my bloody marry actually has the bloody part instead of just the marry!”
“This spanner-toka or whatever it's called is actually really good,” the brown stallion says with a smile. “I might just have to ask them for the recipe.
“Oh, this takes me back,” the white unicorn says as he wipes some cheese from his face before turning to Rainbow. “Remember when I brought home your first coltpania pizza and you burned yourself?”
Rainbow giggles before licking the sauce from her lips. “It smelt really good, I couldn't wait.”
Turning to Twilight you give her a smile as she inspects every inch of her dinner. “Oh come on Twi', stop interrogating it and actually taste it.”
“I will!” she says as a blush climbs up her face. “I'm just... Savoring the moment.”
Finally, she levitates a fork into the air and into the salad before guiding it into her mouth. You watch as a smile breaks across her face as she chews it. “Oh wow, you were right, this is really good! Here,” Twilight says as she gets another forkful “try some!”
You feel your stomach roll again and open your mouth to decline, but the look on Twilight's face stops you.
“Please?” she asks as she moves the fork a little closer to your mouth. That loving look on her face was all she needed.
“Oh alright,” you say as you open your mouth.
One more bite couldn't hurt...
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You spit into the toilet before flushing it for a final time.
Ugh... There goes my thirty-bit meal... you think as you step out of the bathroom stall.
Walking over to the bathroom sink, you run the water for a few seconds before craning your neck down and taking in a mouthful of water and swishing it around.
You spit it out with a shudder as the acrid taste of vomit leaves your mouth.
This night has been horrible... you think as you step out of the stallion's room. You stop dead in your tracks as you almost run into your blond haired waitress.
“Oh, uh.... Jubilee was it?”
Jubilee nods nervously. “Y-Yeah... Listen, I just got word that the tomato juice I served you was left open all night and went bad and I wanted to apologize and I hope you aren't mad-”
Holding a hoof up, you stop her before worrying her self to pieces. “Calm down, dear. The night wasn't ideal, but it wasn't your fault.”
“I know, I just don't know if my manager knows that,” she says as her eyes begin to swell with tears. “I mean, this is a new job and I don't want to get fired-”
“Calm. Down,” you say as you grab her by the shoulders. “You aren't going to be fired.”
“But-”
“Gimmie that pen and paper you have,” you ask with an open hoof.
“Why-”
“Just do it.”
Slowly, Jubilee takes out her pen and her pad of paper and gives it to you with some measure of uncertainty.
You quickly scrawl your name and a series of numbers before giving it to her. “You call this number if you have any problems. The owner here owes me a few favors.”
Jubilee's spirit seem to lift as she looks over the number. “Oh thank you so much!” she cries as she wraps her hooves around your neck. “Oh! I'm sorry! What can I do to make it up to you?”
“Seriously, stop apologizing,” you say with a chuckle. “All I need is the check and I'll be happy.”
Jubilee blushes a bit before nodding. “Alright. I'll get it to you lickety split!”
And with that, you watch as she bounds towards the register with a kick in her step.
“Glad I could make someone happy,” you say as you make your way back to the table where Twilight sat by herself.
You cringe slightly as she fixes her gaze on you. “Feeling better?” she asks as you sit down.
“...A little.”
“Why didn't you tell me you were feeling sick?” Twilight asks with a hint of anger.
“I didn't want to spoil the moment,” you say as you shift uncomfortably.
“Yeah, and almost puking in Rainbow Dash's lap is really romantic,” Twilight says sarcastically. “She's still freaking out about it!”
“I said I was sorry! It's not my fault-”
“No, it's that waitress' fault; the one you're defending!”
“It was an accident! I'm not going to make a big deal out of something as little as a mix up!”
“First she gave you Pinkie's bloody marry and then she gives you rotten drink,” Twilight says with a scoff. “Yeah, that totally doesn't sound like incompetence.”
“What is wrong with you?” you ask with a hint of worry. “I've never seen you act like this.”
“Well, I was hoping this night would be romantic. I didn't mind when you invited other people along. I didn't mind when you got tipsy. I didn't even mind when you messed up my favorite song!” she cries, making you visibly flinch.
“But I mind when you're all over my best friend, saying things to her, hugging random mares you've never met, flirting with them, and-”
“Uhm... Your check?” a stallion says as he butts in-between you and Twilight. As he puts it on the table, your heart sinks as your eyes reach the bottom of it.
“Twi', it's not what you think!” you yell as her eyes go as wide as dinner plates.
Thanks again for your help. I thought I'd give you my number in return.
-Jubilee
XOXO
Without a word, Twilight gets up and makes her way for the door.
“Twi', wait!” you yell as you chase after her. “Wait!”
Stopping mid stride, Twilight turns to you, her face twisted in rage. “How could you?” she asks sharply. “I'm right there and you're giving out your phone number to barroom floozies!”
“She isn't a floozy!” you cry “And more importantly, I wasn't hitting on her I was-”
“Really? It looked like you were hitting on her from my side! Calling her dear and. sugar... and...” and....” Twilight's eyes start to tear up as she starts to visibly shake.
“I thought you said you loved me!” she cries. “But you're hiding things from me! You're lying to me, you're doing things behind my back...”
“Twilight-”
“You really are your father's son!”
The words feel like a buck straight to the gut as you crumple to your knees.
Twilight's breath catches in her throat as she realizes what she just said. “I'm so-”
“No.” you firmly. “No you're not.”
Getting to your hooves, you do your best to hold back the tears as you walk towards her. “I tried to show you a good night and this is the thanks I get? I try to make you happy and this is the reward?”
You shake your head as you walk past her. “I take everything back.”
“Well so do I!” Twilight screams. “I thought you were special!”
You hold your ground as you make your way home as you feel your heart break every time Twilight lets out another sob.
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You fumble with the keys for a moment until you finally find the right one and unlock your front door. As soon as you make your way in, you finally breakdown and let the tears free as you put your back to the door and slide down slowly until you hit the ground.
“I fucked up.”