//------------------------------// // Another Round // Story: For Queen and Crazies // by Mcstuffins //------------------------------//         Four years, four blasted years, and I still couldn’t stand that mare’s shouting. Every single day with the dragons, and the parasprites. What qualifies her to run around town yelling about that kind of stuff, shes a librarian! Anyway, after having my mid-afternoon nap interrupted by a certain lavender loon, I managed to drag myself out of bed. Just a few more months, I thought hopelessly, then, it’s straight back to the cavern. I aimlessly shambled down the hall and into the dimly lit living room, making the executive decision of not potentially blinding myself via opening the shutters. Afterall, I wouldn’t want anypony peeking in on me naked. ...Did that really apply to ponies? Might as well get some breakfast while i’m up, I thought dully. My body was quickly washed in green flames, changing chitin for a grey coat, and my eyes and mane became an amber color; I was now ‘Diffused Reflection,’ the glass blower. I cracked open the door, and let my eyes adjust. Taking my first tentative steps outside, I took off towards my favorite place to grab some lunch, the park. My mouth was nearly watering by the time I got there; just the thought of a lovestruck couple, or a family picnic was enough to get my stomach...thing grumbling. In fact, I was so focused on the park, I forgot that my disguise had no reason to actually BE there. Yet more executive decisions were made. Using my complicated and mysterious methods of ‘change all of the colors!’ I disguised myself as a local resident, and continued my hunt. Fear me, the mighty green unicorn; your benches have been conquered!         Once I finished my elegantly crafted, oh-so complicated plan, composed entirely of sitting on my plot and staring at nothing, I managed to scrounge up some emotion from the ponies around me, while simultaneously making the Bench Mare look like a huge creeper. Sorry Minty, I thought, whilst metaphorically stroking my metaphorical cat of metaphorical evil, looks like you’ll have to...sit this one out. I know, i’m a wizard when it comes to puns, so don’t feel too jealous. Time to head out to work. Just a few more months. 0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o   Another day, another successful operation; I suppose. Now, it was time to unwind after that exciting day of staring at sculptures and not making a single sale. Contrary to popular belief, changelings are completely capable of eating and digesting conventional food sources, luckily for me, this meant I had a genuine reason to visit one of the few ponies I could actually speak to without gagging on the inside, (don’t ask me how the whole food thing works, I always assumed it was just black magic; perhaps a complex system of trapdoors…?) Anyways, I arrived at the bar early, so I would have to deal with other patrons. After quickly changing back into my disguise's ‘skin’ in an alleyway across the road. I approached the front door of the slightly run-down looking bar, and counted my bits. Confirming that I did indeed have enough money to stay and drink for a while, I entered the building.          “Evenin’, anything I can get for ya pal?” Spoke a slick voice, belonging to a stallion standing behind the wooden counter. The whole building had a rustic look to it, but certainly wasn’t what I would call a shoddy bar. I honestly couldn’t remember what dragged me here the first time, but I hadn’t come to regret it. “Uh, you alright kid, or are ya just gonna stare at me all night?” He asked with a smirk you could hear. I realized that I had attracted some attention from various grizzled ponies at the counter. Stepping into the light, I responded. “Just here for the usual Lucky, you know the drill.” I still remember the first time we met, he told me I had a ‘tired look’ about me. “Always buisness with you, Diflex, I remember the laughs we used to share.” He said, jokingly. “Yeah, yeah, cry me a river you old softy.” I said; a smile adorning my face as I seated myself at a booth. I decided to scope the place out while I waited for my order. Generally speaking, so long as you didn’t bother anypony here, you could drink in peace and go home stumbling and slurring like an idiot. Apparently, this mare hadn’t gotten the memo.          “Uh, h-hello there! I was wondering if I could take a seat.” she said trace amounts of hesitation in her voice. From what I could see in the dark, she had a shocking pink coat, and a burgundy mane. Every other booth appeared to be seating at least two customers, and she did look like she needed a strong drink.         “...I suppose you could.” I said, trying to convey the ‘I don’t want to talk to you’ message as lightly as possible.         “Thanks, sorry for the bother, i’m new here.” She gave me a sheepish grin. I rolled my eyes at that. She sat down, and not long after, Lucky arrived with my drink in tow.         “A bottle of Everfree Vodka for the fine stallio- oh! Whats this, Diflex; finally get a special somepony?” Lucky said with a sly grin, eying my ‘guest.’         “Oh shut up, you. I trust my ever-so experienced bar-tender didn’t forget my glass?” I said, returning the grin when I saw his smug expression drop right off his muzzle.         “Uh...of course not! I’ll just be a moment, I think I hear my pride calling!” He said, rushing off to the counter once again. The mare across from me was looking at my drink; shock written across her face.         “You drink a whole bottle of that stuff by yourself!?!” She asked in a hushed yell, trying not to bother the booths around us.         “You talk this much to every stranger you find?” My voice was starting to betray more annoyance than i’d like.         “Well...no, it’s just tha-”         “If I let you drink some of this, will you stop talking...please?” I interrupted. She looked like I had bucked her in the face.         “I-I guess so.” She said, sounding hurt. Great, now I feel awful for asking. A sigh escaped my lips, as I rested my forelegs on the table.         “Look, I didn’t mean anything by it. Can we just quiet down a bit miss…” I trailed off, hoping to catch a name, and not a slap from the mare.         “Berry Punch. S-sorry for all the noise, I wasn’t really thinking straight.” She said with a weak laugh. I nodded, deciding that she wasn’t all too bad in comparison to some of the other nutjobs here.         “Diffused Reflection.” Hearing the name come from my left, I looked over to see Lucky giving me a disapproving look. “You aren’t scolding this fine lady here, now are ya?” He asked, pouring Berry a drink from my bottle before I could get a word in edgewise.         “Diffused Reflection? That’s a bit of a mouthful.” Berry added, looking toward me with a confused look as Lucky hoofed her the glass.         “Thank you, Lucky. Now if you would kindly blow it out of your a-” I spoke through clenched teeth.         “Don’t ya get cross with me, mister. I won’t stand for ya yappin’ at such fine customers.” I certainly didn’t appreciate the interu- is he flirting with Berry? “Oh, he really wasn’t sir. I came in and bothered him first.” She said, not so much humbling herself as she was defending me. I was starting to like this mare, and strangely enough, I think Lucky was doing it on purpose. “Didya now? Because, I seem to recall this stallion tellin’ you to shut yer yapper straight to your face ma'am, and I won’t stand for it!” He said, very obviously exaggerating now; going as far as using hoof gestures, and intensifying his accent. “Alright Lucky, I think it’s about time you ‘shut yer yapper’ as you so eloquently put it.” I stood from the booth, and swiftly made my exit. Realizing that I had forgotten my bottle half way across the road, I decided i’d rather go home sober tonight. This whole town was absolutely insane, and I think it was starting to rub off on me; for some strange reason, I couldn’t stop thinking about that mare. Confound these ponies, they drive me from drinking!