//------------------------------// // Night at Hoofers // Story: The other side of friendship // by Norman_Steel //------------------------------// The restaurant was one of the most liberal places in all of Equestria, with mares that were unusually easygoing and stallions looking to score a quick hit and run. Of course there was the occasional noble mare who wanted nothing more than to earn money for her family, and the mare looking for his one true love in the land of colts and abuse. Blanc found it quite disgusting to say the least, the mere thought of a mare selling herself for simple desires filled him with a great feeling of repulsion. Sadly, it was the only place he could afford at the moment; at least he would if the bartender gave him a special discount as a farewell present. As soon as the couple entered the establishment, Blanc felt the oppressive aura of lust and desire. Luckily this was one of the quiet nights so there were only silent costumers around; He looked at Derpy for reassurance and sure enough she was smiling and laughing without a care in the world. "The less she knows about this hellhole, the better." thought Blanc to himself while smiling. As he was looking around for a place to sit a lime colored mare interrupted his view with a big fake smile. “Hello Sherlock! Where would you like to sit today?” asked a lime mare while smiling slightly, she was wearing the traditional uniform of the establishment and she was the only waitress working for the night. “If I had a bit every time I heard that….” Thought Blanc with his pride hurt. “Uh… we’ll take any place.” Said Blanc while looking around the restaurant, there was only one pony in a trenchcoat, a couple of guys talking by the corner and the manager walking around. The lime mare then whispered in his ear. “How about you sit between my legs cutie pie?” “How about no?” replied Blanc as he glared at her and took Derpy to a table by the corner, Derpy felt sorry for the mare since she seemed kind of sad and she swore she saw her cry a bit. "Poor girl, I think she just needs a hug. Maybe we can invite her over here and be friends." thought Derpy as she looked around the establishment. It wasn't anything special but it certainly was somewhat cozy and warm. It was an amusing scene for any bypasser, at one end there was the gray pony who was observing every detail Hoofers had to offer, and on the other side there was a pony who thought the menu was similar to a treasure map. No words were spoken between them, although Derpy did establish a good conversation with the waitress and both seemed to be having a good time; much to Blanc's annoyance. "I can't let my friend become someone like her!" thought Blanc to himself as he glared at both mares. “So Miss Hooves, how have you been doing here in Trottingham?” asked Blanc idly as he finally made eye contact with Derpy. “Oh! I’ve been doing very well! Except for the smog clouds, they’re very bad for flying and I end up coughing up there. Not to mention that the muffins here taste weird and all the people are very mean to me sometimes, but my boss is a very nice mare so that makes me very happy!” said Derpy as her eyes looked at both the lime pony and at Blanc. “Very different from Ponyville don’t you think?” asked Blanc while chuckling at his friend’s joy. “Yes! It is way too big! Trottingham should learn a thing or two from Ponyville!” Said Derpy as she started to look for muffins on the dessert section of the menu, "It would certainly help if it was smaller." said the lime pony with a weak voice. "It would also help if ponies here had a sense of morality and weren't as easy going." said Blanc as he glared at the lime mare, causing her to gulp slightly. Out of the blue he felt a growling sensation from his stomach and blushed heavily while begging not to be heard by the mares. "Damn it noodles, why now?" thought Blanc to himself. "I'll be right back." said Blanc as he ran off to the restroom with a look of total despair written over his face. Leaving Derpy and the mysterious mare all alone much to his regret. Derpy was having the time of her life with the lime mare, she was the second friend she had made since she arrived at town, not to mention she was very nice to her. "Why were you sad earlier miss?" asked Derpy; earning a look of sadness from the mare. "Miss Hooves... hold on to this." said the mare as she deposited a flash drive in her mailbag. This confused her for a moment but then had the thought that this was a gift from a new friend. "Thank you! I will!" said Derpy as she smiled widely and started clapping her hooves while giggling. "Yay! She's very happy!" thought Derpy happily. "Would you like to hang out with us tonight?" asked Derpy with a wide smile. The lime pony suddenly started sobbing in front of her and hugged her tight, confusing Derpy for a while. Before anyone knew what happened, the lights went out for a moment. Derpy was confused as to why the power had failed only in this building, she suddenly felt the lime pony get stiff and felt some warm liquid in her hand. "Are you ok friend?" asked Derpy while nuding the pony. "Who turned off the lights?" yelled a male voice. Blanc had just finished his business in the restroom when the lights went out, his first thought immediately darted to the common electrical failure in the area so he didn't hurry up much. "After all, the lights should come back any minute." thought Blanc to himself as he started washing his hooves. As soon as the lights turned back on he walked out of the restroom and was greeted by a rather nasty sight. The lime mare was lying on a pool of her own blood directly in front of Derpy, a knife sticking out from her back and the blood was still flowing. Blanc had to maintain his stomach under control in order to not throw up, “What the hell was that?” yelled one of the costumers who stared at the scene. "Oi! It's the cross eyes! She's done Linda in the back that's what she did!" yelled the manager as he pointed the hoof at Derpy, whom was rather busy crying her soul out over the body of her recent friend. Blanc quickly looked at everyone at the scene and started thinking to himself about what to do, until the thought hit him. His friend was the prime suspect of a murder case. And he was the only one who could prove her innocence. "Alright you ponies, nobody move. I got this." said Blanc in the most secure voice he could manage.