//------------------------------// // Don't Drink the Punch // Story: The Loser's Booth // by Pickleless //------------------------------// When she had started, Elmer was resting his head back against the booth's cushion. It was hard to tell if Electric was even awake or not. Now, Elmer and Electric were sitting up and giving her their full attention. Throughout the Story Elmer frequently winced or looked at away nervously. Occasionally he let out a snarl of anger or frustration. Electric was either bouncing on the edge of his seat with barely contained energy muttering to himself; Or, he was sitting back with his whole body limp, eyes half closed. All the while, well, muttering to himself. Celes finished with her head hanging low. Looking at her milk with contempt, she rolled a thought around in her mind. Deciding it wasn't worth thinking too deeply about, she rang the bell at the end of the table. Fine Wine quickly showed up with a smile and asked how he may serve them. Giving him a rather plastic smile back, Celes cleared her throat. "Mr. Wine, would you be so kind as to bring me about three glasses of your sweetest riesling, and a glass of moscato?" Fine Wine frowned. "Sorry Sweetheart, but I'm afraid you're a little too young to drink." "I appreciate your concern, Mr Wine. I'm afraid to say the quality of my life has already hit its lowest point. I'm afraid all a couple glasses of wine would do would help me forget the inevitable for a short while." Fine Wine stared into her eyes for a few seconds, then sighed. Within a few minutes, four glasses of Dessert Wine was presented to her. Celes roughly downed the glasses of Riesling. Then, with the grace of the canterlot elite, she daintily lifted the glass of moscato gently rocked it. Occasionally taking a slow sip while staring at it. Holding it up to the light while deep in thought. Her cheeks started to look rosy. "I suppose the most depressing part." Celes began, "Is that I cannot grow as a pony. Even if I were to summon the courage to march back to that mental ward and apologize, it wouldn't fix anything. The next day, or perhaps maybe a week or two from now, I'll just break out and think I'm Celestia in some changeling conspiracy again. Any effort made to improve myself with be wiped clean and forgotten. My whole life...Her whole life, Celestia was raised to improve herself constantly. Failure was the worst thing imaginable, but success, swelled her heart with pride. And here I am, a mentally unstable little filly sitting a bar drowning my sorrows." "Celestia mentioned medicine, didn't she? It's not all hopeless." Electric said, scooting over and patting her on the back. "If can come visit you, if you like, I wouldn't mind making the trip daily." Celes smiled, and took another sip of her moscato. "I appreciate the encouragement. But I won't have the comfort of knowing you or that I take medicine soon. Then again, maybe I will. I have no clue how this works at all." Elmer quietly stared at Celes. He was sick of it. He should be correcting her. It was the nice thing, no. It was the right thing to do. Elmer didn't know how this could end happy, even if he lied till his tongue fell off. But he was so tired, of being the bearer of bad news. He was tired of telling ponies bad news he had nothing to do with. He was tired to getting involved in bad news that wasn't his fault. And most of all, he was tired of being the cause of bad news for just trying to fix things. All he wanted to do was preserve the peace. After tonight, Equestria will fall, and there will be nowhere to run to. "Am I Celestia?" Elmer looked back at Celes, he was about to reply when he saw the look in her eyes. A steely gaze, one that warned against any nonsense or jokes. But Elmer knew better, he could feel the pure fear in the question she asked him. He was something of an expert on feelings, a bit of a racial advantage of his. This time, he opened and closed his mouth multiple times at her, before deciding one simple word. "Sorta." Celes stared back in confusion and anger "Sorta? What does sorta mean? Am I Celestia or not?" "It's complicated." Elmer said, in a very broken down voice. "I can't really gave you a straight yes or no." Celes took a couple deep breaths, before opening her eyes. "Well then. Would you like to go next Mr. Elmer?" "I'd rather not." "You rather not?" "Yeah." Celes glared at the indifferent seeming changeling. What did he mean rather not?!? Did he ever plan on taking a turn? Frustrated, she continued to just breathe slowly, the alcohol was helping in one way, but it wasn't helping her keep her temper in check. She was better than this, she was-... Not Celestia. Maybe, that stupid changeling has given false hope and just let it lie there with no conclusion. 'Maaaaybe you're Celestia. MAAAAAAAAAAYBE.' You can't just say 'Maybe.' and drop the matter. "Mr. Elmer, please. I would really like to know what relationship I have with Celestia." "I'm sorry." Elmer said, looking down. "I just need a little bit more to clear my thoughts. Celes pursed her lips. "Very well, we have all night." Celes took another sip from her moscato, forcing herself to think. 'He's had a bad day, we all have had a bad day. You'll know soon, just keep it together.' The silence was breaking her. "Mr. Koolaid, would you like your turn now?" Celes asked, praying to herself. Well, Celestia, maybe, that he'll take her mind off all of this. Electric whipped his head up, with a crazed look in his eye. "WITH FATE AS CRUEL AS IT CAN BE. A LITTLE FILLY LOST IT'S RIGHT TO LIVE FREE! WE ALL SIT HERE, FALLEN APART, BUT ALL OUR STORIES FIRST HAVE TO START! IT'S TIME TO SIT BACK, CAUSE MY BEATS ARE WELL MADE! IT'S TIME FOR THE STORY OF ELECTRIC KOOLAID!!!" Looking up, Fine Wine silently cast a spell on the booth preventing any sound from coming through. Feeling a headache coming on, Celes started to regret asking for his tale.