Just Another Night in Old Canterlot - by Loam's Author
Crisp Dawn walked down the streets of Canterlot, aimlessly searching for something to do. He was Stuck in town till tomorrow afternoon, when his Airship would depart back to his port, where is ship awaited him. He’d come to Canterlot for an award ceremony, after which his captain had told him to go out and have some fun while here.
Problem was, he didn’t know anypony here, nor did he know where anything was. He’d left his hotel and asked a few of the locals where the bars were, thinking he could at least sit and have a pint or two.
His hooves carried him past countless streets and buildings, each a marvel of architecture, until he reached an area less ornate. The buildings looked half normal here, and seemed like normal ponies might live and work around them.
Hearing music, he followed the sound. After a few turns, he found himself on a street full of music and light. The buildings seemed to all be bars, and ponies laughed and drank all over. A few bands had even set up in the street, and were playing fast, flighty music.
He walked through the crowd, looking for a place that caught his eye. A small little pub that had a Gryphon and Pegasus fighting painted on the window caught his attention. The name under the picture read ‘The Fighting Flyers Pub’.
Good place as any. He thought, and and stepped inside. The interior was dim, and smelled of whiskey. There were an assortment of ponies at the bar and at tables scattered about. Mostly working class by the looks of them. A row of booths along one wall was mostly empty, with only what appeared to be a few couples sitting and drinking, involved their own conversations.
He walked to the bar, and gestured for a pint from the bartender. The bartender nodded and continued his work, serving drinks to the ponies that had come before him. He stood at the bar, waiting for his drink, and looked around. There were three stallions at the end of the bar, all with several empties in front of them. They seemed to be talking to a short mare next to them. From the expression on her face she seemed to not be enjoying the comments.
The bartender put his drink down in front of him, getting his attention. He passed over the bits for it, and looked back to the end of the bar. The short brown mare had stood up and seemed to be angry. She tried to get away from the three, only to have one of them grab her, and pull her close.
“Woah, hey!” He shouted as he ran over, pulling her out of the stallions and getting between the mare and the stallions. “Whats going on here?”
“Thiss ain't none o’ your business, get oudda here!” One of the stallions said, a slur to his words.
“Yea, us and this girl here were just talkin.” Another said
“She doesn’t seem like she wants to talk to you.” Crisp said, with a look behind him at Loam, who had backed away a bit.. Her face wore an expression of annoyance. When he met her eyes, the annoyance turned to embarrassment, and she looked down at the ground.
“You want me to get rid of these guys for you?” Crisp asked.
“Hey, you can’t just step in here and…” One of the stallion began to say. His sentence was cut short when a rather large Stallion with a scar across his face and a vest with the name of the pub on it walked up to them.
“Do we have a problem here?” The newcomer asked in a deep voice.
“Yes, we do. These three stallions were harassing this mare.” Crisp said, before any of the stallions could react.
“Were they?” The large stallion growled. He looked at the three drunks, and glared.”I’m gonna have to ask you to leave. Now.”
“Who do you think you a-” One of the stallions tried to say, before his companions grabbed him and jerked him towards the door.
“Fine, we’re going. Aint no need for that.” One said, as he pulled his friend out the door.
“Sorry about that,” The large Pony said in a more normal voice. “We’ll make sure they don’t come back anytime soon.” With that he nodded to Loam and Crisp, and walked away.
“Well, um, that was....” Crisp said, looking at Loam.
“Nice of you. It was nice of you.” Loam said smiling at him. “Would you sit with me at that booth? She asked pointing at an empty booth. “You can ward off anymore drunks for me.”
“Um, sure.” He said, as Loam walked over and sat down. He slid into the booth opposite of her. An uncomfortable silence fell as they sat there.
“So, What brings you down to a place like this?” He asked, trying to ease the awkward tension.
“I came here to meet a friend of mine, but she’s late. This place was her idea.” Loam said, then sighed. “I’d rather be back at work honestly.”
.“Oh? What do you do for a living?“ he asked
“Well, I’m a grave digger.” Loam said. “I dig graves at the Lower City Graveyard.”
“Really? I know some ponies from there. Not the graveyard, but the Lower Quarter. I sent one or two back there too, for burials.” Crisp said, a frown coming to his face, as he thought back to his fallen friends.
“Oh,” Loam looked down at her mug, and awkwardly took a sip. “Well, If you come by tomorrow, I could find them for you pretty easily. I’ve memorized the names there pretty well.”
“That would be nice actually.” Crisp said, smiling at the thought of getting to pay his respects before he left. “Thanks.”
“So, are you in the military?” Loam asked. There were only two professions you sent ponys home dead from, and the military was the far more likely of the two.
“Yeah. I’m a Lieutenant in the R.E.N.” He said.
“Oh, A sailor…” Loam said, her ears drooping a little.
Crisp Dawn Noticed, and asked “What’s wrong”
“Well, see, um,” Loam stammered, trying to find the words. “Well, I guess I just don’t understand how you can go sailing like that.”
“What do you mean?” Crisp asked, his head tilting to the side.
“How can you stand to be off land? Out on the water. With it everywhere. Nothing under your hooves but a few sheets of metal and a watery abyss…” Loam shuddered, and stomped on the floor a few times, for reassurance.
“Well, the ships are pretty sturdy. And we all learn to swim. SO even if we do fall over board, we can still swim back to the ship.”
“I could never do that. Leave land I mean. The earth under my hooves is what keeps me sane. Knowing it’s always there, no matter what. It’s there, so so is everything else.”
“I, uh, Guess I never had to think about it. I’ve always wanted to be a sailor. I grew up in a port town, so I could always see the ocean. I’ve dreamed of riding the swells since I was tiny. The ocean has never bothered me.”
“Well, you’re crazy then. The ocean is terrifying. Not as bad as the sky, but still, ugh.” Loam said, with another shudder, and a glance at the ceiling.
“Wait, the sky? Why is that scary?”
“Oh hey look it’s my friend!” Loam said, quickly changing the subject. “Hey, Wild Thyme! Over here.”
A Green pegasus pony walked to their table from the door, and smiled at them. “Hey Loam, who’s this cutie.” She said, with a wink at Crisp.
Loam rolled her eyes as a faint blush came to Crisp Dawns face. “He chased off some unwanted attention I was getting. Figured he’d be better company while I waited for you than THEM.” She said with a gesture to the bar, where several stallions were laughing and drinking.
“Well, Glad he showed up then. Wouldn’t want poor defenseless Loam to get prayed upon now would we?” The pegasus said, then slid into their booth next to Crisp, making him scoot over a little bit. “So are you gonna introduce me or am just gonna have to call him Handsome all night?”
“Ah, my names Crisp Dawn. She makes It sound far cooler than it was. I just told some Drunks to shove off.”
“Well, I’m Wild Thyme, and If that’s what you’re looking for tonight, just stick by Loam and me. Once we get a few drink in her we’ll have her dancing on tables.”
Loam Blushed and Put her head down on the table. “Goddess, one time. One time, and your labeled for life.”
“Heh, Ladies, I’m sure you had your own plans. I wouldn’t want to intrude on them.” Crisp said, with a small laugh.
“Nonsence. We came out here to meet stallions, and we seem to have found one.” Thyme said with a grin.
“You CONVINCED me to come out here tonight, with the promises of free drinks and chocolate. Never said anything about meeting no ponies.” Loam said, still with her head down.
“Well what else would we be coming to THIS place for, other than meeting handsome stallions?” Thyme retorted.
“Free Drinks.” Was Loams reply.
“Well, those come with the stallions.” Thyme said. “So how ‘bout it handsome, You wanna tag along for the night? There’s this lovely club I’ve been wanting to check out, and you’d make a lovely addition to our party.”
“Well, I guess I didn’t have any other plans..” Crisp Dawn said, then shrugged. “Sure, sounds like fun.”
Loam picked her head up from the table and smiled. “That mean we’re leaving this hovel?”
“Yes, yes, We’ll go now.” Wild thyme said, Getting up, and letting Crisp follow her.” And it’s not a hovel. It’s a perfectly nice pub.”
“If by respectable you mean filthy, and by pub you mean hovel, then you’re spot on.” Loam said as she got up and followed her friend and Crisp towards the door Leaving a few bits on the table. “So, Are we going to another one of those Jazz clubs, or are we going to listen to good music?”
“Jazz IS good music you uncultured swine. Tell her Crisp, tell her jazz is great.” Thyme said, with a ‘hmph’. They kept bickering about music as they walked out the door.
What have I gotten myself into? Crisp thought, then grinned, and followed.