Fool Moon, Part 20 (Liquid Honesty)

>"EWWWW!"
"Mmmph?"
>"Hrrmmmph!? SWEETIE!?"
>To your immediate irritation, your second kiss breaks abruptly and dramatically.
>You look at Sweetie Belle, and she cringes, for good reason.
>Your glare could melt solid steel.
>Rarity sees you glaring at her cock-blocking little sister and smacks you in the face.
>You smack her flank.
>"ANONYMOUS!"
>"EEWWWWWWW!"
>Sweetie Belle makes a horrified face and gallops out of the room.
"What'd I d-"
>Your protest is cut off with a sharp buck to the head.
"OW! But I-"
>"No."
"But we-"
>"No!"
>You sigh, and Rarity sniffs.
>"Really, Anonymous, in front of Sweetie!? After a KISS!? What kind of pony do you think I am!?"
>You admit you could have misread the situation a bit. Who could blame you, considering where you came from?
"Gotta chase the rabbit if you want the tail."
>"What was that!?"
"Nothin', Marshmallow. Something Mom used to say."
>Rarity's face softens a bit.
>"Ah. I will refrain from prying then. But you WILL go apologize to Sweetie Belle."
"Yes, massah!O' course massa, won't happen again!"
>You both smile, and you swing your way out of the bed, groaning.
"Ugh. Feels like I got run over by a chariot!"
>Rarity laughs as you groan and stretch, working the stiffness out of your limbs.
"So about that reward..."
>You smirk, but Rarity's already walking away from you, her head held high.
>You sigh and start walking to the door to go find Sweetie Belle, when a magical grip on your shirt stops you.
>"Maybe later."
>You gape, and she smiles at you before trotting away.


>Hate to watch her go, but love to watch her leave.
>What the hell, body? She's a horse!
>A booty is a booty, brain. Besides, you weren't saying that when you kissed her.
>Shut up, body.
>Focus, Anonymous. Sweetie Belle!
>Gotta make sure the kid's okay, after all.
>You stretch one last time and hop out of bed.
>You weren't joking, you really felt like shit.
"Hey Sweetie?"
>You limp out of...
>Wait, who's room was this, anyway?
>You crane your neck around from outside the door, noting the massive mirror, the sewing machine, the bed...
>Okay, that was Rarity's room. That was her bed.
>You'd been conked out on her bed for God knows how long.
>You'd been on her bed the whole time...leaving her with nowhere to sleep.
>The simple selflessness of it strikes you all at once.
>You feel your chest tighten as you look at the rumpled bedsheets.
>Had she slept on the couch? Waited up for you to recover?
>What if she'd slept in the bed with you?
>The tightness in your chest transforms suddenly into an all-together different feeling.
>No way. That'd be creepy.
>You chuckle to yourself and then wince as your chest sternly reminds you that chuckling is for faggots.
"Sweetie Belle?"
>"I'm in here."
>You shuffle to the sound of her voice, careful not to fall down the stairs as you make your way towards her room.
"I'm coming in, okay? We need to talk."
>Silence.
>You hear the sound of hooves shuffling around on the floor and a few things being moved around, and then silence again.
>"Okay, come on in!"
>You open the door.


>Sweetie's room is...nice. Just as fancy and dressed up as every other part of the house.
>But Sweetie...
>She's standing in the middle of the rug, glaring up at you.
"Hey...Sweetie Belle. Listen, I wanted to apologize for...uh..."
>What would Rarity say?
"...For possibly traumatizing you for life, yeah. I didn't know you were in the room."
>She raises an eyebrow.
>"So you would have done that icky gross grownup kissing if I WASN'T in the room?"
>Smart kid. You hated smart kids.
"...Yeah, actually."
>"Ewww!"
"Oh come on, don't be like that! When you get to be your sister's age, you'll be kissing guys just like that!"
>"No I won't! Boys are gross! And that's just pony boys! You aren't even a..."
>She trails off, and you tense.
>Harsh, kid. Real, real harsh.
>"...Sorry, Anon."
>You smile and give her an awkward one-armed hug.
"Let's just, uh...both apologize, alright?"
>She eyes you carefully.
>"No more gross stuff?"
"Not when you're around."
>Her snout scrunches.
>"...Fine!"
>You start laughing, and Sweetie Belle continues glaring at you for a bit before giggling.
>Then Sweetie bursts into laughter, and the pair of you are off like a rocket.
>Eventually you both run out of air, and you just collapse on her bed, still laughing.
"O..okay...we cool?"
>She giggles again.
>"We're...uh, cool."
"Oh, quick question, Sweetie. How long was I out? What happened?"
>Sweetie evades your eyes.
>"Well..."
>"It's a long story."
>You glance up at Rarity, who's leaning in the doorway and smiling.


>You sit up, and Sweetie Belle jumps in surprise.
"Well, what happened then? I've got time. How long have I been out?"
>Sweetie Belle kicks at the floor with her hoof, evading your eyes.
>Rarity gives a gentle cough.
>"Around three days. When the Princess found you in that glade, you were barely clinging to life."
>Three days.
>Not so b-
"What about Blueblood? And that crazy bi-I MEAN that purple mare with the spear? What about the dragon?"
>"Celestia took care of the dragon, of course. After you...after you did whatever you did, Sparkler let go of me and went rushing into the glade. I came after, along with a squad of suddenly un-cursed Royal Guard. We found Blueblood looming over your unconscious body. The Guard arrested him on the spot and helped me take you home."
"Arrested!? Hah! Serves him ri-"
>"It didn't stick, unfortunately. Blueblood bought most of the judges and is now scot-free, along with that crazy purple companion of his."
"Well shit."
>"Anon, language!"
>Sweetie shrugs.
>"It IS pretty shitty."
>"Sweetie! Where did you learn such a horrid expression?"
>"Scootaloo."
"Hah! I like that kid even more now."
>Rarity glares at you.
>"Yes. Well. As I was saying, Blueblood is free and clear. His reputation is damaged beyond repair with the Royal Guard. Shining Armor called him a scoundrel and a coward when he heard about the incident."
"Who's Shining Armor?"
>"The Captain of the Guard, of course."
"And the necklace? What happened to it?"
>"...Necklace?"
>You look at Sweetie Belle, who seems to be avoiding you even harder.
"That pendant. The thing that made Sweetie.."
>"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about."


"FUCK. FUCK GOD DAMN ASS PISS CUNT MOTHERFU-"
>"Anonymous! STOP!"
>"I don't think he can hear you, sis."
"-SON OF A BITCH COCKSUCKING SHI-"
>Rarity sighs.
>"Sweetie, put your hooves on your ears and turn around."
>"Why?"
>"Icky gross adult stuff."
"-FUCKING HORNED ASS LICKING MILK DRINKING FA-"
>Rarity's horn glows, and she pulls you forward, right into your third kiss of the day.
>Third in your life, really, if you count kisses that meant anything to you.
>Needless to day, it shuts you up.
>"Ewww!"
>Rarity pulls back, and turns around to shout at Sweetie.
>"I told you to turn around!"
>"I DIDN'T LISTEN!"
"...Can we do that again?"
>"NO!"
>"NO...maybe."
>You and Rarity grin at each other, before the white mare gasps.
>"Oh, I almost forgot! Anonymous, Pinkie had something planned for you when you woke up!"


"Something planned?"
>"Oh, yes. A little get-together at Sugarcube Corner. A 'thank you' for saving Sweetie."
>You raise an eyebrow.
"Get together?"
>Rarity rolls her eyes.
>"Fine, if you must. A party, then."
"Sweet, let's get going."
>You hop up, smiling at Rarity's expression and Sweetie's nose scrunching.
>"Anonymous, you are..."
"Unique? Amazing? Lovable?"
>"Insufferable."
"You know you wouldn't have me any other way."
>She smiles, softly.
>"No, I suppose I wouldn't."
>Sweetie Belle makes vomiting motions into her hoof.
>"I'm going to go find the Crusaders. You guys are grossing me out!"
>Sweetie trots out of the door, grumbling to herself.
"Jeeze, she acts like she found us fu-"
>"DON'T. Anonymous. DON'T."
"Yes'm."
>The pair of you make your way to do the door.
"So about this party, will there be booze?"
>"I should hope not."

 Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTLWgtQJfqs
>There was booze, and it was good.
>You hold up your sixth mug of cider, shouting to a room full of ponies.
"ALRIGHT, WHO'S NEXT!?"
>The mint-green unicorn who was your opponent slips out of her chair, burping and swaying from side to side.
>Ponies, as it turns out, have an incredibly low tolerance for booze.
>To you, this shit might as well be water.
>"Ooh! Me, me, me me me me me! Pick me!"
>You turn around and point at the bouncing ball of pink party fluff as it weaves it's way through the crowd.
"Alright, Pinkie then! Come on up!"
>Rarity, who's sipping a Maretini daintily on your left, pokes you with her hoof.
>"Anon, you really don't want to do that. The only pony who can out-drink Pinkie Pie is..."
>"NOPONY, THAT'S WHO!"
>Pinkie Pie leaps over your head and plops down in a seat across from you, grinning from ear to ear.
"Good thing for me I'm not a pony, hey?"
>"Really, Anon, this won't end well."
"I got this."
>Rarity sighs and goes back to her Maretini.
1 HOUR LATER.
>Alright, Rarity wasn't lying.
>Your fingers have a tingly feeling, and you feel sort of...loose.
>You're a bit tipsy, yeah.
>But Pinkie...
>"Another! Another!"
>To your shock, Pinkie reaches for her seventeenth cider mug.
"You can't be serious."
>"I warned you, darling."
>Rarity sips her Maretini.
>Pinkie lifts the mug, giggling...
>And promptly passes out in a pile of mugs and cider.
>"H...How."
"So I win, then?"
>"That's....Anon, nop0ny's beaten Pinkie except..."
>"Me!"
>You turn around at the new challenger.
>"And ah ain't lookin' to get shown up by some ape tonight."


>Applejack.
>Rarity turns around and puts her head in her hooves.
>You lean over and whisper to her, a bit confused.
"Uh, what's with the hostility?"
>Rarity doesn't look up, talking from behind a pair of marshmallow hooves.
>"Rainbow had a little...chat with Applejack. They aren't very...fond of you. Or me right now. Or...us, in general."
"Us?"
>"US."
>Oh.
>OH.
>You swivel around back to Applejack, grinning.
"Alright, AJ."
>"Don't you call me that. Only mah friends call me that."
"I'm not your friend?"
>"I ain't friends with liars and thieves."
>Ouch.
"Okay then, Applejack. You want it to be that way, it can be that way. Have a seat."
>The orange mare walks towards you through the suddenly quiet party room.
>You swear until your dying day you saw a little tumbleweed blow across the booze-soaked floor of Sugarcube Corner.
>Applejack takes her seat carefully, adjusting a pair of saddlebags.
"So, you ready?"
>AJ glances around at the empty cider mugs.
>"Sure am, partner, but let's git rid of all this sissy stuff. Cider's fer fillies."
>You raise an eyebrow.
"Didn't your farm brew this ci-"
>"T'aint the point. We're gonna use a real drink."
"What constitutes a real drink to you?"
>She reaches a hoof into her saddlebags and pulls out a dark brown bottle of...
"Applejack Daniels?"
>"The good stuff. You ready?"
"Bring it on."
>She puts the bottle on the table and pulls out two shot glasses.
>You pour, and the pair of you take a drink.
>It's like swallowing apple-flavored fire, but you don't dare gag.
>"Had enough?"
"Hell no, keep it coming."


Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX4qZtwHgcE
1 HOUR LATER.
"But now the rains weep o'er his hall, with no one there to hear."
>You launch into the last verse, rocking back and forth, holding up your latest shot of Daniels and belting out the music.
"Yes now the rains weep o'er his hall,and not a soul to hear..."
>You trail off at the last part, drinking the shot.
>Rarity, who's now deep into her fifth, Maretini, stares at you with wide, glazed over eyes.
>"Wow. Where'd ya learn that song, Anon?"
>You laugh to yourself.
"Drunk nobles, back home."
>Applejack blinks blearily at you from her side of the table.
>"But whassit mean?"
>You snort.
"Ask them, and it's 'bout punishment. 'Bout a man gettin' rebellious and gettin put down for speaking wrong to his betters. But thas not it. Not really. It's 'bout vengeance. And strife. 'Bout a reckoning. 'Bout bein' made to pay for all you did. Station's got nothin' to do with it. It was two men, two different men, men of opposite natures, clashin'. And one of them was called to account for the wrong he'd done."
>You stop talking, biting your lip.
"Happens to us all, in the end."
>Rarity's eyes are as wide as saucers. It looks like you shocked the drunk right out of her.
>"I didn't know you could be so...eloquent."
"I'm a talky drunk, what can I say?"
>Applejack snorts.
>"Sounds like a load a' horseapples."
>You glare at AJ.
"Huh?"
>"Well you ain't been made to pay for what you done, have ya? How you lied? How you stole? Where's yer reckoning, huh?"
>You glance at Rarity, who's studiously ignoring AJ, and then back at the farmpony.
"S'not me that's gettin' made to pay over all this."
>AJ snorts again and pours her drink.


1 HOUR LATER.
>Applejack's crying into her cup.
>"Ah jus' didn't want Rarity ta get hurt! Ah'm so sorry!"
>You're bawling right along with her.
"I didn't know what to do! I couldn't jus tell tha truth! Who'd believe me? What'd happen if I did?"
>AJ reaches out with a fumbling hoof and tries to hit you across the table.
>"Ya coulda told us! We're her friends! If she vouches for ya, we'da listened!"
"Like yer listenin' now!?"
>She lets out an angry snort.
>"What's that supposed ta mean!?"
"You came in here, ruinin' a good party, just to hurt me an' Rarity worse!? Where do you get off, huh?"
>"Why I oughta..."
>The farmpony kicks at the table, spilling both of your drinks, and you get up, fists clenched.
"Oughta what, hillbilly?"
>"Oughta kick yer teeth in, scum!"
"Jus' try it! I'll-"
>"ENOUGH."
>The both of you freeze as Rarity's horn glows, putting you sloppily back in your seat and knocking AJ's hat off her head.
>"You're both...both drunk!"
>You look at Rarity, noting the redness of her snout and her glazed eyes.
>AJ blurts it out before you can.
>"Ye ain't sober yersself, Rar."
>"I'm...perfectly foine, thak you. Jus' a bit tipsy."
>Rarity had actually passed the point of "a bit tipsy" an hour ago.



"She's right though. We don' need to be fightin'. If you and yours don' like me, okay. I can handle it. Jus' don't hurt marshmallow over it."
>"Marshmallow?"
>AJ raises an eyebrow, and Rarity's face turns a bright, beet red.
>Appplejack gets a sly look on her face, and Rarity sinks in her seat
>"Awwright. Okay, Anon. Ah won't hurt yer little 'marshmallow' no more. Anyp0ny who can keep up with mah drinkin' earns that much."
"Good, das great!"
>"Buuut...."
"But?"
>AJ pulls out the third bottle of Daniels.
>"But'cha gotta promise me. No more of this lyin' and sneakin' around. We're her friends, Anon. We worry 'bout her. An' we didn't even know aboutcha until.."
>Rarity sniffs, offended.
>"Can I not...not speak for myself, here?"
>"No. You ain't thinkin' straight."
"No more sneakin'. I promise."
>Rarity and AJ both turn around, surprised.
"I won't hide from you. I love 'er, I don't care who knows. You and yer blue-assed coward of a friend gotta problem with it, take it up with me. Don't hurt her over it."
>Rarity blinks, surprised, while AJ's jaw drops.
>"Did'e jus' say what ah think 'e said?"
>Rarity blinks again, her face growing even redder, before her eyes roll up in her head and she faints on the table.


>Fortunately, her mane manages to avoid any pools of cider or spilled Jack.
>AJ shakes her head.
>"Hoboy. That's...oh boy."
>The farmpony shakily gets to her legs, and you follow her, stumbling out of your chair.
"Wha? Wha'd I say?"
>"Nothin' wrong, loverboy. Yer 'marshmallow's' gonna be right pleased and real embarassed when she comes to."
>You smile.
"Good. That'll be funny."
>You laugh, and to your surprise, AJ joins you.
>The pair of you stumble over passed out ponies and pools of liquor as you make your way to the door.
>"Well, ah can't say t'was a pleasure, but 'm glad we had this talk."
>You grunt in the affirmative.
>AJ holds out her hoof, and you reach out and grab it in a firm shake.
>"Jus' don' hurt her, okay? Swear ya won't."
"I won't. I swear I won't."
>The farmpony smiles and releases you, trotting away.
>"Good. You dun' hurt Fluttershy enough."


"What?"
>AJ keeps going, whistling to herself as she drunkenly trots into the night.
>What the fuck was that about?
>You spend about thirty seconds thinking about it, but realize you are way too drunk to even...
>What were you thinking about, again?
>Oh shit, Rarity.
>You turn around and stumble back into Sugarcube Corner.
>She's still there, passed out on the table, snoring silently.
>It's adorable and heartwarming and...
>Holy shit AJ left a bottle of Applejack Daniels.
"Fuck yesh."
>You stumble over to Rarity and the bottle, humming that familiar tune under your breath as you go.
>You grab Rarity first, of course.
>Wasn't right leaving your...your what, exactly? Girl? Mare? Cute horse-girl?
>Whatever she was, then.
>Wasn't right leaving her passed out in a bar. Even if the bar was the local bakery, apparently.
>You heft Rarity over your shoulder with one arm, keeping her in place with a grip that certainly does NOT leave your hand on her flank, before reaching down and grabbing the bottle of Daniels.
>Then you make your way home, carrying Rarity with one arm, and the bottle in the other.
>You take a drink as you make your way home, and you think. You think of Blueblood, and the missing necklace.
>Unbidden, the song comes to you.
"And who, are you, the proud lord said..."
>You take a drink.
"That I must bow so low..."
>Another drink.
"Only a dog of a different coat, that's all the truth I know. In a coat of black, or a coat of blue, a wolf still has his fangs."
>You make it to the door.
"And mine are long, and sharp my lord..."
>You open the door, drinking as you go.
"As long, and sharp, as yours."

THE NEXT MORNING

>"Okay Applebloom, I'll see you tomorroAAAAAUUUUUUGH!"
>You blearily blink your eyes open, groaning.
>THE LIGHT. SWEET GOD, THE LIGHT, IT BURNS!
>You shout out and roll over, your hands to your eyes.
>Your roll prompts something to slip off of you, and you hear a second groan.
>"What the...oooh, my head. Anon?"
>Oh god that screaming.
"PLEASE. STOP SCREAMING."
>You hear Rarity hiss from next to you.
>"Stop shouting! My poor head..."
>You blink your eyes open, confused, as you realize how close "next to you" is.
>You glance over, shading your eyes, as you look into the still bleary eyes of Rarity.
>The unicorn's eyes shoot open, and you hear a sharp gasp.
>What's everybody's fucking pro-
>A draft makes it's way across your nethers.
>Oh. You're buck-ass naked, that's the problem.
>And you're on the floor.
>With Rarity.
>Naked.
>With Sweetie Belle looking at you.
"This isn't what it looks like."
>Rarity's voice is hoarse and quiet.
>"Please, then, enlighten us as to what it IS."
>You look around, racking your memory for what it could actually be.
>Your eyes fall on your shirt and pants, draped across...
>Rarity, actually.
"Blankets."
>"Blankets?"
"Blankets, yeah. It was cold. I used my clothes as blankets. Musta passed out trying to snuggle up."
>Rarity glares at you.
>"Why pass out naked next to ME!? WHY NOT USE A BED!?
"I WAS DRUNK. AND YOU'RE FUZZY AND WARM!"
>Sweetie Belle's screams of horror break off into giggling, and Rarity joins her.
"It's not that funny."
>"It really is, Anon. Oh, wait, I have good news!"
"What is it?"
>"Fluttershy gets out of the hospital today!"