Come Again, Chapter 3 - Twilight

>It’s the end of another day at the Hoof n’ Go.
>You release a long sigh as you lock the door, making sure the shutter over the window was secure.
>It must be late, even Pinkie’s gone home.
>The flickering light of the television in the video store next door tells you that one p0ny is still here.
>You knock on the door, the click of the lock prompting you to slip inside.
>Thunderlane waves from his reclining position on the counter, eyes focused on the tiny TV screen.
“What are you watching?”
>”Star Horse.”
>You slide up next to the pegasus, grabbing a chair and planting your primate posterior in it.
“Oh yeah? Which one?”
>”Episode One.”
“Come again? I thought you hated the prequels.”
>”Yeah, but then I got to thinking. If that hack Luke Ass says this is the way the saga was meant to unfold, perhaps I should at least try to watch it in the way he sees it.”
“Honestly? I thought you hated all donkey-directed films from the past 20 years.”
>”Yeah, they just got all preachy about donkey oppression. But that’s not why I hate this one.”
“If you hate it so much, why are you watching it?”
>“To see if taking in the whole story, in chronological order, reveals to me some uncommunicated secret, some ulterior motive Luke Ass had when he did what he did.”
“And what exactly is it he did?”
>”Made Jar-Jar a thing.”
“I would hope he just did it because he was high.”
>”Yeah, that’s what I thought too…”
>The two of you watch in silence for a few minutes.
>…until Jar-Jar opens his mouth for the first time.
>”Fuck this, let’s go to the Flogged Molly.”
>Thunder shuts the TV off with gusto as the two of you stand, heading out the door.
“Sorry man, I got in trouble last time I was out with you all night and didn’t tell her.”
>”So drop her a line and let her know you’ll be home late.”
>You stop.
“…Sorry man, there’s only one way Twilight will let me go out tonight.”
>Thunderlane pauses and looks back at you.
>”…No.”
“Yes.”
>”No.”
“Sorry man, I gotta.”
>”Please, no.”
“I promised.”
>Thunder rolls his eyes in exasperation as you pull out your cell phone.
>”Oh my Celestia…”

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPaz0p2dpEk
>TWI: “So I told Spike, he needed to shelve that book in fiction. He asked why, it was a history book, and I said…”
>You nod absently, focusing on the music as you sip your beer.
>The look on Thunder’s face?
>Fucking priceless.
>He hasn’t even touched his drink, he was so busy looking like someone shot his dog.
>TWI: “And I told him Bitt Ramney was so full of…”
>You should thank Roseluck some time for helping you develop selective hearing.
>Ah yes, Roseluck. Number five.
>TWI: “ANON! Are you listening to me?”
“Yup.”
>TWI: “Then what did I say?”
“You said you wanted me to take you home so we could make passionate love all night long.”
>Twilight blushes and glares at you as Thunder gags.
>TWI: “See? You weren’t listening!”
>THUNDER: “Maybe if you’d talk about something interesting…”
>A yelp and a jump is all the proof you need of Twi kicking your friend under the table.
“I’m sorry Twi, but you ask me to take you out with me when I go out with my friends, this is what we do. We don’t talk about politics and stuff here!”
>TWI: “Fine then, what is it you do?”
>You glance at Thunder, who is still nursing his sore leg.
“THUNDERLANE.”
>He snaps up.
>THUNDER: “Yo.”
“I ISSUE A CHALLENGE!”
>The pegasus’ spirits visibly brighten.
>THUNDER: “LAY IT ON ME, BRAH!”
“Alright. The bet is 20 bits.”
>”20 bits.”
“You MUST have carnal knowledge…OF A LADY THIS TIME…on the premises.”
>THUNDER: “On the premises…”
>The gray stallion looks around the bar a moment before his eyebrows twitch.
>He slides off his seat and trots off into the crowd.
>As the two of you watch him go, Twilight sighs in relief.
>”At least it gets him out of here for a bit.”
“It’s his favorite game.”
>”Is that what you two do when you come here? Try to get him laid?”
“Well…not ALL the time.”
>”I swear, the two of you are total pervs. Don’t tell me you ever took bets like that.”
“Well, it got me to meet one mare in particular.”
>Twilight giggles as you tousle her mane, shoving your hand off with a playful grin.
>”Are you saying that I was a bet to you?”
“Well…I’d like to say I won the bet.”
>”How many bits did you win?”
“I like to think my prize wasn’t as material as money.”
>Twilight blushes more sweetly than before, sipping her beer.
>”You didn’t answer my question.”
“And I’m not going to.”
>Twilight just “mmhmm’s” to you as she takes another drink.
>The two of you look out to the crowded bar, seeing if Thunderlane was getting into trouble.
>”Anon…why do you hang out with that guy?”
“Sometimes, I wonder that myself. But the guy’s been my friend since I got here. If I told him to get lost, he’d just follow me home like a stray dog. I couldn’t do that.”
>”Come on Anon…look, I love Thunderlane. Really, I do, but he’s just holding you down, like that job at that crappy convenience store you work at.”
>You sigh and finish your drink.
“Here we go…”
>”Anon, you should quit. Do something useful, something important! Look, if it’s about money, I’ll support you, I’ll introduce you to Princess Celestia. You don’t have to waste your life selling milk, beer and cigarettes in that dump!”
>You whistle to the bartender, motioning for another one.
“I get what you’re saying Twi. Really, I do. It’s just…I gotta support myself, you know? If I relied on you just to quit the Hoof n’ Go, I’d…I dunno, feel like less of a man.”
>”That is one of the most chauvinistic things I have ever heard of.”
>You sigh and place your hands on Twilight’s shoulders.
“Look, Twi…I appreciate that you’d do that for me, really, I do…but this is something I have to do myself, okay?”
>The purple unicorn snorts and glares at you for a moment before her features soften.
>”…okay Anon…I get what you’re getting at. Doesn’t mean I have to like it though.”
>You smile sheepishly as you plant a kiss on your marefriend.
>CLOUD: “Well hey there Anon. What brings you around here?”
>You sit up straight and turn as Cloudchaser places your beer on the table.
“Hey, I remember you…you were with the flash mobbers today…Clo..CLOUDCHASER! That’s it!”
>TWI: “Anon, who’s this?”
“Oh, Twilight. This is Cloudchaser. She came in with those guys earlier today to sing.”
>TWI: “The flash mobbers?”
“Yup. Cloudchaser, this is my marefriend, Twilight Sparkle. She runs the library in town.”
>Cloudchaser smiles wide as she shakes Twilight’s hoof, the unicorn visibly relaxing.
“So Cloud, what are you doing here?”
>CLOUD: “Well, singing doesn’t really pay the bills yet, and I had to quit the Weather Team if I’m gonna make it in showbiz.”
“How come I never saw you before?”
>Cloudchaser slides into Thunderlane’s seat, setting her tray down as you take a sip of your beer.
>CLOUD: “It’s my first night, actually.”
>TWI: “Then I suggest you be careful. Anon and that friend of his Thunderlane come here ALL the time.”
>CLOUD: “That pegasus from the store? Ugh, that guy’s a jerk.”
>You just shrug.
>Can’t really argue with that.
“Yeah, Thunderlane can stick his hoof in his mouth some…”
>You’re interrupted as a white unicorn walks up to your little group, drawing the attention of all three of you.
>TWI: “…Rarity? I’m surprised to see you here.”
>RAR: “Hello, Twilight…Are you Anon?”
>She looks straight at you.
“Uh…yeah….”
>The mare looks you over a moment from behind her…somewhat messy purple curl.
>RAR: “…your friend was excellent.”
>Three jaws hit the table as she turns and walks out, her head held high.
>It doesn’t take long for Thunderlane to come back up to the table, the world’s biggest shit-eating grin on his face.
>The three of you just stare at him.
“….Naaaaaaahhhhhhh…”