“Hey, thanks pops. You can drop me off in front of this bar here.”
“No problem sonny.”
“So you won’t give me the hunds back?”
“No! They’re mine! Traded for’em fair’n’square.”
“Alright, fair enough.”
“Stay safe, youngun.”
“Yeah, you too.” The old-timer rode off. If it wasn’t for him I might be dead. He was even willing to turn around just to make sure I got to town safe; what a guy. Welp, time for another drink.
Walking back in almost feels like coming home. Berry’s Tavern. Last call will be in half an hour, but that’s enough time to unwind a little bit.
“Berry! Oh, Berry!”
“Ah Geez, Arcane is that you?” She yelled from the kitchen out of sight.
“The Prodigal Son returns.”
“What are you doing in Ponyvi- Sweet Celestia! What happened to your arm! How many times have I told you to go to the hospital before you come messing around here.”
“No, they’re gonna yell at me and make me feel bad.”
“What do you think I’m doing?”
“Being a good friend and getting me a drink.”
“No”
“Being a good enabler of my troubles because it's good for business?” She took a deep sigh before continuing.
“...What do you want.”
“Cider.”
“Apple or Greenbrew”
“Apple, don’t even insult me. They can barely read, but those hicks know how to brew.”
“Have you been drinking already.”
“Okay, so there’s old colt I met coming down from the mountain. He doesn’t look like it, but he can hold his cider. Was carrying some quality brews from outside Equestria! Can you believe that? During these times?” She filled a mug from a tapped barrel and slid it to me from down the bar. It came so fast I almost missed it.
“Heh, maybe I did have a little too much already. But the old colt-”
“She’s mad you know.”
“Who’s mad?”
“She came by around here three days ago wondering if you were gonna pop your head in at her birthday party. Even your brother went, for like ten minutes anyway. Told her I hadn’t seen you.”
“Ahhhh...crap…I’ll...I’ll take her to a nice place in Canterlot where she can mingle...she likes that.”
“Yeah, you better. Don’t forget a gift.”
“Yeah, yeah I got one. Howlite, in my pocket. It’s pretty.”
“Hmmm.”
“Anything interesting happen while I was gone.”
“...sigh...no, not really. Well, there was some weird traveling magic hobo that showed up in town two days ago.”
“Traveling magic hobo? Sounds fun.”
“Yeah, came in pulling a wagon without any hunds. Town know-it-all scared her off. You wouldn’t have liked her. She would have tried to steal your spotlight.”
“Huh.”
“Hey can you help me pull this barrel into the kitchen, I’m gonna close up a bit early today?”
“Huh? Oh yeah, yeah, sure. But, uh, what’s this about the magic hobo?”