The tavern is pretty cool, yes?

Pale sighed with relief. At least things had turned out better than anticipated.

"Well, I should really be apologising. After all I pulled that on somepony who clearly hadn't had much experience in this department. Still, lets celebrate as friends, shall we?"

He called up to the bar for fresh drinks, and everypony was served a drink of their choice. Pale sat down, looking at Belle.

"I must say my dear, you seem to write a lot. What are you writing right now? Has my little encounter with your sister inspired an epic story to last throughout the ages?~"

(it's fine, I'm obsessed too ^.^)

Tya looked away, a frown settling on her face. But, she managed a smile before turning back to the others. Calim gave her a concerned look, but her expression said don't bother. He nodded, taking a swig of his drink.

"Well yes, something like that. It did inspire me a bit, and I really need to finish this book." Belle smiled, scribbling something on the parchment. Tya rose her glass,

"To friendship!" she cheered, clinking her glass against everypony else's. Calim joined in with a laugh, and Belle lightly tapped hers against Tya's.

"Well Mr. Pale, you're not as bad as I thought." Calim chuckled, clapping Pale on the back. Belle giggled, and Tya held back a frown.

Pale laughed along with Calim, after happily clinking his glass with everypony else.

"I have to say, you aren't as bad as I thought you were either."

He was enjoying himself so far. At least they didn't seem to hate Pale. He noticed a look on Tya's face though. He raised an eyebrow, but chose not to pry. Wasn't his business after all.

"So belle, what is this story of yours about? I like to read the occasional romance book myself."

(Aint got an issue. If we're doing that I might bring in Shy. He hasn't seen May for a while after all.)

Pale nodded to Belle. 

"I see. Quite an interesting story there. After all, Tya is magnifi- alright."

He would have called her magnificent but Pale want sure if that was a good idea. He'd already hurt Tya, and didn't want to do any more to her. Belle on the other hoof~...... However, Pake noticed Tya wasn't looking tip top.

"Are you alright Tya? What happened's all in the past right?"

(true, but after she meets Pale, I wanna see his reaction to her)

"Hm? No I'm fine. Just a bit distracted is all." she managed a small smile. Belle looked at her sympathetically, but said nothing. The white unicorn's intuition knew what this was about.

There was a story behind Tya's daze, but nopony knew, not even her twin. Tya hadn't told anypony what had happened that night so long ago (though in truth, it was only last year). She had lied, this sort of thing had happened before.


The doors to the tavern opened, and a pale mare wearing a cloak walked in quietly. Everypony in the bar saw her out of the corner of their eyes, but they didn't stare. They didn't even cast glances. May's reputation here was one nopony liked to remember, but couldn't forget. How many times had she come in here, and almost hit somepony with her knife? Of course, there was no 'almost' about it. She hit exactly where she wanted to, never actually piercing somepony's skin.

She strolled up to the counter, and even the barmare dared not look her in the eye.

"I would like some sake please." she asked politely, a gleam in her red eyes.

Pale was curious about Tya and was about to press her further for the answer when a dark mare in a cloak came into the bar. The other ponies seemed to ignore her, which Pale found interesting. A mystery mare? Why, how interesting......

He sat next to her, ignoring the blue stallion sitting on the other side of her.

"Well hello there darling. Tell me, do you feel the arrows of love piercing your heart as they are piercing mine? Or do I have to work to charm such a quiet, shy mare? A mare whom behind those disapproving yet beautiful eyes yearns for my live?"

Shy smiled inwardly as May entered the tavern. When she sat down, he didn't say a whole lot. He was just happy to be in her company.

He wasn't even worried by the stallion trying to charm her. Shy knew fine what that guy was about to get.

May's red eyes looked at the stallion. An impatient frown on her face, and a bored expression. She turned to face him, noting another stallion's presence in the bar. She held back a grin, instead looking the purple pegasus in the eye. She kept a calm demeanor, and made her eyes alluring.

"Well, how about.." she pursed her lips and tapped her chin for a moment, "No." she said maybe a bit too harshly. With a hidden smirk, she turned back to the counter and took a swig from her sake.

Tya and Belle glanced at the mare, then at each other. Belle suppressed laughter, and Tya bit her lip. Calim rolled his eyes, whispering to Tya "You've heard of her?" he chuckled