Chapter 3
Flying Under The Influence
Beer is the absolute perfect beverage chosen by the gods. I don't know where that came from, but it's wrong. Very wrong. Soda is the perfect beverage, not beer. I know because I tasted beer once and it was horrible. Couldn't even bear to swallow it and spit it out the second I tasted it. As long as pop exists, I will never bother drinking beer. Same for flavored water and chocolate/strawberry milk. All three I would choose over that disgusting thing they call beer. Drunk driving is dangerous. I don't know why people drive after drinking beer. Just goes to prove how irresponsible humans are. The same could be said for ponies too. Flying under the influence is just as bad as driving. If you have a couple of drinks, walk don't fly. It's the safe thing to do. It's also really easy to get addicted to beer. Too bad for Chary she was one of those ponies that couldn't quite handle alcohol very well. It all began one afternoon in Ponyville. At Apple Acres, Summer and her friends were hanging out with Melrose, who just got done with her work. Shortly after, Applejack appeared with a wagon of boxes filled with glass bottles. She then went to open on of the boxes and took a few glasses out. "Me and Apple Bloom just got finished making these," Applejack said as he gave out the glasses to everyone, "This is the next big product for Apple Acres. I present to you...Sweet Apple Ale!" Applejack then paused for a brief moment as she looked around cautiously. "You're all over 21 right? I'm joking, I'm joking, of course you are. I would never let a minor drink on my watch." The ponies were shown opening their bottles and drinking the contents.
"Wow Applejack! This is really good," Summer commented.
"Dang! You guys sure know how to make a good beer," Skyline said as he set down his glass.
"I love it!" Chary exclaimed as she licked her lips.
"Chary?! You already drank that entire bottle?" Jasmine asked shocked. Chary ignored Jasmine and started to reach for a second bottle, but just as she did, Applejack quickly reached out and moved her hoof away from the wagon.
"Hold on Chary," Applejack said sternly, "One drink is enough for now. Sweet Apple Ale has quite a lot of alcohol content in it. If you aren't careful, you could accidentally become addicted to this stuff. Not to mention, you're able to fly. A drunk pony flying is very dangerous. You could get arrested for that. I would hate myself if that happened to any of you." In response, a disappointed Chary looked down at the ground. As the day continued on, Chary more than once tried to get her hooves on more Apple Ale, but was constantly stopped by Applejack and the others. However, Chary wasn't about to give up on that delicious Sweet Apple Ale yet. No one was going to keep her from her destiny. No one. Looks like it was time for a daring late night beer heist. Later on, around 3am, Chary was seen sneaking into Apple Acres.
"I hate to do this, but I really need that Apple Ale. I can't believe Applejack only let us have one bottle," Chary muttered as she tip toed past the barn. Careful not to alert the animals, Chary made her to the shack in the back where the Apple Ale was being kept. After using her magic to silently break the lock, Chary opened the door and went inside where she found boxes upon boxes of Sweet Apple Ale. After loading some boxes onto a nearby wagon, Chary fastened herself into the wagon reigns. She then took the beer-filled wagon back to her house. When she got back, Chary stashed the Apple Ale into the third shed, which was belonged to her. The other two belonged to Fluttershy and Demure. After putting the lock back on the shed door, Chary took the box of Apple Ale she left behind to her room. Chary was then seen drinking about three bottles before she finally passed out on her bed. The next day, Summer was walking through Ponyville when she suddenly saw something very strange. It was Chary. She was trying to fly, but kept crashing into everything in her path. Ponies, houses, buildings, you name it. Summer also noticed Chary seemed tipsy and clumsy. Even more clumsy than usual. Summer decided to check on Chary.
"Hey Chary! You ok?" Summer asked. In response, Chary looked at Summer lazily as she struggled to keep her balance. It didn't take long for Summer to realize what was wrong. "Wait! Are...are you drunk?"
"I ain't no drunk pony...you...you...pony girl," Chary murmured.
"How many drinks did you have today?" Summer asked.
"Like...6 something...around...7...I don't know," Chary replied slowly. Summer quickly grabbed Chary's right hoof and began to pull her along.
"We're taking you back home before a cop finds you like this," Summer said sternly. Unfortunately for Summer, they soon ran into a police officer on patrol. When he spotted Summer and Chary, the pony made his way towards them. He then set his sights on Chary.
"Excuse me. Are you feeling alright?" the cop asked, "I noticed you seem to have a bit of trouble walking. Have you ingested any alcohol?" Just then, Chary pointed her hoof at his face.
"Who do you think you are?! You...you...ugly horse mister pony," Chary muttered. Immediately, Summer intervened before the officer could respond.
"Oh Chary! You and your hilarious jokes!" Summer exclaimed awkwardly, "Sorry officer, we'll be going now. Let's go Chary."
"Sorry miss, but I need to speak a little more with your friend," the cop replied in a serious tone. Thinking fast, Summer pointed her right hoof behind the officer.
"Oh my god! That pony just robbed that store! Someone stop him!" Summer yelled. Right as the cop turned his head back, Summer took Chary and disappeared before the officer knew what happened. After making sure the coast was clear, Summer carefully took Chary back to her house. Along the way there Chary passed out, forcing Summer to use her magic to carry Chary the rest of the way. The good news was Fluttershy and Demure weren't home. Summer didn't want to know how many awkward questions she would be asked about why Chary smelled like she had just bathed in Sweet Apple Ale. "Ok Chary. I'm going to leave now. Please promise me you'll be back to normal soon." With that, Summer said goodbye to a passed out Chary lying on her bed and left the house. Little did she know that Chary's drunk escapades were just getting started. Over the following days, Chary continued to partake in the consumption of the Apple Ale she had stashed inside her shed. As a result, Chary constantly caused multiple problems within Ponyville in her drunken state. It wasn't long before Summer and the others decided to take drastic action. It all happened one day when Chary returned home. She was surprised to find Summer and the others. Chary's parents were also present. "Sorry Chary, but we have to do this. Please don't hate me."
"Why? What's going on?" Chary asked.
"Intervention," Skyline replied sternly.
"What for? It's not like I have a drinking problem," Chary said.
"For the past week you've been drunk and causing problems for everyone in town," Jasmine replied, "Don't try to deny it."
"I'm telling you I don't have a drinking problem!" Chary yelled.
"Chary...do you know what we found in your shed?" Demure asked seriously.
"Uh...animal food?" Chary asked awkwardly.
"Boxes of Sweet Apple Ale," Fluttershy replied, "I heard from Applejack that apparently they were a few boxes short of their recorded inventory. Do you have anything to say for yourself?" In the end, Chary admitted to having a drinking problem and apologized for what she did. The boxes of Apple Ale Chary had stashed was returned to Apple Acres. As for the boxes that Chary emptied, she was forced to make up for the amount she drank by working it off at Apple Acres. Without pay of course. It was either that or jail time and we all know Chary is not that kind of pony that could deal with being in jail. As for Chary, she promised to never drink any type of beer again. Regarding Apple Acres, Applejack and Apple Bloom came out with Apple flavored soda called Apple Zap. It was so delicious Chary forgot all out Sweet Apple Ale. Good riddance if you ask me. Who needs beer when you have pop.