Chapter 8: red wine in the moon
It had been three days.
Three long boring days.
I was stuck in the hospital; my healing was luckily accelerated thanks to my strange physiology.
Adding to the fact that the nurse, nurse tenderheart had overheard a certain conversation,
she asked Rarity to give me a hand in courting given my recent history of failed relationships.
I had grabbed my acoustic and began to play a small tune, which evolved once again into a flamenco piece.
"Robert, stop that for a moment," Rarity scolded me "you haven't got a clue what to do have you?" I shook my head to answer.
"Well, if I know Octavia, she'll want to go see something amazing, something inspiring," I looked up for a moment.
The sun was still up, it was 10am. I sighed deeply. "Rarity, as much as I appreciate the help"
"Nonsense darling, you'll be fine, im sure of it… here," she handed me a piece of paper, "I made reservations under your name at this restaurant"
I felt thankful, and glad that I had turned vegan a few months ago. "Thanks Rarity," I hugged her "eh sorry bout that, nearly messed up your mane"
Rarity simply smiled. "Wait, I have an idea," Rarity had what was perceived as a light-bulb moment.
With a confused look on my face, she pushed my acoustic in my hands. "I want you to sing her a love song"
"A love song? Really now rarity, don't you think that's a tad cliché?" I retorted with a cheeky smile.
"That's just it, no-pony…I mean no-one else has actually sung to her" Rarity bounced back.
"Fine, I'll get my books" she raised an eyebrow.
"Books?"
"Music books" I stated with a smile.
We were sat up in my old room, the desk had been cleared. The books were laid out in front of us.
"Hmmm, no offence Robert, but most of these songs are"
"Crap, I know" I chuckled.
"Have you tried writing your own?" I simply nodded and explained that most of the songs I had written were vengeful.
"Hmm, well I still have an internet connection for some strange reason" she raised an eyebrow.
I stood majestically with a foot on an amp and shouted "to the internet" Rarity began to chuckle.
I pulled a chair over to the computer, and sat down in the black seat.
"Right lets see," I started muttering under my breath. "Ah hear we are"
"What is this?" Rarity asked.
"Guitar tablature and chord website" I grinned.
I opened another tab and loaded up You-tube, clicking my play-list full of metal and other things.
Rarity sat and listened before asking me "why do you listen to this kind of music?"
I cocked my head to think. "That's a very difficult question to answer" I chuckled as I changed the music to something a bit more upbeat.
"That's much better" she relaxed a little.
"I found a few good ones, but I think this one will serve better" I printed it off.
I had a thought for a moment. There was something I always remembered from the show… how they would break into song, must be a very high level spell.
"I need to see twilight about a spell" I chuckled.
"Are you sure?"
I simply nodded and ran off to the library.
I knocked four times. But heard a sudden scream and an "OH MY CELESTIA, I NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE!"
As I opened the door, I saw a much panicked Doctor Whooves hiding behind Twilight.
"Hey doctor, sorry about the whole knocking four times thing"
He popped his head up to look at me for a moment before adjusting his bowtie.
"That's alright"
"So what do you need?" Twilight asked. I walked up and told her my plan.
"No, it can't be done, not unless… wait, did you say it was a"
"Yes I did, but it's just a solo"
She huffed for a moment, "fine Rob, I'll do it"
i squeaked out a small "yay" and ran off.
"He's a bizarre one isn't he," the doctor chuckled and looked at the time. "Oh no, ditzy is going to kill me"
He bolted for the door.
I spotted Rarity go back into the Carousel Boutique; she noticed the smile on my face.
"I Gather it went well" I nodded vigorously.
"Well, wear a suit; I left her a note on her cello"
"Classy place?"
"Yes, but they know me quite well, any friend of mine is a friend of theirs" she chuckled.
"Do you have a copy of their menu?" she handed one over.
"Wow, that's pretty fair to be honest, I thought it was going to cost me an arm and a leg" I muttered under my breath.
Looking above the roof of the house, I saw the pale white orb.
It looked as though it carelessly floated above the chimney.
The moonlight illuminated the garden in an eerie glow.
As always, I took in the sight, the stars that caressed the night sky twinkled as if they were dancing.
The light breeze chilled the air. I was once again calm.
"Excuse me, sir" I heard a royal equestrian voice calmly perforate the stillness of the night.
"P-princess Luna? What brings you here?" I stuttered before bowing.
"No need to bow, just checking up on you" she tittered.
"Oh, okay," I chuckled nervously leaning against the outer wall of my house. "So…"
"I was thinking, is there some one…um…" Luna began; the redness on her cheeks was barely visible on her blue fur.
"Luna," I face-palmed "I kind of have a date already" I twiddled my thumbs nervously.
"Oh, well," I could see her face drop "who's the lucky mare?" she asked.
"P-princess Luna? Oh my" the voice of the lucky mare whistled in the wind.
"I see, well, look after her" I suddenly chuckled. "What?"
"Didn't anypony tell you about the assaults I have had?" I chuckled.
The alicorn looked at me with a sheepish smile "unfortunately yes, but I thought"
I cut her off "don't worry about me," I chuckled "I'll be fine, it'll take more than a few broken ribs to stop me"
She left without a word, a few tears were left behind, and a small note saying good luck.
I left for a short walk down to the restaurant, it was a short walk. I had my music on, and a guitar resting on my back.
I sat on the lip of the fountain and began serenading the stars. I had sat there for a full half an hour.
Heh, just like human girls, they take forever to get ready I thought to myself.
I didn't mind the waiting, not one bit. It actually allowed me to admire the different night sky. The constellations and
correlation of the planets were vastly different to earths. I sighed as I played a small melody.
"Sorry I kept you waiting" she stood before me.
The moonlight danced on her mane, the stars danced in her eyes. She was wearing a simple red dress.
"It was…worth the wait" I brought her fore-hoof up to kiss it, as any respecting gentleman would, look up as I did; I noticed the tell-tale sings of a deep blush.
"Shall we?" I said as she whipped her tail around my waist lightly. "I-I'll take that as a yes" I chuckled nervously.
She simply giggled, flashing me a coy smile.
My heart began to flutter away. God damn it.
As we walked up to the resturaunt, the maitre de gave me a quizzical look. "Name?" he watched as I smiled a toothy grin.
I heard a gulp. "Oh, I'm sorry sir, I shouldn't have smiled like that, and my name is Robert"
"Ah, right this way sir" he relaxed. He led us to a table.
"Please sit, we shall have your wine brought to you momentarily" the maitre de beckoned a waitress to the table.
"Hello, my name is Sunstreak, I'll be your waitress for the night," she shot me a nervous look.
Great, why is every-pony suddenly afraid of me I thought to myself, looking slightly glum?
"What wine would you like?" Octavia looked up to the waitress.
"Octavia, you decide" I smiled at her with a wink.
"In that case, we'll have a bottle of white wine"
"w-we have a selection of white wines, which one would you like" the waitress never took her eyes off me.
"Surprise me" Octavia replied with a smile.
Within seconds, a bottle of white wine was brought to the table. "Here you are" the waitress was still nervous.
"Excuse me miss," I opened my mouth to speak. "But I couldn't help noticing that I scare you" Octavia could hear the slight pain in my voice.
"I'm sorry sir, please don't" she stopped her fear fuelled cry as she heard me mutter something under my breath.
"This was a bad idea" Octavia saw that my smile had faded.
"Miss, there's something you should know about him, he's a vegan, and what is his world calls a Buddha, wouldn't hurt a fly…unless it landed on his guitar" she chuckled lightly.
The waitress looked at me for a moment. "The wine is on the house sir, I owe you that much"
"Save your apology Miss Sunstreak," I smiled half heartedly "I understand how I look might be unsettling"
She trotted off to pick up two menus's, then watched in awe as I effortlessly opened the bottle of wine and poured out the liquid into each glass.
"Rob, what did you mean when you said unsettling?" I sighed deeply when she asked.
"Well, when I was younger I got bullied a lot, just because I was ginger"
She raised an eyebrow, but then understood what I meant when I pulled down a lock of my hair to indicate what I meant.
"It went on for a while, hell most of my life, but I just dealt with it" I smiled a bit.
"I see, and the way they were acting?"
"Yeah, kind of reminded me of that" I huffed.
"Here's your menu's" I thanked Sunstreak.
It finally came to the order. "I'll have the hay fries with a fruit salad please" Octavia stated as the waitress took her order.
"And you sir?" Sunstreak turned to me. I scanned the menu. "I'll just have a fruit salad" I smiled.
With in a few minutes of talking to me, Sunstreak accepted me for what I was.
I was greatly thankful for the understanding nature of these ponies, even if the first impressions we gave each other weren't to be desired.
The night went smoothly, without a hitch until something went off. "Where is that freak!" I heard a shout from the entrance.
I had enough of being dogged by Noteworthy. "I'm right here," I smiled, then held out a wineglass "vino?"
Octavia shot me a look which shouted are you crazy? I continued to smile.
The rest of the customers and waiters stood and watched as I continued to walk forward.
"Noteworthy, you know what you are?" my smile faded. "You are afraid" I took a sip of the wine. It was a very good year.
The face that Noteworthy had tried to hold faltered. "But that's okay, so was the waitress, before she took the time to know me"
Sunstreak lightly chuckled but soon gasped as Noteworthy's actions almost landed me in hospital once again.
I say almost, because he hit Octavia.
"Dick move," I turned to Sunstreak who was helping Octavia up. "Do you have a bottle of red wine somewhere?" she instantly brought one out and gave it to me.
"Call an ambulance"
I pulled my acoustic guitar off my back, and set it down onto the table, I grinned.
What happened next was to no-ponies surprise. I slammed Noteworthy's face into the table at full force.
I then threw him out. Noteworthy landed into a dumpster, the blood trickling down his muzzle. "That's payback for my ribcage ya dick!"
I chuckled to myself, but was brought to an abrupt stop. "She's not breathing," I burst back into reality hearing Sunstreaks voice.
"Sir…Robert" she watched as I rushed to her side. I put everything I knew of first aid into action. "Every pony, STAND FUCKING BACK!" I roared. They listened.
I began the process of C.P.R; the ponies seemingly new to this concept were disgusted,
until they saw my violet eyed greyscale lover breath again.
"Oh my Celestia, he's a god!"I perked my ears up. "Tavi" I whispered in her ear, "please wake up"
The ambulance arrived, they could see the tears and wine stains on my shirt,
and they could see the unconscious Octavia in my arms.
The musical number I had planned would have to wait.
may end up rewriting this chapter in the future...