Wrath of the Bar Mare
Part 1
By: Blobskin

Contains: MLP, micro, drunk antics, justified cruelty, no gore/death
Version: 1

~~~

"Your watermelon margarita, ma'am," the bartender announced in his trademark neutral tone, sliding a glass of red juice in front of her.

Candice gave him a small smile. "Thank you," she replied politely while taking the drink in her magic grip. A small sip later and she was humming happily at the sweet flavor tickling her tongue. Then the unicorn lowered the glass back to the aged wooden bar with a gentle click. Finally, she could relax. Her eyes were half lidded, her ears lazily flicking, her shoulders slumped. This was nice.

Yup. Mute Mic's Bar was the best. Unlike most bars she knew, it was a quiet place with dim lighting and where everypony was expected to keep their voices down. There were no dance floors or televisions or even a pool table. Some would have called it "cheap" or "bare". But that was just rude talk. The point of Mic's was its mellowness. It was supposed to be a place to unwind. To slow down. So the only entertainment you could find here was your drink, a friend, or the jukebox in the corner. Not that the music choice was anything impressive.

Between the general murmur of the small crowd of regulars and walk-ins, and the hushed jingle of music that always played, there never was a truly silent moment in Mute Mic's. Instead there was a permanent pleasant buzz of background noise that helped the alcohol do its job: push away the stress of real life for a few hours.

Candice had been coming here for years and effectively owned this seat at the end of the bar. Almost every day she could be found here, sipping something fruity and delicious. It was a welcome escape from everything she couldn't control. Mute Mic's might have been her favorite place in the whole wide world...

"Excuse me, you're blocking the path," a small voice called.

"Huh?" the crimson mare blinked, startled out of her peaceful daze.

"The path," the voice said again.

Candice glanced down and to her right. Then gasped. "Oh! I'm sorry," she admitted before quickly leaning back.

Along the edge of the bar there was a walkway about an inch wide. The only safe place for the micros who came to Mute Mic's. And as she watched, a pair of ponies only a bit bigger than large pills casually used it to make their way past her. Once they were gone, her ears dropped and she collapsed against the bar once more. Then she sighed, trying to return to that state of zen.

Micros. They'd been around for a thousand years. Ever since some wizard with an overly long name full of too many hard consonants had tried to do... something. But after his evil scheme inevitably fizzled the world was left with the aftermath. Earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns who'd been shrunk. A curse that had bonded into their very DNA. Impossible to cure.

Today they were considered a typical sight. Something "normal" ponies simply had to deal with. Though "accommodate" might have been a nicer way to phrase it. Some businesses went to great lengths to appeal to micros. Some never bothered and were effectively no-go zones for the little ones. Mute Mic's sat somewhere in the middle. Even now, despite trying to ignore them, Candice could see the two micros being treated to that lazy service.

The bartender placed what looked like a serving tray on the counter in front of them, but instead of there being a drink on the platform, there was a set of seats and a miniature table. The two little ones easily stepped up onto the bar then onto the tray itself. A machine not unlike a scaled-down soda dispenser was then set in front of them and that was it. The bartender asked a question, nodded at the answer, and walked away. The pair then used the device to pour their own drinks.

A normal pony just couldn't serve micros. Their glasses were too small, a serving size appropriate for them too precise to measure by eye. So here at Mute Mic's the little ponies had to settle for the basic drinks. If they wanted something mixed they'd have to go to a micro bar. Or make it themselves from whatever the machine provided. And speaking of bars, the only place they could go here was the main counter. There were no additional walkways. No way to reach the jukebox. No way to reach any of the tables. No path to the windows for street watching. Not [i]safely[/i], at least.

It was the bare minimum accommodation for them, yet they came anyway. Not a lot, but enough to notice.

Some normal sized ponies hated micros or found them annoying. Others pitied them and the hard lives they must have had. Many thought they were adorable. Candice though? She had never really settled on a feeling. [i]Mostly[/i], they just creeped her out.

For one, they were faster than they should have been. Not that they were speedsters zipping about like little bolts of lightning. But a micro could run almost as fast as a normal pony could walk. Between that and their small size, it gave them a definite bug vibe. Whenever there were tiny ponies moving around, Candice always felt the fur on the back of her neck stand up. Like watching insects scurry across the floor.

But they were [b]NOT[/b] bugs.

She knew that. She'd talked to enough of them over the years for that fact to be firmly planted in her mind. But still. The slight feeling of disgust was always there. Even now she had to take a sip from her glass to avoid looking at them. She was honestly trying to mind her own business. Trying to enjoy her night. Not obsess over the little ponies who had decided to take the spot next to her.

Though there was another reason she was slowly, over the course of years, moving towards not liking them in general...

The two micros sitting nearby were already well on their way to being wasted. A glance to her left revealed that they had been downing drink after drink in the name of some competition as soon as they sat down. What was on the line? Even the two of them wouldn't know soon. While the sight might have been funny to others, for her, there was only a growing dread.

Candice sighed and took a rushed gulp of her margarita. Then she used her horn to pull a packet of cigarettes from her saddlebags on the floor. Popping open the box, she instantly counted the remaining cancer sticks. Five left. Now four as she pulled one out. Before she started the thing however, she tapped the bar twice to get the bartender's attention. Which the micros obviously felt as they jumped in their seats. When she caught Mic's eye, she simply waved the unlit cig and waited silently. He knew what to do. The white and gray stallion quickly waddled over and placed an old stained ashtray in front of her. Then he was gone. Preparations complete, Candice lit her cigarette and took a slow drag, trying to relish the taste before the pestering began.

But she was too late.

"H-hey! Warn us next time, girl!" a squeaky voice complained.

Flicking her cig in the ashtray once, she exhaled fully before replying. "Sorry, but I needed my smoke," she tried to say civilly.

The little pony grumped and swayed in his seat. "Yeah, well..." he droned mindlessly. Clearly, he wanted to start a fight or complain to her more. Why? She had no idea. But alcohol, stupidity, and nasty personalities made a terrible combination.

"A pretty thing like you shouldn' smoke," the other micro spoke up. "It's bad for ya."

Candice held back a groan of annoyance, instead burying it in a long breath from her cigarette. A tiny pony rapidly approaching a state of true drunkenness was trying to lecture her about smoking? She aimed a bored look at the pair and replied as dryly as she could. "I'm not an addict. I only have two a day."

"You shouldn't be havin' any!" the first pony barked, jumping on the angle of attack and pointing an accusatory hoof at her.

"Why not?" she challenged coolly with a single raised brow.

"T-those will make your face sag. An' then... and then your nice fur will lose its color!" he asserted.

Candice rolled her eyes and promptly finished her drink, putting the glass down again more aggressively and with a louder thunk than she intended. "I am a grown mare and I'll do what I want," she sassed back at them. "But thank you for your concern."

"T-this ain't 'bout no concern," the second pony slurred. "We 's stallions. We got to protect you delicate mares. Even from you'selves."

She would have laughed if the attempt at flattery hadn't also been a tad insulting. In addition, they just might have set the bar's record for shortest time to get utterly hammered. The two of them couldn't have been drinking for more than 10 minutes and they were already this far gone? More importantly, she was faced with that classic mare's dilemma: how to make dumb drunk stallions leave her alone. As usual, dropping hints wasn't working. If they'd been normal sized she might have simply upgraded to slapping them. But normal ponies never tried to hit on her. Not in this place anyway. Every normal pony was polite enough to mind their own business when in Mic's Bar. But micros were always so... forward. It was like none of them understood how to respect boundaries.

What else could Candice do? Leave? It's not like these little things could have stalked her. Well, the second one [i]was[/i] a pegasus, but with how drunk he was there was no doubt he'd be grounded until morning. Also, she didn't want to leave. This was her favorite bar. She wanted to stay and soak in the pleasant atmosphere. She had to stand her ground, but how to do so without... being mean. They were so small and helpless after all...

She eyed her cig and snorted. Putting it back in her mouth, she took a deep drag and held it. Next, while her magic aura carried the stick to the ashtray, she turned and lowered her head towards the pair. Then she released a huge cloud of smoke that engulfed their entire setup. "I'm not interested in tinies," Candice said bluntly. "Leave me alone."

For a minute she didn't know if her method had worked. The two were so caught up in coughing she actually started to feel a bit bad. Until she saw them chugging yet more alcohol to clear their throats. Then that spike of dread poked her again as the pegasus slammed his glass down and glared at her.

"Hey! What's wrong with you? We was just bein' friendly!" he shouted at her.

Candice rolled her eyes and grumbled. Nope. It hadn't worked. The first stallion, the one who wanted to fight earlier, seemed to have realized that antagonizing a giant wasn't a good idea and was keeping his mouth shut. The bad news was that he wasn't trying to reign in his friend who was now the one looking for a fight.

"Fine," she huffed at him. "I'm sorry. Will you leave me alone now?"

"W-what you talkin' 'bout?" he babbled, standing from his little table and stumbling towards her. "Why would you not want me?" he drawled before he tripped over the edge of the platform and fell on the bar-top proper.

His friend laughed at him while Candice merely raised a brow.

"I-I saw that!" he called, getting back on his hooves. "You're a mare with high standards. I jus' need ta impress you, then you'll be beggin' me to c-come home with ya. Yeah!" he cheered, hyping himself for whatever sad show he was going to perform.

For her part, Candice was torn. Between her amusement and her frustration. She wanted to be left alone. How hard was that to understand? Even just saying it hadn't worked. So what was her next move? As the stallion blundered his way in front of her, she considered calling the bartender. Micros weren't supposed to walk on the bar. They were supposed to stay on the tray or to the walkway. But Mute Mic was notorious for being forgiving, especially when it came to less serious rules. She'd have to deal with this herself.

"Do you know who I am?" he challenged after finding a spot to stand between her and the ashtray.

"No, why would I?" she snorted, taking another drag from her cigarette.

He had to think for a moment, as though he hadn't expected that kind of reply. "I!" he yelled. "I am Drama Flip," he declared proudly, pointing at his chest.

"And I'm Boiling Candice," she retorted playfully, levitating her cig over him to flick off the burnt end in the ashtray.

Again he stalled as though confused. "I am a f-famous acrobat," he eventually explained.

"Really?" she asked with exaggerated wonder.

"Yeah!" he grinned, having clearly missed her sarcasm and deepening scowl. "Let me... let me jus' show you some of my moves," he said while spreading his wings.

For a brief instant, Candice thought he was going to try flying. And in his condition that could have only ended in the most karma-filled crash ever. The possible scenario even managed to lightened her mood slightly. Until she saw what he was really doing.

Now standing upright on his rear hooves, Flip was using his wings to help him balance as he waved his forehooves about.

Then he did a backwards cartwheel. Spinning over himself, landing on his forehooves, and then finishing the rotation. Coming to a stop in the same pose he had started in, but with his front legs held high in the air triumphantly.

Some small part of Candice was, in fact, impressed with his accomplishment. The stallion couldn't walk straight and he was doing perfect cartwheels? On the other hand, she did not come to the bar to watch little ponies dance. Especially as that icky feeling began to creep up her spine. He was so small and the way he moved... The way he... [i]squirmed[/i] around...

The mare nearly finished her cigarette as she sucked on it, hoping to drown the uncomfortable tingling that crawled across her neck. But she was going too fast. She never finished one this quickly so she started coughing.

Meanwhile, Drama Flip fell on his butt and giggled. "You see that?!" he beamed.

"Yes," she said hoarsely through her raw throat. "You certainly are a talented micro."

However, he seemed to be offended by that observation. "I am not a micro. I am a stallion!" he asserted aggressively. "Watch this!"

In a flash he was on his hooves once more and trying some kind of complex twirling jump. In his drunken state however, he failed. Flopping over in embarrassment. But he didn't give up. He was back on his hooves immediately to try again. Only to flop over again too. And on it went, attempt after attempt for at least a solid minute.

Candice should have been laughing. It was ridiculous. This pony was smaller than a common ice cube and he was trying this hard to earn her affection? Unfortunately for him, he was having the exact opposite effect. Candice was getting angrier and angrier. She wanted to be left [i]alone[/i]. And every time he moved that icky feeling flared. Every time he waved a hoof or spun around reminded her of a roach scurrying along a tabletop. She shivered with barely contained disgust, struggling [i]not[/i] to do something... excessive.

Finally, Drama Flip tired himself out enough that, when he next fell on his behind, he stayed seated for a moment. "W-what did you think of that?" he huffed, grinning smugly to himself.

Candice merely scowled at him, desperately willing him to see [i]just[/i] how uninterested she was. Silently, she lifted her cig to her lips, took a big swig, and exhaled slowly off to the side. Then she leaned over him and crushed the burned end of her cigarette down into the ashtray. A loud thud that shook the table, followed by the grinding sound of her twisting the stick to thoroughly smother it. Only then did she speak.

"I [i]think[/i] you are annoying me," she growled darkly.

"Hey! That was-"

"Listen!" she barked. Then she slowly lowered her head until her muzzle was hovering over him. "I'm being [i]extremely[/i] nice [i]just[/i] letting you near me. Leave me alone or I'm going to treat you like the [i]bug[/i] you are," she hissed.

For a few precious seconds he didn't say anything. Didn't move. Nothing. And a tiny bud of hope began to bloom in her chest.

Then he opened his mouth and started tossing out insults, complaining that she had called him a bug, and angrily asserting that he was indeed amazing. All dribble Candice no longer had the patients to tolerate. It all went in one ear and out the other, but it still grated at what was left of her emotional balance.

Finally, she snapped. She simply [i]had[/i] to teach this drunken fool a lesson.

Her horn flared with crimson magic and a matching aura encircled the [i]pest[/i] in front of her. She lifted him an inch above the bar's surface, turning his meaningless ramble into a string of nastily worded demands. She didn't listen though. Instead she applied the same amount of force she might have if she were rolling a pen across a desk. And threw him.

For a few horror filled seconds Drama Flip flew through the air. Too soon arcing down to crash back on the wooden counter. Then he rolled into the side of the serving platform where he laid in a heap for a few terrifying seconds.

The other micro stared. Candice stared. Then Flip groaned in pain and began the process of de-tangling his limbs.

Instantly, Candice tossed a few bills on the counter to pay for her drinks and was standing. With a flick of magic her bags were secured to her back and she was not-subtly hustling out of the bar.

And the moment she was in the brisk night air she fell against the wall of the bar and began gasping for breath.

She had just assaulted that micro!

Her heart was pounding so fast it hurt and she couldn't seem to get enough air in her lungs. So many emotions were running rampant she didn't know what to think. Anger. Satisfaction. Fear.

Candice forced herself to start walking. To go home. She had to clear her head. Anything to get away from this mess.

He'd be fine. Right? Back in school they were always assured that micros were much tougher than they seemed. Even stepping on one wasn't that big a deal. At worst they would be left with an ugly bruise. As long as you didn't stomp or stand on them for a while, they'd be fine.

But she'd thrown him the size equivalent of, what, half a football field?

No. Micros were tough and he was a pegasus on top of that. They were used to hard falls. He'd be fine. Yeah. Everything would be fine...



Days passed. No cops knocked on her door. Candice went back to Mute Mic's Bar and was served without question. Nothing happened. She never saw that pair of little ponies again. She never asked what happened to them. A mystery she didn't know if she wanted answered. But after a while, time and alcohol numbed it all. She moved on.

~~~

"Your apple cider, ma'am," the bartender stated neutrally, placing a bottle of bubbling brownish liquid in front of her. Along with a single plain shot glass.

"Thank you," Candice replied happily before he could shuffle away.

With practiced ease she unscrewed the cap and poured some into the glass. Then she carefully lifted it to her muzzle, gave it a deep appraising sniff, and sighed. Finally, she downed the shot and slammed the glass on the bar. The lovely taste soothed her aching mind and body. Calmed her.

Yes. This is where she was supposed to be. This was nice.

Candice sat there for a few minutes. Her tongue tickled by the flavor of fermented apples. Her ears filled with the indecipherable hubbub of chatter and music that drifted through the air. Her mind wandering, yet also going nowhere. A perfect state of peace only monks could achieve. She then chuckled at her own silly joke and poured her next shot.

For almost an hour she was happy.

Then they arrived.

Her favorite spot was basically in a corner. Isolated and a bit dark. Just how she wanted. But there was a drawback to sitting at the end of the bar. The micro door was right next to her. Every little pony who wanted to come to Mute Mic's [i]had[/i] to pass by her. There was simply no other way. And every time she had to lean back so her furry chest wasn't blocking the walkway.

This time they came in a rather large group. Five stallions all wearing matching... jerseys? It was hard to tell, but they were definitely all unicorns wearing the same colored jacket. And the second they entered there was a noticeable increase in the ambient volume. They were certainly loud for such tiny things.

"Yo! Move aside miss! We need to get through," one of the group hollered at her a bit rudely.

Candice raised a brow at his boldness and made it a point to take her time filling her next shot. Which she then downed in one quick gulp. Unfortunately, instead of antagonizing the rowdy bunch, her act seemed to rile them up more.

One of them whistled. At least two of them laughed and cheered her on. "Yeah, that's how it's done girl!" one of them even encouraged.

The mare rolled her eyes and groaned. It was just apple cider. Granted, a hard cider, but far from something that could get a pony really drunk unless they chugged an uncomfortable amount.

Ultimately, she decided not to say anything and simply scooted back from the bar so they could move on. Which they did so happily. With thanks and ramblings she didn't pay attention to. She was too busy considering her bags. Was it too early to smoke her second cig for the day?

While she was ignoring them, however, the group decided to take the spot right next to her. Stepping up onto the bar top and calling for their platform. Which Mic dutifully placed in front of them along with the alcohol dispenser. Then, after a brief back and forth, the bartender added a plate with a single spicy chip and a drop of dip. After that he wordlessly walked away, as usual.

The sight of the five little ponies breaking off chunks of the potato chip and chowing down had two effects on Candice. The first was that it made her hungry. The second was that it made her nauseous. Like watching maggots devour something on the ground.

She forced herself to look away and deliberately filled another shot.

Yet, there was no immediate confrontation. To her relief, they were content to talk and laugh amongst each other while leaving her completely out of it. Though the group was noisy, they were also micros. There was a limit to how much sound they could generate. So it wasn't long until Candice began to slip back into a trance. The sweet taste of apples on her tongue, the mind numbing buzz of alcohol in her head, and the simple drone of a busy bar at night in her ears.



A second hour passed. Her bottle was nearly empty. She was now seriously considering lighting her smoke for the night and then heading home. Another mercifully good time at the bar accomplished, despite a few close calls.

But just as she was preparing the levitation spell, a pony cleared his throat pointedly next to her. "Ahem."

"Hm?" she startled slightly, turning to her left only to find one of the five micros had approached her. "Can I help you?" she asked slowly, dread rising. And she had been so close...

"Y-yes miss. I was just wondering... are you, perhaps, here alone tonight?"

"Woah!" one of the other little ponies whooped dramatically while lifting a glass.

Candice eyed the group who had remained at their miniature table. They were snickering and whispering to each other while glancing back at her and the member who had come closer. Of course. It didn't take a genius to know what was happening here. But to play along or shut him down now?

"Not interested," she mumbled, stirring her bottle as she tried to estimate how many shots were left. Four. Maybe five.

"Ooh," somepony chuckled.

"I-I wasn't-- I mean, I just wanted to say hello, you know?"

Candice blinked at him and huffed. "Oh. Well, hello then."

His friends laughed. He grumbled. "My name is Swift Pen and I'm one of the top students at Koi University," he bragged while gesturing to some patch on his shoulder.

That actually managed to get her attention. Barely. "College boy huh?" she grunted. "Shouldn't you be studying instead of rotting your precious brain with this poison?" she asked mockingly while pouring another shot.

"We're celebrating tonight," he scoffed. "We just aced the finals for the semester miss."

"'We'?" Candice echoed, studying the group again. It was kind of weird. When she was in school the jocks were cool and the nerds were awkward. When did that flip?

"Yes," Swift nodded arrogantly. "We are members of the Sunfish Club," he explained while gesturing to his friends.

Candice paused with the shot pressed to her lips. [i]Sunfish[/i] Club? She didn't know anything about micro universities so she wasn't sure a name that cheesy was unique to his Koi University or if it was a common trend for the rest of them. Either way, she actually snorted. "I take it the Sunfish Club is pretty exclusive then?"

"Of course! Only the best of the best! We only let those who maintain a three-point-seven-five, or higher, GPA wear our badges."

"Three-point... impressive," she replied thoughtlessly. Then immediately regretted it. The little pony was beaming victoriously and the group had gone quiet in awe. She punished herself by gulping down the next shot as quickly as she could, not allowing herself to enjoy the taste for even a second.

"But enough about me," he said cockily, stepping closer. "What about you?"

That feeling of revulsion spiked and she glared at him. "Me?" Candice droned as she moved to pour yet another shot. "I'm just a simple mare who loves to drink." Then the bottle made a harsh thunk as she slammed it down. "I like long walks on the beach, the smell of fresh-cut grass, and I prefer [i]stallions tall enough they can open a basic door[/i] [b]without my HELP![/b]" she ranted, voice rising to a shout at the end.

She leaned towards him, filling his view with her angry pink eyes. His ears were pinned, which was a good sign he was actually paying attention. "I am not interested in you. There is no claim you could make that would convince me to have anything to do with you. [i]You[/i] are a [i]bug[/i]. Leave. Me. Alone."

Candice didn't wait for a response. She simply returned to her drink. Then poured herself another shot after that, but decided to take a moment to smell this one. She didn't like being angry. She wanted to relax.

"B-but why not?" Swift whined, earning a glare from her again. "Don't you know what a micro can do in-"

"I am a lone wolf!" she barked, cutting him off. "I [i]want[/i] to be alone. Go hit on a mare your own size or something before I really lose it," she finished dismissively.

"What if it's you I want? I chose you," he confessed desperately.

Candice merely rolled her eyes and downed her latest shot. But when she slammed the glass on the table after, the little pony hopped about fearfully.

"Hey! B-be careful!" he shouted.

Again she scowled at him. "You're the one who got this close. Not very [i]smart[/i] of you," she sassed. Then she had an idea. Seeing him there, standing only a few paces from where she'd dropped the glass. What if she...

"Have you ever tried being with a micro?" Swift offered. "Why not experiment?"

So much for his original claim of just wanting a friendly chat. "You know what, you're right!" Candice declared with a sinister smile. "We [i]should[/i] experiment. Right. [i]Now[/i]."

Swift barely had time to blink before her red magic aura encircled him and he was levitating in the air. He screamed and flailed and tried to cast a counter-spell. But the size difference was too much. He didn't have nearly enough power to break her grip. So it was trivial to position him over her empty shot glass. Then she dropped him.

He hit the bottom with an ugly bounce before flopping on his belly. Yet he was standing after only a few breaths. It didn't take him long to start protesting. Banging on the wall and demanding to be freed.

"Hey, what are you doing!?"

"I asked nicely and I tried threatening. Now, I'm going to punish you," Candice replied ominously above him. "This? This is timeout until you learn to respect me." With that she turned to her bag to begin retrieving her cigarettes, but she hadn't even gotten the main pocket open before he was complaining again.

"You can't do this. I am an ace student of the most prestigious school in the region! You're treating me like a criminal!"

She huffed as she lowered her head so he didn't have to look up to meet her gaze. "Please, it's only a dose of humiliation," she teased. "Think of this as a free lesson. When a giantess tells you to shut up, don't challenge her, just shut it. I'll let you out in a few minutes anyway," she assured him tiredly. Then went back to looking for her cigarettes.

"But I didn't do anything wrong!" he yelled at her.

Candice glared, her anger inflamed by his whining. "That's it you little [i]insect[/i]!" she snapped, picking up the glass. Then she gave it a gentle twirl, as though she were trying to stir a drink.

Swift was thrown around like a rag-doll, rebounding violently off one wall after another. Fortunately for him, the treatment was brief. Merely leaving him dazed as he lay on the floor of the shot glass. He kind of reminded her of a dark pill the way he settled there.

Then he moved and the mental image switched to a fly.

A [i]fly[/i] in her drink...

Candice suppressed a gag as she shoved those thoughts aside. She didn't want to be overcome by disgust. Not when she needed to maintain some level of self-control. Unless she wanted a repeat of last time...

"You..." Swift Pen groaned, "are a [i]bitch...[/i]"

She snorted. "Apologize and I'll let you out."

"Apologize... for [i]what[/i]?" The micro coughed as he tried to stand up, bracing himself against a wall for support. "You... are a [i]wild[/i] mare." He swallowed as he regained his composure. "You must be [i]amazing[/i] in bed," he then finished cheekily.

Candice just stared at him. Yes, her frustration was already over the tipping point, but there was also an ounce of shock. He couldn't be serious? He was trying to piss her off [i]more[/i]? Did he simply not realize where he was? The situation he was in? Then again, did [i]she[/i]?

What else could she do to him? Any further and she might actually hurt the pest. Was he counting on that? She growled, eyes roaming, mind turning. How could she ruin his day?

Candice eventually noticed her bottle of cider sitting nearly empty in front of her. Then she glanced at her shot glass, currently occupied by a micro who was smugly daring her to do something else. An idea formed. A cruel and possibly gross idea. Could she even go through with it?

"Hey you whore, let me out already!" Swift demanded harshly.

Shaking her head and hardening her resolve, the unicorn's horn lit and the bottle began to float.

"You know, I think we got off on the wrong hoof," Candice whispered sarcastically. "What do you say we bury the hatchet and share some of this drink, hmm?"

The pony began to say something, but she cut him off when she started pouring apple cider into the shot glass with him. The sea of rising bubbly juice turned and flowed, tossing the helpless tiny about like a log. All he could do was paddle and flail as he was shoved against walls or caught in currents that threatened to drag him down. But it was a small glass and soon it was full. The pool calmed shortly, leaving the choking pony floating on the surface.

"W-what are you doing?" he asked for about the third time. "You've ruined my jacket!"

Right. Apple cider tended to leave a sticky residue when it dried. His jersey was definitely wrecked. Candice smirked. Exactly as planned.

"Aw," she mocked. "I'm sorry, is that too much for you? I'd hate to take back a gift, but it'd be a shame to waste it too."

Slowly, she began to lift the glass to her muzzle.

"H-hey, wait a minute. Don't!" Swift panicked, struggling to swim away from her rapidly approaching lips.

But it was hopeless.

Candice tipped the shot glass and began carefully gulping. Surge after surge rushed to one side, yanking the tiny pony towards his ultimate destiny. The micro never had a chance. He promptly crashed into her furry nose and clung for dear life. But he didn't stay put. He squirmed and kicked and actually managed to climb. Even getting high enough that his head poked above the end of her muzzle. Their eyes met.

The mare tilted her head back, further and further. Until her snout was pointing at the ceiling. The [i]bug[/i] was still clamped to her nose, but for some reason her whole body wasn't shuddering at the contact. He didn't say anything either. Swift merely continued to hang there while breathing deeply from the intense swim. Had he finally learned? Well, it was too late for that. She was going to finish this game regardless.

Candice next threw her head forward, making sure to keep the glass in position. So when the micro inevitably lost his grip and fell, he was safely caught in the bottom of the empty container once again. He wasn't permitted a moment to get his bearings though as the huge mare immediately levitated his prison towards the tray where the rest of his club had been watching in silent horror.

With a loud thunk, she slammed the shot glass down on the edge of their little platform, making them all bounce in their seats. Then Candice stood up, donned her saddlebags, chugged the last of her alcohol, and casually made for the exit.

They'd get him out. Wet and sticky, smelling heavily of apple cider, and with his jacket effectively destroyed. But they'd get him out. Four genius unicorns like them should easily be able to produce enough levitation strength to lift him. Worst case scenario they'd have to ask the bartender for help.

Either way, Candice actually felt kind of good. Punishing those insufferable micros didn't overwhelm her with guilt at all. It didn't feel like picking on somepony who was weak and helpless. It felt like... justice. They got what they deserved. They should have listened when she told them to back off. And actions [i]should[/i] have consequences.

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[i]Author's Note:

Inspired from artwork by "darkywings". Obviously I toned down the dark and cruel aspects... or tried to justify them... I don't know what I did! But her work was the original inspiration. Go give her some love for me. Cheers everybody!

furaffinity.net/user/darkywings/[/i]