“C’mon, sis. Try it.”

Paint Swirl wrinkled her snout in repulsion at the mug of cider before her. Her brother sat next to her, a sly grin on his face as he pushed it towards her. She glanced over at Lightning’s disapproving expression and then at Roy’s nervous gaze, shaking her head.

“I…I‘d rather not.”

“Why not? It’s your birthday. You’re 18. It’s not illegal anymore!”

“She said no!” Lightning snapped at him. “Respect her wishes.”

Firework groaned. “Fine! Thanks for ruining our fun…” He screwed the cap back on the bottle and made to take the mug back, probably for himself.

“Wait-“

Paint suddenly blurted out. She didn’t know what she was doing but somehow, she wasn’t so opposed to the idea of trying a drink after all. Like Firework said, it was legal. Plenty of ponies enjoyed it, she didn’t have to drink a lot like the rest of her family did. Just a little bit wouldn’t hurt.

“I’ll take it.”

“Lookit that, my lil sister’s growing up!” Firework handed her the drink. “I knew you’d come around.”

“Paint, you don’t have to drink it,” Lightning insisted. “Don’t listen to him if you really don’t want to.”

“No, I…I want to try it.” Paint sat up with more confidence. “I really do.”

“Okay…”

The young mare took the mug in her hooves, looking down into it. It looked just like normal cider, only foamier. Surely it’d taste similar too. It was now or never.

She took a deep breath, brought the mug up to her lips, and took a long sip, blocking all doubt from her mind as she gulped it down. Then she stopped, gasping and coughing from the stinging in her throat.

“Hey, you did it!” Firework clapped her on the back. “How was it?”

“It was good,” Paint answered as a warm, disorienting sensation washed over her.

“Paint, are you okay?” Lightning asked. “You don’t look so good.”

“Oh, I feel great,” Paint chuckled lazily. Her eyes suddenly met the unicorn stallion across the table. “Now who’s that handsome one over there?”

Firework snickered while the object of her attention nervously waved. “I-it’s me, Roy. Your-“

“I know, I know,” Paint got up from her seat and stumbled over to Roy. “I just never noticed how good you look until now.”

“W-well, i-if you insist, but-“

“No more talking,” she put a hoof over his mouth. “You’re coming home with me tonight.”

“We’re at your house-“

“And we are going to to do all kinds of things.”

Roy gulped and glanced over at her brothers. “W-what things…?”

“We’re going to hold hooves Roy, like we never have before. We’re going to cuddle on the couch until midnight.”

Roy’s face grew hot. “Oh my…”

“And then, we’re going to kiss. On the lips. Just like last summer.”

Roy fainted.

Lightning grabbed the bottle from Firework. “What did you put in this drink?”

“Nothing! You watched me open it five minutes ago!” Firework insisted.

“Then why is she DRUNK? She had ONE SIP!”

“I don’t know, man! She must be a lightweight!”

“Yeah, well, I’m not going to be in charge of two drunkards. No more alcohol for her.”

*****

Paint’s eyes cracked open, the sun blinding her as her head began to throb. She sat up in her bed just as her brothers came in with a breakfast tray for her.

“What happened last night?”

Firework’s face lit up. “It was wild, sis! You were the life of the party!”

“No, you had a little bit to drink,” Lightning corrected. “You got a little bit tipsy, that’s all. Nothing else happened.”

“I didn’t…do anything?”

“No, not at all-“

“You told Roy you wanted to kiss him. On the lips!” Firework laughed. “It was priceless!”

“Oh my…” Paint’s face turned bright red. “And did we…?”

“No. He went home immediately.” Lightning assured her. “You only had one sip. You seriously don’t remember?”

“No…oh goodness, I’m never drinking again…”