//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1 
// Story: Berries and Brushes 
// by TaviTurnip 
//------------------------------//

With a controlled -- but energetic -- skid of the hooves, the inoffensive sound of hoof scraping against dust could be heard across the street as one mare reached her destination. Brushing her blue and white divided mane from her face, the pony girl looked up toward Celestia's sun, eyeing its place in the sky. Smiling humbly to the great star, the mare knew she had made good time, and didn't think to praise herself more than she deserved.

In front of the pony stood Sugarcube Corner, known throughout Ponyville for its sweet and delectable dessert foods. The Cakes were well-known for their take on, well, just about any type of treat you could think to imagine. Even with their two new foals in tow, the family only seemed to be more productive than ever.

"Oh," came a voice, seemingly from the side of the shop. "You're here, Minuette. Welcome."

The mare turned her head to see Mr. Cake, who was pulling a light trolley with stacks of boxes on it. It was a very clear day, with very little wind to be felt, so the little cart wheeled its way along quite agreeably.

"Hello, Mr. Cake!" Minuette greeted him, deciding at once to hold open the door to the shop. "How're you today?"

"All's well, all's well," the older pony replied, walking slowly past Minuette and aligning the cart to the doorway. "I see you've got the delivery for us," he continued, eyeing the saddlebag strapped around the girl's left side. "On time, as always."

"I try my best~" Minuette smiled, doing what she could to keep the door open whilst remaining out of the trolley's way. "What've you got going on here? Looks like you're cooking up something big."

"That's right," nodded Mr. Cake, now pushing his cart instead of pulling it. "Princess Luna is holding a night banquet next month, to get to know some ponies better, and her sister wanted us personally to prepare the dessert side of things."

"Oh, that's such an honour!" the blue mare exclaimed, a look of genuine excitement on her face as she followed the cart inside the shop. "I'm so happy for you, Mr. Cake. I'm sure Canterlot has never tasted finer treats."

"You're too sweet," came another voice from the far side of the room. Mrs. Cake had walked out to assist her husband with unloading the boxes, and looked toward their guest with a smile. "We'll be sure to let you sample the goods before we depart for the banquet."

"I'd love to," Minuette said, her face beaming. "Oh, I've got your things here, just as you asked." Now that she was inside the shop, there were tables around to unload her cargo onto. As the Cakes moved their boxes to where they belonged, the younger mare undid the clasp on her saddlebag, pulling each item from inside and placing them all neatly onto a small, square-shaped table.

"There," she said, nodding to herself. "Three dozen large eggs, Pound Cake's favourite plush, two jars of Zecora's special sparkling brew, and the book on Canterlot catering that you wanted from Twilight's library." She looked up toward the Cakes, who were nearly finished what they were doing already. "Twilight said you can keep the book this time," Minuette finished, allowing herself a cheeky grin, reminiscent of the one Twilight Sparkle had given her at the time.

"Thank you so much," Mrs. Cake smiled in return, walking over and giving Minuette a light rub on the mane. "You're one of the most dependable ponies in the town. We'll always be able to count on you."

"Aww, it's nothing really!" the blue mare blushed, giggling before she could stop herself. "You two are really too kind."

"Nonsense," Mrs. Cake replied, producing a cupcake that Minuette wasn't sure the older mare had been carrying before. "Here, have one for the road. I'm sure you've got other deliveries to do today."

"Just a few," Minuette confirmed, graciously taking the cupcake and not-so graciously biting into it, her smile growing only brighter as the insides of  the treat met the insides of her mouth. "Delicious as always, Mr. and Mrs. Cake." Facing the doorway, the girl turned her head and waved back. "I'll be sure to check in before the banquet to see how it's going!"

"We look forward to it," Mr. Cake half-shouted, his face presently busied under the front counter. "Have a nice day!"

"You too!"

~~~

With a gentle push, the front door to a red, double-story house swayed open, and one pony walked in slowly, closing the door behind her. Stepping over to a small, square-shaped table in the front room, the mare put down her saddlebags, rubbing the tip of her light plum-coloured hoof comfortingly. It had been a long and tiresome afternoon.

Eyeing the clock near the door, the mare realized that she had made good time. It was only 7:16PM, and there was plenty of night to spend as she needed. Reaching into one of her bags, she pulled out a small and personal-sized glass bottle of thick, purple liquid; a picture of an apple and a blackberry bunch were emblazened on the label, indicating its contents.

"Only the best," she said with a smile, knocking the top of the bottle against the table and pulling the cork out with one hoof. Running the same hoof through her fruity purple mane to keep it off her muzzle, she tipped her head  back, taking a generous -- but well considered -- swig of the juice. Surprisingly very cool inside the bottle, the fluid felt like liquid love to the back of her throat. The combination of fresh-squeezed apple and blackberry, with just a hint of added spice and carrot, was definitely one of her favourites.

Safe to say, Thursdays at the farm were always good.

As the pony girl was contemplating another drink, there was a knock at the front door. Putting the bottle down at once, she called to the guest to feel free to enter. As expected, the door to the red house opened again, and one pony with a pale yellow coat and an orange mane appeared, the sun starting its descent into the hills behind her as the door remained open.

"Heya, Berry," she waved, stepping inside and closing the door again.

"Hey, Gigi," Berry Punch waved back, addressing Golden Harvest by the pet name they'd had between them for years. "I just got home. Thursdays, and all. What's up?"

"Oh," the other mare replied, the day of the week having slipped her mind. "I was going to ask if you wanted to go shopping, but are you too tired now?"

"Oh, no," Berry shook her head, smiling. "It was a long day, but I'm alright. It'll take more than the farms to take down this pony~"

Turning back to the table and quickly emptying out the contents of her saddlebags, the purple pony swung them back over herself, all set to go back into town once more. "I'm good to go if you are," she said, trotting toward the door and her friend.

Nodding her head, Golden Harvest turned around, and the two mares left together to go about their business while the night was young.