2 - Bittersweet
Chapter 2: Bittersweet
Celestia was so distracted with how rapidly things had moved that she had barely the concentration to hold aloft the Seven Chocolate Cake in her telekinetic grip. The door in front of her was made of mirrored glass, much like the one in the front of the store. With a faint rumble it slid open by itself as they approached. Celestia could not detect a hint of magic behind the mechanism and it puzzled her at how the door could recognise them and open without some sort of prompt. There was more to this, she was sure of it. Her curiosity grew as they both crossed the threshold and she was thrust into a new world.
Literally.
Feeling a strange sensation like she had been making a particularly tight aerial manoeuvre, Celestia stumbled slightly, disoriented. She shook her head slightly to dislodge the buzzing sensation that persisted in her skull and peeked at her surroundings. It took her a while to get her eyes adjusted, but when they did she could not withhold a gasp.
Beyond the threshold was something that was most definitely not Equestria. For beyond the mirrored halves was a sight so fantastical that Celestia feared to blink, lest she woke from the delirious dreamscape she found herself in. Around her was the cacophony of growling carriages, an open grey-clouded sky and many, many of the similar looking creatures to the one that had lead her through the deceptively plain portal. That they stood upon two legs and had smooth faces was where the similarity ended. Their mane-styling varied in length and their clothing was radically different from one to the other. In fact, none of them walked around naked. They were all determined to be different. She gaped at the alien landscape. There was no way this wasn’t magic, but she hadn’t detected any. How was any of this possible?
All around her was a cacophony of colour, energy and packed hustle and bustle of what was evidently Manehatten-like city life. The only things that Celestia found similar to Equestria were the tall grey buildings and the strangely similar furnishings nearby.
Though sounds around her clamoured in her ears, the creature smiled and his calm voice seemed to pierce through the disharmonious kerfuffle.
“Come, there are seats for us,” he said and the creature gestured at a homely table that did not match the others. Instead of sleek stainless steel that this world was so fond of, the table was made from simple timber, with the woodgrain peeking through.
Celestia hesitated, glancing back the way she came. The mirrored door sat snugly within this world’s doorframe, the mirrored glass out of place against the wooden frame. As some of the strange creatures drifted past, she realised that from the vests they were wearing and the trays they were holding that they sat in a café. A café on an unfamiliar world. It was strange the way passing creatures ignored the alicorn. Was it common to find her here? Celestia searched among the crowd. Somepony must be curious, surely? A smaller one, a foal perhaps, seemed to smile at her and waved. Startled, Celestia hesitantly waved back, but the foal was urged along by her parent.
A sudden thought occurred to her. Had she unwittingly trotted straight into a trap? Was this the nefarious design of a malevolent entity, to trap her on a world unknown, left to fend for herself? Celestia’s gaze drifted back to the cake shop owner. The creature caught Celestia’s ranging look and trapped them in brown depths. She realised that his eyes were a deep hazelnut. Though small, they were full of warm life. There was something about them that was recognisable, yet she couldn’t put her hoof on it. It was in that moment she decided to trust this strange creature, like she trusted her ponies. She forced herself to relax.
“If you wish, you can go back,” he said. “I will understand.”
She blinked at him and flicked an ear. Go back?
“No,” she told him, feeling her lips trace a smile. “I think I will stay for a while.”
He bared his teeth… no, he grinned at her.
“Excellent,” he murmured and gestured to the table. “We’ll get some coffee, or some milk. They go well with this cake. Maybe a little casual conversation to pleasantly pass the time.”
Celestia twitched as she realised that she had been towing the cake along with her all this time. She meekly set it down on the table, remembering belatedly that the cake was a mysterious gift from a mysterious host. She thought she’d finally deciphered who the strange being of Benny Bakery was, but now it occurred to her that she’d barely scratched the surface. She couldn’t help but feel a little excited. She’d thought she knew all there was to know about her little corner of the world, but life had a habit of throwing strange surprises her way.
“So,” the creature continued, waving away a waiter, “you must have some questions for me.” He stared at her, waiting patiently.
Celestia started, but quickly composed herself and cleared her throat.
“Who are you?” she asked softly.
The creature gave her a lopsided smile.
“That,” he said, “is probably the hardest question, despite its simplicity.”
He stretched in his seat, flexing long gaunt arms and wiggling his little appendages at the ends of them. Celestia found them almost hypnotic to stare at, until the monkey-like creature caught her staring and she had to avert her gaze.
“I am what you could call ‘a human’. Simple as that. It is what I am and thus it is part of who I am. My name is also part of who I am. Some have called me ‘Benny’, so I am Benny as well. Finally, what I do is part of the ‘who’ and so calling me Chef is also true.”
The unexpected delivery of his response threw the alicorn off. It took a while to digest what he had told her. His words seemed to ring true, but it seemed a little too…
“Mundane? I suppose so,” the culinary artist leaned across the table. “But do titles make up who you are?” His expressive eyes told her that she’d been speaking her thoughts out loud. That didn’t happen… at least... not unless she was alone.
She drifted back to the question he had asked her. Titles? Celestia found she didn’t have an answer to that. Her life had been consumed by royal duties for as long as she remembered. If what she did was truly who she was, then what was she outside of what she did?
“I-I don’t know,” Celestia answered honestly. She glanced down at her hooves, her anticipation for the treat all but evaporated by the troubling thoughts.
“Perhaps that is why you don’t sleep well and that is why you are out here partaking in cake,” he commented. A clink on the table startled Celestia out of her thoughts. Sitting on the table was a small spoon and a mug of steaming hot chocolate. The rich aroma drifted across the space, tantalising her senses. She licked her lips instinctively.
“Questions for another day,” he finished and with a deft manipulation of his digits, he grasped the spoon and scooped a small portion of the cake. He placed it gently in her mouth, before Celestia could even react.
Surprised, but not unpleasantly so, Celestia’s eyes widened as her tastebuds exploded with the ambrosial addiction that annealed to her tongue. A moan escaped from her throat without volition and the princess could do little to stop the heat from rising to her cheeks as the creature chuckled in response.
“The Chef accepts your compliments. Feel better?”
Celestia resisted the urge to dive under the table. Her royal armour was all but shattered. Eyes narrowed and nostrils flared as she considered the impish eyes that sparkled with levity at her lack of composure.
“Consider such as payment for services rendered,” he said, gesturing to the cake. Seeing her hesitate he began to describe the layers. “Hazelnut cream… Dacquoise of almond interspersed with white chocolate shavings…”
Celestia glanced at the cake and fought the wicked impulse as long as she could. It was futile gesture and she couldn’t help but scoop another titbit and indulge in the seductive allure of the forbidden cake. As sweetness diffused through her mouth, the princess felt that somehow she had fallen into a profound debt without the means to pay.
And she didn’t mean the bits left back at the castle.
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Shaping up to be a good story, you have my thumbs up!
CAKE! IT IS NEVER A LIE!
And very mysterious kind of manner with Benny guy, he looks pretty awesome, but I can't help but think that moment where he put this cake in Celesta's mouth was like, 'SHUT THE
UP! EAT THE CAKE!' I NoNo, cool chapter.
And it's a crowded place as well, I wonder if miss Sunbutt will try to talk to them at some point.
Adorable.^^
By Celestia's beard,lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8JHn4w1cIpk/TYRj_08h-tI/AAAAAAAACaI/BjY1buqHO-M/s1600/1300512761109.png , another chapter is requested post hast!
im not usually interested in storys like this, but this story has caught my attention. Keep up the good work my friend.
Thank you for the update!!!
The food describing was nice. But it would be better if the food description happened while Celestia bit into the cake?
It was sorta strange that Benny just talked as she ate.
Pshaww. I still love your work.
5908621
Dear God.
Dear Lord.
Dear vague muscular man with a beard or a sword.
img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100613215709/villains/images/c/cb/Badman.png Yessssss...eat cake. Have your just desserts! MUAHAHAH!
I don't know what the other five layers are, but I already want that cake.
So he's the devil?
The cake is devil's food.
Ah finally, an inter-dimensional shop, I've been looking for fics like this
Thanks for the update
5908988 no, i think the cake is a lie
This will be epic...the legendary secret shop setup...the owner is bizarre even by human standards...and they got a week to sort this thing out...that's what I'm talking about.
5909134
H.i.E
Human
in
Equestria
hope that answers your question
Oh this is an enjoyable story. And one with a twist I think.
5909746
5910181 thanks to both
5909582
This story has amazing potential to be a classic.
Oh, and this chapter was absolutely adorable.
Different. I like it. Will definitely be watching this
I like this. It has cake. :D
vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/theinventory/images/b/b0/Glados.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130403085051
Mmm, yes. We just cut the cake. Testing indicates that it is delicious and moist.
A most wonderfully unique transition from Equestria to the secret place behind the door. It's like... she stepped into a humbly human version of Oz; that's right Celestia, you're not in Canterlot any more. And if she's a good filly, they'll get her little Luna too!
So much potential, even after stepping through the "magic-less mirror". We could go in so many directions!
--An introspection of Celestia's character as she shares such personal thoughts with the alien host on an alien world yet, these humans and her ponies have so much in common.
--Adventure time(!) in a new world where no one knows of her title and she is accepted at face value for her actions rather than her royal stature (for a week or until Luna lets her back in the castle).
--Lackadaisical conversation and casually curious observations by an alien princess upon this new world teeming with humans
while she gets fater, I mean while she partakes of exotic confectioneries undreamed of in Pinkie Pie's wildest dreams. She might even let her hair down... (and do a few dozen laps in a park to work off all those calories, sheesh)--A week later she comes back with a card just for Luna. Ha ha! The fun hath been doubled! Truely thine world is a wondrous dream of the ages.
5908475 Aww thanks, that's sweet of you!
5908485 He seems to be more than he is, isn't he? Sssssh, no talking, just taste the cake.
5908490 *Gasp* how did you know?!
5908530 It's so good, yet it's so bad for you? :P
5908586 That's what I aim for. Oh wait, you mean Celestia? Darn.
5908587 Thank you!
5908621 As you wish!
5908705 Thanks, I will endeavour to meet your expectations! (Isn't this a copy pasta? I do genuinely appreciate the kind words of encouragement!)
5908736 You're welcome :D Benny has that effect, he makes you a bit shy. The food description was to tempt Celestia to eat the cake, but I see what you mean :P
5908786 Oh Thor!
5908815 That's punny.
5908911 I will make it sometime in the next two weeks. Probably.
5908969 I have adjusted it, thanks for pointing it out! Does it work for you?
5908988 In...deed.
5909129 I never knew inter-dimensional shop fics were in demand, but I'm flattered!
5909582 Hehe, try not to have too high hopes for me.
5909852 Directed by M. Night.. Shyamalan
5910500 Oh, I hope so!
5910664 Hehe Celestia can be cute, can't she?
5911394 Thank you so much, it means a lot to me that you'd choose to watch my fic.
5911778 Approved by an artificial intelligence, that takes the cake. *snerk*
5911940 So delicious~
5911995 Careful! If you list them all out like that, it'll eventually spoil someone! That's such great praise though, thanks!
Woowee, sorry for getting back to you late on these replies, busy, busy, busy. I've decided to be more dedicated to my stories so I'm going to reply to most ever comment. Thanks for reading my story, I really appreciate it. If you followed me, you get double the appreciation!
5912166
Not Thor, Bo Burnham.
(The line is at 1:20)
5912188 How did I miss that *double facepalm* I'm so, so sorry.
5912198
S'all good.
Had you heard "Rant" by Bo Burnham before?
5912166
In a show about small cartoon equines with pastel coats and eyes the size of dinner plates, anyon— oh, I suppose anypony can be cute.
Except Tirek. That dude's just butt ugly.
5912223 Yep, I can't believe I missed that reference, that's embarrassing.
5912230 I have a fondness for underdeveloped characters in the show. :P
I haven't read the story yet, but I'm snickering at the synopsis. A Benny is slang for amphetamines, a pill specifically.
And suddenly I'm reminded of Howl...
I await the next chapter with bated breath. Hopefully there is more cake ( Giggles ), oh and tea also! Do not forget the tea!
are you going to use all sorts of cakes for themes? like one of two disputed Austrian ones(both with the same name) widely considered the greatest in the world?
I like dis. Ve vill see vere it goes.
Very Intreging! I must say its much more diffrent then other HiE that I have read in the past. It is a good thing; because anything diffrent is good, right?
Well I find this to be an interesting story thus far, I want to see where this goes, I wonder who the Cake Maker is and what crazy happenings will happen next.
5912166 Indeed it is, to me (maybe others...)
In ways how the LOHAV/LOHAH fics would sorta count as sub-categories to it, seeing as the costume vendor/costume shop owner (More or less the same guy) is a key point but is only in passing from each first chapter.
Though for yours to truly be an inter-dimensional shop, you'll probably need to acknowledge more beings than humans and ponies eating in the same place. Though ponies (and anthros or humanized) from alternate universes, can count as a pass, as long as the threshold of the glass door gives them passage to their own home dimension.
5913429 Yeah, it's prolly him.
Either that or the guy stole a Stargate... if he did, imma tell on him to Colonel O'Neil!
.......WHAT?!?!
Appealed, i think, is what you meant...
5912166
Replys much?
A sweet treatment for a stressed life.
That cake sounds simply divine. I'm curious as to how he opened a portal into this world? A descendant of Megan or her siblings perhaps?
This is actually really great! It's so simple and enjoyable to read
There an anime I watch a couple of episodes ago where this one shop of incredibly good food went to different worlds every... Tuesday I think it was. This feels like that anime.
10200239
Care to share the name?
10872146
Restaurant To Another World