Birthday Bios: Lemon Drop

You know, there’s obviously a bazillion pony OCs with the name Lemon Drop, because it’s such an easy thing to think of when coming up with a pony name. Of course, I’ve got a few OC names in my roster that are like that (Bubblegum and Peanut Butter come to mind), so it’s kind of hard to be original—and make the names sound good. Grr…

Anyway, Lemon Drop here’s one of my earlier OCs, hailing from the fic The Rock Farmer’s Daughters. Owning a candy shop in Nickerlite with his wife, he’s quite the sweetheart that can be worrisome, but is still an anchor for his slightly feisty and airheaded other half, Sugar Glider.

Let’s check him out under the break.

Lemon Drop was born to Sunlight Citrus and Candy Stick in Nickerlite, where the family sold candy to foals that resided in the little mining town. Lemon grew up around shelves of candy, watching his parents exchange sweets for bits ever from his little playpen. Hardly making a fuss, he often earned a free piece because he was such a good little boy. It has unfortunately made him a little plump by the time he was six, so his mother made him go and play with other foals to keep it from getting too bad.

He was allowed to help around the shop from a young age, and his cutie mark appeared when he managed to sell some candy on his own which watching the counter for his parents (who were busy taking stock). Surprised they were, but they commended their boy for being so smart.

His parents had decided early on that they could only handle one foal while watching the shop, so Lemon grew up an only child. He hated to admit it to his parents, but he did get lonely, and wished he had a playmate that was around 24/7. He respected his parents’ wishes, however, and he stuck with just playing with friends around town.

Candy Stick’s brother in Stratusburg had lost his candy shop, and had asked her to take his apprentice so that the filly could broaden her talent. Candy agreed, and the then eleven-year-old Lemon Drop soon found himself essentially having an honorary sibling in Sugar Glider. She was quite friendly, and the two were soon best friends, with her teaching him how to make candy, and him teaching her how to sell it.

Sometimes, Nickerlite had riffraff that caused a ruckus at the saloon or started a fight in the street, often with no lawponies in sight (townsfolk often wondered if they even existed). Lemon always tried to stay out of it, but to his dismay, Sugar Glider always attacked them with a broom. No matter how hard he or his parents tried, they could not stop her. They were lucky that she always managed to drive them off.

As teenagers, they would meet plenty of the town foals. Rowdy Apple colt Cortland often came in to get some caramel—sometimes to eat on its own, sometimes to slather on an apple. Timid Bluejinx would come in with his mother, point to the licorice, and leave in short order. A variety of foals often wanted a variety of candies, and it was so hard for any of them to choose just one.

On occasion, the local rock farmer’s daughters, known as the Pie Sisters, would come in. Lemon always remembered the order: Limestone wanted sour drops, Pinkamena would order mints for her twin Marble and then asked for whatever her sweet tooth wanted that day, and Maud just hung back and watched them. He enjoyed their presence, so it was a shame that they stopped coming when their grandmothers died, and later when little Pinkie went off to be apprenticed to a baker soon after earning her cutie mark (he was surprised it wasn’t a rock or something related).

A camping incident with a falling tree claimed the life of Lemon’s parents, and young adult Lemon was so much in a state of shock and grief that the candy shop was closed for a time. Sugar Glider was there to support him during this tough time, and helped him transition into the job of shop owner. It was a few months before the shop was opened again, and Lemon learned to live with his grief.

Soon enough, he and Sugar realized that they were in love, and it wasn’t long before they got married. As a couple, they ran the shop together like Lemon’s parents used to, warmly greeting the foals who waltzed in and giving them what they wanted in exchange for a few bits. At times they had to stop some ponies from getting free samples, and Sugar still whacked thugs and bullies with the broom, but they were content with life.

Five years into their marriage, they had their daughter, Butterscotch. She was a sweet baby at first, but developed an attitude as she grew older, and was mischievous. It took eating too much candy and vomiting afterwards for her to start behaving. She was followed by Jawbreaker, who was then followed by Taffy. With attention for them divided by three plus a shop to run, he could see why his parents settled for one, but with a vigilant Sugar Glider by his side, they could handle it.

The years rolled on by for the family, and Lemon watched as his children grew up. They had to deal with teaching Butterscotch how to run the shop, affording braces for Jawbreaker, and comforting Taffy after she had a fake friend use her. Cutie marks were cause for celebration, and sicknesses were not. Still, they grew together as a loving and happy family.

Lemon would develop an illness when his oldest daughter was an adult, and he never really would get better. Butterscotch was given ownership of the candy shop while Sugar Glider took care of Lemon. Malaise became a way of life for him, and he’d often be wondering when the illness would finally claim him. Part of him was impatient for it to happen already, sick of feeling lousy all the time, and the other half wanted to stay, not wanting to miss any more of his children’s milestones.

He at least would get to see all three of his kids get married before he passed on.