//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 - Service with a Smile // Story: Story of Diane Pie: Re-Unity // by Middle Ground //------------------------------// I have finally told Miss Jubilee and the others about not being a real pony, and I have never been happier to have been accepted by them despite that. I have everything I could ever ask for. Friends, family, a home, and a job. What more could a pony ask for? Well...lots, but I'll take it one step at a time. For now, I just want to live a happy life. Except....there is still something I need to do before I can truly live without worry: Meeting with Pinkie Pie face to face. I keep asking myself what will happen should we meet? How will she react? What will her friends think? Could they accept me? Would they accept me? Our first meeting was...strange and I can't really explain how it happened. These questions keep filling my mind and right now it's getting me down. "Diane...! Wake up! We got customers today!" I then snapped out of my daze with the sight of impatient customers looking at me. "SORRY...!" I then quickly took their orders, served them, and collected the payment before things got out of hoof. I kept this going until my lunch break and laid my head on the break room table. "Geez Diane, what is going on with you? You've been acting weird ever since that incident with that monster. Is something wrong?" I then saw Tough Love walk inside the break room. I looked away for a moment, reluctant to tell her anything. "You know you can trust us, Diane. Whatever it is, we can help you." I wish she would stop making this difficult to keep to myself. I then sighed, "It's...about Pinkie Pie. The pony I told you about." "Yeah...? That pony you 'came from'? What about her?" Tough Love then sat down at the table to listen. "Well...she's a very different kind of pony. She's sweet, energetic, always happy, and she makes ponies happy no matter how bad their day is. She's just...just...." I didn't know how to describe any more than what I have already stated. "Wow.... She's your exact opposite, Miss Worrisome." Tough Love wasn't wrong, unfortunately.... And that only made me feel even more down about myself. "But we wouldn't want any part of you to change at all. You worry because you care about us, right? You work hard, you treat us with respect, and you've become your own pony. Honestly, that is amazing. Charm probably thinks you're the coolest pony he's ever seen." I wouldn't be surprised if that's what he thought of me. Still, I feel a little better about myself. But I still feel like I should do something about us; Pinkie Pie and I. "Well, you do what you think is best, Diane. I'm gonna go back to work. Don't take too long thinking about stuff." Tough Love then left the break room and left me alone. Honestly, I'm not too sure what to think about all this. But I'm sure I have to meet with Pinkie Pie eventually. I then heard the sound of dishes shattering and I rushed out of the break room to see High Demand standing at the door and Tough Love standing next to a pile of shards that used to be dishes. "High Demand...?! What are you doing here?!" Tough Love probably still has unpleasant feelings towards High Demand for everything he put her through. High Demand then too his seat, giving off a calm demeanor. "Calm down, Tough. I'm here as a pony on vacation and as a customer. Some service would be nice." He sounded as snarky as ever. Tough Love gave him a sour look and began cleaning up the mess. "I don't like that look you're giving me, Tough. Is that any way you treat your customers?" This wasn't looking good, so I then rushed to meet with him myself, giving him a gentle smile. "Welcome to Sweet Hearts, sir...! Would you like to order?!" I had to take his attention away from Tough Love and somehow relieve the tension that filled the bakery/café. "Hmm...yeah. I would like to order a plate of peanut butter cookies and a dark coffee. That will be all." High Demand seemed a little bit surprised by my sudden action. At least I got his attention. I took his order, began preparing his coffee, and had a plate of freshly baked peanut butter cookies ready for High Demand. After his coffee was done, I then served his order and he seemed satisfied. "Would you like some sugar with your coffee? Or creamer...?" The customer is always right. "Some cream would do. No sugar." High Demand then began eating his cookies while I left to get the creamer. I poured some into his coffee as he requested. "So....how is everything? What have you been doing?" I thought I'd ask him. He has been gone for a number of months since he left for Canterlot. "Mm...working. Being a contractor in Canterlot is quite the demand and it is satisfying. Other than that, I'm doing just fine." He then started drinking his coffee. He doesn't seem to be the talkative-type. I then left him to do so and joined Tough Love in cleaning the shattered dishes. "Diane, how can you serve that guy?! You know he's bad news...!" Tough Love whispered as she cleaned up the mess. "Love, you need to let the past go...! You own this bakery now!" I tried to calm Tough Love down before anything bad happens. "Hey, I'm done." High Demand snuck up on us and we then dropped the shattered remains of the dishes. We then noticed him placing the payment for the cookies and coffee on the counter alongside the plate and cup he used. "I'll be sure to pay a visit again soon. It has good service. Later." High Demand then left the bakery/café and it became quiet again. At least he paid for his order.... "Um...good job, Diane." Tough Love seemed the most surprised. After all that, we then cleaned the mess for sure this time and continued our work day like always. Maybe Tough Love and High Demand might learn to forget the past...someday.