Toby's POV
The Cutiemark Crew was instructing me in the ways of fountain wish making when Twilight and the rest caught up with us. Twilight seemed relieved.
"There you are! That was quite the 'jaunt' down those steps."
I smirked behind my scarf before replying.
"Twern't nuttin' for me! I'm a cer-ti-fied pro-fession-al-eh when it comes tuh' speed sturf'!"
Applejack was giving me a look.
"What? I'm having a little fun! Lighten up Jackie!"
"Jackie?"
"Eh, it fits."
She stared at me for a moment before shaking her head with a grin.
"You're a cer-ti-fied goofball is what you are!"
The Crusaders were cracking up behind me, Twilight and the rest weren't much better. I smiled wryly behind the scarf. Twilight soon recovered and broke up the little feud before it escalated.
"Alright, alright, break it up. We need to get these foals home."
Something seemed to cross her mind.
"Come to think of it, you don't have a place to stay do you?"
"Nada."
She hummed to herself. My bunking hadn't really crossed my mind to be honest. Call me a poor planner. Like the Author.
(Watch it you. You may be a good representation of me, but this isn't one of those kinds of books. Get back in there.)
Sorry, sheash. Anyway, Call me a poor planner. I don't give much thought to the future, unless it comes to food. Speaking of which, I'm hungry. My stomach growled, like, ridiculously loud. Everyone stared for a moment before the chuckles broke out.
"Laugh it off, I refuse to believe none of you are hungry. We've been walking and running all day."
Pinkie Pie suddenly... started bouncing? Come again?
"Oh! Oh! Ihaveanidea! Wecouldallgo toSugarcubeCornerandeatsweets whilewefindTobyaplacetolive!"
Even I could barely understand that.
Twilight gave her an incredulous look.
"You... had a good idea? That... actually makes sense?"
She froze up and started mumbling to herself. I leaned over.
"I think we all know she was thinking with her stomach."
Twilight snapped out of it and gave a nervous chuckle before turning toward, I presume, this Sugar place, talking to herself quietly. I turned to the others, one eyebrow raised. Rainbow spoke up.
"I think she's in denial that Pinkie had a logical idea. Twilight's usually the egghead."
"Ah."
I reeled around, pointing my hand into the air.
"To the food!"
They laughed and followed behind me as I strutted after Twilight.
[Timeskip brought to you by the food you may or may not be eating.]
"Here we are!" Shouted a bouncing Pinkie Pie.
We strolled inside, or, in my case, ducked through the doorway. Seriously, Some of these places had really low doorways. A lovely pink and candy-striped cafe greeted us. The pony i saw before in the apron seemed more than a little surprised at my appearance. I waved friendly-like. She moved out of her funk and she seemed to go into auto-pilot.
(I dont remember if there is an actual greeting or not.)
"Hello! Welcome to Sugarcube Corner! What can I help you with today?"
"Hi Ms. Cupcake! A table for-"
Pinkie Pie smiled at me.
"Eight."
Har-de-Har-Har. I know i'm bigger than usual, you don't have to rub it in.
"Coming right up."
She led us to our table and took our orders. I didn't really know what anything was, so I just ordered one of everything, it was on the Princesses's money after all, being a close friend of some very important ponies. The girls seemed a little incredulous at my order but didn't say anything. Pinkie Pie just giggled as if she knew something I didn't.
(Pinkie Pie's POV)
Hehehe~ I cant wait until he takes his first bite.
"Now then," said Twilight, "Building money isn't really a problem for us with Discord on our side. So Toby, what kind of house do you want?"
He sat silent for a moment, deep in thought.
"High ceilings, of course.... filled with instruments- I'll show you later- And.... Steampunk to the max."
Twilight looked up from her list.
"Steam.... punk?"
He sighed and explained some crazy-sounding city he called home. Or, as the World Capital of the late Earth, The Axle. He described a constantly overcast sky filled with massive balloons called 'zeppelins' that carried huge amounts of people, like trains. Every building had a metallic or stone aspect, as wood was a practically extinct resource, and most had shiny copper or bronze as a kind of finish to every structure. His former home had plenty of space for the souvenirs he collected on travels. Almost everything there ran on coal-burning boilers, emitting black smog that clouded the sky. He said he honestly missed the smell even now for some reason. The love of the people there was to create beautiful public art constructed of gears and clocks. Every smooth surface had at least one small clock piece embedded into it for good luck. Apparently, there was a saying. 'A house not built like a clock will inevitably wind down and stop.' He described their black, steel-plated trains, bronze skyscrapers, exotic travelers, and, of course, their peculiar dress. He painted a rather interesting world of smoke and gears that he fit right into when he described his daily life.
Twilight continuously jotted down notes, becoming enthralled like the rest of us. While The Axle had some dreary points, we could understand why he found it appealing. He grew up there after all. Then our food arrived.
"Yay!" I shouted.
"Let's dig in!" Shouted Rainbow Dash.
Toby stared quizzically before picking up a donut and slipping it under his scarf. I waited for his reaction in glee. His expression froze. The air suddenly became thicker. A few moments later, everypony had noticed. Even the families a few tables down noticed the change in the atmosphere and were looking about before settling on the still figure.
He went out of focus, visibly blurring.
Uh oh.
"EVERYPONY DOWN!" I yelled.
He vanished. So did all his food. Just like that.
We sat still, scared to move.
BANG!
We jumped and screamed. A table had flown across the room. And finally-
Whomp!
He appeared again, stumbling away from a now cracked pillar. He slammed face-first into the floor, out cold. I carefully walked forward and prodded him. Yeah, he was out. I suddenly realized what just happened, and started laughing. Twilight looked at me, surprised.
"What's so funny?"
"I think he just had his first sugar rush!"
"That's what that was!?"
"I had the same thing happen to me the first time I bit a cupcake! He is going to feel SO, BAD, tomorrow!"
Twilight stared at the prone form.
"I guess his speed concentrated it to extreme heights and he burned out quickly. New rule Girls, he is NOT allowed to have any sugar."