“Aaaaaand there!” Sugar Crush said as she finished writing on her chalkboard. She took a few steps backward and saw the revised advertisement for her Mineral Milk Cookies:
Try the new Mineral Milk Cookies! Each cookie changes your milk into a different color and flavor.
Purchase limited to two cookies per customer.
“I think what you are doing is a good choice, Sugar,” Mineral said as he lifted some cookies with his magic, and started to arrange them evenly among the plates. “That prevents somepony from purchasing in huge bulk, or even buying out everything. I’ve had to do what you’ve done several times.”
As she placed the chalk on the board’s ledge and brushed off the residue of chalk from her hooves, Sugar Crush rose a brow. “How come you have had to do that?” She walked behind the table and took a seat beside her friend.
Mineral Water’s brows made a considerable bend. “Because someponies like to take everything all for themselves to either be greedy, or worse, resell out of stock item for a higher price.”
“But why would somepony buyout your shampoos or body washes?” Nightshade asked.
“Because my products are high quality. High quality means high price.” The stallion shook his head. “And when a desired product is all gone, someponies are willing to pay even more to get what they want.”
Already, Sugar Crush was nervous about her day. But Mineral’s business sale tale made her even more worried. “Do you think somepony come and try and swipe all my cookies for their own personal wants?”
“I believe that had already happened earlier with Rough Diamond and his father,” Nightshade said. “Just not as dramatically as taking every single cookie.”
Fate was playing a cruel joke on Sugar Crush, constantly reminding her of every possible and already committed faults. The mare hung her head and muttered, “I feel like I have been had by a child…”
“Don’t be so down on yourself, Sugar,” Mineral said. Sugar felt a hoof touch her shoulder before her friend continued talking. “This is a learning experience for you.” When she looked up, Sugar was greeted with two smiles; one from Mineral on her left, and another from Nightshade on the right. “Besides, I don’t think we are disappointed in your first huge sale and got a ruby.”
Sugar looked at the cash box, knowing the beautiful gem was sitting inside. A grin grew on Sugar’s lips. “It did feel nice to make that sale and get that generous payment.”
“Then stop complaining,” Nightshade smirked. Just before Sugar could make a comment to her sister, Nightshade’s smile disappeared, and she looked down the sidewalk. “It looks like somepony has taken an interest in your cookies.”
One look to her right and Sugar noticed a mare with a light-pink glittering body and long, curly light-blue mane approach the stand. “This looks interesting,” the earth pony smiled. Even though there was a nice display of words for her to see, the potential customer asked, “What are you selling?”
“Well, Miss…” Sugar Crush began but paused in order to try and force a name out of the crystal pony. If Sugar wanted to impress Mineral with her novice skills as a salespony, she would want to get to know her customer first.
“Morganite,” she answered by placing a hoof on her chest.
“Well, Ms. Morganite, what I have is my special and one of a kind Mineral Milk Cookies. They may look like an innocent cookie, but each one is very deceptive. When you dunk one of these cookies in milk, it will not only change the milk’s color but also the milk’s flavor as well.”
“Let me try one!” Morganite smiled. She looked at the price on the chalkboard and placed the four bits needed for a purchase on the table. Mineral Water quickly claimed the money with his magic, while Sugar Crush gave the mare a glass of milk. Once everything was set, Morganite took a cookie and broke it in half. “What flavor milk will I be getting?”
“Dip the cookie into the milk and find out,” Sugar said while swaying in place. With all eyes on Morganite, the pony dunked the sweet into the cup and was quickly treated with the cookie’s magical effect. The white milk became stained by a brown color.
“Wow!” Morganite looked up at Sugar and asked, “What flavor will I be treated with? Cinnamon? Brown sugar?” The thestral didn’t give any input and only gestured to the cup. Morganite swirled the cup in her hoof before bringing the rim to her lips to take a sip. A mare’s light-blue eyes widened as she tasted the brown milk. “It actually tastes like cinnamon!” Sugar Crush couldn't help but grin every time a pony was pleased with her Mineral Milk Cookies, and she figured she would end up with sore cheeks if she smiled all day from compliments.
Of course, Nightshade was quick to tease Sugar Crush at every opportunity. “And the cookies are also somewhat healthy because my sister uses eggs as an ingredient.” Everypony but Sugar laughed at the comment; she only blushed.
“If only cookies were considered a healthy alternative,” Morganite giggled. “I am glad to have tried a Mineral Milk Cookie.”
Sugar Crush faced her source of inspiration. “And I am glad my friend Mineral Water here helped inspire me.” Mineral’s ears made a noticeable twitch and the stallion’s smile reached for his eyes.
“Aww, how sweet,” the mare beamed. “I can definitely see where you got the name ‘Mineral Milk’ from.”
“Inspiration can be born from anything,” Mineral Water said while he closed the cash box. “I am sure you noticed that my thestral friend looks like a crystal pony.”
The customer pawed her shiny hoof on her chin. “You know, I was wondering why she was like us crystal ponies…” She gestured her nose at Nightshade. “...but noticed how she wasn’t shining. I didn’t want to be rude by asking, but since you brought it up, why are they different?”
Sugar Crush knew exactly what Mineral Water was up to, and sure enough, the stallion went into advertiser mode. “Ever since I started my line of work in making shampoos and body washes, I wanted to create a product that would make ponies shine and be clean. Since there are very little crystal ponies in the world, I wanted to allow everypony to shine like the Empire itself.” Mineral’s body rose as he used both of his arms to motion all attention to Sugar. “What you are seeing is my Crystal Coat effect from my line of work. The Crystal Coat is specifically designed to make everypony shine with the true pride of a crystal pony; complete with a dozen array of scents.”
“Too bad for you, your Crystal Coat won’t have any effect on me,” Morganite smiled awkwardly.
“But if you have any non-crystal pony friends, you can tell them about my product.” Sugar Crush watched a business card flash into existence, almost startling herself and Nightshade. “Would you like a card just in case?”
The mare’s light-blue mane bounced as her nose pointed to the ground; it didn’t take Sugar a second to notice a change in the Morganite’s bubbly character. “I would happily take a business card. However, I don’t have anypony who isn’t a crystal pony as a friend… Not anymore…”
“How come?” Nightshade asked just before Sugar conceived the question herself.
“It was because of Sombra, isn’t it?” Mineral Water said in a very low tone. The mere mention of the tyrant’s name brought the customer to tears. Nightshade made a noticeable gasp, the situation new and sudden to her. The moment put Sugar Crush in a pinch, seeing two crystal ponies in an upsetting slump. She wanted to tend to both of them but didn’t know who.
“Sugar.” The thestral flinched, her thoughts disturbed by Mineral. “Go do what you do best,” he said, gesturing to the sobbing crystal pony. He didn’t equip himself with tears of his own, most likely due to his earlier lamenting.
Sugar Crush got up from her seat and made haste over to Morganite. “If you need a shoulder to cry on, look no further.”
“Oh, you…” Both thestral and crystal pony held each other as the Morganite’s crying intensified. While Sugar Crush held the pony close, she listened in on Nightshade and Mineral Water’s conservation. “
“Is Sombra that one evil king I heard about?” Nightshade asked.
“Yes,” Mineral Water answered. “Ever since he ruled with his iron-hoof, every crystal pony has been affected by Sombra’s reign of tyranny. Even if you do know of the legend, let me tell you briefly about him and the Crystal Empire.”
“When Sombra took over, every crystal pony became his slaves. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna came here to combat him with the Elements of Harmony. I still have vivid memories of the Regal Sisters and Evil King clash with mighty powers. After a long, drawn-out battle, the Princesses were able to banish Sombra. But that was their error, and he used that opportunity to steal the Empire along with him.”
Mineral’s storytelling was stopped when Sugar Crush said to the mare she held, “It’s okay. I know what it’s like to be banished, too.” Sugar’s eyes met her sister, the two knowing their personal experiences in being trapped on the moon for so many years.
“Because of Sombra taking the Crystal Empire along with him,” Mineral Water continued, “he tore a lot of ponies apart. Friends. Family. Loved ones. To this day, many crystal ponies still need counseling to help ease the pain he caused.”
In a choking fit, Morganite said, “I hate him! I hate what he caused! He took my greatest friends away from me!”
Sugar was all too familiar with Mineral Water’s crying, but she never considered how serious it was for other crystal ponies. Raspberry was the first pony that came to Sugar’s mind. She wondered if her boss was just as affected by Sombra as it was for Mineral. The sobbing had considerably died down, and Sugar was left with a stiff mare still in her harms. Morganite straightened herself and wiped an arm across her face. “Sorry for getting emotional like that.”
Sugar Crush shook her head, “There is no need to be sorry for anything. I’m starting to understand that there is more than my friend who was hurt by Sombra.” The thestral caught herself and flinched at what she had just said. Her eyes darted at Nightshade. The sibling’s brow lifted before she looked at Mineral Water. Thankfully, Nightshade didn’t say anything. Sugar knew Nebula subject matter was a difficult ground to tread. Perhaps Nightshade figured asking Mineral about who Sombra took from him was not appropriate for the time being.
Morganite looked over her shoulder and pointed elsewhere. “Anyways, I will be off. Thanks for the cookie.”
But Sugar Crush was not going to allow the crystal pony to walk off so easily. “Before you go, I want to ask you something.”
Morganite’s ear twitched. “What is it?”
With a wide, toothy grin, Sugar asked, “Would you like me to be your new non-crystal pony friend? Might as well start now.” In Sugar Crush’s peripheral, she saw Mineral Water and Nightshade smile at the entire ordeal.
Taken aback by the request, Morganite took one step backward. “A-are you sure?” Her gaze fell to the ground. “I wouldn’t want to impose…”
“Don’t bother refusing the offer,” Mineral Water chimed in. “Sugar Crush won’t sleep until you become her friend.”
Two gray ears fell back, a dangerous sign for everypony to know Sugar’s irritation. “Don’t make it sound like I am a-”
“I’d love to!” Morganite spoke up, then sniffed. She looked at Mineral and Nightshade. “I assume I am being added to your list of friends as well?”
“Of course you may,” Nightshade nodded. The older thestral smiled a rare and genuine grin Sugar had forgotten about.
“Sure,” Mineral simply answered with a small nod. Sugar saw her friend’s basic response and took notice of his weak smile.
Morganite turned around and pointed down the street again. “I apologize, but I need to go run some errands. Let’s meet up somewhere later, yeah?”
Nightshade quickly stood from her chair, the attention suddenly on her. “I have an idea.”
“Sure.” Morganite smiled Nightshade walked around the table and towered over the short mare. Sugar knew her sister was tall, but never considered how menacing Nightshade could be when her shadow nearly consumed somepony. But despite the intimidating stature Nightshade was portraying, Morganite kept on smiling up at the thestral.
“If you don’t mind, would you like me to join you? Since you look like you are in a rush to do things, we can exchange information so I can come and get you later this evening.” Nightshade held up a hoof and angled her nose toward the ground. “If you want to be alone, I understand.”
To everypony’s surprise, Morganite snatched Nightshade’s hoof and began to drag her away. “Then let’s go!” She looked back to Sugar Crush and Mineral Water and called back, “I’ll see you ponies later!”
Confused at the entire ordeal, Sugar looked at her friend and asked, “What just happened?”
“I think your sister was stolen by a very cheery mare,” Mineral answered.