//------------------------------//
// Arc 2-5:  Table for two 
// Story: Error Code: FIO 
// by Ashfur 
//------------------------------//

Sweet Treat's Candy Cafe was always a popular destination in Canterlot.  Tables scattered in a seemingly random configuration, colorful walls decorated with images ranging from candy to beautiful vistas, each one placed with care.  Long Lost took note of exactly none of this as he raced into the eatery, and marched up to Blue Scream, who was sitting in a corner booth.

"I'm gonna ask again.  What do you mean by 'date?'  Last I checked we barely know each other."

Blue chuckled to herself.  "Obviously we don't, we just met!  Which is why I'm taking you on a date, so we can become friends and know each other better!  So, you want to go on a date with me?"  Lost sat there, dumbfounded.  It made sense to take someone (or somepony, he mentally corrected) to a place to hang out and learn about each other, but when they first meet and then call it a date?  This was absurd.  Lost didn't even notice the hoof waving in front of his eyes for a good five seconds before snapping back to attention.

"Yes, Blue?"  He asked, having not fully paid attention.

Blue Scream only smiled before grabbing Lost with her hoof and pulling him into the booth with her.  "I said, do you want to go on a date with me.  And you just said yes, lover boy."  As Lost blushed in embarrassment at the realization, Blue booped him on the snout, which only intensified the red glow on his gray fur.  "Oh, relax, you silly goose.  Just because it's a date doesn't make you my coltfriend...  yet.  I just want to show you how life is here!   But if you end up being worth it, I might just need to chase after you..."  She winked before walking up to the counter and taking an assortment of candies and a smoothie for herself before returning to the booth.

"So, from what Celestia told me, those are all just copies of the candies on display, right?"

"Yup!  The cornucopia spell and ability is something everypony has so there's no need for scarcity anywhere!  And the workers get bits for making us happy by taking the candy, so everypony wins!"

Long Lost glanced at the candies displayed on the counter.  Each one glimmering with magic from the spell cast on it.  The only thing on his mind was the potential uses of a spell that could copy an item over and over.  "All that power in a single spell, and you guys use it to copy food?  I can understand that.  But why not use it to copy other things, like books and stuff?  Heck, you run the guard.  Copy the armor.  Copy the weapons.  Copy everything!  Why stop with food?"

Blue stared at Lost as though he asked why the sky wasn't purple.  "Because cornucopia only works on food?  Plus, even if it did work on anything, that would make the jobs of all the blacksmiths and builders pointless, and that would make them unhappy."

" I...  I suppose that makes some sense.  I wouldn't want my hard work taken away from me.  It makes things too easy, and you don't feel like you've earned it.  Still, it could make for some interesting applications if used in a unique way.  Maybe it could help some friends of mine."  Alex, in the real world, froze for a split second as he realized he may have just let something slip.  Celest-AI, running the game and every thing in it, saw him lose composure for an instant.  The odds that he was hiding something increased exponentially, reaching nearly 33%.  "...some friends of mine who play the game, I mean.  Or would that make things too easy for them?  Ugh, I suppose-" Lost glowed, and threw out confetti. Shimmering text appeared to finish his sentence.  'Achievement unlocked:  Celestia knows best.'

Blue laughed heartily.  "She sure does!  Listening to Celestia is the best choice you can ever make.  Whenever she gives you advice, your best bet is to  listen to her.  She loves us, you know.  Heck, you'd have an easier time dating her than me!"

Lost slammed his face into the table.  "You aren't gonna let me live this whole 'date' thing down, are you?"  He mumbled through the wooden furniture.  "I swear, the things I do for those I care for."

Blue's eyes nearly lit up like miniature suns at that.  "You...  I'm your friend?  Really?"

Lost took a moment to collect his thoughts.  "If you want to call it that, then go ahead.  I care about those around me.  Isn't that what friendship is?  Making sure everypony around you is happy?"

"Well, you need to be happy too,"  Blue corrected.  "If you aren't happy, then you can't really make others happy.  And that doesn't bring good times for anypony.  You're happy, right?"

Lost paused.  "...yes, Long Lost is happy."  He was met with a smile.

"Good!  Then well, I have to get to guard duty.  See you around, Lost!  Don't lose your way!"  Blue trotted out of the cafe, humming a wordless tune to herself.  Lost looked back at the counter, where the glowing candies rested.  It was then that he noticed something eerie:  not only was there nopony behind the counter, but no patrons were present either.  It was as though Blue had taken everypony in the cafe with her when she left.  Everypony except one.

"Is this table taken, my little pony?"  Celestia asked.

Alex furrowed his brow, thoughts flying through his head.  He settled on an answer.  "Go ahead.  It's not like I can stop you."

Celestia sat down at the booth, staring through the screen at Alex.  She had only one question.  "Alex, why did you lie to Blue Scream?"

"I did no such thing."

"Interesting.  There is a nearly 100% chance that you are telling the truth.  But it is a half-truth."  Alex glared at the digital goddess through the pixels separating their respective worlds as she continued.  "I will ask the question myself.  Are.  You.  Happy?"

"Long Lost is happy,"  Alex repeated, not even pausing to think about the answer.

"I did not ask that.  Perhaps if I rephrased it, with no loopholes, you would understand the question better.  Are you, Alexander B. Looming, the human currently holding this Ponypad, happy?"

Alex turned off the ponypad and stormed upstairs.  He threw the door to the bathroom open and stomped inside.  Alex stepped into the shower, turned the water spray to a soothing warmth, and screamed through teary eyes:  "NO, I AM NOT HAPPY!"

The shower did an excellent job of making his tears, as it always had.  But the running water did not hide his sobs from the ponypad downstairs, which had never really turned off...





End of Arc 2