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// Chapter Six: Let the Hunt Begin 
// Story: The Lost Pie 
// by Crescent Cloud 
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In the morning I felt a lot better. Coco had been up a half hour before me and had already prepared breakfast for us. She was so thoughtful and considerate, I almost felt bad, like I was taking advantage of her somehow. We talked for a bit, but Coco was in a hurry. Her boss, Suri, needed her bright and early every day apparently. 
“Suri is always so busy, so I’m just as busy to keep up with her. It can be tiring, but just the opportunity to work so closely with a fashion designer, it’s so exciting...at least, it’s something, I guess.”
“Hmm...sorry, but you don’t seem all that enthusiastic about it. Are you sure Suri doesn’t work you a little too hard?” 
“Oh, no, I don’t think so, Suri is just getting me used to how it works in the fashion world in Manehattan. It’s every mare and colt for themselves, y’know.”
“That seems...harsh.”
“Maybe, a little...” She seemed conflicted, her eyes turning down and to the side. Just then an alarm clock went off, and Coco abruptly stopped her train of thought and said, “Oh! That means I need to be going. It was nice chatting this morning. We’ll have to get together later for dinner, when I’m done with work. I’ll see you then, okay.”
“Okay, see you later. Thank you again, so, so much, for letting me stay here until I find a place.”
“Oh, don’t mention it. You make yourself comfortable. Bye now!”
“Bye.”
I was left in silence, except for the vague, far-sounding noises of carriages and hooves against concrete outside. Only about thirty seconds later the quiet was broken by the sound of a tea kettle whistling. Coco had forgotten that she left it on the burner. I took it off and decided to take the opportunity to make myself some tea. I took my tea and sat out on the balcony for some time. 
I found I was mesmerized by the scene outside: the fluid, almost rhythmic motion of the ponies clamoring around, going about their oh-so-important business. A dignified-looking colt hailing a carriage, an elderly mare browsing for a new hat in a window, a young, vigorous pony going to the newsstand for a paper – the city was so lively and vital. I couldn’t wait to be a part of it.
I sipped the rest of my tea, taking my time and fully relaxing, and then I decided I would go outside and get one of those newspapers so that I could start looking for a job. I slipped on my dress and shades and greeted the bright day. The air in Manehattan was more humid than in Ponyville, so the sun felt hotter. There was a bakery just a couple blocks down the street from Coco’s apartment, and I could smell the sweet scents of freshly baked cinnamon rolls, muffins, and cakes. In fact, I detected a lot of specific smells and found I could identify them all with remarkable precision. Then I remembered that the real Pinkie worked in a bakery, and it made sense. Embracing that train of thought, I made my way to the bakery and got one of the cinnamon rolls. I had just had a wonderful breakfast with Coco, but I couldn’t resist.
As I walked and munched, I started to set my mind to what kind of job I thought I could do. My mind immediately went to things Pinkie Pie could do, and the cinnamon roll in my hoof brought me first to baking. It sounded like a good idea, but I wasn’t sure if I had the aptitude for it that the real Pinkie did. I thought I should probably test it first, maybe by baking something for Coco and seeing how it turns out. With that filed away, I thought over some other options. I could try my hoof at being a salespony – I thought, I’m still a social pony, and I think I could pull that off – or I could try some performing of some kind, like being in a circus, or auditioning for plays, or I could try some kind of artistic pursuit like painting or interior design......I quickly began to get overwhelmed by all the options going through my head, and I had to stop to sit on a bench and collect my thoughts. 
As I sat there, twiddling my hooves, my pink brain awash in career prospects, I looked up and saw a poster for the bakery I was just at two minutes ago. At the bottom it mentioned that they were looking for help. My eyebrow raised, and I stared at it for a few moments. I got off the bench and went back to the bakery.