“Cherry Custard! It’s been forever since we last saw each other,” Sweet Leaf said. She stepped close and gave the crimson mare a hug on the train platform.
The mare patted Sweet Leaf on the back before releasing her friend. “I know, Sweet, but you know how it is. Work keeps us all busy, does it not?”
“It certainly does. Now, come on, I’ve got all kinds of things to show you.” Sweet Leaf led her earth pony companion out of the train station. “I trust everything is well back at home? Your mother’s upcoming marriage must be taking quite a toll on the family.”
“As much as you could imagine,” Cherry said. She flipped her long, pink hair over her shoulder and shifted her saddlebags on her back. “The preparations have hit a few snags here and there, but it all seems to be coming together. Speaking of which, I have so much to tell you, is there somewhere quiet we can sit and chat?”
“Ooh I can’t wait to hear all about it!” Sweet Leaf’s wings flared as she giggled. “I have just the place where we can talk. My hubby’s out of town at the Equestrian Coffee Association Convention in Baltimare, and I closed the cafe a little early today.”
“Perfect. Lead the way my dear,” Cherry said. “How is, erm, Fine Roast, was it? How has he been doing lately?”
“He’s doing very well!” Sweet Leaf grinned as she escorted the mare down the somewhat crowded streets of Hoofington, “We’ve recently expanded our menu thanks to his vigilant and not-at-all-wasteful flavor experimentation,” she said with only a few hints of sarcasm. “Though it has attracted quite a few new customers so I suppose I can’t complain too much about the gallons of non-potable coffee and espresso.” The pair turned off the busy main road.
“Mmm. I wouldn’t know much about that. My family doesn’t have many coffee drinkers.”
Sweet Leaf harrumphed. “I truly do wish your mother wouldn’t be so stingy with the stuff. It’s quite the delicious concoction if done properly.”
Cherry raised an eyebrow at her. “You know as well as I why Mother isn’t a fan of the drink. It doesn’t do anypony much good if it’s taking resources from our food budget. Plus, it’s not like our home is quite set up to allow for many appliances, much less a fancy coffee maker.”
“I know, I know.” Sweet Leaf waved the mare off with a hoof. “I suppose I’ve developed a taste for the drink, what with being married to such a skilled barista. And quite the wonderful stallion, too. Never pries too much, shows me love when I want it, gives me space when I need it. Just what you would want in a special somepony.”
“Almost seems too good to be true, what with the way you put it.” A smirk crossed Cherry’s face. “Are you sure there’s no other motivation behind his actions?”
“If there were, he’s been hiding it since we first met four years ago,” Sweet stated evenly. She caught herself as she almost went on the defensive. She had to remember who she was talking to and, coming from Cherry, the question wasn’t illegitimate. “He’s been like this since before we even got married.” She led the other mare out onto another busy street, lined with shops and littered with restaurants.
“Mmhm. Sounds like the ideal spouse. Too bad the same can’t be said about you,” Cherry chuckled, nudging Sweet in the side.
“Hmph! I’ll have you know I am exactly the ideal wife! And I certainly never do anything behind his back,” Sweet Leaf turned her nose in the air and trotted faster, away from the other pony.
Cherry laughed and caught back up. “Ha! I’m sure you don’t.” The magenta mare received a hip bump in return and both mares laughed together.
A companionable silence overtook the two as Sweet Leaf continued leading her friend down the road. A few minutes later they came to a stop.
“Well, here we are!” she said, waving a lemon yellow hoof towards their destination.
In front of them was a two story brick building complete with an overhang. It had a homely patio with several tables complete with closed white and red parasols. A sign above the door proudly named it the Sweet Roast Cafe.
“Come on inside.” She took out a set of keys from under her wings as she approached the door.
“This is a nice place,” Cherry whistled, her eyes roaming over the decor. “It’s been such a long time since I’ve been here. It feels like it’s changed so much.”
“Oh it definitely has, believe me.” Sweet Leaf unlocked the door and held it open for her guest.
Sweet Leaf followed after her as they entered the building, the cafe mostly unlit. She turned back around and locked the door, smiling at the closed sign that was still in place. “Sorry about the lighting. We don’t want anypony to think we’re open.” She turned and trotted to the back room. “Come on upstairs. I’ll make you some coffee and we can talk.”
“That sounds wonderful.” She looked around as they passed through the cafe. “So we’re good? It’s just us?” Cherry asked, accompanying Sweet Leaf through the kitchen and up the stairs.
“Sure is. Roast’s still in Baltimare and I shooed the last customer out a little over an hour ago.” At the top of the stairs, Sweet Leaf turned right down the hallway and entered the building’s private kitchen. She headed straight for the espresso machine. “Have a seat at the table and feel free to make yourself at home. All the blinds on this floor are shut and the doors are locked,” she said as she flicked the machine on and grabbed that morning’s espresso grounds and milk from the fridge.
“If you don’t mind, I think I will.” Cherry pulled the saddlebags off her back and set them on the floor near the kitchen entrance.
A green flame quickly overtook her body, from her hooves all the way to the tip of her ears. In place of the dark red mare stood a changeling with piercing, solid blue eyes. A mane-like frill ran along the back of their head and neck and there were holes in all their legs. Long, thin ears on the side of their head swished back and forth in the air. They arched their back, filling the room with the sound of buzzing wings as they stretched. Pheromones Sweet Leaf didn’t recognize flooded her nose.
“Ahh! That’s so nice,” the masculine-sounding changeling stallion said in a distinctly deeper voice before taking a seat at the kitchen table. “It’s been over a month since I’ve been able to drop my form.”
Sweet Leaf sighed. “Trust me, I know. Us collectors often have to do it for far longer.”
The same green flames engulfed Sweet Leaf. She knew her eyes to be the same solid blue as her guest’s and, in place of her orange mane, sat frills along the back of her head. They were a little longer than his, if she had to guess.
“Now then,” she began, facing the other changeling, “my name’s Firefly, but I’m sure you’re fully aware of that. It’s been a while since they sent a Cherry and you’re not one of the usual group. May I have your name?”
“Of course.” He nodded. “My name is Skirrax. I’m afraid most of the experienced and older ’lings have been pulled back just in case there are problems in Canterlot.”
“Fairly new to the whole gatherer business then?”
“Quite a bit.” Skirrax nodded again. “I finished my training just in time to take over for some of the other gatherers. I’ve only been out for about a few months now, so I’m more useful doing this. Now, um, if you don’t mind, could we get down to business?”
“I don’t mind at all as long as you don’t mind me continuing with the coffee. Would you like a cup?” she asked.
“Yes please. I’ve never had any and I’ve heard from others that your coffee is some of the best around.”
Firefly laughed. “You bet it is! I’ve spent so long being Sweet Leaf that I’m afraid I’ll never forget how to make espresso.”
“A shame…” he said, shaking his head, a smile on his face before he donned a more serious look. “Anyway, I’ve been instructed to gather all available love from you this month, no reserves to be left behind,” he said as though he were reciting lines.
“Reserve too?” She raised her eye ridges in surprise. Changelings could only hold so much love in their bodies, the rest having to go to waste or be transformed into crystals. Her reserve crystals were the ‘just in case’ batch, kept most commonly for if she had to abandon her source. If she were discovered without those, it would be similar to a pony running off into the wilderness with no rations.
“I’m afraid so,” he confirmed. “With how quickly this plan was put together, it would seem they’re anticipating the best, but preparing for the worst.”
“Really? Have things not been going well then?”
Skirrax shook his head. “As far as I’m aware, little has changed on the Canterlot front since you collectors here were informed last month.”
“Alright. There were no other changes we needed to be aware of?”
“None that impacted you, no. In fact, most of it’s just gossip. In any case,” Skirrax continued, “with the wedding only one week away, our queen has pulled all available fighters in case things don’t go well. Stars forbid it actually happen, but the hive must be ready to fight for Her Majesty should she be discovered.”
An uneasy sensation drizzled into Firelfly’s gut. She didn’t even want to consider what would happen if that came to be. “I see. Are there any orders for us?”
“There are. If the wedding succeeds without our queen being discovered, you are to continue as normal and await further instructions from your lead collector here. If the queen is discovered, caution must be used in any outcome. Pay close attention to the news and be prepared to make a quick and quiet exit should there be imminent threats. The queen would rather have the collectors abandon their source than to have a dead or captured collector.”
“Right. Just a moment.” Firefly began foaming the milk, the noise of the steaming wand filled the small kitchen.
All that made sense to her. A collector could always find a new source, which was far less costly than risking exposing themselves, being captured, and losing years of valuable experience. She was confident none of that would happen. Her queen was very skilled and Firefly herself was plenty good at blending in.
Soon enough the milk was properly foamed and she shut off the steamer wand. “I see. No detaining our source and disappearing then.”
“No. If the changelings are discovered, there is too much risk in bringing a source back to the hive and sending out a cleanup crew.”
Firefly finished pouring the foam into the two cups in a cute, little tree shape. She took the cups and set one in front of Skirrax and one in her spot across the table.
“Seems reasonable, I suppose.” She took a seat and raised the cup to her lips, drawing in and swallowing a sip of the hot liquid. “We merely wait until further word if worse comes to worst?”
“Our queen was not very forthcoming with recovery details upon failure, but yes, that is the assumption.” Skirrax shrugged and lifted the cup in his magic. “I overheard that the queen and her advisers will likely provide a more thorough plan should the worst become a possibility.” He brought the cup to his muzzle and inhaled deeply. He slurped some coffee and hummed at the taste. “This is quite good.”
“Thank you. It’s called a cappuccino.”
Firefly always loved it when one of her creations was appreciated. She didn’t have a natural talent like ponies did, so she had to develop and nurture her skills from near nothing. Ponies thought her cutie mark, a cup of green tea dripping a single drop, made her perfect for the job.
She’d let them continue believing just that.
Skirrax quietly drank a bit more cappuccino. “The queen’s advisers also approached me directly after we received our briefs. They wished for me to ask if you had any more information on your unusual love crystals.”
Firefly pursed her lips and shook her head. “I’m afraid not. I still don’t know why my crystals are so love dense. I’m not receiving anything except from Fine Roast, and the customers certainly don’t provide that much.”
“I see.” He set the cup down. “It’s been well over a year since the queen discovered the unusual density of your crystals. I believe they were hoping for more information from you.”
Firefly shrugged. “I know they’re anxious to know more, for the good of the hive and all. I wish I could give them more than that, but I simply don’t know.”
“Yeah, it seems like the hive could really benefit from more of them. I’ve even had a couple and I can say they taste a lot better than any other I’ve had.”
“Huh!” Firefly raised her eyeridges in surprise. “I wasn’t aware of that. I’ve only ever had to use my own crystals once, a long while ago. They didn’t seem to taste much different than any other.”
Skirrax shrugged. “In any case, I’ll pass on what you’ve told me.” He tilted the last bit of espresso into his mouth. “Delicious.” He sat the cup back down on the saucer. “I should get going, you’re the first of five in the city that I need to see today. Do you have the love ready?”
“I do. Just a moment.” She got out of her chair and headed down the hallway to her and Fine Roast’s bedroom. In the closet, she pushed aside her dresses and pried back the floorboards. Inside was a small burlap sack with the word POTATOES on the side. She pulled the sack out and peered inside to see the eighteen purple love crystals. Each half as wide as they were long and almost small enough to fit in Firefly’s hoof.
She wasn’t sure how these crystals were different from other collectors’. They didn’t even look different from any other sources’ crystals. Shrugging, she transferred her four reserve love crystals from a second sack. She set the floorboards and dresses back in place and returned to the kitchen.
“Here you are.” She held the bag out with her magic. “Eighteen plus four crystals ready to go.”
“Thank you.” He grabbed it and put it into his right saddlebag. “And thank you for the coffee, erm, cappuccino.” He shape-shifted once again into Cherry Custard. “It was good seeing you, Sweet Leaf. We’ll have to do this again soon.”
Shifting back into her pony form, she reached out to give the disguised mare a quick hug. “Definitely. Let me show you out.”
Cherry followed her down the stairs and out the front door, both mares waving goodbye.
Sweet Leaf locked the door and headed back upstairs to the kitchen to clean, singing a happy little tune along the way. As she wiped down her equipment, she considered perhaps opening up the shop for a few evening customers. After a moment of hemming and hawing, she decided against it. Times were good, bits were coming in, and she and her husband were happy. She set the last cup in the rack to dry and decided the afternoon was a perfect time to pamper herself at the spa.
Some pony conveniences were just too good to pass up.