They’d reached the cafe and sat, ordering their meals with one extra dish that would be the subject of the spell. Lonely was blatantly distracted, though she’d never admit why. The poor food used for practice was but a harmless daisy sandwich. Starlight pushed it towards Lonely once they'd both finished their meal.
"Alright, and what is your favorite desert?" Starlight asked.
"Hm, chocolate cake."
"Perfect," Starlight replied.
Lonely was given instructions that she barely managed to register, her mind instead choosing to focus on the confusing look of love she saw in Twilight's eyes moments before she ran away. Lonely casted the spell when prompted and only then was she snapped out of her thoughts. Both of the mares covered their noses at the sudden stench.
"Blegh," Starlight jokingly gagged, "Don't worry, just try again."
That she did, to much of the same success. Sweet Celestia, no wonder Twilight responded as she did. Twilight's whole thing was magic, she'd be so disappointed to see her student failing so bad. Lonely genuinely did try to learn the spell, the best she could in her state. But trying is not always enough.
“It’s nothing to beat yourself up about.” Starlight said encouragingly, “This spell isn’t the easiest.”
“Yuh huh.” Lonely spoke. Defeated by the spell that she failed to cast a dozen times by this point. She rested her chin on the mushroom table and stared off into the distance.
“Well, It’s not like it’s supposed to be this hard.” Starlight continued, mostly to herself, “It is more on the tricky side but it’s one that most unicorns can learn if they try, no matter their talent…” She kept talking about the spell’s nature, but Lonely wasn’t listening.
The barely eaten daisy sandwich sat next to her resting head caused her to not want breath through her nose. She had taken a bite just to see if she the spell had worked on the taste and not the smell, she regretted it instantly. It still smelled nasty and she'd bet it's taste the same. The spell apparently was meant to change any food’s flavor without hindering it’s healthiness. So this daisy sandwich was supposed to taste like chocolate cake. However, it tasted more like a chocolate cake after that chocolate cake passed through somepony, definitely not her favorite.
“What I mean is, it just seems like you’re not focusing on the spell.” Starlight finished her explanation.
“Yeah..” Lonely sadly agreed. She was absolutely right, she had to fight to keep Twilight’s cute blush and rushed apology from echoing in her head. Oh, how she felt like an idiot.
“Okay,” Starlight started, “Sit up, give it another try.” Lonely wearily lifted her head from the table, “Good, now, take a deep breath, spark your horn and feel it. Really feel it, resonate the spell in your mind, imagine the taste, the sweetness of the rich chocolate and cast it.”
Lonely did try to cast the spell, but when all the reaction she got from the sandwich was another gust of foul odor she slammed her hooves on the table, “That’s it!” she shouted, only realizing after a few silent seconds that everypony in the cafe had turned to look at her. She felt her face heat up and slumped down in embarrassment but she shook it off quickly enough. “I’m sorry,” She apologized to her friend, “I just... I can’t focus today,"
"Is everything alright?" Apparently the student counselor in Starlight kicked in a bit.
"Yeah, it's fine. Thank you for trying to teach me.” She stood and turned, grimacing as she realized that some poor waiter would have to clean up her failed spell. A part of her wished that they hadn't already paid, so she could've left a bigger tip.
“Where are you going?” Starlight asked.
“Back to the castle.” Lonely began to walk home. Twilight still wouldn't be back yet, maybe she could hide in her room for the rest of the day and not interact with the alicorn until tomorrow.
“No- Wait.. I..” Starlight called out, causing Lonely to turn around and raise an eyebrow at her, she figured the pony was about to say something to try and encourage Lonely to try again but she got distracted as her eyes shifted from Lonely’s eyes to somepony else’s, “Hey Pinkie!” she smiled.
Lonely turned to see the pink mare hopping towards her, “Hi girls!” She called, "Twilight said I might find you here!"
"Well, she was right." Starlight replied.
"That's super duper perfect!! Cause if you two aren't busy, I need your help with something kinda very important!” She smiled as she stopped in front of their table.
Lonely shrugged, “Sure,” she spoke, “We’re not making any progress here.” she gestured at her failed project with a laugh.
Starlight sighed in defeat, “I guess that’s true, but uhm...” She hummed, “I’m sorry Pinkie, I promised Twilight that I’d go help her with the school once I taught Lonely the spell- or I guess failed to teach the spell.” She laughed that awkward laugh she did when she was trying to make sure no pony got mad at her. Of course, Pinkie wouldn’t get mad at her but Lonely understood Starlight’s uneasiness with turning down a friend when that friend needs help.
“That’s fine! A promise is a promise!” Pinkie grinned, “Lonely and I can do it!” She swung her arm around Lonely in a sort of half hug, causing Lonely to let out her own awkward chuckle.
“You two have fun.” Starlight smiled as she started her trot to the school.
The green unicorn very quickly realized that she had agreed to something even though she didn't know what. “So,” Lonely started once the other unicorn was out of sight, “What is ‘it’ exactly?”
“Foal sitting and cake baking!” she explained, "Mr. and Mrs. Cake are heading out today so I need to watch the twins but I also have a super special order due today and not even I can do both at once."
“Oh.” Lonely said, “Well,” She shrugged, “I’m not really good at either of those things but I can try.”
“That’s the spirit!” Pinkie chirped and started bouncing in the direction of Sugarcube Corner. Lonely shook her head at Pinkie's energy, she let out a sigh and turned to follow the bouncing mare's lead.