It had been a few days since Luna had told the two clerks their predicament, nothing had really changed from their point though. Customers would come in, buy items, pay for gas, or just use the restrooms as a last minute emergency. For almost a week during the night shift no ponies had come through any of the doors, it was strange, but given how the last set of ponies came three days after the twos break. However, the two Derrick and Mark were on night shift once again, but this time they were more prepared for their potential encounters.
“So… do you think anyone is gonna show up?” Mark asked.
“At this point anything could happen.” Derrick replied, he looked at the doors with intrigue for what kind of pony would pop in for their late night pick me up. Soon the door opened and a pony looking somewhat like Luna, minus the fur color and hairstyle walked right in.
“Welcome to Stop-n-Snak.” Derrick said with the vigor of a first time employee. The pony simply nodded with a weak smile as she browsed the store, “Is there anything that you need help with?”
“Yes actually.” The pony replied, “By any chance do you guys sell coffee?”
“I think the better question is, how do you like it?” Derrick asked, “We got it canned, bottled, iced, or fresh. So take your pick miss…”
“Twilight Sparkle.” The pony said, “I’m not sure why a convenience store would have this level of attentiveness.”
“Well our boss thinks if we get to know our customers we’d be able to work better and it gives the customers feel special.”
“Well I guess if it works.” Twilight replied, grabbing two of each type of coffee varieties.
“So why do you need all that anyway?” Derrick asked.
“I'm currently going over some important documents for a meeting of royalty, and the amount of errors and contradictions aren't helping in the slightest.” Twilight sighed, “I needed some fresh air, and I thought getting something could help.”
“I know that feeling.” Derrick said, “I remember when I had to cram for finals a few months ago, and it wasn't fun.”
“Well why is that?” Twilight asked.
“Well I kept forgetting to study that much over the time that class was being held, and by the time the tests were up… I panicked.” Derrick replied as he looked at the rows of iced coffee, “I know they tell you to try working in study time into your schedule, but I just didn't care and wanted to treat myself to some fun.”
Twilight chuckled, “Yeah… I guess that sort of mindset persists, despite who it is. I remember how I used to be when I was just a student, instead of a princess.” Although Twilight was the epitome of studying, research, and all things academia; there was that special occasion she’d like to take the day off and enjoy herself.
“I mean sometimes you burn yourself out if you do nothing but study all day.” Derrick looked back at his friend back at the register, “Then again… sometimes you need someone else to help you get through it.”
Twilight looked back to where Derrick was looking, “Friend of yours?”
“Yeah. That’s my pal Mark, we met a little ways back.” Derrick proceeded to regale Twilight all about Mark and all the things the two did. From the time when they first met, to when they both got hired to work at the gas station and the bizarre things that had been happening to them.
“Well at least my friends have been keeping you company.” Twilight said with a slight chuckle.
“Except Pinkie…” Derrick shuddered, “How do you put up with all that crazy?”
“After a while, you eventually get used to it.” Twilight replied, “Trust me, I was in you guy’s shoes when I first met her.” Twilight then looked up and her eyes grew to the size of dinner plates, “Oh my gosh, I didn’t know it was THAT late!”
“What’s up?” Derrick asked.
“I have to get back to the castle.” Twilight replied as she ran towards the counter, “Those documents aren’t going to revise themselves.”
Without hesitation Mark began to scan the items that the purple alicorn had dropped onto the counter, “Your total is… twenty three dollars?!”
Twilight sighed, “I really need to stop doing this sort of thing.” She opened her saddle bags and pulled out some bits and dropped them on the counter, “Thanks for the help!” With that, she ran out of the store.
Derrick looked around the store before heading back to the counter where Mark just looked at the amount of bits left by Twilight. “So, you two seemed to be getting along pretty well.”
“Yeah I guess.” Derrick said, “I mean, it seemed like we have a lot in common.” He looked back at his friend and just reminisced about the times where the two of them hung out before the job.
Nearly any chance they got over their friendship, they stayed up late into the night, watching TV, discussing old sci-fi movies, and just trying to beat one of the secret bosses of their favorite RPGS.
Mark looked out the windows, and watched the trees swayed in the wind. Everything seemed fine; he focused on how the trees moved, they seemed to be moving like a tornado was coming along. “Was there a storm in the forecast tonight?”
“No.” Derrick replied, “It’s June, I highly doubt there would be anything for at least a few weeks.”
“Then why are the trees going off like that?” Mark asked. Derrick looked outside and his pal was right, the trees were blowing as if they were in the middle of a tornado or some freakish storm. The two decided to get away from the windows just to be safe and stuck around the snack cakes and day old doughnuts.
After what felt like hours, the wind had finally died down. Everything seemed to be normal until the doors just slammed open.