September 24, 3095 Imperial Calender (1522 AD)
Ponyville Town Square
Depressi and DJ both walked back towards their Aunt's house, a bag on each one's shoulder. DJ asked, "So, this is interesting stuff, huh?"
"I guess", Depressi said, shrugging his wings. "I mean, some of the stuff that we can find in grocery stores they would find weird. We're not in all that much of a position to talk."
"Why can't we talk? I mean, what is this... 'Princess Flakes'?"
Depressi said, "I believe it is called Breakfast Cereal. Equestrians eat it with milk."
DJ shot Depressi a dirty look, a glare with a faint glint in his eye. "I am not saying that, dear brother. I am merely saying that this is bizarre."
Depressi said, "I suppose you're right."
"Because I am", DJ said, turning back to the street in front of them.
The two of them arrived back at their Aunt's house, simply opening the door and heading for the kitchen. Inside, Scootaloo was cleaning a few dishes, before turning and smiling at them as they placed the bags on the counter. "Oh, hey. You get what I asked for?"
"Yes, Aunt", Depressi said, pulling two boxes of cereal from his bag and placing them on the counter. Other foodstuffs soon joined the collection: Fresh produce, bread, milk and orange juice, and a few packaged foods like jello, chips, and condiments.
"Thanks, you two are the best", Scootaloo said, grabbing the various items and moving them to their locations in the kitchen or the pantry.
"Need else?", DJ asked.
"As in do I need any more help?", Scootaloo asked, to which DJ nodded. "No, I'm good. You two can go play with your friends."
Depressi opened his mouth to say something, before stopping and closing it. Looking over he saw DJ clamp his beak shut too, and asked, "You forgot we had the day off too?"
"Yep", he said. "Kinda bizarre, right?"
"Like you think something is wrong, but you can't quite put your paw on it?", Depressi asked.
"Yeah, yeah."
"What are you two saying?", Scootaloo asked.
"Oh, just commenting on... on well the fact we don't have school today", Depressi said. "We usually do."
"You have school six days a week?", Scootaloo asked, turning to look at them while putting something on the shelf.
"Yes. It's laid out like the work schedule for most of the adults", Depressi explained. "We have school six days a week and have the final day off. It's said to help us adjust to a typical work week for when we enter the workforce, but I personally think it's just a holdover from when the Church held more power. The day we have off, Sunday, is the old day of Prayer, and so it's just a holdover, really."
"Huh, cool", Scootaloo said. "Still, you're not in Pryha; you're in Equestria. So, enjoy it like an Equestrian! Go have some Hayburger or something."
"Hayburger?", Depressi asked. "That place with the big horseshoe above it down the street from the Carousel Boutique?"
"Yeah, that one", Scootaloo said. "Rumble and I went there a lot when I was pregnant. Had cravings for the stuff. It's good besides, and it's pretty cheap."
The two of them turned to one another. DJ shrugged and said, "When in Griffonstone. Just let me grab your wallet."
"Why am I paying?", Depressi asked, following his brother up the stairs to their room.
DJ stopped, looked back, and smirked. "Because I paid for your drinks last time we went to the Gilded Stage."
"Fair enough", Depressi said, moving past his brother and into their room.
++++~++++
"You know, when I first saw this place, I thought it was a Paw-wear store", Depressi said as the two of them approached Hayburger.
"Really?", DJ asked.
Depressi nodded. "I mean, yeah. What restaurant has something like that over the top of it?" He pointed a wing at the giant horseshoe, before tucking it back into his side as then entered.
The two of them ground to a halt after they entered. A long line snaked through the store, about fifteen ponies in length. At the end was a large counter with several cashiers and a large menu above them.
After a second, DJ said, "Look, you wanna go find someplace else? Maybe just catch our own lunch. I saw a group of rabbits on the edge of town, and there was this big fat white one. Kinda cheeky, but still got some good meat on it."
"Isn't that where Miss Fluttershy and Mr. Iron Will live?", Depressi asked.
"Yeah, but what does that have-" DJ stopped, before muttering, "Shit."
"Yeah. But, besides that, it might be worth it? I mean you remember the food at the Palast des Essens?*"
DJ licked the rim of his beak, remembering the last time he ate there. "Ok. Maybe this place is worth a shot."
The two of them moved up to the back of the line. Slowly, it moved forward, a customer grabbing either a bag or a platter laden with food. The ones with bags left, but the ones with the platters stayed, taking a seat to eat in one of the many tables around the restaurant. The presence of creatures at the tables drew their attention next, but they both soon dropped it. Equestrians had different customs, and it appeared they had their own for eating as well.
As they got closer, they looked up at the menu to try and get a bearing for what each of them wanted. Both of them immediately squinted, then shot the other a look of confusion. "This... is not like the Palast des Essens."
"Really?", DJ said, shooting his brother a look. "Cause it looks like a one-for-one copy of their menu to me."
"Oh, hardy har har. Be sarcastic as you like, but my point stands."
Ignoring his comment, DJ asked, "What's a Hay Nugget?"
"Why are you asking me?", Depressi asked.
DJ shrugged. "You're the smart one."
Depressi smiled. "Thank you. And... I still don't know what it is."
The two of them shared a brief pause, before DJ asked, "So, are you gonna order some?"
"I mean, I don't know", Depressi said.
After another few minutes, the two of them reached the front. A unicorn mare with a bored expression and a paper side cap said, "Welcome to Hayburger. Can I take your order?"
"Uh, one question first", Depressi said. "What are... What are Hay Nuggets?"
The question made the mare perk up slightly, apparently just realizing that they weren't Equestrians. "Oh. It's, uh, it's a bunch of Hay packed together and deep-fried."
Depressi nodded. "Thank you. Alright, I'll have... a normal Hayburger with a side of Prench Fries, please."
"Alright", the cashier said, writing it down on a notepad. "And you?"
"I take same as him", DJ said.
Noting the confused look on the cashier's face, Depressi said, "My brother's equish isn't the best. He's learning, but he still has some issues."
"Go take it up the ass", DJ muttered.
Depressi sighed. "Not until marriage, you know that", he said, before turning back to the cashier. "Sorry. He'll have what I'm having."
"I got it. That'll be sixteen bits total", she said.
Depressi paused for a minute, before realizing that she seemed to be waiting. "Wait, now?"
"Yes, now", she said.
Depressi reached into his pocket, pulling out his wallet and pulling out the required bits. After giving them to her, she said, "For here or to go?"
Depressi asked, "Well? What do you say?"
"Here, I guess. We're in no rush, and I wouldn't mind sitting down", DJ said.
Depressi nodded and said, "For here."
"Alright, please wait a minute please", the cashier said. True to her word, a few minutes later a pair of platters were placed in front of them, their food piled atop it. "I hope you enjoy. And welcome to Equestria!"
"Gratias", DJ said.
"It means 'thank you'", Depressi clarified.
The two of them grabbed their platters, before heading off to look for a table. They easily found one, sitting down opposite one another and surveying their food. A wrapped up burger, a small cardboard box containing the fries, and a small paper cup of some type of red sauce. DJ grabbed a fry, before immediately dropping it. Depressi asked, "What is it?"
"They're really greasy."
Depressi examined his own food, unwrapping and grabbing his Hayburger. Unlike the food at the Germane restaurant he was used to, it was certainly different. The patty was smaller than those sandwiches, the mass of the burger made up of lettuce, tomato, and onion instead. A thick squirt of the red sauce was dolloped on top, and the bun, sure enough, was spattered with a decent amount of oil.
Depressi lightly swallowed, before bringing it up to his mouth and taking a big bite. He chewed slowly, not so much savoring the flavor as analyzing it. As a bit of pre-requisite to Pryhan food, he was used to complex or blended flavors, but this was certainly not what he had in mind. It was... the best he could describe it as was 'strange'. He swallowed and said, "Well, that was interesting."
"Good or bad intreasting?", DJ asked. "Because it makes a difference."
"Intreresting interesting. I can't really say if it's good, but I can say that it's different than anything I've ever had before", Depressi said.
DJ shrugged, popping one of the fries into his mouth. He said, "Well, these aren't bad. Kinda like soft Chips."
"Forgive me for that not sounding appealing in the slightest", Depressi said.
DJ snickered. "What? Little mister Prim and Proper doesn't have the palate for the food of his mother's native land?"
"I never said anything like that, Fuse", Depressi said. "I'm merely commenting that you have an odd sense of taste."
"Hey, you eat what you gotta eat", DJ said, shrugging and tossing another few fries in his mouth.
Depressi rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes. You would know that better than I would, I get it. Now, changing the subject. What are you and Princess Flurry Heart doing in the woods?"
"Sorry. Can't say", DJ said.
Depressi asked, "And why is that?"
"Under strict orders. You know that better than I would", DJ replied, a smirk forming on his face.
Depressi sighed, rubbing his forehead with his paw. "Touche."
The two ate in silence for another few minutes, not really paying attention to those around them. After eating as much of his burger as he could, Depressi scanned the restaurant, surprised to find it packed. Various ponies, from young foals and their parents to single adults, sat at the wooden tables and ate. Laughter, idle chatter, and the occasional yells filled the large dining room. It was a far cry than what Depressi would've expected from a lunch experience.
"Excuse me?", a voice said behind him. Turning his head, he spotted Headmistress Twilight, a platter like their own laden with food, albeit more. Much more. "Can I join you? There aren't many tables left, and it's just me, so..."
"Of course, Mulier Twilight", Depressi said. "Feel free."
"Thank you", Twilight said, moving between the two of them and locking her wheelchair. She then set the platter down and immediately set to work on the food in front of her.
After she polished off a burger and a few dozen fries, Depressi worked up the nerve to ask her, "Forgive me for being rude, but... how do you stomach that?"
"What do you mean?", she asked, mouth full of hay, veggies, and bread.
Depressi said, "Maybe it is a local staple, but I just can't see myself eating that for long. It's just... it's not what I'm used to, is what I'm saying."
"This is *Burp*. Oh, excuse me. Anyway, this is a part of why I asked Celestia if I could get a bit of funding for this program", Twilight said. "To learn about other cultures, and other's perspectives on things. She once told me that you couldn't learn friendship in schools. Well, this is as close as it gets!"
"Maybe you Equestrians could be a little less friendly. Could do you all some good", DJ muttered.
"What did you say?", Twilight asked.
Depressi said, "What my brother said is that, back home, Equestrians have a certain... reputation. That of being overly friendly."
Twilight cocked her head. "Is that really a thing? And, if so, how is it bad?"
"Smile too much", DJ said. "Look like dolls. Creepy."
"That, among them", Depressi said. "There are certain other stereotypes, but that's one that pertains to the few tourists we get in Creui. It makes them stand out like a drunkard on the Parade Grounds."
"Really?", Twilight said, pulling out a notepad and a pencil and jotting some things down. "That's really fascinating. It's-" She stopped, before smiling. "Huh. It's working."
"Working?", Depressi asked.
She nodded. "Yeah. My theory is proving to be correct. We're learning about and from one another."
Depressi and DJ looked between one another, before both shrugging.