Chapter 9: Shopping in Los Angeles
(Jacob's Point of View)
Mom and Aunt Buttercup woke us up. They said it was time for Mom to get to where she needs to go. We got dressed, and Mom convinced the manager of the RV Park to watch over Cooper while we were all out. We all headed out, and Aunt Buttercup was driving Mom's Car. We decided to get breakfast at a place called Mel's Drive-In. We went right in and were greeted by a waitress.
"Good morning," said the waitress. "How many in your party?"
"Seven," said Mom.
"Right this way," said the waitress. We all followed the waitress, and we all were seated at a long table. "Alright. I'll take your drink orders."
"I'll have Coffee," Mom said. "Decaf."
"Apple Juice," I said.
"Make that two apple juices," said Aunt Buttercup.
"Three," said Apple Bloom.
"Four," said Nyx.
"I think I'll take an Orange Juice," said Sweetie Belle.
"Me, too," said Scootaloo.
"Okay," said the waitress. "One decaf coffee, four apple juices and two orange juices. I'll be right back."
The waitress brought us our drinks and then we ordered our meals. We ate, and then we had to head out. Buttercup started up the car, and then we headed off. Buttercup dropped off Mom at a huge office building. I rolled down the window and Mom said to me, "Alright, Jacob. Stay with your Aunt Buttercup, and I'll call her whenever I need a pickup."
"Okay, Mom," I said. Then I rolled up the window while Mom went in with a bag. Aunt Buttercup then started driving off somewhere.
"Alright, kids," said Aunt Buttercup. "We got a lot of time to do until Kathy gets out. Let's get going, y'all."
"So, what are we gonna do today, Ma?" Apple Bloom asked.
"We'll be seeing a lot of the city," said Aunt Buttercup. "I just hope that we'll be able to enjoy the time here. But, Ah kinda miss Ponyville already."
"Do you think there's a way to get back to Ponyville?" asked Sweetie Belle. "I'm starting to miss my sister, Rarity."
"Yeah," said Scootaloo. "And I've missed being around Rainbow Dash. She's such an inspiration to me."
"Ya got a point, girls," said Apple Bloom. "Ah'm starting to miss Applejack, Big Mac and Granny."
"Big Mac?" asked Aunt Buttercup. "Oh. Let me guess. He got such a growth spurt, didn't he?"
"Yeah," said Apple Bloom. "He did. Without you or Pa, Big Mac had ta drop outta school just to work at the farm. And ya know that Granny Smith ain't that much on movin' all that much."
"And Twilight must be worried a lot about Nyx," said Sweetie Belle.
"Ah'm not sure that there is a way back to Equestria," said Aunt Buttercup.
"But if there was a way that you all got here," I said, "there must be a way to get back. Like in the movie "National Treasure," there's always another way out in case the first way is cut off."
"Oh, yeah," said Buttercup. "Ah saw that movie. Although, there was a lot of things in that movie that are not suitable for children."
"Mom told me whenever something bad is happening, you should try to block it out," I said.
"Wow," said Buttercup. "Did ya do that to bullies in school?"
"There is one bully," I said. "A boy named Marion Devon."
That made Aunt Buttercup nod and say, "Marion. I didn't know it was a boy's name."
"I know," I said, laughing. "Anyway, I shouldn't let words of bullies get me down."
"Wow," said Apple Bloom. "Wish ya were in Equestria ta help out with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon."
"Are those the names of the two bullies in yer school, Apple Bloom?" asked Aunt Buttercup.
"Yeah," said Apple Bloom. "But, maybe the next time we get bullied by those two, we should just ignore 'em."
"Right now, let's focus on trying to get through the day," said Aunt Buttercup. "Ya'll just sit back and relax."
Aunt Buttercup took us to Walmart to get us some snacks for us. We got some water bottles, some chewy Chips Ahoy Cookies that was in a party size pack, some apple juice, and she also got a skillet with some pancake mix.
We also got some movies to watch later. Including the live action Sonic the Hedgehog movie. We didn't have it at home, but we could watch it. Mom said it was an okay movie. We watched Sonic the Hedgehog on the screens on the back of the headrests of the car. That was until Nyx said something.
"That waitress reminds me of somepony," said Nyx.
I then pulled out my phone, and looked up the cast on the Sonic the Hedgehog movie, and it turns out that the waitress in the movie was Shannon Chan-Kent. She voiced a bunch of My Little Pony characters. Here is a list of all of those voices she has done. (Pinkie Pie (singing voice), Silver Spoon, Lemon Zest, Wallflower Blush, Aura (Flight to the Finish), Roma (One Bad Apple), and Sonata Dusk (Singing in Equestria Girls: Better Together).
"No way," I said. "That woman has done a lot of characters from My Little Pony. She did the singing voice of Pinkie Pie and she also voiced Silver Spoon."
"That woman played Silver Spoon?" asked Scootaloo.
"I guess I can hear it now," said Sweetie Belle.
Then came the scene where Sonic was playing darts, having the waitress go jaw dropped when the cans of beer and her hat were covered in darts. Although, the Crusaders all thought that the slow motion scene was amazing, and funny. Especially what Sonic did with the ketchup, mustard and sparklers on those three guys.
Then Buttercup got a call from Mom. So, we headed back to the office building where she was. We picked her up, and headed on back to the RV. Mom got the promotion, and the boss told her to enjoy her vacation.
"So, how did you all enjoy your day?" asked Mom.
"Nothing all that special," I said.
"How about we go out for lunch, see a movie, and do some souvenir shoppin', y'all?" asked Aunt Buttercup.
"That sounds like a great idea, Ma," said Apple Bloom.
"Yeah, I could eat," said Scootaloo. "So, what are ya thinking?"
"Oh," said Mom. "Just the day before we left, Lauren sent a package for the four Crusaders." She then headed to the bed in the back room, opened up the bottom, and pulled out a box. She then carried the box towards the dinette. She then opened it, and revealed four plushies. Plushies of all four Crusaders.
"WHOA!!" said all four Crusaders.
"This is so cool!" said Scootaloo. "How did Lauren get these?"
"She created the show, Friendship is Magic," said Mom. "Of course she would have a lot of stuff from the show."
"That's actually cute," said Aunt Buttercup. "So, should we get something ta eat?"
We went out for a place called Tortilla Jo's. It was a Mexican restaurant. We got some some food, and then we went out to see a movie. After that, we went souvenir shopping. When we were done shopping, I had to go to the bathroom. Everyone else did as well.
As I came out of the bathroom, there was some man hitting on Aunt Buttercup.
"So, sweet cheeks," said the man. "How about you and I head off somewhere for a chat. Say, my place?"
"No thanks," said Aunt Buttercup. "Ah have plans."
"C'mon, don't be like that..." he said. "What's your name?"
"Richie?!" came Mom's voice. That got the attention of me, Aunt Buttercup and the man.
"Katherine?!" said the man, which was now known as my father. "What are you doing here?!"
"I'll tell you what I'm doing here," said Mom. "I'm here after getting a successful promotion from my job, and I was hoping never to see you ever again after what you did to Penelope."
"Penelope shouldn't have gotten herself pregnant," said Richie. "Kids are useless."
"Well, it was you who got her pregnant, and why she isn't here today," said Mom. "Penelope is dead, and you are the one I hold responsible."
"I told Penelope that families are useless," said Richie. "When I was 10, my parents sent me off to military school. They did that to me just to get rid of me."
"They sent you there because you were a troubling child," said Mom. "I looked you up right after Penelope came to me that day. And after all of that, you don't even deserve to be a father. I adopted him and I'm making sure he doesn't end up like you."
"Fine!" said Richie. "Who do I care?! Kids are good for nothing, and they always will be!" He then started walking away. "I don't even know why they make places for kids." He was out of sight almost immediately.
"So, is that why you didn't want to let me know about my dad?" I asked Mom. "Because he was a huge jerk?"
"Yeah," said Mom. "He hates kids, and never wanted anything to do with you. One of these days, I'd like to know that he's been hit by a bus."
"Ah've always hated people with bad attitudes," said Aunt Buttercup. "But, ya did do Jacob right by keeping him and his father away."
"Ya got that right, Ma," said Apple Bloom. "Mind if we go and get somethin' ta eat?"
"I already ordered some food from The Cheesecake Factory," said Mom. "All we have to do is pick it up, and eat it at the RV."
"Sounds good," said Sweetie Belle. "Is that why you wanted us to take our order from that restaurant?"
"Yep," said Mom.
"Good call," said Nyx. She then looked over at Buttercup and asked, "Did you have some food at the Cheesecake Factory before?"
"There was a restaurant in Honolulu," said Buttercup. "I always got Evelyn's Favorite Pasta when I go there. It's always good wherever I go."
"Let's get going," said Mom.
We then headed on towards the closest Cheesecake Factory, picked up our order, and headed back to the RV. Buttercup and Apple Bloom picked up Cooper, and came back to the RV. Then we got the food in our bellies, and then headed off to bed. Tomorrow, we're all going on into the park.