Sweetie Belle tapped her hoof against the table, the young unicorn looking out over the restaurant with barely contained boredom. Though it had changed significantly since she was a foal, Sugar Cube Corner was as awesome as ever she decided. The whimsical style of the structure blended perfectly into the ornate woodwork and candy themed decorations even after all these years. Though that part had changed slightly after the store had expanded to also become a cafe about four years ago, Sweetie Belle still felt that same aura of childish wonder when she looked around.
That aura of childish wonder was significantly dampened by her own boredom though, as well as the fact that the store itself, was currently closed. Meaning that the hustle and bustle of excited foals, and hungry adults were no longer around to entertain the young mare. With little else to do Sweetie Belle found her gaze returning once more to the job she was currently being paid to do.
Namely, babysitting.
Something that was pretty easy considering the twins she was looking after were now the same age Sweetie Belle had been when they were born, and were also quite mature at that. Pound Cake sat in one of the booths across from Sweetie Belle, a book titled Anarchy, State, and Utopia in one hoof, and a dumbell in the other. He was big for his age, though that wasn't exactly a surprise given his upbringing and Twilight’s reforms in the field of foalhood nutrition.
The colt was a little taller than Sweetie Belle had been at his age, in addition to the colt being physically larger. The weight lifting he had started after attending cutie mark camp a few months earlier evidently already having an affect. A cutie mark that was as new as it was strange, with a brown hoof impacting the ground with enough force to cause lines of force to shoot out from the point of impact being stamped on each of his flanks. Sweetie Belle had thought long and hard about it, and in the end she had to admit it was probably one of the strangest cutie marks shed ever seen in her career. It most likely had to do with his love for politics, something he had proven when he had done the leg work necessary to get Mayor Mare re elected for the twentieth year in a row but it was also more than just a political cutie mark.
Pound Cake seemed to show an aptitude not for any one task, but rather anything he really put his mind too. Something that made sense given the fact that his cutie mark was literally of the act of pounding something. Despite the strange nature of his cutie mark, the colt didn't complain, which made sense as Sweetie Belle had to admit he was certainly didn't have much to complain about, especially in the looks department. His long brown mane was slicked back, though the distinct bounce the colt had in his mane meant that it turned into slick brown waves rather than the flat look he had first attempted. That combined with his muscular exterior made Sweetie Belle wonder where his genes came from, as his father was a lanky bean stock, while his mother was simply, round in almost all aspects.
The mare continued to tap her hoof and glanced over at Pumpkin cake who seemed to be her brother’s opposite in just about every way. The filly in question was lanky, painfully thin, wore an extensive amount of black eyeliner, and had done the least with her hair. The filly having simply tied it into a ponytail and wrapping it with a black twist tie complete with a tiny jack o'lantern clip overtop, which added a bit of flair. A theme that encapsulated her entire look, as the filly wore a long black dress that covered almost the entirety of her form, obscuring her cutie mark.
Not like Sweetie Belle needed to see it to know what it was, as the young mare had been to both of the twin’s cuteceniaras. The image of the carved pumpkin complete with candle, scary looking face and knife sticking out the side was all but burned into the mare’s mind, taking one of the top spots for oddest cutie marks she had seen. At least her talent was a little more obvious then her brother’s as the unicorn had been able to scare just about everyone last nightmare night.
Glancing at the screen bolted to the wall of sugar cube corner made Sweetie Belle wince, the blood and viscera flying, being a little too real for her liking. She forced herself to look away, silently reminding herself that they were Pumpkin’s favorite type of game and that she shouldn't judge a pony based on their hobbies.
“Augh.” Groaned Sweetie Belle. “I can't believe I miss the days when you guys would tear up the place every time I babysat you.”
Sweetie Belle could hear Pumpkin’s rolling eyes from her several feet away. “If you want, I can set fire to the kitchen. I’m sure that will be suitably exciting.”
“Or I could bring a stormcloud into the bathroom.” Pound Cake offered, not looking up from his book.
Sweetie Belle groaned again. “I’m pretty sure your mom would finally fire me if you two did either of those things. I can't exactly use the excuse that your foals anymore.”
Pumpkin Cake snickered. “Maybe then we’ll finally be rid of you.”
“I wouldn't joke about that Pumpkin, mom might hire Cheerilee again.” Replied Pound Cake.
Both twins shuddered, with Pumpkin having to pause her game to hold back the urge to gag. “I take it back. Your a great babysitter Sweetie Belle.”
“Thanks, but since when did Cheerilee babysit?” Sweetie Belle remarked, while scratching the side of her head.
“Since she got bored of retirement and started undercutting teenagers and weird adults.” Pumpkin mentioned offhandedly.
“I’m going to pretend I didn't hear that last part.” Sweetie Belle grumbled.
“Suffice it to say Cheerilee may have stopped being a teacher, but that hasn't stopped her from being a teacher.” Pound Cake explained vaguely.
“So she taught you guys stuff?” Sweetie Belle half asked, half stated. “That doesn't sound so bad.”
“We did all our homework for the next week in a single evening, she even knew what our teacher’s lesson plan was and had us work ahead.” Pumpkin clarified.
“It was nice, but not how I wanted to spend my saturday.” Added Pound Cake.
“That's fair.” Concluded Sweetie Belle.
And just like that, the room fell into an awkward silence, with Sweetie belle tapping her hoof against the table while biting her lip. Pumpkin returned to her game, her controller twisting this way and that under the effect of her magic while Pound Cake switched which hoof held the book and which hoof pumped the barbell. Sweetie Belle looked down at the book she had brought with her, but couldn't bring herself to actually crack it open as she knew she wouldn't actually retain any of the information she might read.
“Soooo Pound Cake.” Sweetie Belle began, tapping her forehooves together awkwardly. “Are you going to major in political science like you talked about during camp?”
The colt shrugged. “I might.”
“Pfft, after you got him his cutie mark it's all he's been talking about.” Pumpkin Cake replied without looking away from her game. “So don't let his cool demeanour fool you.”
“That is so not all I talk about.” Pound shot back.
“He's even got some slogans set aside for his run for class president.” Pumpkin added with a smirk.
“Isn't that next year?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“Yes.” Pound hissed, putting down his book and weight. “I’m just being prepared, Pumpkin.”
“You should tell her a few.” Pumpkin snickered. “Either that, or I will.”
“N-no, I can.” Pound stuttered, a blush coming to his cheeks.
“Oh you gotta tell me a few.” Sweetie Belle pressed, leaning further up the table.
“Well this one’s my favorite.” Pound declared. “Pound for pound, I’m the best vote around.”
“Oooh not bad, catchy.” Sweetie Belle mused.
“He's even got a slogan ready for his presidential run in a decade.” Pound continued, the unicorn holding back a laugh. “Tell her Pound.”
The colt crossed his hooves over his chest and grumbled. “I’ll pound the deficit into the ground.” He muttered.
“You know that one isn't too bad either, I mean have you heard what Twilight’s running with this year?” Sweetie Belle asked, the mare barely holding back a laugh of her own.
“Augh don't remind me.” Pound groaned. “Don't let your Twilight years be dismal ones. Vote Twilight!”
“It's like, I know, your running on the promise of reform to pension plans but geese, that's a bit much.” Pumpkin replied.
“I know right!” Pound exclaimed exasperatedly. “It's not big enough of an issue to hang your campaign hat on.”
Sweetie Belle shrugged. “It might be, there are a lot of old folks.”
“Still.” Pound muttered before shrugging and going back to his book.
The room became quiet once more, leaving Sweetie Belle feeling awkward again, as well as slightly weirded out. She tried to distract herself by thinking of something, anything other then the question that burned at the back of her mind. To that end she glanced over at Pumpkin Cake and tried to watch her game only to shiver and look away, put off by the amount of gore on screen.
“Soooo, Pumpkin.” Sweetie Belle began, shifting over to the other side of the booth to get closer to the teenager. “Are you really allowed to play that?”
Pumpkin remained quiet for several seconds before pausing and looking over at the older pony. “That depends, would you stop me if I wasn't?”
Sweetie Belle opened her mouth to speak only to stop and frown, realizing that she didn't exactly care if the teenager played the game, despite her own aversion to the game itself. “Does Pinkie Pie let you play it?”
Pumpkin Cake nearly doubled over in laughter, the filly clutching her gut lest she bust it. “Oh that's a good one! Auntie Pinkie can't even watch baking shows without crying!”
“It's true.” Pound added. “She cries every time someone burns a pie. Says it's a crime against the baking gods or something.”
“Pinkie is a bit of a softy.” Sweetie Belle muttered, the mare tapping her chin, deep in thought. “I’ll cut you a deal. You stop playing cus your freaking me out, and I won't tell your mom that's what you did the whole time I was here.”
Pumpkin Cake frowned, and crossed her forehooves over her chest. “I can't save it just anywhere you know.”
“She can.” Pound replied instantly, a smirk on his face. “See, it even says save in the pause menu.”
Sweetie Belle looked up and noticed that was indeed the case, and frowned at the younger female. “That's not very nice you know. Lies have a way of getting out.”
Pumpkin groaned and reluctantly saved her game. “Fine, fine.” She muttered, before flicking off the console and setting aside the cartridge.
“Thanks Pound Cake.” Sweetie Belle exclaimed.
Pound Cake chuckled, the colt putting a bookmark into his book before setting it aside. “I wouldn't thank me yet.”
Sweetie Belle blinked and looked over to Pumpkin Cake who had slipped into the semi circle booth to Sweetie Belle’s right, followed by Pound Cake who sat to her left. “What are you two doing?” The mare tentatively asked.
The twins look at one another. “Should I ask her or can you?” Pumpkin asked.
“Maybe it would be easier coming from a fellow girl.” Pound replied.
“What are you two talking about?” Sweetie Belle asked nervously, pushing herself back in her spot and looking for a way to escape. I really should have let Twilight teach me how to teleport.
“Fine.” Pumpkin sighed, and gave the elder female a gentle look. “Go on, get it off your chest. I know you want to ask something, but can't seem to muster the courage to say it.”
“Yeah Sweetie, what's bugging you?” Pound added.
“N-nothing!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed a little too quickly, the mare throwing her hooves in the air. “I’m totally calm, see?”
The twins exchanged another look before sighing simultaneously. “Look.” Pumpkin began, grabbing the older mare’s hoof. “Something is bugging you, we all know it, just spit it out and you’ll feel better.” Pound nodded his assent, while remaining quiet.
“I er-” Sweetie Belle sighed, and slowly pulled her hoof away. “Scootaloo asked me out yesterday and while I was thinking about it, Apple Bloom kinda sorta asked me out as well.”
“Wow.” Both twins muttered.
“Yeah it's so sudden. I mean we’ve been friends for years, this is totally out of left field!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed in an exasperated fashion.
“Really?” Pumpkin deadpanned, looking from Sweetie Belle to her brother. “Are you hearing this dude?”
“I am.” Pound muttered, shaking his head. “She's completely clueless.”
“I am not!” Sweetie Belle declared, her forelegs crossed over her chest.
“You totally are.” Pumpkin shot back. “Didn't you all kiss like last year?”
“That was….” Sweetie Belle’s defiant tone slowly died. “Okay so we made out a little.”
“You three swapped spit for so long that they call that spot makeout corner to this day.” Pumpkin Cake replied.
“Yeah, and even we know that. We aren't even old enough to go into the bar either.” Pound Cake added.
Sweetie Belle slowly crumpled, memories of that rather hazy night drifting back to the forefront of her mind. Images of a night of passion, that came after an evening of partying and celebrating their eighth year of running the cutie camp coming back suddenly. Slowly the unicorn’s cheeks began to grow a bright red and Sweetie Belle shook her head vigorously, trying to dislodge the cloying thoughts.
“That doesn't count.” Sweetie Belle began. “We aren't awkward around each other after, but we don't talk about it anymore. We aren't that close.”
Pound Cake raised an eyebrow. “You guys moved out together like eight years ago and have lived together ever since.”
“Yeah, don't you girls make enough to get your own places now anyway?” Pumpkin added.
“We like saving money!” Whined Sweetie Belle.
“Uh huh. And the reason you all sleep in one big bed is?” Pumpkin asked, the filly leaning forward slightly.
“I- we…” Sweetie Belle blanched. “You werent supposed to know that.”
“Everyone does.” Pound pointed out with a shrug. “It's not like it's a big deal, I mean The flower trio have been like that for like… forever.”
“We just don't have a big place and we need the extra rooms for other stuff.” Sweetie belle explained, her voice slowly shrinking until she was all but whispering. “Plus I can't sleep while alone anymore.”
“See? That's my point. Everyone sees it but you.” Pound Cake pointed out.
“So, what's the big deal then?” Pumpkin inquired.
“Yeah, it's not like anyone really cares about that sort of thing.” Pound remarked with a shrug. “Twilight, your sister and Zecora were in a herd together werent they?”
“They still are…” Sweetie Belle muttered, her shoulders slumping.
“So what's the big hold up then?” Pumpkin pressed. “Just make it official.”
“But what do I do?” Sweetie Belle began, her voice becoming louder, and more shrill as time went on. “What do I say? I mean I like like them both, but I can't just say okay to one of them!”
The mare’s breathing was becoming more erratic, and her eyes opened wide, the pony talking so fast that neither twin could get a word in edgewise. “If I say yes to Scootaloo then Apple Bloom would hate us, and then she would move out, and the camp would fall apart. Our destiny was to help ponies with cutie mark problems, what if we can't do that anymore?”
Sweetie Belle’s face thumped into the table and the mare began to cry violently, the pony weeping loudly.
“Not it.” Pound announced.
“Not- dammit.” Pumpkin sighed, and reached over to the mare and ran a hoof down her back. “Sweetie Belle, look at me.”
The mare sniffed and looked up at the filly, her mascara running so far down her face that it was beginning to make her lipstick run as well. “What?”
“You’re being stupid.” Pumpkin deadpanned.
“Pumpkin.” Pound hissed.
“No, listen to me. You all like each other, that much is obvious to everyone but you.” Pumpkin began. “Just say yes to both of them.”
“Bwuh?” Sweetie Belle gaped.
“Trust us Sweetie Belle.” Pound reaffirmed.
“But we can't get married!” Sweetie Belle replied, tears already in her eyes.
“Okay for one, who cares if you can get married, you aren't even dating yet.” Pumpkin replied dryly.
“Second, yes you can, it's just a different process remember? Like the flower trio, you were there for their union ceremony.” Pound pressed.
Sweetie Belle sniffed and wiped away her tears, her mind going back to the aforementioned day. It had been a bright and wonderful afternoon, with flowers of all shapes and sizes everywhere and at the centre of it all were three mares who loved each other very much.
“That's right, Twilight made it legal.” The mare muttered weakly.
“Exactly, you big dingus.” Pumpkin reprimanded.
“What my sister is trying to say is that you should tell them how you feel, I’m sure they feel the same way.” Pound added, after shooting his sister a glare.
“Your right!” Sweetie Belle shouted suddenly. “I have to go tell them how I feel right away.”
Pumpkin Cake only just got out of the way before Sweetie Belle wiggled out of the booth and made a break for the door. Which she then threw open and sprinted out of, the mare disappearing and leaving behind two very amused ponies.
“Three, two, one-” Pound counted down.
As if on cue, Sweetie Belle awkwardly poked her head back into Sugar Cube Corner. “Err, sorry about that guys, why don't you come along so you don't get in trouble. You can play Scootaloo’s games while I talk with them.”
“But all she has is dumb racing games.” Pumpkin whined.
Pound reached over and punched his sister in the shoulder. “What my uncouth sister meant to say is yes, that's fine.”
“Perfect, let's go.” Sweetie Belle declared, only to be caught by Pumpkin’s magic.
“Nuh uh, not until you fix that make up.” Demanded the younger unicorn.
“And only if you bring us to Burger Queen when it turns out we were right.” Pound added, earning him a hoof bump from his sister.
“Fine, if everything works out we can go out for dinner.” Sweetie Belle capitulated. “Just give me a minute, and we can get going.”
The two young ponies sat by the door while their elder trotted up the stairs and disappeared, the pony no doubt heading straight for the bathroom. On the main floor, two very amused twins shook their heads and grinned at one another.
“Adults.” Pumpkin remarked dryly.
“I hope we don't get that oblivious.” Pound remarked equally as dryly.
“Come on, let's wait outside, I bet she’ll freak when she realizes we aren't down stairs.” Pumpkin Smirked.
“Heh, good idea.” Pound agreed.
Hours later, three ponies who were now officially one big couple and two twins ate greasy fast food. Smiles present on all five faces throughout the entire meal.