"Wow, and I thought Maretime Bay was impressive," Sprout commented as he got out of the truck and onto the dirt road that slowly ascended the looming mountain. Sunny drove as long as she could, then Sprout drove almost through the entire night, stopping just outside the forest so they didn't have to navigate the river in the dark. So with that, Sprout got four hours of sleep alongside Sunny, and as soon as dawn gave them light on their surroundings, they traveled down the river as they had when they were racing back to Zephyr Heights when Sunset had first come through the mirror and raced up through the city to the palace. Parking the truck just off to the side of the river and dirt road to the abandoned castle, they were both rested for the most part, and now had the better part of a day to spend in Zephyr Heights before going up to the palace for Princess Pipp's concert.
Sprout made sure they were far enough off the path before giving the doors of the truck test pulls to confirm they were locked. There probably wouldn't be a whole lot of hoof traffic, but Queen Haven had opened up the castle exterior to photographic tours, and some were taking advantage of that to see what ruin was found in the middle of the forest.
"Oh, here," Sunny began, reaching into her left saddlebag and tossed Sprout a chocolate covered granola bar. "Something for the hike, then we can grab some brunch somewhere in the city."
Sprout immediately unwrapped the bar and started into it as they began uphill.
"How much of a hike are we talking?" Sprout asked, his mouth half full of his light breakfast.
"Well, it probably won't be as strenuous as it has been in the past, they've been making the grades more gentle, and that makes the trek up, and down, a little easier."
Sunny was right; in the past few weeks, they had added wooden guardrails to more easily define the path as the ascent left the forest behind and it became more rocky and jagged. But it was either this, or take the long way around, and that would have taken more than half of their day, and Sprout was very much anticipating a day in a new city as a tourist.
His granola and fruit bar complete, Sprout crumpled up the wrapper and stuffed it in one of his saddlebag's smaller pockets for disposal once they got into the city. For now, Sunny was content to sip at her canteen of water that was slung over her shoulder.
"Any idea what kind of food you want to look for once we get up there?" Sunny asked as they rounded the next hairpin and continued climbing.
"Well, I know some franchises from here have started to make their way to Maretime Bay, but let's look for something that we can't get back home," Sprout answered.
"Should be plenty of options then," Sunny replied.
It was a half-hour climb before they came to the top, and greeted two tourists who were on their way down. To the right of the gates was a welcome sign.
WELCOME TO ZEPHYR HEIGHTS
We hope you enjoyed the climb, and that you also enjoy your stay!
They walked over to a trash bin to throw away their granola bar wrappers, and sat down at a bench to catch their breath from their climb. Sunny took the opportunity to dig out her phone and text Pipp.
Sunny
Sprout and I just got into town. Parked at the bottom of the mountain. You and Sunset available for breakfast?
It was barely a minute before a reply came, and her phone vibrated in her hooves.
Pipp
Sorry. Sunset is joining our band for dress rehearsals pretty much all day. Hope you two enjoy yourselves, and we'll see you at the concert tonight!
"Alright, well, looks like it's you and me until the concert tonight, Sprout, so what'll it be?" she asked as he looked over a pamphlet that he had grabbed at a kiosk just inside the gates.
"Ooh, Sky High Pizza Bagels!" Sprout said excitedly.
"I thought you just said you wanted something you couldn't get in Maretime Bay," Sunny interjected.
"Yeah. I've never had pizza on a bagel before!" the stallion replied.
Sunny chuckled. Didn't take much at all to drive Sprout back towards his favorite food. And they'd likely have to grab another meal before the concert, anyway.
"Alright, pizza bagels it is. Lead the way," Sunny told him, getting up from the bench, and continued heading towards downtown.
Zephyr Heights was still primarily pegasi, but there were a few unicorns and earth ponies here and there, as this city was just as quick as Maretime Bay to get a Tourism Board up and running and get their city as welcoming as possible to outsiders as they could in a timely manner.
The castle towered above everything else in the city, but down here in the downtown area, you couldn't really tell most of the time, with the billboards everywhere. It was somewhat overwhelming to Sprout, his eyes darting from one building to the next.
"Remind me to never bring mom here," Sprout commented, motioning to the electronic billboards. "She'd have Maretime Bay covered in these things."
"Maybe we run an idea by Hitch, get him to pass some ordinance to proactively prevent that," the mare suggested.
"Ah, here it is!" Sprout exclaimed.
The signage above the building was a graphic of a pair of winged bagels breaking through the clouds.
SKY HIGH BAGELS
Out front was a white board with the specials of the day.
"The Breakfast Bagel Supreme? That has my attention," Sunny commented as Sprout took a minute to look at the board, then they stepped through the double doors. The line wasn't too bad, and they both stood back and eyed the menu above the serving line.
"Hello, and welcome to Sky High Bagels! Step forward whenever you're ready to order," the blue pegasus stallion behind the counter greeted.
"Oh good it's not too early for lunch," Sprout commented, licking his lips.
"Granola bar didn't last long, huh?" Sunny asked, stepping up to the counter with him.
"Hey, you said it was for the climb, and I believe we are done climbing," Sprout shot back with a smirk. "I think I'll try your stuffed supreme bagel, please, and an apple juice."
"Coming right up, and for you ma'am?" the pegasus asked Sunny.
"What's on your Breakfast Bagel Deluxe?" she asked.
"Ah, our morning special. That's a bagel cut in half, dipped in egg wash, pan fried, then topped with a mini pancake, drizzled with strawberry syrup, and given a dusting of powdered sugar."
Sunny's mouth began to water.
"Yep, I believe I'll give that a try, with an apple juice as well, thank you."
"Alright, one Stuffed Supreme, one Breakfast Deluxe, and two apple juices. Twelve bits, please."
Sprout and Sunny handed him six bits a piece, and after depositing it in the drawer, he immediately went to work. Sprout wasn't too sure about cream cheese on pizza, as he saw him scoop out the bagel before filling it, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. Once the cream cheese was spread around, it was covered in a hearty tomato sauce, sprinkled with bits of mozzarella, and popped in the oven while he went to work on Sunny's order.
Her dad had made her fancy toast before, but Sunny had to admit she had never seen it done with a bagel. But as the frying started, Sunny only got more hungry from the inviting smells wafting up from the frying pans. By the time both the bagel and the pancake were done, the oven timer went off, and the cook went over to pull out Sprout's bagels. With them now about ready for serving, the pegasus plated up Sprout's bagels before sprinkling the bubbling tomato sauce and cheese with basil. He then moved over to Sunny's plate, where he expertly handled a spatula placing the pancakes on top of both bagels, then giving them a generous dusting of powdered sugar, before drizzling both halves with strawberry syrup, before sliding both plates across to them on a platter with two glasses of apple juice.
"And there we are. Please enjoy, and thank you for visiting!"
The two earth ponies thanked him and went to a booth with a good view of the street, which was becoming more lively as noon got closer. They took their first bites at the same time, and their eyes widened almost simultaneously.
"Oh my stars..." Sunny said, the flavors mixing brilliantly and exploding across her taste buds.
Sprout was having a very similar experience.
"Okay, these guys have to follow Heights Castle and come to Maretime Bay," Sunny commented, taking a sip of her apple juice and immediately going back for more.
"You said it."
Sprout, surprisingly took his time, and Sunny understood why; these bagels were a work of art.
It would be wrong to not savor each and every bite.