//------------------------------//
// Morning In Maretime Bay 
// Story: Misty, Sprout, and the monsters of Knottshurr Island 
// by RiffRaff7942_YT 
//------------------------------//

8:30AM, Monday Morning.

Sprout Cloverleaf was sitting in a cafe, waiting for his food. He had been waiting for about a quarter of an hour. That week was a week off for him, but Sprout had agreed to sweep the sidewalks for the morning, for some extra compensation. He had nothing better to do anyway, no events to go to that he knew of. He was having his breakfast, and then getting to work.

“Hi Sprout.”
Sprout looked up. Even though he wasn’t despised by the public anymore, it was a rarity for somepony to say good morning to him.
“Umm…” He said slowly, “Hi… Misty?”
Sure enough, the newest member of the mane 6 sat down next to Sprout.
“Uhh, what are you doing here?” Sprout asked.
Misty shifted along to sit next to Sprout, and then she spoke; “Well, I heard you had extra work today, and I don’t really have anything on my resume today, so I figured I might aswell join you.”
“Umm, thanks,” Sprout said, “Just the morning.”
“Is this new for you?” Misty asked.
“Uhh, not new,” Sprout said, “Just not very often. I’m a kinda keep to himself kinda pony.”
“Oh,” Misty said “If you don’t want me to, you-“
“No no,” Sprout said quickly. Too quickly for his own good, “I mean, I wouldn’t mind it. I don’t usually have somepony to talk to..”
“Thanks,” Misty said.
“Yeah,” Sprout replied “I’m just waiting for my breakfast, and then I’m getting to work. It’s only a couple of hours. Better than some workdays I’ve had.”

*MYM*

After Sprout had finished his burrito and apple juice, he stepped outside the cafe, where he had left his broom. Misty followed him, with her own apple juice only half drank.

“So, any adventures recently?” Sprout asked, as he picked up a broom.
Misty thought for a moment, “Apart from the whole Starlight Ridge fiasco, not really. It’s been kinda chill for a little while. I say a little while, but it’s only really been a week since that.”
“Tell me about that,” Sprout said.
“Well, after we defeated Opaline,” Misty began, “A strange portal opened up in front of us. And it made Izzy, who was standing the closest, change a little…”

Misty spent about 20 minutes telling Sprout of her adventures through the portal.
“And I did have a really good snooze. I actually woke up I’m the middle of the night, and it took a couple of days to get my already shattered sleep schedule in order.”
“Wooh,” Sprout remarked, shaking his head a little, “That’s sounds like a great time. Better than anything I’ve been through recently. You’ve been off saving worlds, I’ve just been doing boring old community service.”
“Eh, somepony has to do it,” Misty said, quickly realising she might’ve come across as offensive, “Uhh, sorry if I offended you.”
“Nah, it’s fine,” Sprout replied, “I’ve heard worse from others.”
Sprout put his broom down, going on break for a while. He took a flapjack out of his sachet and ate a little of it.

“I wish I could go on one of your adventures,” Sprout remarked. “You make it sound like so much fun.”
“Is this jealousy or genuinely wanting to have one?” Misty asked jokingly. Though Sprout took it seriously.
“No no, I really do want one,” He replied. “ Like I said, it sounds like a good time.”
Sprout continued sweeping, as Misty finished her drink and put the carton in the recycling bin. Sprout gave her a look, happy she followed the rules of litter placement.

“There you are!” Said a voice. Misty whirled around. It was Comet, an Auroricorn from Starlight Ridge, and he looked worried. He had always been the skittish type, but today it seemed there was some reasoning for it. “There’s trouble in the ridge! Strange noises! Almost like music!”
“Whoa Whoa Whoa, Whoa…” Misty said, trying to calm Comet down, “Just tell me slowly what you need to tell me.”
“We’ve been hearing strange music coming from a mountain, everyday and night at 12 AM and PM. It’s this eerie music, almost like some kind of ritual. But that’s only speculation, don’t quote me on that.”
“Weird noises, huh?” Misty asked.
“Yep, that’s what I said,” Comet replied, “No pony’s dared to go find out what causing it, so we figured somepony like you might be more daring.”
“Hmm…” Misty thought for a few seconds. She then turned to Sprout, with a courageous grin on her face.
“Sprout,” She said, “You may have just gotten your wish!”