In the main room was everything needed to make anything I'd ever made: sculpting tools for stone and for clay, a powerful lathe, fine tools for watch making, pottery wheels, dress mannequins, oil paints with canvas, a large loom, and a carpenter's table with a full set of tools. That left about half of the room empty. I'd fill it with new things as needed. The children's room had modeling clay, building blocks, water color paints as well as paper, and everything needed for paper mache. I'd need to get more things for that later as well.
My favorite part was always the kitchen. Two ovens, a twelve burner stove, toaster oven, and a counter that doubled as a cutting board mafe up the preperation area. I always kept the fridge fully stocked, as well as the cupboards. I liked the kitchen because although it wasn't my special talent I could make something that made other ponies smile. Cakes and pasteries were good, but hay fries and stir fry made better lunch. It was also a good tool for a bachelor on his own. Knowing how to make something more than chips and salsa was a benefit. Though home made salsa was good.
What would I make for lunch though? I could make bread for sandwiches, or something more romantic. What food was romantic? Pasta? I didn't really have time to make noodles though unless I got a bunch of free time before Pinkie got here. I'd probably only have the two hours for lunch though. Have I really been lying in bed thinking about this for so long without opening the shop?
I got out of bed. The sun had barely risen, and I didn't expect anypony for a while, but you could never be sure. I showered quickly and went down to the kitchen. Two apples made up breakfast. I went to the front door to turn the sign to the open sign and found none other than Twilight Sparkle waiting there.
"Oh good you're open. I thought I might have to come back later."
I looked down smiled an shook my head. "Were you waiting long? I thought most of th town was still asleep."
"Most of them are. I wouldn't normally be up this early, but I needed to see you."
I feigned shock. "Did you fall in love with me too? Oh no. I don't think Pinkie would like sharing."
She blushed and a slight hint of annoyance entered her voice. "I meant I needed to see you about Pinkie."
I held the door open wide. "Then come in." I flipped the sign so it read open on the outside. "What would you like to talk about?"
At first she was a bit distracted by all of the tools in the main room, but soon she noticed that I had spoken. "Wow... I mean, um. Pinkie is my friend. I just don't want to see her get hurt."
That confused me. "What do you mean?"
"I mean that I don't want some stallion to come out of nowhere and sweep her off her hooves just to leave her." Her expression had grown intense.
"Well who's the stallion? She's the one that kissed me."
Her intensity deflated. "What?"
I had a half smile as I spoke. "I decided to stay in this town a few days ago, but I only thought I'd make a few friends. I never planned on starting a relationship. From the start Pinkie made me smile, and she called me 'sweetie' but I thought she was just playing around." I looked down at the floor. "The truth is I've never asked another pony to be in a relationship before. I don't have that kind of confidence."
"Oh..."
I looked back up to her. "Are you going to ask the other thing you were going to ask?"
She looked a bit confused. "How did you know I was going to ask something else?"
I smirked. "If that was all then you wouldn't have woken up so early to see me. You have to have more exciting questions than that."
"Well yes. I just want to make sure your right for Pinkie, but I don't know if I or any of the girls can trust you."
"Because I'm such a good liar?"
"Precisely."
"But I never lied."
"Huh?"
I was good at that. "Everything I said in town was at least part true. My illusion spell does repel dust so that was true, and the name I used was an old pen name from past ventures. I submitted a poem to be published under that name. It turned out not to be my true talent. Also the poem never got published."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"Don't be. I never was." I leaned closer. "It was an awful poem when I read it again a year later."
She still wasn't sure. "How can I know you're right for her though?"
I stood in thought for a moment before speaking. "I guess you can't." Smiling I continued. "Though she makes me happy and I hope I make her happy and I hope that's enough."
That seemed to be all she needed to hear for now. Twilight turned to leave when I added one more thing.
"Plus she has three of every color of crayon and I have so many coloring books that are still unfinished." I was a bit excited as I said it. I REALLY liked coloring.
She laughed once before responding over her shoulder. "Well that certainly sounds like Pinkie."
"Stop by the workshop some time. I can show you how to make a watch."
"I might. I think I'd like that." With that we said goodbye and she was on her way.
It would likely be some time before anypony else would arrive so I began making a watch. It was an odd way to pass the time I'll admit, but I had gotten good enough at it that it didn't feel like work. The chain would have to come later, but I definitely had the tools for it. It was nearly half assembled when the door opened and three mares walked in. I recognized them from the party, but nowhere else.
The first one approached me after whispering to her fiends. "Um..."
"Yes?"
"Are you really Salieri Starr?"
It was to be expected. "Yes. I promise I am."
She looked to her friends then back to me. "But you don't have the cutie mark." She was looking at my blank flank.
"Now a lady shouldn't look there." My horn glowed and I moved my hoof over the spot in question. "But if you must look again it's there now" That trick was always fun. I displayed the illusory mark then my horn glowed again and it was gone.
They were all whispering to eachother again. The second one approached me this time. "Sign this for me." She had retrieved a piece of paper from her saddle bag and was holding it out for me.
"Should I sign like I did back then?"
"Huh?"
I shrugged. "Well, my hoofwriting's certainly gotten a lot better since then so I sign more like this." I floated a quill from a storage cabinet as well as an ink well and a small paint brush. With a few quick strokes of the quill I'd signed my name. "However I used to sign more like this." A few more quick strokes and a second more childlike signature appeared next to it. "Also for a few weeks I only signed by brush." I dipped the brush into the ink and with a few strokes my name was on the paper a third time. I floated the page back to her.
She took a small picture from her bag and held it next to the page.
Something sank in right then. "I remember you. It was my fifth show on a small tour. You were sad that your parents wouldn't let you go to my next show two towns over and I gave you a picture. I signed in the top right." She was staring at me half in awe. "What? I would never forget a crying filly."
They talked to eachother again before the third mare approached. "I was going to give a third test, but I guess I don't need to. Instead... can you show me how to do that illusion thing?"
I had expected this as well. "Truthfully? No. I figured out how to do this spell when I was very young, but I don't know how to teach it to anypony. Even if I did..." I was almost crying. "This spell is nothing but a curse to me. I've lived most of my life in lies. I don't want anypony to live like that ever again." My smile was sad, but returned to normal quickly. "Is that all?"
She nodded with an astonished look on her face.
They nodded to eachother, then in unison they said "Goodbye Salieri."
"Bye girls." I walked them to the door and what I saw was rather surprising. It looked as if half the town was on my doorstep.
The girls stood tall and called out to the crowd. "It's really him." With that they ran off and a cheer crossed the crowd.
I was filled with a mixture of bafflement, happiness, and fear. I didn't think all of them could fit at once if they came. I was astounded that they all arrived without my noticing, but mostly I wondered if they were all here for me, or if some had come to use the workshop.
It was mostly the first one. Dozens came charging in at once. I was berated with questions. Mostly about myself, but every once in a while a question about a tool or the price of materials slipped in. The prices for things were of course very low. I answered everypony as best I could until it was 11:30. I was amazed at how fast the time had gotten away from me. At that time I grabbed a megaphone and aimed it straight into the air. "The Workshop is closing for lunch. Please come back after one thirty or on another day."
A voice rose out from the crowd. "But we have more questions!"
Then the whole crowd chimed in "Yeah!"
Today was expected, but still a bit aggrivating. "Well I have a date!" After a few more minutes of coersion I was able to get them out the door.
I looked at the clock. Supposing she showed up exactly at noon, I had 18 minutes. That wasn't enough time to make something and tidy up before she got here. Maybe she'd like cooking with me. She was a baker after all. If worst came to worst I would just explain that I had no time to prepare something special.
I began setting up the dining room table. I put out a nice table cloth, decided that candles would only work for a romantic dinner and weren't appropriate for lunch, got out place mats, and set out silverware. I didn't know if earth ponies used silverware all that much around here, but either way it looked nice.
I made two small salads with spinach, lettuce, apple slices, and walnuts, and when I was putting them on the table Pinkie showed up. Her perfect smile lit up the room as she entered. She had a way of just letting herself in it seemed. I had a way Of letting her.
"Sorry I didn't have time to make more. Ponies just didn't want to leave."
She rolled her eyes. "Well, yeah. What do you expect when you announce such a big Q&A session like that." She had a small plastic container balanced on her back. "I brought muffins!" She said in a sing song voice.
She was too good at making me giggle. "Want to help me make something else?"
Pinkie closed her eyes as she smiled. "Like what?"
I shrugged. "Like sandwiches, or stir fry, or taiyaki (pronounced tie+yah+key), or whatever else I have ingredients for."
She bounced a little in excitement. "Ooh! Ooh! The tie one! I've never had that!"
I smiled. "I'll make some sweet red bean paste then." I led her to the kitchen and pointed to a cook book. "Can you check what we need for the pastry part? It should be the page marked with a purple sticky tab."
"Aye aye, captain!" After a quick serious salute she bounced over to the cookbook, and the slight gust from her landing was enough to turn it to the right page. I swear that mare could use magic. She read the ingredients and began preparing her half of the dish as I worked on mine. Every once in a while, since my part wouldn't take as long, I had time to move something she would need. Just little things like moving a single ingredient a yard to the left, or scooting the mixing bowl a few centimeters, or putting a utensile or two away. She countered by tackle hugging me.
"Now stop it or this'll take too long." It was a good response.
"Hmm." I kissed her nose. "'Kay."
With that we shared a giggle and got back to work. The bean paste was done, and Pinkie was almost done mixing the batter ingredients. I got out the cooking pan.
She looked at it oddly. "What's that?"
I smiled. "It's my taiyaki-ki."
She tilted her head sideways and arched an eyebrow.
I laughed. "A special fish shaped pan for taiyaki."
She righted he head, but her arched brow remained. "Why would you want to eat a little fishy?"
I then remembered how sheltered most ponies are from the outside world. I rubbed a hoof against the back of my head. "Have you ever left Equestria?"
"Huh? Um... no."
She was cute when she was confused. Well, she was always cute, but especially when confused. "Not everyone out there's vegetarian. I discovered this recipe while in Griffin lands. The town I was in was mostly epescitarian."
She repeated herself. "Huh?"
I couldn't help but chuckle. "They eat fruits, vegetables, and fish. They had gotten the recipe from foreign traders, so I don't know where it's really from."
Pinkie stopped mixing and stood in thought for a moment with a hoof on her chin. "Foreign fish shaped pancakes with sugary beans. I guess that's why I haven't heard of it." She left it at that and stirred the batter a few more times.
I ignited the wood which quickly heated the thick stove.
"Ooh! Your stove's all old fashiony!"
I chuckled once again. "I guess so." It was the only stove I'd ever owned. It worked, so I kept it. "I like my old fashiony stove though. It cooks things better than I do." I placed the pan onto the stove. "We need to fill half the pan with batter." She did so. I added some of the bean paste to the middle. "Now fill the pan the rest of the way."
"Aye aye, captain!"
That was her second time saying it. "I don't want to be a captain. Can I be admiral?"
"Okey doke, admiral."
"Not aye aye?"
She shrugged. "Too many 'A's."
"Fair enough." I closed the taiyaki-ki and flipped it a few times over the stove. After repeating the process we had two nicely made fish shaped pancakes filled with sweet azuki bean paste. Taiyaki was fun.
We sat back down at the table to eat. I looked at her as she took her first bite of salad. I was... a bit self consious about my cooking. Even the salad preparation. She smiled as she chewed it. What a relief, she liked it. We had a good conversation as we ate. It was nice just being with her. I was sad when it passed one. We saved the muffins for last. She was a great baker. It was almost time for her to leave when the conversation switched to an interesting topic.
She brushed some crumbs from her lips before she spoke. "So what are your impressions of the girls?"
I really hadn't done much with three of them. "Well Rarity's nice, and it's really easy to make her blush. She doesn't have much skill when it comes to teaching, but she is a dilligent worker when her goals are in sight." She was a good friend. "Fluttershy is kind and as timid as Angel should be. She's a much better teacher than Rarity. Did you know she wakes up before dawn to take care of her animals?"
Pinkie looked at me oddly. "No I didn't. Thats crazy early. I just wanna know how YOU know that." She poked me playfully in the chest as she said it.
I smiled at the memory. "Remember the night when I came by the bakery and you were working on blueprints for a party cannon?"
"When I first met you?"
"Yeah. I had just woken up from sleeping for 26 hours or so. I spent most of the night in the forest talking with Zecora. I left just before sunrise as she went to sleep" I left the part about alcohol out. "When I got to Fluttershy's the sun was barely up, and she was the only pony in town awake. She was almost finished tending to the nocturnal animals so I helped her with the early birds. I also learned that I am afraid of Falcons." They're still scary.
She accepted that explanation. "What about the rest of the girls?"
I was slightly amazed that she was sitting and listening to me speak for so long. "To be honest I haven't really talked to them much. I only talked to Applejack for a few minutes when I bought zap apple jam, and a few more minutes at the party. I only talked to Rainbow for a few minutes on the way to buy the zap apple jam. I think I might have found out about a crush she has though."
Pinkie turned to full excitement mode. "Ooh! Ooh! Who is it? Is it Caramel, or Twilight, or Soarin?"
I giggled. "Don't you know the rule about crushes?"
She shook her head.
"If somepony else tells you who the crush is, then your friend will feel crushed." I know it was a terrible metaphor, but it was from grade school, so lay off. "Wait. Did you say Twilight? Why would you think Twilight?"
She looked away. "Um... no reason."
I decided to leave it at that. "Well I've talked to her a bit more than the others. She stopped by this morning. She really seems to care a lot about you girls."
She nuzzled my face with her own. "Of course she cares about her best friends."
I nuzzled her back. "Are you free tomorrow?"
"I am for part of the day."
"How about around eighteen O'clock."
"Am or pm?"
I was stunned for a moment. "Well, I never expected that response. How about six PM?"
"Actually it's girls night. How about Monday?"
I was about to make it a date when I rememered that Monday was the first. "Actually I'm spending next month with my parents. I'll be taking the eleven AM train out of town."
"How about breakfast somewhere by the station then?"
I smiled at her. "Let's meet here around eight then choose a spot." I then looked at the clock. "What time do you have to be back?"
She put a hoof to her chin thoughtfully. "One thirty-two, on the dot."
"You have four minutes."
She quickly glanced at the clock then with a quick goodbye kiss as I opened the door she was off.
It was then that I noticed the long line formed waiting to ask more questions. I sighed and gestured for them to come in. For the next several hours it was all sorts of questions non-stop. About me, my life, the ponies (and other creatures) I'd met, and, much to my happiness, a few actually about The Workshop. They were pretty much non-stop until almost eight-thirty. As the last pony left I flipped the sign to closed and made a quick dinner. I finished the watch I had started and realized how very tired I was. It was almost ten, so I got ready for bed. In the rush of the day I never noticed that I had gotten a letter. I am glad of that now. I at least got one night of good sleep that week.