Beep! Beep! Beep!
Misty Fly groaned and turned around gently in her small, white bed. Her eyes were droopy and slightly crusty and her stiff limbs wished to stay still for just a little longer. Misty reached for the buzzing alarm clock and with a simple tap, the room became pleasant to the ears once more.
Misty forcibly rolled off of her bed and landed on her hooves. She stretched her body and emitted a loud yawn before looking at the clock once more, which read a disgustingly early 6:00 A.M. Iron Will didn't specify a time that she should arrive at Cafe Canterlot, much to her annoyance. However, just to be on the safe side, she cleaned herself up and had a light breakfast. Just as she finished those tasks, she heard a knocking sound.
Approaching the front door and opening it with a soft push, Misty made out what looked like a white mass at the other end. Once the door was wide open, she jumped up ever so slightly and shook her head. Bulk Biceps was waiting for her, and his eyes were half awake and his throat still emitted snores despite him being conscious.
"Bulk Biceps? What are you doing here?" asked Misty with dilated pupils.
"Iron Will wants me to let you know that he expects us at Cafe Canterlot at 7:30," said Bulk in a deeper voice than usual. "I don't know what he wants us to do," Bulk let out another yawn and stretched his forelegs, "but I think it has something to do with behaving at a cafe."
"That's probably what he has in mind." Misty stepped outside of her apartment and closed the door. A small click rang in her ears upon locking the door. "Are you ready to head on over there?"
Bulk Biceps nodded, his head bopping like a slowly moving pendulum. "I am."
"That's good to hear. Let's get going."
"Wait a second." Bulk extended his foreleg in front of Misty Fly's body. "Where is Cafe Canterlot?"
"I know where it is." Misty looked up at Bulk and smiled. "Just follow me closely and we'll get there. It actually isn't too far from where we are right now."
Bulk let out a relieved sigh and his muscles visibly loosened. "That's good to hear. Don't go too fast so that I can keep up."
"Naturally!"
Misty and Bulk left the velvet covered interior of Hotel Travertine's lobby and stepped back out into the outside world. To her surprise, the sky was covered in a thick, dark gray blanket of clouds. The lack of sunlight reaching the bottom made the world around her seem two hours behind schedule. A feeling inside of her gut also told her that rain would be on the horizon, but exactly when was still unknown to her.
The pair nevertheless turned left and trotted along the streets of Canterlot once again. The roads were crowded, but Misty could feel the air around her this time as there were nowhere near as many ponies the last time Canterlot was filled to the brim with ponies. She looked behind her and saw Bulk keeping up, prancing enthusiastically along the cobbled stone roads. Misty's lips formed a smile, which prompted Bulk to form a wide smile of his own. While it was far from attractive, his smile had a heartwarming edge to it that caused her smile to widen.
After a few minutes, the pair made it to Cafe Canterlot. The outside terrace was incredibly simple, but its humble architecture was charming to the eyes. A long, white and green cloth hung over the terrace, providing ample shade for the customers who chose to eat or drink outside. The tables all had a gray, gothic quality to them. A large, glass door stood in the center, with "Cafe Canterlot" and the business hours below it meticulously inscribed in the glass. A familiar aroma of coffee beans passed through Misty's nostrils, the scent alone waking her spirits up.
"If Iron Will isn't here, we'll wait for him at one of the inside tables," said Misty. "Sound good?"
Bulk Biceps nodded, the bobbing of his head more vibrant than before. "I like it," he said. With his approval, Misty opened the door and a bell's chime echoed in her ears upon stepping inside the establishment.
The inside of the cafe was as humble as the outside. A glass counter ran from one side of the building to the other, displaying a number of treats that looked much more appetizing than what was usually given. A coffee machine rested on the back wall, buzzing with activity only having a chance to rest for only a few seconds at a time. Misty wondered how the machine kept operating without self-immolating. Only a few ponies sat in the chairs next to the small, round tables, and among those inside included a minotaur, who was undoubtedly Iron Will.
"You've finally shown up," said Iron Will as he waved to Misty and Bulk. "Come over here and have a seat."
Misty and Bulk trotted towards Iron Will and took their seats. The metal mesh wasn't the most comfortable thing she sat on, but because it didn't pinch her flank or anything like that, she was content with it. Exactly twelve seconds later, Amethyst Star appeared, huffing and puffing as she galloped to the empty seat next to Bulk.
"I'm so sorry," Amethyst said as she panted. "I overslept and I had to squeeze through the Canterlot streets to get here."
"Doesn't matter now that you're here," said Iron Will. "You also might want to work out more, because you need strength if you're going to be assertive!"
A sudden question popped into Misty's head. Her mind refused to hush until its curiosity was satisfied. "Sorry to ask," she said politely, "but why are we here exactly?"
"Remember what Iron Will told you yesterday?" asked Iron Will in response.
"Oh. Um, so—"
"Don't apologize for stuff like that! Stay firm and take it like a champ!" Iron Will immediately turned his head to his left and motioned towards the staff. Each wave was more aggressive than the last. "I've been here for ten minutes, I'm ready to order!"
A waitress, a light blue pegasus mare with a smooth, white mane, rapidly appeared before them. Misty couldn't help but notice her physique. The waitress's wings looked as streamlined and agile as her wings. Her body, while not muscular like Bulk Biceps's, looked incredibly fit. Was she an athlete? Misty felt as though the evidence confirmed her assumptions.
"Calm down, big guy," the waitress said in a critical tone. "May I take your order?"
"I'll do the honors," said Iron Will. He then glared at the three and planted his index finger next to his lips for a brief moment. "And don't question what I'm going to do next."
Iron Will leaned over to the waitress and whispered something into her ear. The waitress quickly jotted down each item on a notepad with her pen, her face wincing slightly and her eyes pointed towards Iron Will. After a minute or so, Iron Will leaned away and smirked at his students.
The waitress turned around in a huff and with a scowl on her face, she trotted to the back of the kitchen. Misty felt determined to find out if the waitress was an athlete. If she was or was aspiring to become one, maybe she'd have some tips on how to be tough. Misty watched the waitress leave and once she was out of her sights, she brought her attention back to Iron Will and her fellow students.
"That waitress looked rather fit," said Misty, hoping to get an answer to her question. "Is she an aspiring athlete or something?"
"Probably," said Amethyst, who rested her forelegs on the table in front of her. "I've been around Canterlot long enough to know that part-time jobs at places like this are really popular for young ponies vying to get into something that's hard to reach. When I was a filly, I clearly remember seeing Mayor Mare of Ponyville working at this very cafe once."
"I should tell some of my friends back home in Ponyville this," said Bulk with a wide grin.
The waitress returned with four cups of coffee, the scowl on her face still intense and her eyes glowing with a piercing gaze. Upon arriving at the table, she hurriedly placed the cups in front of the four of them and before she could leave the scene, Misty extended a hoof towards her.
"Wait a second," said Misty. The waitress turned around with a raised eyebrow, her face no longer scowling. "Before you go, can I get your name?"
"If you must know, then I'll tell you," said the waitress. "My name is Fleetfoot."
"Well, I'm Misty Fly. It's nice to meet you." Misty cleared her throat. "You look like an athlete, so I'm wondering if that's what you're interested in doing."
Fleetfoot shook her head. "Actually, I want to be a Wonderbolt. I'm only here because I heard it was a good part-time job for ponies my age."
Misty's eyes widened immediately. There was that name again. It was one thing to get reminded about that group yesterday, but to have them mentioned today out of the blue twisted her mind around like a corkscrew. Desperately thinking of something to say, she nodded her head and let out the first words her mind formulated.
"I wish you well," she replied with a smile.
"Thank you," said Fleetfoot, who smiled back. "I, um, I hope we see each other again." Fleetfoot proceeded to leave the table and trot back to the kitchen, leaving the four with their cups of coffee.
The group sat perfectly still, their lips firmly shut. For over a minute, not one of them uttered a syllable nor moved more than a few inches. All they did during that time was stare at each other or stare into the coffee cups in front of them. Misty chose to do the latter, looking at the liquid resting inside the cup before her. The coffee clearly had no sugar or milk added to it, as its color was extremely dark, but she knew that there had to be something in it. After all, Iron Will did take his time specifying the order. Before she could think about the coffee, Iron Will's voice broke the awkward silence and pulled Misty's attention to him like a piece of metal to a magnet.
"That waitress sure is an odd one," Iron Will said out of nowhere. "Anyway, drink the cups of coffee before you. Don't be shy." Iron Will took the cup in front of him and drank the coffee in one big gulp. He shuddered slightly and his stomach roared as though it was complaining, but Iron Will quickly formed a grin and flexed his muscles yet again.
"What's in it?" asked Misty nervously.
"That's for you to find out." Iron Will smirked and quietly chuckled to himself.
Misty bit her lip and stared at the coffee once again, only to be interrupted by a loud, spitting noise. Looking up to the source of the noise, she managed to glance at a stream of liquid escaping Bulk Biceps's mouth. His lips were puckered up and his eyes somewhat teary.
"What was that?" asked Bulk, his tongue sticking out and his face wincing. "That was the worst coffee I've ever drank."
Just then, another emission of coffee came rushing out like a geyser, this time from Amethyst Star's mouth. Her reaction was exactly the same as Bulk's, right down to the facial expression.
"What did I just drink?" asked Amethyst in a disgusted tone. "Bleh!"
Misty looked at Iron Will, smiling and waving his hands as though he wanted her to drink without having to actually tell her. Misty, seeing no way out of this, gently lifted the cup towards her and her lips kissed the top of the coffee. The taste was akin to a garbage dump. She dropped the cup and spit out any of the coffee that managed to sneak into her mouth.
"Urgh! Please tell me what was in that cup," Misty said as she cringed, looking down at the floor and away from Iron Will.
"I requested the cups be added with a hint of pepper," Iron Will confessed with a grin. "Excuse me, but what Iron Will meant by a hint was actually two tablespoons."
The three ponies regained their composure and stared attentively at Iron Will, who was trying to subtly flex his muscles, but couldn't find the room to do so.
"Why would you do something so ridiculous?" asked Amethyst with her head tilted.
"I want you to go up to the counter and tell someone that they got your order wrong," said Iron Will, still trying to show off his arm muscles. "And don't hold back your distaste for what you just drank."
"Um, I have a question," Bulk interrupted with a raised hoof and a gray face.
Iron Will paused for a moment, formed an intense scowl, and slowly turned to Bulk. "What is it?"
"That waitress looked really intimidating. Misty said it herself, she's got the body of an athlete. I'm afraid if we tick her off, she'll kick our flanks all the way to the Everfree Forest."
"I'm with Bulk Biceps," said Amethyst, who was tapping her hoof on the table at regular intervals. "She looks like the kind of pony that you wouldn't want to mess with. Isn't that right, Misty Fly?"
"You can practice with a different pony if you want, but I'm talking to her," Misty replied confidently.
"That's a turnaround!" Iron Will shouted with glowing eyes. "Come on and show her some assertiveness!"
Iron Will enthusiastically pointed to Fleetfoot, who was currently conversing with another employee. Misty took a deep breath, muttered words of encouragement as per usual, and got off of her chair and trotted towards Fleetfoot. Every step Misty took felt heavier than the last as her muscles urged her to gallop away. However, her mind told her to talk with Fleetfoot and not back down. It was a war within her soul, and as she stepped in front of the register, it soon became apparent that it was a war that her mind won.
"Um, excuse me," said Misty. Her chest tightened and her body felt lighter and lighter. "Can I talk to you?" Misty glanced over to Iron Will, staring at her as though he was a spy. She then immediately turned her attention to Fleetfoot, who was now facing her and staring at her in the eyes. To Misty's surprise, Fleetfoot wasn't glaring at her, but appeared to be rather indifferent. Did she know what would happen?
"What is it?" Fleetfoot asked. Her face was painted with an emotionless expression as she stared at Misty attentively.
Misty cleared her throat, but her chest tightened nonetheless. Had she made a huge mistake? She was right there, and she needed to talk with her, even if the results might not be pleasant.
"My drink came out wrong, so, um, is it okay if I get a new one?" Misty asked, trembling ever so slightly, but Fleetfoot raised an eyebrow, prompting Misty to wince ever so slightly.
"Okay, what was your drink again?"
Misty froze in place and her muscles loosened. The air around her no longer felt heavy and she couldn't resist biting her lip. Misty then opened her mouth, but the only sounds to escape her throats were mumbled, indescribable noises. Such noises were not cacophonous and actually somewhat pleasant to the ear, which caused Fleetfoot to smile ever so slightly.
"Misty Fly, do you mind if I share something with you?" Fleetfoot asked out of nowhere.
Misty tilted her head and remained silent for about a second. The tightness inside of her body loosened and she simply let out a deep breath. "Um, sure," she said as she stood firmer. "Is there something wrong?"
"I'll cut to the chase." Fleetfoot looked down and let out a sigh. Her eyes stared at the floor in a melancholic form and her lips looked like they were fixed shut. Fleetfoot then looked at Misty in the eyes and rested her forelegs on the counter before her.
"I'm a jerk," Fleetfoot confessed in a flat tone. "I've been trying to become nicer for so long, but I keep acting before thinking. It has gotten to the point where some ponies are afraid of me. If I had to take a guess, I'd say it's a byproduct of me trying to become tough and assertive. I have so much trouble differentiating between what is and isn't rude. I'm lucky that some of my fellow workers here would call me a friend. I don't know why they see me like that when I haven't done anything that would make them believe this."
Misty looked at Fleetfoot and noticed a cascade of tears flowing down her cheeks and onto the glass counter below. The puddle of tears formed a beautiful rainbow as it rested on the clear glass. The mere sight of this caused her to shed a few tears of her own. Misty unconsciously grabbed onto Fleetfoot's hoof, squeezing it in a gentle manner as her lips formed a warm smile.
"You are not a jerk," said Misty as a matter of fact. "Some ponies have a sharp edge or an attitude to them, and some may even do something without thinking about the social consequences. You recognize that you don't always say or do the right thing, and that's a step in the right direction. We may make some mistakes down the line, but as long as we apologize to the ponies we've been rude to and keep trying to become a better pony, there's no way that somepony like you could be deemed as rude to the core."
"T-thanks," Fleetfoot said, the tears dripping from her cheeks at a faster rate. "W-will you be my friend?"
"I will. If you have anything you want to talk to me about, I'll be there for you."
Misty paused for a moment. Her eyes widened and her pupils dilated. What would Iron Will think of her? This didn't seem like the actions of an assertive pony. If that's the case, did she want to become assertive? Misty saw the form of what too much assertiveness could do to the heart right in front of her, and is that the life she wants to adopt? Uncertainty clouded her mind and her teeth chattered with repeated clicks.
"Um, can I have a cappuccino?" Misty asked out of the blue.
"Anything for a friend," said Fleetfoot. "I'll give this one to you free of charge as a thank you."
Misty looked over to Iron Will and her fellow students. Amethyst and Bulk both had warm smiles across their faces and shimmering eyes, but Iron Will's fierce scowl sunk her heart all the way down into the abyss. Misty quickly turned around and quietly sighed. She got a free drink through a conversation just as she was supposed to, so why was it still wrong? Shouldn't she be getting some credit instead of none at all?
Fleetfoot returned with Misty's cappuccino, a white steam rising out of the cup and bringing a scintillating aroma with it. Giving the cup to Misty, Fleetfoot smiled slightly and nodded.
"Thank you," Misty said in a polite tone as she grabbed the cup.
"You're welcome, friend," said Fleetfoot, who proceeded to return to the kitchen. Each of her steps looked more lively than those before her conversation with Misty Fly and her aura seemed more pleasant to the heart as well.
Trotting slowly back to her seat, Misty looked at Amethyst and Bulk, both of them still smiling as brightly as ever. However, Iron Will's less pleasant expression were like daggers through Misty's soul.
"That wasn't assertive at all," said Iron Will as he shook his head. "You may have gotten your drink, but you didn't do it right."
"Cut her some slack!" Amethyst yelled, her smile transforming into a scowl. "Misty Fly did a great job! Bulk Biceps and I couldn't even get a drink from the waiter we talked to, so Misty is a step ahead of us!" Bulk Bicpes quickly nodded in agreement.
Iron Will sighed and rubbed the palm of his hand across his face. A light amount of steam erupted from his nostrils as he emitted a slight groan. "Watch and learn how someone with toughness does things!"
Stomping on the tiled floor of the cafe as each step loudly echoed in the room, Iron Will approached the counter and repeatedly tapped the glass with his knuckles. The noise was incredibly repetitive to where Misty, Amethyst, and Bulk winced slightly after some time. After what felt like an eternity, but in actuality was only a minute, a gray unicorn with a mustache approached Iron Will with droopy eyes and a heavy frown.
"This awful coffee I ordered wasn't the right one!" shouted Iron Will. "I wanted mine with a nice dose of cream, not whatever was in what I drank! Get on over and—" Iron Will's eyes twitched and his stomach growled. He dashed towards his students and with wide open and bloodshot eyes, he attentively stared at the three ponies. The trio simultaneously raised an eyebrow and shrugged.
"I'm not feeling well right now," said Iron Will as his cheeks turned a dark green. "Drinking the whole thing of whatever I ordered was a bad idea. Class is excused!"
The moment Iron Will ran into the restroom, Amethyst Star looked over to Misty and Bulk. Misty could see a sense of urgency within Amethyst's glaring eyes, seemingly gazing into her very soul.
"Let's head over to Hotel Travertine," Amethyst whispered. "I've got some things I want to tell the two of you and only you."
Misty, Amethyst, and Bulk galloped out of the cafe and as far away from Iron Will as they possibly could. The three of them weaved through ponies trotting along the road, thankful that the road congestion was light where they were. The trio kept on galloping, focusing only on the ponies ahead of them. They kept on going until they made it to Hotel Travertine. The group barged in and seeing a place to relax, they immediately collapsed on the red couches of the lobby room, their bodies sinking into the soft cushions. Misty, Amethyst, and Bulk collectively let out a deep sigh of relief, letting their bodies sink into the warm material of the couches.
"What has gotten into that guy?" asked Bulk. "He's crazy! I swear the next time we see him I'm going to tell him to cut to the chase and actually make us tough!"
"We could always quit," said Amethyst. "It's not like we have to stay there."
"No quitting!" Bulk glared at Amethyst, who grinned sheepishly in response.
"Sorry."
"Anyway, we tell him that we want him to be a better instructor, and if it doesn't work out after a week or so, then we can quit!"
"Bulk's right," said Misty, nodding in agreement. "Maybe his little episode has taught him an important lesson. If he hasn't helped us after a week, I guess I'll just have to find something other than the Royal Guard. Maybe Ocean Current could help me find something I'd like."
"Who's Ocean Current?" Amethyst asked.
Misty giggled slightly and smiled. "Oops! Sorry about that. He was a fellow trainee in the Royal Guard. Like me, he didn't pass, but he is a really nice pony."
"If we ever see him again while we're here, you should introduce us."
"Sounds like a plan."
Misty looked up at the chandeliers hanging above her, their lights shining like twinkling stars in the night sky. She was hopeful that Iron Will had learned his lesson and would have them do more realistic exercises from this point on. However, she couldn't get Fleetfoot out of her head. She may have had an edge to her, but she didn't seem like a bad pony.
However, Misty wondered that if she did somehow pass Iron Will's course, would she fall into the same issues that Fleetfoot did? Misty shook her head, but there was a tingling feeling in her gut nonetheless that clouded her with uncertainty. It was a lot to consider, and her mind kept going back to Fleetfoot. Whatever her past was, Misty's heart ached for her and hoped that her dreams of becoming a Wonderbolt would come to fruition.
But should she follow Fleetfoot and become a Wonderbolt as well? It was the second time Misty heard that group's name, and it felt as though Princess Celestia herself was trying to indirectly tell her something. Misty still held onto the belief that hearing their name in back to back days out of the blue was a mere coincidence, but if life in Equestria has taught her anything, it is that all sorts of strange things can happen. All she could do now was socialize with her new friends for the rest of the day and see how tomorrow would turn out.