//------------------------------// // Sugar Belle // Story: In Our Town // by Civviq Writer //------------------------------// My name is Sugar Belle. I’m the local baker in Our Town, and owner of a small café called Sugary Sweets. I got to rename it after Starlight Glimmer left. I also was able to expand the menu a bit. Now it doesn’t just have muffins on it, but also cakes, pies, cupcakes, pasties and even some beverages like coffee, tea, soft drinks and milkshakes.   I’m still practicing my baking skills, but Party Favor says that I’m an amazing baker, especially my cupcakes. He says that they’re ‘the best in aaaaall of Equestria!’, but that also could be because they actually have flavor, unlike certain muffins that we’ve eaten for years.   A few days ago, we all had gotten our cutie marks back. It’s going to be rough, getting used to it again, but with the help of my new friends I think I can manage. It also helps that I can finally bake something else than those yucky muffins! I certainly am happy that I can be me again.   Most of the townsponies enjoy their cutie marks, but they have a hard time readjusting their beliefs. We all have believed Starlight Glimmer’s ideas, and acted the way she believed was right, for so long, we have forgotten how it is not to be equal again. But I believe that, despite our differences, we still can be the best of friends.                  Night Glider, for example. She is bold, and fast, and brave, and very athletic. I’m none of that. I can bake very well, but I need to say that I’ve gained a little weight over the days. Now that my muffins are yummy again, I enjoy tasting them, and after tasting whole batches of bakeries… Night Glider says that I should exercise more. Maybe she’s right.   Sometimes, we have a little fight. It could be about anything, really, we’re so different now. But I have found that our friendship won´t end after a little fight. No, it only made our bonds stronger! But when it gets a bit too bad, Party Favor will come and make us laugh with his silly balloon animals. Once we´re done laughing, we make up and continue being best of friends.   Speaking of Party Favor, he´s now the self-appointed Party Pony of Our Town. After hearing all of Pinkie’s adventures, he strives to be just like her. And he can, it’s in his blood. He told me once that he’s related to the awesome super-duper-party-pony Cheese Sandwich. He didn’t specify where exactly in the family tree, but that doesn’t matter. Not to me, not to anypony.   He loves making ponies happy. If he gets the chance, he’ll throw a birthday party for one of the townsponies, an anniversary of whatever can be anniversarie’d, and, of course, whenever somepony new is in town, he’s always the first to greet them.   Not that that happens often, though. We’re a bit far away from other villages. Only travelers who had gotten lost or ponies who already knew the town know where it is. But that doesn’t stop Party Favor, he’ll throw a party whenever he gets the chance.   There is only one thing that he can’t do on his own. You see, he can’t bake, even if his life depended on it. He says, sheepishly, that it’s a family trait. His muffins reminded me of the muffins I baked when we were equal: bland, colorless, and tastes like cardboard that’s been in the oven for too long, according to Party Favor. He always comes to me if he needs a new batch of cupcakes or pies for a new party he’s planning. I think he loves my cupcakes.   Anyway, Double Diamond and Night Glider have a lot in common. They’re both very athletic and sportive - Night in the air, and Double in the snow. He loves skiing and inventing new stunts with Night Glider. I think they’re gonna make the Air Drop their signature move.   After Starlight Glimmer left, we’ve been without a mayor, or, at least, somepony to lead us. We all think Double Diamond is the best option - since he’s been Starlight’s right hoof - but he refuses. He just keeps avoiding the subject of Starlight Glimmer. It makes him nervous. Night Glider notices this, but keeps her mouth shut. I know that won’t be for long, because she always says whatever’s on her mind.   There are not many other ponies that are running for mayor now. Check Mate, the local chess master, could win, but he’s too cunning for my taste. Sunny Glasses is a bit too laid-back. Dancing Leaf is all right, but I don’t think she could handle it. So, still, I really think Double Diamond should be our mayor. But it’s all up to him.   So, yeah, I think life here in Our Town is pretty good. It’s my home now, and I’m curious to learn what other lessons my new friends will teach me. Let’s hope that the future is as bright as I hope it will be.   ~   The doorbell to my shop rang, signaling the first customer of the day coming in. Party Favor ran through the door and skidded to a halt in front of the counter, his frazzled mane even more frazzled from his speed. His bright smile was contagious, and I couldn’t help but laugh.   “Hello, Party Favor! What can I help you with today?” I said, chuckling.   He grinned. “Well, I was wondering if you had those new flavored pies ready? I’d looove to taste one!” he said, bouncing up and down from excitement.   I nodded, still smiling, and brought out the fresh-baked apple pie, now with cinnamon. There was already a piece out. After all, I couldn’t just put another cake out without tasting it first. What if it tastes bad? What if I had put too much cinnamon on it? Or not enough?   “Well, here is one cake,” I said, putting it on the counter. “Or, well, almost…” I blushed sheepishly, but he only laughed.   “Cut me a real big piece! I’m sure it’ll taste amazing!” he said. “Whether you’ve tasted it or not!”   I smiled and pulled out a kitchen knife. I started cutting the cake in several pieces, and gave the biggest one to Party Favor. “Do you want to eat it here, or on the way, or…”   He smiled. “I’d like to eat it here, please!”   I nodded, and put the slice on a small plate, together with a fork.   “Thank you!” he said, grinning, and took a big bite out of the cake.   I watched his expression closely. It went from curiosity, to surprisedness, to an even bigger smile than I held possible.   “Mmph mphmph!” he said, with his mouth full of apple pie.   I giggled. “What?”   He swallowed the pie, grinning sheepishly. “Sorry… I said that it’s lovely!” he said.   I blushed. “Thank you…”   He took another huge bite and chewed it with great delight. “Mmph mphmmph.”   The bell rang again, and four foals ran in.   “Miss Belle! Miss Belle!” they cried out. The one in front, a little blue unicorn filly with purple manes and eyes, lifted a small sack with bits.   “Can we have four cupcakes, please?” she said. I think her name is Amaranthine.   I smiled back. “Of course! What flavor?”   Amaranthine thought for a moment. “I wanna lemon cupcake…” She looked back at the filly that was behind her. “Whaddya want?”   The little yellow filly stepped forward. Her orange mane hung before her left eye. Her name’s Orange Blossom, she’s Grey Blossom’s older sister.  “Uhm… I’d like a… a chocolate cupcake please…” Quickly, she stepped backwards and nudged her little brother forward.   The grey colt looked up at me, scared at first, but he puffed out his chest to show that he wasn’t afraid. “Uhm, ch-ch-chocolate i-i-is f-fine.” he stammered, looking embarrassed.   The last filly stepped forward. “I wanna stwawberry cupcake.” The little purple filly was the youngest of the bunch, her spikey green mane going in all directions. Her name’s Opal.   I nodded at the four and grabbed their cupcakes. I put them on the counter.   “That’ll be four bits.” I said. They hoofed over the right amount of bits and I hovered the cupcakes over to them. The four of them cheered when they got their prize. I smiled.   In the meantime, Party Favor had finished his cake and hovered the empty plate over to the counter. “That was an excellent cake!” he said, grinning. “I know that everypony will LOVE it!”   I smiled. “Yeah… I really hope so.”   A loud crash came from outside the shop. I looked up worriedly, and a very disheveled Night Glider walked in. “Nothing to worry, guys! I’m okay, I’m okay…” She shook her head, trying to clear it a bit. “New stunt gone wrong…”   I sighed, face-hoofing. “You really should watch out. What if you’ll get hurt?”   She huffed. “Ah, come on, I’m just practicing. I haven’t done all this in, like, forever.” She sighed. “Besides, those clouds don’t clear themselves. Somepony’s gotta do it.”   “Well, sure,” I said, putting my hoof on the counter, “but you don’t have to do it all night long.”   She shrugged. “Maybe you’re right. But I just prefer to do it at night.” She yawned. “Imma hit the hay soon…”   “But it’s eight in the morning!” Party Favor says, surprised.   Night Glider shrugged. “Yeah, so?”   “You’d miss so much of the day!” Party Flavor said, his eyes wide.   Night Glider shrugged again. “Meh. Night isn’t any different from the day… Hey, do you have any fresh muffins?”   Party Favor gasped.   “What? I like muffins,” Night Glider said exasperated. “I like the good kind of muffins.”   I smiled. “Well, I do have a fresh batch of blueberry muffnis.”   She nodded, approvingly. “Awesome, gimme two.”   “Allrigh’,” I said, “Just a second, gotta get them from the back. They’ve just come out of the oven.” Night Glider nodded again. “Allrigh’, I’ll wait.”   In the meantime, Party Favor had started making balloon animals for the kids who were still eating their cupcakes. That, together with the silly faces he’d make, made them roll over the floor. Their shrill laughter echoed through the little café. I could hear it from the back; It always made me smile. I grabbed the plate of muffins with my magic and brought them to the front. Party Favor looked up as he smelled the delicious muffins.   “Oooh…” He sniffed. “That smells a-maaa-zing…”   “M-m-m.” Night Glider said. “And two of those gems are just for me.”   “What, two muffins and you’re not gonna share?” Party Favor said, pouting. “That’s not nice.”   At that moment, the bell rang again. Night Glider looked around to see who it is.   “Oh, hey Double Diamond!” she said, the two muffins in her hooves.   He nodded. “Hello Nigh’, nice to see you here.”   She took a bite from the first muffin and looked to the other one. I could see Party Favor narrowing his eyes at her while she wasn’t looking. But there was the slightest smile on his muzzle that worried me greatly.   Double Diamond walked up to me. “Hello, Sugar Belle,” he said, “Uhm, can I have a coffee please? Just black.”   I nodded and turned around to get a mug. I heard a balloon pop behind me, and one of the fillies started to cry. Party Favor gasped and started to make another balloon animal with the popped one and a normal one, magically making it. This earned a gasp from the crying filly.   “Uh, hey Double Diamond?” I heard Night Glider say.   “Yeah?”   “Uhm, maybe two muffins are a bit much for me – you know, gotta keep in shape an’ all,” she said, flexing her wings. “You want one?”   “Hm,” he said, and I could imagine him smiling, “Well, I won’ say no to a free muffin,”   Party Favor sniggered. I turned around, the coffee – black – in my magic, and I saw Night Glider shooting him the best glare she could muster. Double Diamond didn’t see it, he now only had eyes for the muffin in his hooves. He looked up to see that the coffee has arrived and nodded a thank you. I smiled back.   Night Glider finished her muffin. “Well, gotta go now,” she said, preparing to leave. She yawned. “Gotta be cool for our next training.” She grinned at Double Diamond.   Double Diamond nodded. “Allrigh’, see ya there then.”   I rolled my eyes, but I smiled. “Have a good rest.”   Party Favor nodded as well.   “Yeah, thanks guys,” she said. “See ya!”                  The doorbell rang when she exited.   “Well, I gotta go now, too,” Party Favor said. “Parties don’t plan themselves!”   “Allrigh’ then, see ya later.” I said.   He smiled as he opened the door. “Later!”   The doorbell rang again. He held the door open for the kids to get out. After all, school would start soon, and they shouldn’t be late.   I hummed. I was alone in the shop, but soon the morning rush will start. “Well, then,” I said to myself. “Let’s get bakin’.”