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// 3 - Sweet and Sour 
// Story: Takes The Cake 
// by sunnypack 
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Chapter 3: Sweet and Sour


It occurred to Celestia, in between the little morsels of heaven, that she hadn’t properly introduced herself to Benny. ‘Benny’ was such a peculiar name. It didn’t sound Griffonian, nor Zebrican, it didn’t even sound Draconian. Of all the years that Celestia had been on Equestria, she hadn’t heard of such a curious name. Yet… it fit. It had suited the store as much as it suited the ‘human’ that sat opposite to the princess with that ever-present smile. 

“I’m—”

“—Celestia,” he cut in. He chuckled at her frown. “Oh sorry, I couldn’t resist. You are on every poster and billboard in your country, it’s hard not to know who you are.” He waved a hand nonchalantly. “But I don’t want to know Princess Celestia, I just want to know Celestia.”

Certainly an enigma begging to be solved. He wanted to know Celestia, but she hardly knew anything of him. Though it seemed that his almost philosophical introduction was an appropriate stand-in. Celestia didn’t think Benny would give a more comprehensive answer than the one already given. She pondered her next question, her brow wrinkled thoughtfully as she had done so.

Around her the soundscape continued with unfamiliar sounds and her ears twitched, trying to track the movement of those carriages, or the chatter or humans beating the pavement with their muffled footing. She smiled, realising that around her was a greater puzzle and perhaps a more accessible topic than the current predicament of deciding if Benny had told her the whole truth about himself.

Celestia set her jaw. She would learn more about this strange world.

“I’m surprised there aren’t any more ‘humans’ stopping by. I would have thought one or two of them would be curious?” Celestia let the query hang in the air, an invitation of sorts.

Benny seemed distracted. Instead of paying attention, he had lain back in his seating, basking in the rays of sunlight that occasionally broke through the shade of the trees framing the paths. Mere moments before he had been engaging in animated conversation with the alicorn, but now he drifted off. Celestia would have been more affronted if the cake hadn’t been so delectable. She tapped the table with a polite hoof.

Benny flinched and met her eyes ruefully. “Hmm? Oh! Not to worry, they aren’t real.”

“Real?” Celestia inquired, curious.

“I mean, oops, we’re not real. Not to them.” He sat up in his chair and gave Celestia a somewhat embarrassed look. “I thought to mention it, but you were enraptured at the time… It’s not often I get visitors. None that would take it as well as you have. Biscuit?”

Celestia blinked. The sudden whiplash in the conversation topic left her confused. She was also unable to comprehend how his hands suddenly held a plate of—admittedly sumptuous looking—chocolate chip cookies. Where did they come from? From the smell of it, they were freshly baked… Chocolate and butter wafted in the air. Celestia resisted their influence.

“H-How?” she asked, struggling to change the topic. The cookies could wait. She wanted to know more.

“I guess you could call it a type of magic. It’s not really, but some of us used to call it so.” His gaze drifted slightly as if focusing on something far away, then snapped back. “Have some,” he offered. “They’re fresh.”

Celestia’s hoof gingerly plucked a cookie from the platter. She set it on the plate, deciding for now that her cravings could be indulged later. She could sense there was a hidden truth. No lies, but the truth can obfuscate as much as any good deception.

She decided to be more direct with her questions.

“Are you saying that these humans are illusions?”

Benny smiled, though the warmth somewhat faded from his eyes.

“No, not illusions.” He sighed. “They’ve… lost something…”

It obviously pained the human to speak of them. Celestia couldn’t understand his explanations, but prodding him to elaborate when he’d done nothing but shown her kindness was not in her character. She wasn’t the Princess right now, she was simply Celestia. And Celestia would do the right thing, if nothing else.

Benny quickly recovered. He twitched, a rueful grin sprouting from his lips. He offered a hand, like a noble asking a mare out to dance at the ball.

“I think it is time to leave,” he announced, rising from the table. Celestia placed her hoof in his open palm. Surprisingly, the appendage was soft, like padding in a cushion. It was an addictive feeling. She caught his look and flushed. She rose from her seating a little too quickly to maintain dignity and quickly withdrew her hoof.

“Thank you, Benny,” she mumbled and the human dipped his head in response.

With a beckoning gesture, he lead the way to the mirrored doors. Celestia followed behind him, weaving through the humans on the street.

“Come, come,” he urged with that amused smile of his. “A little further and then a decision.”

“A decision?” was all Celestia was able to say, before the doors slid open and they were thrust into a new world.

Except it was not a new world. As Celestia reoriented herself, her eyes fell upon the quiet bakery within Canterlot. She looked around, trying to find something different, but the palette seemed cheerfully familiar. Relaxing slightly, Celestia trotted to the centre of the room, where Benny was fiddling with the ornate wooden box.

A little snick and the box opened. Instead of bits, as she expected, small shards of light spilled out to coalesce in his hand. The human reached into his clothes and withdrew a small orb. It was a deep black, blacker than anything Celestia had ever laid eyes on. The orb seemed to suck the light out of the room. With a slight tug, like a magnet near filings, the shards of lights tinkled into orb, sounding for all the world like the faint whisperings of a garden chime.

“What was that?” she asked, coming forward. “What did you do with that box? Where are the bits?” She couldn’t help herself, a million more queries swirled around in her thoughts.

“A fascinating mystery, don’t you think?” he teased, a playful smile dancing upon his lips. He raised a finger, as a performer would on a stage. “But only answered if you can answer this question.”

Celestia hesitated, she had a feeling that this was some sort of trap, but she couldn’t see the shape or form of it. She shook her head. Years of diplomatic experience were the tips of her hooves. She needn’t worry.

“Name your question,” she spoke confidently.

Benny grinned at her, then gently placed the box back on the simple wooden table. He glided more than walked across the room and placed a hand on the mirrored door. The door they had just gone through.

“Stay,” he offered. Then he gestured to the other doors at the far end of the room, the doors that lead to the streets of Canterlot. “Or go?”

He seemed expectant, a smile frozen to his lips. His eyes no longer bore that confident warmth that she’d seen him with during their little conversation at the café. He seemed… hopeful?

Celestia bit her lip. A world of adventure beckoned to her. A week around Equestria seemed hardly glamorous in comparison. There was everything Celestia wanted. A little mystery, an adventure, something to escape the small tediums and predictability of castle life…

Then her thoughts drifted back to Luna, her sister, struggling with the kingdom. Princess Twilight steadily growing into her role and the many ponies that depended on her and looked up to her as a constant leader. An eternal symbol to her citizens, one that would never abandon her duties… As much as she yearned otherwise, she was their Princess. She knew she couldn’t go.

But she could see it in his eyes. A faint longing it seemed they both shared. His own imperturbability was thrown to the winds. As the silence wore on, his bearing seemed less than an offer, but more of a plead. Celestia knew it was inevitable. Already her head shook from side to side. His smile wobbled uncertainly, then collapsed.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered softly, breaking that heart-wrenching silence. “I-I have a responsibility to my ponies.”

Benny sagged briefly, but then straightened. His smile was back, though it was a shadow compared to what it was before.

“I understand,” he said, and the smile grew more genuine. “I shouldn’t have– Making you choose between the two was an impossible choice.” He waved at her. “I enjoyed our time together, Celestia.”

The Princess dipped her head formally.

“It was a very pleasant meal. Your baking is almost magical,” she replied. Celestia inclined her head, the familiar aura of command shrouding her shoulders. “Farewell, Benny.”

“One moment, Celestia.”

She turned back as the human ran a finger along the countertop and stopped abruptly at a particular dessert. With a series of quick gestures, the dessert was wrapped in a box and offered with outstretched fingers. Celestia took the package gently in her telekinetic grip and smiled at the kind chef.

“To remember me by,” he murmured, giving her a quick stroke down her mane. She was so surprised by the gesture that she forgot her parting words. The human had a sordid habit of breaking her composure. Certainly, this pony wouldn’t forget the capricious creature that inhabited the Benny Bakery.

With a smile, Celestia exited the store, with box in tow.

She glanced inside and was greeted by the faint aroma of coffee. A small portion of tiramisu sat in the centre of the box, enticing as ever. The princess realised that in the short span they had shared together, she really had enjoyed his company. She felt almost… normal. She studied the store guiltily, one last time. 

And it truly was the last time.

For a day later, Benny and his Bakery were gone.