Changelings, Love and Lollipops
Chapter 21
Hearth’s Warming Hearts Warming
Epilogue:
Hearth’s Warming decorations filled the interior of Sugarcube Corner in an array of multicolored blinking lights and cheery pony figures, all in festive garb to add to the season’s holiday cheer. Glittery paper snowflakes adorned the ceiling and walls while figures of gingerbread ponies and gumdrop dragons carried out happy Hearth’s Warming shopping trips around a score of dioramas that decorated each table. There was even a ‘First Hearth’s Warming’ plaque displayed proudly on the wall, with three large hoofprints and two somewhat smeared little ones underneath, as well as a few blurred smudges of joyful tears.
Despite the decorations of the holiday season, there was just something a little off about the interior of the warm and pleasant-smelling bakery, as if there was a hole in the festive atmosphere that all of the cocoa and marshmallows in the world could not fill. Even the little silver bell over the front door seemed to be duller than normal as it jingled to the sound of yet another customer coming in out of the chilly weather for some holiday cheer and something to fill their empty tummy.
”Welcome to Sugarcube Corner. How may I serve you.”
Pinkie Pie’s voice sounded much like it normally did, but an acute observer would have noticed a miniscule flatness to her hair and dullness to the shine in her eyes, both of which abruptly regained their normal sparkle as the pony who had just walked into the bakery sat a thermos down on the counter.
“Pardon me, young lady. I just dropped by to get something hot, but I saw your sign in the window while I was freezing my buns off and I really kneed the dough. How much bread would I be making? That is, if the job is still available.” The ‘Help Wanted’ sign from the front window levitated over to the counter and settled down quietly, his green magical aura fading away as their eyes met.
Pinkie’s hooves fumbled a bookmark into the book⁽*⁾ she had been reading, sticking it back under the counter while a huge grin lit up her face. It matched the same grin almost tooth-for-tooth on the lime-yellow unicorn who stood casually at the counter with red cheeks and the glitter of snow crystals in his candy-striped mane from his wintery trip but none the worse for wear, even to the tattered pink ribbon he wore tied around his horn in a bow.
“I-I think so. I’ll have to check with the Cakes. Can I have your name?”
“Lollipops,” said the young stallion with a twinkle in his dark green eyes. “But you can call me Pops.”
(*) Hybrids: From Conception to Contractions: Everything You Need To Know As The Mother Of A New Species