//------------------------------// // A New Chapter, A New Wish (Slice of Life) // Story: Equestria's Tales // by DouglasTrotter //------------------------------// "I'll take an espresso with ground chestnut and whipped cream. If you can, please make it a rush order," The mare said, ending with a slight sigh. The stallion waiter nodded to her then trotted inside the cafe. Sassy Saddles let out a quiet sight. Her eyes glanced over each line of the paper she levitated in front of her. As she looked over her resume, mares and stallions trotted by the small area outside the cafe. Their light, well manicured hooves tapped against Canterlot's cobblestone streets. With her resume placed on the table, the unicorn mare gazed at the world around her before she glanced at the reference page. "Haute Couture, Le Pin et Canette, Le Somptueux Col, The Golden Bridle...." The determined voice of the unicorn mare faded away, degrading into a slight murmur. Around her, the voices and noises of Canterlot became non-existent. Sassy Saddles closed her eyes as the vibrant images flooded her mind. Bright, beautiful sunlight entered through the front window. Haute Couture, billed as the crème de la crème of fine clothing shops had just opened in Canterlot. Dresses, suits, and other magnificent garments sparkled in the light of the sun. To the unicorn mare, the bedazzled eyes and awe-filled gasps from the clients elicited a joy filled grin. It was a dream come true, yet the bubble burst. All-too-soon, those awe-filled gasps gave way to silence, and the eyes filled with wonder and amazement went dark. In what seemed like less than a week, the business struggled to stay afloat as day-by-day mares and stallions came less and less to Haute Couture. "Thank you for all that you have done, Sassy. I can never thank you enough for being there for me and my husband. I'm... I'm sorry, but we can't afford to keep the shop." A slight tear crawled down Sassy Saddles's right cheek before it dropped, hitting the stone floor beneath. The owner's gold colored eyes froze in the unicorn mare's mind. Sassy Saddles placed a hoof over her chest. In her heart, she knew the owners fought back their own tears when they told her they could no longer keep the shop or afford to pay her. "Ma'am? Ma'am, are you alright? Your espresso with ground chestnut and whipped cream is here." The waiter said, levitating the saucer onto the table. "Y-Yes. Yes, I'm alright. Thank you for the drink." She said, and then levitated a bit out of her saddlebag. After the waiter departed with his tip, the unicorn mare sipped on her drink. She placed the cup back onto the saucer. Two watery eyes glanced at the next shop on the list. Sassy Saddles's brow furrowed when she gazed at the name, Le Pin et Canette. "To think, my own mother said those things to me. She ruined her own business. I'm not the one to blame for her mistake." "I can't believe you're my daughter. How dare you disrespect the creation of a seamstress. We pour our hearts, our souls into what we make. What a pony creates -- it is their choice. " "Yes... 'mother,' and it was such a choice that caused 'your' business to absolutely crumble to the ground." Sassy said under a hushed, heated breath. The tea cup clanged against the saucer as she put it down in a huff. Her top teeth ground against the bottom before the unicorn mare held a hoof to her mouth. She cleared her throat then lowered her hoof. She adjusted her outfit, and then brushed a light hoof against her mane. "I won't let the past dictate who or what I am in Equestria or Canterlot. I am 'Sassy Saddles,' and I will not be dragged down into the gutter by such incidents." Her hoof began to tremble when she placed it on the ground beneath her. A slight twinge crawled down her back, causing her withers to twitch. The small cup in the unicorn mare's magical grasp began to jitter before it was placed onto the table. "Maybe, maybe it is me. What did I do wrong though? I was taught to be confident." Sassy said before she pulled a monogrammed cloth out of her saddlebag and wiped away her tears. "Now it comes full circle." With Le Somptueux Col glanced over, the final name caught her eye. It would be "the" final place. That establishment would be her most magnificent venture to date. A magnum opus of work. A cheery grin came to Sassy Saddles before she took a final sip from her drink. The memory of the luxurious grand opening of The Golden Bridle came to her. With a few strings pulled here and there, the lights grew dim inside the shop. Right on cue, several lights floated from the ground. The tiny fragments coalesced into the shape of brilliant white stars. From a shroud of darkness, Princess Luna made a grand entrance. Every mare, stallion, filly, and colt inside The Golden Bridle cheered with enthusiasm. Six months passed. Cobwebs, spiders, and dust covered the shops once opulent walls and floors. Just like the other shops, the crowds dwindled to nothingness. "That's enough of that, Sassy. You can do this." The unicorn mare said to herself. Her magical grasp remained firm as she tapped her resume against the table, skimming over it a final time. She placed the papers into her saddlebag. Three bits were laid on the table with a last minute sip of what remained of the drink taken. The mare trotted down the streets. Each mare and stallion of high fashion walked by. "I've got to understand how to make this work." She said. With her head held high, the mare gazed towards the morning sky. She stopped. Her eyes glanced at the sign that stood in place of what used to be The Golden Bridle, the shop now renovated for its new owner. "Please, Princess Luna, hear my wish. Please, help me to be successful with this shop --" Sassy opened her eyes and shook her head "-- I'm not a filly anymore. Still, that shooting star I saw falling towards Appleloosa... I guess a bit of wishing isn't too bad. Ok Carousel Boutique, show me what you got, and I'll make you Rarity a star of Canterlot's fashion world."