//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: 3questria // by mlpflashlight //------------------------------// "That was delicious!" I sigh to Sunny as I wipe a glob of frosting off my muzzle. I gaze contentedly at the barren table that had once been covered with all sorts of fantastic pastries, thanks to the nice bakery ponies Sunny introduced me to. I try to recall their names, though it is difficult with the thought of food still running through my head. After a moment I finally remember the names of these wonderful ponies: Mr. and Mrs. Cake. They had offered us at least one of almost everything on their impressively expansive menu. It took Sunny and I nearly two hours to finish, and was quite easily the most amazing spread of pastries I’d had in my entire life. Admittedly, I had probably eaten far too much. I was just about ready to drop to the floor. "I… Probably should not have eaten that much. Heh." I look at Sunny and give her a nervous chuckle. Full as I am, though, I am still quite interested in what else we can and will do in this town today. "So, uh, what's next?" Sunny turns to me with a mischievous grin and a smug look in her eyes. "Well, now that we have our bread and some leftovers," she said, her muzzle holding up a bag, " all that’s left for you to do is pay." The mare quickly trots out the door, the bell at its top ringing. "Well, of course, but I mean, like, after-... Wait what?" I am able to do little else than watch her go as the realization that I’ve been played slowly falls over me. I allow a small sigh as I dig into my little coin bag, putting a hoof-full of bits on the table. Not knowing the prices in this place, I look at Mrs. Cake, who nods, confirming that the money I’ve set out is appropriate payment. I take a look once more into my bag, trying to count the coins. I sigh once more as I see I’ve been left with nothing more than 50 bits. I give a polite wave and a “Thank you” to the Cakes before exiting the shop and heading back outside. I once again feel the nip of the chilling air on my hooves. Where I came from, it never snowed. It may have rained nearly every other day, but it never snowed. Now, standing out in the snow, I miss that place. "Hey," I say, excited and smiling. "I remembered something! Hey, Sunny! I-" I look all around, but the golden mare was nowhere to be seen. I stop myself from sighing again, thinking I’ve done it far too much in the past five minutes. How did I manage to lose her? She was there just seconds before I came out. I shake my head and continue to shuffle through the snow. As I walk, I hear a fair giggle that I can't deny is Sunny's and follow it a few blocks down. I hear some laughter and conversation and peek around the corner of a building. As I thought, she is there, but there is somepony else with her. Another mare, it seems. This one is a light sandy color, and has a forest green mane. Not wanting to interrupt their discussion, I turn to head back home, but the crunching of the snow under my hooves catches Sunny’s attention, and she calls out to me. Great. "Flashy," she gleefully calls out as begins to trot over, a large smile on her face. "There’s somepony I want you to meet!”. She comes to a stop right in front of me. It was certainly far too close for anypony else's comfort, but after being with her for this short while I suppose I'm just getting used to it. In the time it took me to think of that little sentiment, Sunny waved over the other pony, who was now standing next to her. "Flashlight, meet Sweet Tooth. Sweet Tooth, Flashlight." The green-maned mare raises a hoof for a han- a hoofshake, to which I raise mine as well. I stand there, hoof up but… How does this work? No hands. I move my hoof under hers and try to move it up and down, but I can't. I just push hers upwards. The mare looks at me, amused at my behaviour. "I shake this, right?" I ask, slightly nervous. "Yes," comes the reply, an eyebrow raising. I look at our hooves, and then back at her. "I don't understand." Sweet Tooth rolls her eyes and grasps my hoof with hers. I watch as they lock and how she begins to make an actual, proper shake. I stand there, still confused as to how that worked. Sunny came in and gave us both a slap on the back. "Alrighty then! Now that you two are introduced, Flashlight here has a new friend!" she says with a giggle. Sweet Tooth gives her hoof an odd look . "Well, we'll be off now. I’m showing Flashy all the things to do around Ponyville. Good luck on your candy eating contest, though! Maybe this time you'll beat the Pink Devil and her score streak,” Sunny says happily. The two mares hug and I give a small wave before we go our separate ways. As we trot on, I look over to Sunny. "So what exactly are we gonna do now?” I ask her. Sunny stops and looks at the back of her forehoof. I take a quick glance over as well, only to notice… well, nothing. Her wrist was bare aside from some little blue smudge. "Uh… Sunny? What in Equestria's name are you looking at?" "My watch, silly," she says, still looking at her forehoof. "Sunny, there's nothing there." "I just told you I'm looking at my watch. Calm down, it'll only take a second. It's just," she moves her head closer, “hard to read sometimes." "Oh, is that the case? Let me take a look." Sunny moves her head up and quickly raises her forehoof to my face. Of course, being Sunny, she moves it far too close, and I push it away a few inches so that I can actually see it. I stare at her blue smudge for a moment before sighing heavily. "Are you serious?" "Just tell me the time," she replies sternly. I take one more glance before replying. “It says that it’s twelve thirty.” The golden mare goes wide-eyed. “Twelve thirty? We’re late!” "Sunny, it’s a digital watch. How can you not read a digital watch." "Hey! Don't make me feel bad because I couldn't read my own watch!" "Sunny, it..." "What?" "It’s not even a real watch. It was drawn on. With marker." "Of course it is, silly. Saves money!" "You are absolutely unbelievable."