> Little Cup Of Kindness > by Forgetful > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Cold Night, Hot Temper. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Whinnyopolis was covered in fresh snow for miles on end, the sky above a cozy ocean blue that stretched far beyond the horizon. A few sparkling stars would glitter in the distance, but nothing exactly to write home about. The streets were empty during the nightfall. A pony would be downright crazy to just plop their rumps into the icy depths of the streets, crazy or simply up to no good. These silent calm nights were a secret treasure to one, March Gustysnows. Her cream-white hooves crunched across the flawless powder at a leisurely pace, long blonde mane flowed out from under her simple fur hat. She had an affinity for the peace that her city brought forth, but even a princess couldn't be quite perfect. So as if on cue a loud whinny danced across the chill winter's wind, Marchie pricked her ears with interest while casually approaching the sudden ruckus in the distance. Cozy Brew's Cafe. A tiny building nestled at the edge of the street nearly hidden from view. Marchie tugged upward on the collar of her dark brown coat, entering into the welcome warmth of the shop. "Just checking in, everything fine, yah?" Marchie flashed a genuine smile to the pale pink unicorn behind the front counter. "Yah, sure you betcha! A mare could almost be happy today if she wasn't careful." The Barista replied with her own unique grin of amusement. "Dat's reassuring, I heard a whinny from down da way." Marchie took a seat at the front counter lazily. "Dat was just some funny looking stallion running out of here!" She snorted softly ready to take an order. "Classic Roast any good tonight?" Marchie placed her favorite order. "Well, it's an improvement on that other stuff you pay nine bits to drink at dose rude noisy places outta town!" The Barista floated over a turquoise colored mug to the mare, guiding a stream of hot fresh coffee from a nearby pot within. "What made dat stallion so funny looking?" Marchie blew the steam away from the mug softly, enjoying a nice deep sip. "He ran in here yelling aboot how he bunch his job, an' stuff!" She rolled her pale blue eyes before leaning against the counter. "Dose types, eh?" Marchie giggled with a sly smirk. "So I says, why go and bunch it then?" Her hoof waved in front of the mare. "He rambled about no respect from da boss."  "Which I interrupt with, do I look like a therapist!?" She blew out a loud raspberry. "He says, no youse look like a Barista!"  "You betcha, I says! Now order something!!" She bounced her hooves across the counter in a cute melody of excitement. "I guess he didn't order?" Marchie quirked a thin brow to the unicorn curiously. "No, he pulled out a plastic knife, screaming "It's bin a long day!"."  The unicorn floated down a muffin from a nearby shelf with her vibrant pink magic, taking a tiny nibble from the moist sweet treat casually. "Every day is a long day, Dontcha' know." She sighed while shaking her head in place. "I bet dot put a fire under his hooves, yah?" Marchie leaned in close, enjoying the re-telling of such a farce. "He lunged at me with dhat blade, I just spun around and gave him a splash of Special Blend." She nudged her head towards an empty glass pot behind her. "Must've burned the hair off his hide, don't ya know that then?" Marchie finished off her mug with another giggle of amusement. "He ran out the door back dere." Her hoof flaunted to the back exit lacklusterly. "Borrow me this coffee till payday?" Marchie stretched as she began the calm walk out towards the back. "Yah, yah, yah, yah." The Batista's voice danced on the wind as the mare vanished into the snow ridden landscape. "I checksies everything inside and all is well, so come on out now!" Marchie let her magenta eyes fall upon a large pile of snow directly next to the backdoor. "She splashed me something fierce." The stallion whimpered as his head popped out of the snow, face a bright red as his eyes were nearly swollen shut. "Oh ya ya know, fer sure!" Marchie scrunched her nose cutely to the stallion, eyes filled with pity. "It's bin a long day." He shuffled out of his hiding place, shaking off the fresh powder from his haunches. "Dat's no excuse to rob a pony, Dontcha' know?" Marchie huffed as the green-colored stallion lowered his head in shame. "You gonna take me in?" He shivered from the cold like a wet cat on its last life. "I could but ya seem to have had enough, jeet before all this foolishness?" Marchie sighed as she began to walk away from the alley, out towards the main road again. "Hmm, innerestin." He mumbled under his breath silently not sure if this could be an elaborate trap. "You going wid me or not!? Freezing my hoofers off out here." Marchie spun around to call out the silly stallion annoyed. Within a few moments he dashed out to match her stride, she knew all too well the hardships that one bad day could bring. It was cold nights like these that a pony could use a helping hoof, to be reminded that compassion still existed out there amongst the ice. "You really tried to rob a place wid a toy?" Marchie couldn't help but smirk again from the mere thought. "I wasn't looking to hurt anypony, far as dat goes." He replied with a quick pop of his ears, clearly still embarrassed from his failed exploits into crime. "Yah, yah, yah." Marchie nudged him at his side playfully, leading the stallion towards her home over the horizon. She had wonderful Bay-day-duh soup cooking over the fire back home, it would be enough to warm up even a windigo on this chilly dark night. Something told her, this poor soul could use it.