It was times like this that Golden Harvest wished she'd hired somepony else to help with the manual labor.
It was near closing time for her stand and she had to deliver the last order of the day. Unfortunately for her, it was also the largest order in weeks. She had always prided herself on being able to run her own stand single hoofedly, even when things got difficult to manage. Her stand was her pride, her trophy that she could show to the world. Something that proved all who had doubted her wrong. But now, it seemed to be her guillotine.
70 carrots, 55 heads of lettuce, 40 turnips, 30 ears of corn, and 15 bags of bird seed. she thought, reading off the order in her head.
This was going to be a lovely payday.
Golden Harvest loaded the last of the items onto the cart, silently cursing herself for offering free delivery for purchases over 200 bits. As she stopped to catch her breath, she realized that she didn't even remember who this order belonged to. Reaching into her saddlebag, she pulled out the copy of her order list.
"Let's see, it's Tuesday.....6 P.M..." She was slightly surprised by the name, "Fluttershy." she read. Golden Harvest smiled, Fluttershy was always a loyal customer. The Pegasus usually ordered big and always payed her debts on time. Golden Harvest (Carrot Top to her friends) also respected someone who sacrificed so much for others, she loved the caring nature Fluttershy gave towards her animals.
Not to mention she was easy on the eyes.
Golden's grin however turned into a pout at a realization. Fluttershy lived at the border of the Everfree Forest, a 3 mile hike from her stand. With a sigh, she locked up her stand and threw on the harness for her delivery cart. Summoning her Earth Pony strength, she (very) slowly made her way up the hill.
~~~
By the time Carrot Top had heaved her way to the Pegasus's cottage, Celestia's Sun was dangerously disappearing behind the distant mountains. The weather had been exceptionally good in the past month or so, Carrot's business was progressing exceedingly well. With some luck, she might even be able to open another stand.
The thought of expanding her business made the mare giddy. Carrot Top, franchise owner! The dream clung to her heart like gum in a mane.
The Earth Pony sighed, goals aside, she had a delivery to make.
Unhitching herself from the carriage, she gave the cottage's door three assertive knocks. Instead of resisting her attack however, the door slowly opened, allowing an unrestricted entrance to Fluttershy's home.
Common courtesy would tell Carrot Top to not enter someone's home uninvited. The mare took a look at the delivery cart, she couldn't just leave it. Ponyville wasn't a town known for its crime, put a free meal was a free meal.
Carrot clicked her teeth, annoyed with the predicament. She never was good at making decisions. When she told her parents that she wanted to own her own business, they told her she was crazy. And for the first couple of days of her stand opening, she thought they were right.
Carrot Top did possess the skill to make the best out of a bad situation. With a bit of hard work, her stand had turned into a success.
Golden took a cautious step into the cottage. "Fluttershy?" she called. "I'm here with your order." Her only response was silence. She took another step in, Maybe she's not home? thought the mare. She didn't know too much about Fluttershy other than that she was an Element Bearer. She didn't seem like the "socially adventuress" type that who would leave her home a lot (not to mention with her door unlocked.)
Golden was about to leave, when it hit her. A faint yet consistent sound. It sounded like....singing? Carrot followed the sound further into the cottage. As she got closer, the sound became louder and clearer. It was the most angelic voice Carrot had ever heard.
I'm a little seedling, I love Spring
Carrot turned a corner that led to a sliding glass back door. On the other side was the most beautiful garden she had ever seen. Tending to the garden was Fluttershy, her back to the door.
I need sun and watering
Carrot slowly opened the door, amazed at the scene landscape. Bright beautiful flowers and plump delicious looking fruits and vegetables, hung from vines and sprouted from the ground.
Put me in soil, if you please
Carrot took another step towards Fluttershy, the Pegasus didn't seem to notice.
When I'll grow up, I'll be a tree
Fluttershy finished her song as she planted the last of a few sunflower seeds.
"Fluttershy!?" yelled Carrot Top.
"EEEP!" shrieked the Pegasus, jumping into the air. She looked towards her intruder. "Oh I'm sorry Golden Harvest, what are you doing here?" she asked.
Carrot Top was too flabbergasted to answer, let alone tell her how unnecessary her apology was.
"D-Did you plant all of this?!" asked the Earth mare astounded.
Fluttershy gave a timid look around her little Eden. "Oh, well um...some times I like to garden when I'm not with my friends. Or...helping the animals."
Carrot's jaw dropped, She did this when she's not saving the world!? she thought to herself.
Fluttershy gave a small kick to the ground, "So...um, d-do you...like it?" she asked quietly.
Carrot shook her herself back into reality, "Fluttershy! This is the most beautiful garden I've ever seen!" she yelled.
Fluttershy hid behind her long pink mane, "Oh...um, thank you Golden Harvest." she said.
The sales pony gave a smile, "Call me Carrot Top."
~~~
"So how did you manage to grow such delicious grapes this time of year?" asked Carrot Top, placing another of the purple fruit in her mouth.
Fluttershy gave a small cough, "Well...I...um..." The Pegasus trailed off, looking off into the night.
.
The two had been discussing Fluttershy's gardening techniques. Carrot wouldn't leave the mare alone until she spilled some of her secrets.
Carrot noticed her aversion to the question, "What's wrong?" she asked.
Fluttershy again hid behind her mane, "Oh..it's just...it's kind of embarrassing."
Carrot Top rolled her eyes, "Oh, please! Nothing you can do can be embarrassing," "You're one of the coolest people I know."
The Pegasus blushed, nopony had ever called her cool before. "Well...just Pinkie Promise me you won't laugh." she asked.
Golden Harvest didn't really seem it necessary, but complied with her request. "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." she promised, making sure to do all the movements required when doing a Pinkie Promise.
Fluttershy took a deep breath, "I...I talk to them," she admitted.
Carrot Top rolled her eyes, "Fluttershy, a lot of gardeners talk to their flowers." she explained. "There's no reason to be embarrassed about something like that!"
"Oh..." responded Fluttershy softly. She looked away from Carrot Top, "Umm...why exactly did you come here again?" she asked.
Carrot Top nearly choked on the grape she was eating. Without saying a word, she darted inside the Pegasus's home and towards her front door.
Please still be there! Please still be there! she silently prayed.
She threw the door open, revealing nothing but the cool night sky. Somepony had stolen her delivery cart.
Carrot Top fell down onto her haunches, she could literally feel the amount of money she had lost crumbling away.
Fluttershy soon appeared behind her, "Oh my! Is something wrong?" she asked.
Carrot Top rose back to her hooves, "No," she said, head hung low in anguish. "I just left your delivery unattended and somepony stole it."
Fluttershy looked out towards the emptiness. "Oh, um...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to distract you."
Carrot Top rolled her eyes. "Fluttershy, I'm the one who lost the cart. You don't have to apologize."
Fluttershy again retreated behind her mane. "Oh...I'm sorry."
Carrot Top simply stared at the Pegasus before breaking into a small chuckle. "Ok, Fluttershy." She looked up at the night sky. "It's getting kind of late, I should get going." The Earth Pony turned to leave.
"Oh, um...Carrot Top?" asked Fluttershy.
"Yeah?"
"I had fun, um...if you're not busy tomorrow, we could talk about gardening again. I mean, if that's okay with you."
Carrot Top paused for a second, she'd never been invited to anything by a customer before. It was always business, supply and demand. She never had the opportunity to do anything casual.
"S-Sure." said Carrot Top with a smile. "I'd love to."
Author's Note
So yeah, this was a story I had originally written for a contest what feels like eons ago. I'll leave the story status at complete for now, but if you guys want more say so in the comments.
