We Found Your Hat

A glorious morning smiled upon Ponyville. The sun beamed brightly, a refreshing breeze blew, and many folks bustled about cheerfully. Sweet smells of flowers and baked goods tickled the noses of those pedestrians. The marketplace yelled via the voices of buyers and sellers, the fountain at the center of town enjoyed the company of several who desired to relax, and the park swathed itself with pets and their owners. This was a normal day.

Two strangers wandered the streets. “This is it, huh?” a bland yellow Earth Pony inquired of his friend. He scratched his head where a mushroom-cut brown mane rested. A tail of the same color curled and looped multiple times; it was fairly unkempt. A typewriter cutie mark swayed as he walked, and his irises reflected deep green.

The Pony beside him, a pastel red Pegasus, answered briefly, “Yup.” Blinking his blood red eyes, he fluttered in the air beside his friend. His plain blue mane contrasted greatly with his coat, and it wielded small curls—unlike the large ones of the Earth Pony's. An eye-behind-a-lens marked his flank.

Carrying filled saddlebags, the two strolled about seeking something or somepony they didn't know.  A slight frown coiled on the Earth Pony's face. “Too bad Loops had to stay home. It is upsetting to see his parents keep him home, after the dream God showed him. I mean, I wouldn't have come if not for that.”

The other nodded and glanced to the side. “I'm not sure I would have come either. I doubt if I would have trusted a complete stranger otherwise.” He slowed his pace and took a harder look at the surroundings. “There is a farm over there. I think I could get some good pictures over there.” The fellow lifted his hoof to the southwest.

Shaking his head, the other disagreed, “Well, we should probably find a place to stay first. Perhaps, find H...” The wingless one held his mouth open—tongue curled—peered up at the sky, and blinked. “I don't remember his name.”

The winged one smiled toothily. “His name is Hatless.”

“That's it! I had the first letter right. Doesn't that count for something?” The two then chuckled. “Anywho, we could ask here. Sugarcube Corner? Sounds delicious!”

“Works for me.” Both walked in. Upon entering, a grayish wooden floor greeted them, along with a pink-tinted glass case full of sweets. A couple tables tidily rested off to the side. Among other interesting decorations, there were a few candy-cane pillars supporting the ceiling, a saloon-type door leading to the back, and sizable round green rug covering the center of the main room. Though, nopony was around. “Too bad Loops isn't here.”

“Hahah! I was thinking the same thing. He would love it here.” The two friends strolled casually up to the candy counter. “Hm... these probably wouldn't make a good lunch, but we could grab a few treats for later. We could always save one for Loops too. Besides, I have some spare cash.”

A chiming voice echoed from behind the saloon door, “I hear visitors!” Quite joyously, a bubble-gum pink Earth Pony bounced and bounded up to the counter. The same second that she laid eyes on her customers she jumped nearly to the ceiling and gasped loudly causing her gravity-defying mane and tail to straighten briefly before returning to an inflated mess. “New ponies! Omigosh, omigosh! I gotta get a party ready!”

“Uh...? Can we buy some sweets?” The brown-maned one tilted his head towards his friend and raised an eye brow. The Pegasus shrugged.

As if the questions were never asked, the pink mare went on, “I need to make party invitations, get balloons, OOH! And we could have a dunking game and Twilight could use her magic to-”

After those words, the two visitors immediately turned their heads to each other. “Wait, you know Princess Twilight?”

Oddly enough, the pink one replied, “Yeah! We're like bestest friends!” She didn't simply respond, but she answered as if it was the same train of thought from her previous digression about party favors. “Do you know Twilight? Are you here to meet her!? Ooh-ooh you must be her new fans-are you gonna start a fan club? OOOH! Could I be the president?” This interaction incited boisterous laughter in her food-seeking clients. At some point, the mare giggled right along.

After the minute of incessant laughter ended, the Pegasus spoke while yet trying to contain himself, “We're from Maredon. I'm Pixer.”

“I'm Logo!” the yellow pony yelled—if for no apparent reason.

She leaped up to both of them and shook both of their hooves simultaneously. “I'm Pinkie Pie.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Yeah, nice to meet you.”

“So, you want some sweets?” Pinkie grinned and cocked her head.

Logo nodded quickly, pointed to some sweets in the case, and turned to Pixer. “What do you think Loops would like?”

“Well, he is not that picky,” the Pegasus said whilst shrugging and furling his lips complacently. “We could ask Pinkie what she recommends.”

Logo nodded again and looked at their server. “Yeah, Pinkie, what would you suggest?”

“Um... all of it! We have peppermint-mocha-taffies-chocolate-caramel-fudge-cakes-cotton-candy-crystal-berry-pies-rainbow-chocolate-chip-oatmeal-cookies-vanilla-lemon-drops-vanilla-banana-sherbet-buns.” The pink mare gasped for breath after the long dissertation. Logo opened his mouth to speak but preventing him the opportunity, Pinkie Pie went on instead, “Triple-apple-melon-orange-cupcakes-chimi-cherry-changas-and-cinnamon-sugar-sap-tortes!”

The two friends glanced at each other before the wingless of them answered, “Uh... we'll take three cookies, a couple buns, and some taffies.” By the time the last syllable of his sentence had sprung from his mouth, Pinkie had yanked out the order, stuffed it in the bag, and rung up the price.

“Twenty-three bits! But since you're in Twilight's fan club, I'll give them to your for half price.” As soon as she said that, though, she contorted her head to the side, eyed the ceiling, and put her hoof to her chin. “What is half of twenty-three?”

“Twelve, rounded up,” Logo answered instantaneously. “Oh, but we'll pay the full price.”

“No! Half price! It's the least I can do.” She smiled ever so brightly.

“Uh, if you insist...” Logo yanked out a money bag from his saddle bag and dumped out exactly twelve bits. “Thanks, Pinkie Pie. By the way, do you know where we could find a place to stay? We plan on being in Ponyville for awhile.”

Pinkie's pupils grew to double size. “You could sleep over! I'll ask Mr. and Mrs. Cake when they get back.”

Pixer smiled and chuckled. “I don't think we can do that.” Pinkie insisted heavily, but Pixer stated more firmly, “No.” The mare pouted.

Logo frowned lightly. “Sorry, it's nothing against you, but we don't feel... right about that. There are a couple reasons. We'll be in town, anyways. Don't worry.” The stallions marched off with a speedy good-bye and left the shop. Albeit they did not find shelter or any information which would help them to find shelter, they had other concerns. “That could have gone badly—for multiple reasons.”

“Yeah, no kidding.” The Pegasus padded his saddlebag. “What are the chances of meeting one of Princess Twilight's friends, anyways? If we're not careful, somepony might think we stole from her.” He and Logo stepped into the main road of Ponyville entering with the dispersed crowd of townsponies.

The Earth Pony lifted a hoof and scratched his cheek. “Why did H...”

“Hatless.”

“Thank you. Why did he have you decorate the crown that way?” A simple head shake and shrug replied. “He didn't tell you why?”

“Well...”