A Study in Mint

World domination is something I could have accomplished long ago if life wouldn't expect me to get up early every day in the process. This way, I'm just some honest-to-Celestia, lazy earth pony mare who doesn't understand whatever happened to her life. All of the weird ponies living around me never helped in the matter, either.

Truth be told, my life used to be neatly organized and well planned-out...once upon a time. I had a fixed place to call my home, a father who loved me, and a clearly defined idea of what my future would hold. The only thing that ever messed with my life back then was the early passing of my mother. And even that happened at a very early stage in my life, so I didn't fully comprehend it at the time. I lived alone with my father for numerous years afterwards. And even though money was always tight, and I could constantly feel somepony missing in our home, we mostly considered ourselves a happy family.

It all came down to the day I decided I was all grown up, and wanted to move out to built a life of my own. Also because I wanted to put some load off my father's wallet. Mind you, taking care of one's offspring doesn't get any cheaper with the years. Considering that, my decision sounded all too reasonable. As soon as I left home however, a row of unforeseen circumstances started to push my life in a direction I wouldn't have ever imagined. What happened back then messed with my head a good deal. Yet, I still came to live with it eventually, and now I wouldn't want to have it any other way.

Call me Bon Bon. To tell you my story, I best start at the very beginning.

I left my hometown of Appleloosa in early spring. It was the 997th year of Princess Celestia's reign, and I had left the age of fillyhood behind me only recently. Moving out of my father's house, I went trotting off into the whole, wild world for the first time ever. Considering my possible choices for a new home, I ultimately settled for traveling to Ponyville, a small town located several miles further north.

When the time came, I boarded a train in hope of a new life to be raised up on my own four hoofs, and - more importantly - peace of mind. My dream was to one day open a small confectionery store, somewhere on a street corner maybe. I'd run it by myself, baking and selling candy, while somehow making a living off that. Producing all kinds of sweets in general has always been my passion. In a way, I was most likely meant to do so all along. My name derives from it, to say the least, and even my cutie mark consists of three colorful candy bars.

In short: I had made up my mind about the future. A small, private enterprise supporting myself, maybe a family one day. I was looking forward to a peaceful, quiet life, and this sweet town seemed just the right choice for it.

Arriving from Appleloosa, my decision to travel by train seemed the most reasonable thing to do. Railroads provided the easiest and quickest way of transportation, back in the day. It took me less than a few hours to arrive at Ponyville. The local railway station thus naturally presented my first impression of the town.

It was - if anything - a genuinely modest institution. Bordering a single platform, constructed entirely from timber planks, stood a humble, one-story building. Its grey and pink walls supported a massive roof made from hay, which spanned over the entire construction. Reaching in my direction was a short balcony, wide enough still for anypony to securely seek protection from the rain, should there be any. Two dark, oaken pillars supported the excess roof on either side. All three of them framed a single, blue door, and a wide window, which lead into the terminal area. Peering through the glass pane, I could make out one large room on the inside. It presumably occupied most of the small building, safe only for the restrooms, assuming the station provided of such.

I brought myself to step forward and enter the building. The inside looked much like I had expected; a large entrance hall opened up in front of me, only dimly lit by the light falling in through the windows on either side. To my right, a row of counters were lined up, all of which combined spanned well across the room's entire length. Only two of them were opened up at the time, however. There was no need for any more than these, since the station was all but crowded. Merely a few, lone travelers were scattered around the hall. Most of them had spread out across several benches at the waiting area located to my left. Given the time had only processed to eleven in the morning, most townsponies were probably at work right now. So the desertion around myself didn't cause me too much confusion.

I left to the opposite exit rather quickly, and without any further words or detours. I figured the glum atmosphere in this place didn't need to get to me. Stepping back outside, I found myself standing in what I considered to be one of Ponyville's main roads. A number of smaller houses stood to either side. Most of them resembled simple suburban cottages, similar to those I already knew from back home.

If there was one aspect noteworthy of this part of town, it was the one I only noticed a first few steps down the street. Glancing at my surroundings, I suddenly realized that, instead of another ordinary building, the street did in fact run towards a humongous tree. Even so, the plant's size was by far the only thing that startled me. Aside from all that, the tree also possessed numerous windows, as well as a door, and even a small porch reaching out of its upper levels.

I approached this strange appearance in a sense of curiosity, and because there were no roads leading any other way. While I wondered about what purpose this tree could serve for another minute or so, I ultimately decided to turn my attention towards more important matters at hand. Being new to this city, there were several needs I had to take care of first. Above all, I needed a place to stay, and a bite to eat. Though I had gathered a decent amount of bits in my saddlebags, I figured that some sort of employment would also present itself necessary sooner or later.

All of which were issues lasting heavily on my mind. And all of which would ironically get resolved by a string of events, first set off around the time I finally reached the great tree. I turned my way towards the street to my left, leading away from it. Along with everything I'd seen so far, it didn't present anything unusual at first. Until precisely at that moment, an incredulous blur of multiple pink shades approached me, apparently shooting out of nowhere. At a speed beyond anything anypony in their right mind could fancy, a fellow earth pony mare suddenly appeared before me.

I should mention at this point, there weren't any features on this pony that could not be described as out of the ordinary. Her pink coat stood in a bright contrast to her cutie mark, which was made up from three light, colorful balloons in blue and yellow, respectively. The mane - pink, likewise, though in a darker shade - appeared as if it hadn't been combed, or otherwise tended to, in ages. It hardly looked like a mane at all. More like a large, blown up mess that had somehow grown out of her head. From underneath it, two widened, light blue eyes glanced at me with an expression of utmost joy and cheer. Studying the weird apparition for a moment, I could only recall one other pony I ever met, who could bring forth an emotional outburst like that just by using her facial features.

There had been a filly I'd known in my very early days, whom this mare admittedly reminded me of. While among her family, she had worked and lived through the hardships of a rock farm, located fairly close to Appleloosa. She left home after only a few years, for reasons I never fully understood. Only now recognizing the similarities between the pony of my memories, and the one who stood before me now, did I realize the facts.

"Pinkie Pie?" I asked in a mix of joy and confusion, my eyes widening. I didn't feel completely sure, whether I recognizing her correctly after all these years, but decided to give it a try. "I don't believe it. I hardly even knew where you were headed all this time ago."

Back then, like today, her wide smile would immediately warm up my heart, bringing a feeling of delight to everypony around without uttering a word. I did feel somewhat confused however, when it slightly faded upon my words, giving way to a rather puzzled expression. With narrowed eyes, her head tilted slightly to the side, the mare looked at me with a faint sense of suspicion.

"Huh. I thought you didn't look familiar. At least not like anypony I've seen recently." She tapped a hoof to her chin. "You're not from here though. I know everypony in Ponyville. And I mean everypony. Are you new in town, maybe? Are you? That would be exciting, don't you think?"

I can't deny I was a bit taken aback by the number of requests Pinkie decided to bombard me with. Nevertheless, I quickly regained my composure, determined to make up her mind about the other fillies she must have known back home. If I still remembered her, there would at least be a chance for a mutual feeling on that point. Even if I had never been as lively or memorable as her.

"Well...I did just arrive here from Appleloosa," I started to explain, noticing Pinkie's eyes slightly widening at the name. "I lived there for most of my life, and we certainly have met before. Times and times again, come to think of it. Do you remember me? I was given the name Sweetie Drops at birth, but most ponies just call me..."

"BON-BON!" she squeaked in a high pitched voice, completing my introduction in a way I hadn't quite expected. "Is that really you, Bonnie? Ooh, I was right, this is exciting...and fun!"

Within seconds, I found myself drawn into an incredibly tight embrace. It was more than uncalled for on my part, especially since I've always considered myself a mare of certain restraints. Then again, quickly recapturing more and more memories about the energetic filly from my childhood, I found myself all the less surprised. In fact, while Pinkie had certainly grown up physically, her inner self didn't appear to have aged a day. Maybe that was the reason for my sudden, joyful nostalgia upon first seeing her again. Whether it affected her in a good or a bad way, I could hardly tell.

I considered myself lucky to be removed from her embrace moments later, still alive and well. Meanwhile, Pinkie returned to cast her hypnotizing smile at me, wider and more cheerful than ever. Not before long, I found myself confronted with another load of questions.

"This is exciting, isn't this exciting? Of course it is, I just said so myself. After all this time, I didn't think I'd ever see any of you guys again. So, how are you? And your family? Oh, oh, how's little Cherry Pie doing down there at the saloon?"

The latter question brought me to a certain amusement, as it always did on that subject. Cherry Pie was an Appleloosan mare about my age, whose family did own a little private business, several years before. Despite the name, they were all but related to Pinkie, however. Other than her family or mine, the Cherry clan usually picked a pony's last name to distinguish them from one another. The beginning of each name would be marked by the word cherry. Appleloosa had a vast diversity of cherry based names, most of the time: Cherry Pie, Cherry Berry, Cherry Jubilee, Cherry Cola...you get the idea. In our country, different families handled naming their foals in different ways. Exact rules of inheritance regulating these aspects never existed in Equestria, so any of those differences were commonly accepted.

When I told Pinkie how Cherry Pie's parents had to give up on their saloon, and moved further south to Dodge Junction in search for work, she seemed all but appeased. For just a second, I even fancied a small frown pulling at the corners of her mouth, but might well have imagined it, just so. Not having myself distracted any further, I turned the conversation to a more important matter. Being as direct as I could, I asked Pinkie, whether she knew where to find any appropriate housing around these parts.

"Mmmh," she mumbled, one hoof slowly running over her muzzle. "It is funny you ask me that. Somepony else brought the same thing up, just this morning."

"Is that so?" I asked in sudden excitement, my eyes widening at the well-perceived remark.

"Yes, indeedy," Pinkie squirted. "I'm just going to my afternoon shift at Sugarcube Corner, so why don't you come along? I can tell you all about her on the way. With a bit of luck, we might even meet her once we arrive. It's a super big meeting place around here, I'm sure you'll love it."

Admittedly abashed by that sudden invite of hers, but also intrigued about meeting this other pony she had mentioned, I decided to trot along. "I'm a bit short on finances. Would there be another pony willing to share an apartment, I could hardly be opposed to that," I told her, speaking out my thoughts. "I can't wait to talk to her."

"Oh, you haven't met Lyra Heartstrings yet," Pinkie answered with a sly grin that I couldn't quite interpret. "She's one of the strangest mares I've ever known. And I've known a few."

For obvious reasons, I found the latter statement fairly easy to believe.

"Whatever you say. But what exactly is it that's so unusual about her?" I asked.

"Well, she's..." Pinkie trailed off for a second, clearly in thought. "Phew, hard to describe, I'd say. And I usually know more than enough about my friends to describe them well enough. But she's...different. Is that a good word? Yes, I think so. She's different."

"And a friend of yours," I observed.

"Of course, silly. Everypony in Ponyville's my friend. If you wanna stay, make sure to remind me putting you on the list, Bonnie."

"I'm sure I will, Pinkie," I returned to her with a smile, even though her addressing me with that obnoxious nickname did annoy me a little. "But tell me more about this Lyra Heartstrings. She seems to be an interesting mare."

"Boy, where do I even start?" Pinkie asked with a giggle. "She's like one of those...detectives from children's stories. Most of the time, anyway. It's not like anypony asks her to do so, or pays her off, she just...sort of does it. Other times, you find her sitting around somewhere for hours, or occasionally plucking melodies on her lyre." Her face went to a light frown for a moment, her mane turning a little less poofy. "Please don't blame it on me if you two don't get along. I'd love to be friends with you, I really do. I've always kinda...hoped somepony from back home would make their way up here."

While I felt a certain remorse for my companion, who had to leave her home at such a young age, I also got a little confused about her last notion concerning Miss Heartstrings. The Pinkie I remembered didn't think in that sense of pessimism. Which already made something feel off about the entire situation.

"Why would you assume the two of us not getting along, though?" I asked. Knowing Pinkie, I expected her to make some short remark for me not to worry, then quickly turn back to matters more cheerful. Which she didn't.

"I'll leave the impression up to you," Pinkie concluded in a serious tone, as we turned another corner. Looking around, I found myself face to face with a very odd looking building. Shaped like a slice of cake, with fake sprinkles, candy bars, even gingerbread figures reaching out from it, it did make a fairly impressive sight. Not to mention the tower in the shape of a birthday cake, reaching out from its center.

But also, it did dampen my hopes on employment a great deal, especially if I wanted to become self-sufficient. It all looked like somepony else had already gone ahead with plans similar to mine in this part of the world.

"Well, here we are," Pinkie cried, returning to her usual, ecstatic self. "That's Sugarcube Corner. You're new here, so the first treat's on the house."

Upon entering the cafe building, which appeared just as twisted and abnormal from the inside, Pinkie offered me to take a seat. She promised to bring something along soon enough. On my remark that I hadn't even ordered any food yet, she answered with a simple shrug. Concerning Pinkie, I knew better than questioning her. Without a moment's hesitation, the upbeat pink mare left me sitting at a chair near the doorstep, as she rushed into the back of the building, quickly disappearing from sight.

Unoccupied as I was after she left, I had a look around the room. Aside from its uncommon nature, which I have described already, there were a few other occupants in here. A chubby, blue earth pony mare with a pinkish mane, ten years or so older than myself, sat behind the counter. A light smile passed her muzzle, as she watched Pinkie hurriedly rush by. Most of their customers, on the other hoof, were colts or fillies, joined by a small number of adult ponies scattered throughout the room. Judging the time, I presumed there was a school nearby, and these fillies had come here for their lunch break. Looking at it that way, the cafe really did seem like a popular meeting place. I could already imagine coming here more often, even if it only meant some catching up with a past acquaintance and future friend of mine.

From all the ponies around the room, one would strike me in particular: An overwhelmingly quiet, mint green unicorn mare sat behind an otherwise deserted table, placed in one of the room's corners. Their upper thirds slightly covered by a short, silver mane, a pair of golden eyes, sharp like daggers, had fixed themselves on me ever since my entrance. No doubt, they displayed a certain curiosity. And maybe a hint of mistrust, but I couldn't tell for sure, concerning the latter.

That mare didn't seem to have a quaint sense of modesty; her eyes kept examining me, even at times when I myself returned her looks. It appeared as if she was studying me, like some kind of laboratory experiment. As I caught a glimpse of her cutie mark, which resembled a golden lyre, an unpleasant feeling overwhelmed me. Somehow, I already knew whom I was dealing with.

I deliberately avoided any kind of eye contact with the mare for the from that point on. Instead, I tried focusing on my own desk, and the menu laid out on top. It took a whole five minutes for Pinkie to come back, and when she did, she carefully balanced a strawberry milkshake on one forehoof, while nodding towards the unicorn mare in the corner as she passed by her table.

I occupied myself mostly with Pinkie at that moment, along with my astonishment about her actually remembering my favorite drink after all this time. The unicorn mare simultaneously getting up, and starting to walk towards me didn't slip my attention either, though.

"Heeere's one coming up," Pinkie exclaimed with a grin, putting the filled to the top glass down in front of me. As the mare arrived to join us Pinkie cast a smile to her, as well. It was hardly returned. The unicorn's expression seemed solid like rock, instead.

"Okie-dokie. Now, let me introduce you two: Lyra, this is Bon Bon. Bonnie, this is Lyra Heartstrings."

"Charmed," I answered in all sincerity, while receiving nothing but a simple nod as a response.

"Well, I'll leave you to it," Pinkie added after a moment of silence. "If you need anything, scream like you're in agony. Somepony's bound to hear you...or not." And with another quick giggle, she left.

While I couldn't help but produce a weak smile over her crude sense of humor, the facial features of Miss Heartstrings still remained devoid of any sign of emotion. Her eyes shot back and forth between Pinkie, and myself, but she still didn't utter a word. It wasn't until Pinkie had gone to tend to her other customers, that she would finally take a seat, and break the silence.

"Very well then," she began in an extremely formal, business-like tone. "Let's get down to business, right? Unless you're still worn out due to your recent trip from Appleloosa, in which case I would be willing to give you a minute's rest."

Just as I intended to take a first sip of my drink, I stopped mid-motion, looking up at her in surprise. A question arose in my mind. One, asking how she could possibly know of my descent. Or whatever business she was talking about. Pinkie certainly didn't give her any input. They never even talked since I got here. Unless the nod they shared was some kind of strangely coded sign language. But I quickly dismissed that thought.

"No, I'm just fine," I thus answered, pausing with a moment's hesitation. "Though, allow me to ask: How did you know that?"

"Know what?"

"Know, that I've just arrived from Appleloosa."

"Oh, well," Ms Heartstrings noted, the corners of her mouth briefly turning upwards. "Perception, mostly."

"Perception?"

"Obviously."

"Well, then...allow me...what is it you've perceived?"

At my notion, Ms Heartstring's eyes narrowed a little. "Well, where do I begin?" she asked. "How about this: You're an earth pony. Female. Not exactly uncommon in Ponyville. It is your race who originally founded the city, after all. What struck me was never having seen you ever before. Which is odd, since this town is usually small enough for the average mind to comprehend most of its faces at a time. And yet, you seem a complete stranger, not only to me, but also everyone else in this room. I observe that from everypony's reaction upon your first entrance. Some of them ignored you, while others gave you a look of mild interest, the kind one would normally give a stranger. Coming from out of town for some kind of rendezvous, maybe, I asked myself? Obviously not, since you would've brought some lighter, more presentable attire than just two crammed, worn-out saddlebags.

"A complete stranger to town, most likely. And one who either chooses to stay, or pass through. Now, since most ponies tend to not move around all that much, safe for - say - towns and cities in their immediate vicinity, that narrows it down to two possible earth pony towns in our region. Why Appleloosa, why not Dodge Junction, you ask? Simple. You're obviously not a resident of Dodge Junction, since most ponies in that town are in some way occupied with the bucking and manufacturing of cherries. Judging from your cutie mark, you're not much of a business pony, and neither have you served a long time, if any, on a cherry orchard. I observe the latter from your - pardon me - rather skinny, non-muscular haunches. Also, the last train - which you presumably arrived on - coming from Dodge Junction left more than three hours ago, so why only come here now? You are obviously Appleloosan, and came here to stay, otherwise you wouldn't have gotten off your train, but proceeded straight on to Canterlot."

In addition, after drawing in another breath, she concluded: "It's simple, really."

I can't deny that my jaw dropped, as I looked into Miss Heartstrings' face with complete and total perplexion. Her reasoning appeared perfectly logical, yet it seemed far beyond the comprehension of anyone I had ever met. Ever. Throughout her vast theory, only one little fault occurred to me, as I considered what she'd just said.

"But...but how did you know I wasn't helplessly wandering through town for hours before Pinkie picked me up?"

"Of course you weren't," Miss Heartstrings replied with a certainty that sounded almost arrogant. "Pinkie Pie wasn't at work all morning. Time off during the day for her means usually wandering about, meeting everyone. Anytime she sees somepony new, she brings them here. It's a pattern I have been observing for some time, and you confirmed it just a few minutes ago. Now, if you thought it would take Pinkie Pie longer than just a few minutes to locate you, especially with that outstanding, unusual mane coloration, you don't know her very well to begin with."

A satisfied grin across her muzzle, Miss Heartstrings leaned back in her chair. "Now, let's talk about that apartment deal, shall we?"