Sometimes Business can be a Real Pain in The Plot...
View Online
The Lemonade Stand: A Cautionary Tale
Sometimes Business can be a Real Pain in The Plot...
One sunny day in Ponyville, two ponies were with each other. One pony, a unicorn, was walking. The other pony, a pegasus, was flying next to the other pony. Suddenly, these two ponies halted completely.
"Ugh. I'm so bored!" the unicorn pony complained.
"Well, perhaps we can find something to do." the pegasus recommended to the unicorn.
"Sour Sweet, you do know that I always get bored often, right? Plus, no offence, but your recommendations for something fun are usually..."
"Not fun," replied Sour Sweet. "I know that, Lemon Zest. It's just that, well, we all have different ideas for what's fun. Your idea of fun is goofing off on purpose in public, and my idea of fun is being productive in making something cool."
"Candy-making at Sugarcube Corner is so boring!"
"Is not!"
"Is too!"
"Well, I think that making lemonade is extremely stressful and is a real pain in the plot."
Lemon Zest's mouth hung open. "Wha-wha-what? Impossible! Making lemonade is easy and fun if you just concentrate and hum a peppy tune!"
Suddenly, her brain hatched an idea. She knew how to get back at an insulting Sour Sweet. She smiled a smile that could possibly rival Pinkie Pie's smile whenever she smells a decent batch of cookies baking in an oven.
"Hey Sour! I have an idea for something fun!"
Sour Sweet groaned. "Ugh, what is it Lemon? It better not be something boring or I'll not participate."
Lemon Zest enthusiastically spoke: "We could start our very own lemonade stand!"
Silence.
Nope. No way that I'm joining her. Lemonade-making gives me a terrible migraine.
Sour Sweet glanced down at her front right hoof for a second, trying to come up with an excuse.
"Wow, geez, just look at the time! I better be going now. See ya later Lemon!"
Just as she unfolded her wings, Lemon Zest galloped over to her. Sour Sweet promptly folded her wings in again.
"Oh c'mon Sour! You know you want to."
Sour Sweet sighed. "What will happen if I don't open a lemonade stand with you?"
"Let me just say that I won't give you free cupcakes from Pinkie Pie anymore-"
"N-n-no! I love her cupcakes! Please don't do this!"
"Then open a lemonade stand with me, Sour."
She sighed in defeat at her clever friend. "Fine, Lemon. I'll start a lemonade stand with you."
Lemon Zest bounced up and down. "Yay! We're going to have lots and lots of fun with this!"
She hurriedly walked over to a woodshop nearby Sugarcube Corner. "Wait right there Sour Sweet! I need to buy some wood, paint, nails, a hammer, and some chairs!"
Lemon Zest entered the woodshop, Sour Sweet looking at the latter store herself.
Maybe having a lemonade stand really is fun after all...
An hour later, Sour Sweet and Lemon Zest's lemonade stand was set up near a sidewalk. It was rectangular prism-shaped, with its back opened so seats could be placed behind. Nailed in the front of the stand was a sign that said 'Lemon Zest and Sour Sweet's Tasty Lemonade'. On the counter of the stand was a tip jar that said 'One glass of lemonade for 25 bits'. Also on the counter was a pitcher of lemonade and ten plastic cups of lemonade. Lemon Zest and Sour Sweet were sitting on their chairs, waiting for their first customers.
"Lemon Zest, I knew that this would be boring."
"Want me to tell Pinkie that you've lost interest in Sugarcube Corner brand cupcakes?"
"Fine, Lemon. I can wait."
A few minutes later, a customer finally walked up to the lemonade stand. It was an extremely-parched Derpy Hooves.
"H-hello girls. I'm Derpy Hooves, and I-I'm extremely thirsty."
Lemon Zest got out of her chair. "Well we have what you're looking for, Derpy! Would you like one of our finest glasses of lemonade?"
"I'm not looking for lemonade."
"Then what are you looking for?"
"I was wondering if you sell any grape juice here."
Sour Sweet, a bit ticked off, got up out of her chair. "Derpy, this is a lemonade stand. We only sell lemonade here. Now either buy some lemonade here or be on your way."
"But all I wanted was some grape juice..."
"Sour Sweet, please don't upset our first customer!"
"But she wants grape juice, not lemonade!"
"Let me see if I can convince her to buy some lemonade here."
Lemon Zest made direct eye contact with Derpy Hooves. "Look Derpy, we don't sell any grape juice here, but would you want some lemonade?"
"I-I guess. I actually don't really care what I drink right now as long as it doesn't hurt me or anything..."
"I'm pretty sure that lemonade isn't poisonous," spoke Sour Sweet in a more friendly tone. "Now would you like a glass of lemonade?"
"Sure guys! You're the best for helping me!"
"You're welcome Derpy!"
Lemon Zest levitated Derpy Hooves a glass of lemonade and gently set it on the counter in front of her. She immediately picked it up with her hoof and began to drink the lemonade.
"Mmm! This lemonade is sour but not too sour! This has to be the best lemonade I've ever had in my life!"
Derpy Hooves burped as she set down the glass. Sour Sweet began to clean the glass.
"Don't forget to pay us for our great-tasting lemonade."
"Oh! I almost forgot!"
Derpy Hooves promptly took out twenty-five bits from her saddlebag and inserted them inside the tip jar.
"Thanks for doing business with us!" Lemon Zest excitedly spoke.
"You're welcome."
After five minutes, for some reason or another, Derpy Hooves didn't leave the lemonade stand.
"Erm Derpy," Sour Sweet asked her, "why aren't you leaving?"
"Can I please work for you?"
"Sure Derpy!" an enthusiastic Lemon Zest spoke. "We could use an extra set of hooves to make lemonade."
"I know all about making lemonade."
Lemon Zest levitated an extra chair and put it next to Sour Sweet. Derpy Hooves came behind the stand and sat on her chair.
"Can I also advertise from back here?"
"Sure Derpy!" agreed Sour Sweet.
"Okay!"
Little did both Sour Sweet and Lemon Zest know that Derpy Hooves would only make running a lemonade stand a bit more hectic and confusing than they both initially expected.
Somehow Derpy Hooves didn't make any mistakes during her first thirty minutes of being an employee at the lemonade stand. She had helped her fellow "bosses" make the first new batch of lemonade and she had made no mistakes. After those glasses of lemonade were empty, Derpy Hooves again helped Lemon Zest and Sour Sweet make lemonade. Again no mistakes were made.
Or so they thought...
"Lemonade for sale! Only twenty five bits per glass!"
Derpy Hooves advertised for the lemonade stand as Lemon Zest and Sour Sweet sat on their chairs waiting for any eager customers to come to the stand for lemonade. In those past thirty minutes, a whopping twenty customers were served. Or was that twenty one? They weren't exactly sure.
Finally, a customer walked up to the stand. It was Berry Punch, and she was licking her lips.
"Gee am I thirsty! I'm Berry Punch, and I'm very eager to have a drink."
"Tsk tsk tsk tsk. Berry Punch. Always thirsty, aren't you?" Sour Sweet told her.
"Y-yes..."
"Leemee get ya a glass of cool lemonade," Lemon Zest told Berry Punch.
Lemon Zest levitated a glass of lemonade and put it on a spot on the wooden counter that was close to Berry Punch. She eagerly picked it up and started to drink from it. Suddenly, she puckered her lips, spat out the lemonade, and dropped the glass to the ground.
"Ugh! Who made this lemonade?!"
Lemon Zest and Sour Sweet's eyes met Derpy Hooves. She started to sweat.
"Uh, uh, was it something I did? What's wrong with it? I'm pretty sure that the lemonade is fine!"
Berry Punch's eyes met with hers. "Now listen up little miss perfect pegasus. First of all, this lemonade is way too sour. You could've at least watered it down a bit! Second of all, there was still remnants of the lemons you used to make the lemonade in this glass. Lastly, this lemonade had seeds in it! I just hate lemonade with seeds in it!"
As Derpy Hooves's eyes started to tear up, Lemon Zest turned towards Berry Punch. "Uh, are you going to pay for your lemonade?"
"No thanks! Now good day!"
As an angered Berry Punch turned around and galloped away, the halfway-full glass of lemonade still spilling onto the ground, Derpy Hooves was crying a river.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't know!"
"Don't worry Derpy. You're not getting fired," spoke Lemon Zest.
"Thanks Lemon."
Sour Sweet then turned to face Lemon Zest. "Let's just close up the lemonade stand and call it a day."
"G-good idea..."
