"These deliveries are getting way out if hand." Toasty thought as she flew over another stretch of crystal clear water. She finally spotted the small village, and dropped in from lower atmosphere. She came in for a easy landing, dropping right down Main Street. She pulled off her flight goggles and unbuckled her saddlebags. She carefully pulled a large container of breads out. The brown mare then trotted over to the general store, and pushed open the door with a jingle. A grey stallion looked up, and smiled kindly.
"I presume you're the baker?" Toasty nodded.
"We don't get many visitors, but your bread is the best on this side of the salt sea." He stated proudly.
"Equestria." Toasty reminded him with a smile. "We don't know what's out there. Yet." He pulled together a bag of bits, made if various metals.
"How long are you staying?" He asks politely.
"I have some if the best bread in equestria, just came in." He winks at her. Toasty laughs.
"Nice, Island Trade. Maybe next time. And to answer your question, only a few days. Business is drying up, and I'm afraid that I'll be taken over by some large chain. See you around." She walked out of the small store, and into the bright sunshine. She looked around, her bags were still where she left them by the door, there was sea in three sides, it was a warm day, and there was a nice breeze. She watched for a minute as the natives moved about, going about there daily tasks. As somepony entered the infirmary, she saw that there were only one or two ponies inside, a lot for a village of thirty. She resumed her glances to get her bearings, settling for heading to the beach.
She grabbed her bags, weightless infinite, a gift from the royal princess of the night, after supplying the delicious bread. She reached in to grab sunblock and something appropriate for the beach. She quickly applied the sunblock, and slipped the thong on. She stretched her muscles and laid on the cool, soft sand. She fell asleep before long, and woke to see a beautiful glistening sunset. Pink and orange tinged the sky and as the sun set on the calm waves, another sound started up.
Deep bass beats and rhythmic island drums. She wandered over to the pavilion to see a pink unicorn working the turntable, and a few natives beating the drums. A pony waved her on, beckoning her to join in. She smiled and ran to the pavilion, enjoying the warm sand beneath her hooves. The stallion gave his name as S. D. He informed her that the drinks are free, as is admission. She thanked him and wandered to the open bar. A cheery mare stood behind, filling glasses with a smile.
"Hay, what'll it be?" She asks, filling a small glass with a fruity beverage.
"Alcohol doesn't come out until later." She smiles.
"Got to let the lil ones run home before then." A small filly runs up to the bar, and she fills a small glass for her before coming back to toasty.
"So?"
"Umm. Something simple?" Toasty prompts. The mare smiles.
"One raspberry zinger comin up." She fills a glass with a red liquid and hands it to toasty.
"Raspberry, lime, pineapple, and ice. Simple and delicious. Yee haw! Next!" She calls out, rearing hooves to the beat. Toasty takes a sip of the cold drink and walks to a cluster of smooth rocks a little bit away from the music. The pounding beat fades a little, and she can hear herself think again. She sits on a large chunk of obsidian, and sips her drink quietly. She feels guilty for taking the time off when the business is doing so bad, but pushes it into the back of her mind. This is her vacation! A few other ponies walk over to rocks close by and start chatting quietly. Toasty moves a little away, embarrassed to invade their space. She finishes her drink as the Barmare walks up.
"Howdy, how was it?" She asks.
"It was really good, thank you." Toasty replies.
"Say, what's your name?" Toasty asks.
"Apple Punch." The mare replies.
" I'm Toasty." She says.
"Nice to meet you, Toasty."
She sits on a nearby rock. "This is my break, I got a pony to take over for a few minutes so I could catch my breath. You're the bread mare, aren't you." She says finally placing the brown pony.
"Yes, I run the business." Toasty replies. The pony scrunches her face for a second before asking,
"If you run it, why are you out here? Some kinda of vacation?"
"Yes and no." Toasty responds.
"I came here to make a delivery, and was pressed into taking a vacation."
"Why are you delivering if you run the business?" She asks.
"The sales have been slow, and I had to let some ponies who used to deliver go. So, even I have to fly sometimes." Toasty explains.
"Oh. I hope your customers multiply. I just came to check on you, being the new face and all. My breaks over anyway. See ya soon, bread mare." The punch walks back over to her table and pushes the pony behind out with a drink.” Next!" Toasty hears from across the beach. She shakes her head at the enthusiasm from the peppy mare. Toasty looks up and her breath catches. She can see near every star. She sees almost all of the constellations, and near every crater in the moon. A star flashes across the sky and she watches as it seems to land in the ocean.
In the low torchlight she thinks she sees a pony splashing in the shallows. She walks across the silvery sand towards the lone pony.
"Hey there." Toasty calls out. The pony turns and looks at toasty.
"Hello." The soft feminine voice shouldn't have surprised toasty, but somehow it did.
"What are you up to?" The bread maker asks.
"Nothing really, just enjoying the waters kisses. It's much warmer close to the shore." She sighs.
"Why don't you come join the party?" Toasty asks.
"Oh, that’s all right. I like it better here, instead of with every pony else." She explains.
"Say, what's your name?" Toasty asks.
"Harmony." The mare replies.
"I'm toasty." She says.
"Maybe you should cool down in the water, Toasty." Harmony smiles. A loud crash echoes from the pavilion, and toasty looks to see the apple punch breaking up a fight. She looks back at harmony, but the mare disappeared. She rubs her eyes and looks again. Still no sign of the aquamarine mare. She flies up a little, but she hasn't been washed out to sea. Toasty walks back to the party and gets another drink. She swallows it down in one gulp, and hits the dance floor. She doesn't know the island dances very well, but clumsily follows every other ponies lead. A smile and a laugh excuse her actions, and get smiles and laughs in return. After a few songs she returns to the bar to rest for a second.
"The dirty drinks are now open!" Apple punch declares. Toasty orders the same as before, and downs it the same. She feels a little funny afterwards and stares at apple punch sideways. Apple punch laughs and smiles.
"I warned ya there were dirty drinks. This one uses about 1/2 bottle of rum." Toasty's eyes widen.
"Only that! Got anything stronger?" She dares. Apple punch flies into a flurry of action, mixing and shaking, shredding and peeling. Juicing and finally pouring. She places a glass in front of toasty.
"This is my special. It's the fruit punch. Tends to be a knockout." Toasty slams it down and sets the glass down. She shakes her head and laughs by the giddy feeling. She manages to stumble back to the edge of the sea before face planting on the sand.
