Prologue: To Haytally We Go
“Whoo hoo!” Rainbow dash shouted as she leapt into the air, spinning in circles before landing with a beaming smile on her face.
“Calm down Rainbow” Twilight giggled “We are going on official business”
“Yeah, but when do we ever get to go to someplace cool that isn’t in Equestria? This is gonna be so awesome!”
From her corner in the large room filled with mostly empty chairs and signs over every door, telling ponies where to go when the time came, Cadence spoke up.
“I agree with Rainbow Dash Twilight. The royals there know me, so I’ll be doing most of the official part. After the initial introductions you all will be free to do as you please”
“Oh, and I am just sooo excited to go to someplace as romantic as Haytally” Rarity gushed.
“I thought Prance was supposed to be the country of romance?” Rainbow questioned with a raised eyebrow.
“Well yes, Prance is renowned for it’s romantic charm” Rarity replied, then smirked “But Haytally is known for passion”
Rainbow dash rolled her eyes and went back to her excitement on her own, then joined by Pinkie Pie, the two of them whooping and hollering about their new diplomatic mission.
Twilight walked over to Cadence and sat down with her own luggage. She watched her sister in law rummage through her things for a while, quietly thinking of something to say about their trip. The trip would last a full month, and she still didn’t know exactly why she was going as well. Still though, she couldn’t figure out where to begin questioning.
“I know you want to ask me something, Twilight” Cadence spoke lightly, in a sort of motherly tone.
Twilight sighed “I just don’t know where to begin. If you are already on good terms with the royals of Haytally, then why do you need me to come along? Much less my friends?”
“Because Twilight, we are renewing our treaty so our countries can continue to be peaceful and trade necessary goods for the benefit of all ponies. In order to do that we have to show that we can be friends. In order to be friends, wouldn’t you think they would have to know ALL of our princesses?”
Twilight closed her eyes and nodded, then reopened them and tilted her head in confusion.
“But that still doesn’t explain why my friends are coming along. Not that I don’t want them to. I’m so happy they can come with me. I just don’t understand. They all have jobs to do and their own lives to lead. They already have to take time off wandering all over Equestria for me because of some map, now they have to go out of their way and out of their own country?”
“Darling!” Rarity shouted, having over heard her “We are more than happy to accompany you on this trip, and I for one see perfect benefit in it”
“Yeah!” Rainbow Dash interjected “Besides, anypony who knows us at this point knows that our first duty is to the princess, our princess, the princess of friendship” She puffed her chest out pridefully, earning a giggle from Twilight.
Cadence chuckled, capturing Twilight’s attention once more.
“And the princess of friendship should have her friends with her at all times to emphasise her title, no?” She gave Twilight a coy smirk, knowing she was right.
“Ah’ Hate ta’ Interrupt, but I do believe our airship has arrah’vd” AppleJack drawled, smirking and pointing a hoof at said airship, which would be taking them overseas “We’d best be headin’ off. Grab yer bags ya’ll, and hope ya di’nt ferget nothin’. We’re headin’ ta Haytally”
Outside the castle gates, waited the five friends of out favourite princess. She and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza were currently inside, dealing with the paper work they had to go through for the treaty. After everything was finished, they would be able to enjoy their stay in the beautiful country.
For now though, they waited outside. Rainbow Dash flying back and forth impatiently, Rarity inspecting her hooves, Pinkie Pie telling jokes to Fluttershy who giggled quietly, and Apple Jack relaxing under a tree and staring at the palace doors.
Suddenly the doors swung open, and there was Twilight.
"There's ah'r girl!" Apple Jack said excitedly as she got up from the ground and walked over to meet Twilight half way, the rest of the gang following behind her.
"What took you so long!?" Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
"These things take time, you can't blame me" Twilight said defensively.
Apple Jack chuckled "Well it's all over an' done with now. So what say we an' 'ave ourselves a good ol' time out there"
"I agree" Fluttershy said quietly "There is so much out there to see, and not even just in Roam. We could travel outside the city even... Oh, that is if you guys don't mind of course" She finished bashfully, earning another chuckle from Apple Jack.
"Fluttershy makes an excellent point Darlings" Rarity joined in the conversation "I would love to see even the little towns here, I'm sure they're absolutely gorgeous... But what do you say we start right here in Roam, hmm? No point in coming to the capital just to leave without experiencing it"
"Sounds like a plan to me" Twilight agreed.
"Then what are we waiting for!?" Shouted Rainbow dash.
"Let's go!" And with that final shout of excitement from Pinkie Pie they raced off into town to enjoy the city.
Roam was so much fun. They traveled to the coliseum, it was so big and Twilight thought that even she, with her navigational skills and intelligence, could get lost. They visited shops and all sorts of places in the central area of town, where Rarity had a hard time leaving a jewelry store that the rest of them regretted letting her enter. After forcibly dragging Rarity out of the expensive shop they came across a little abandoned looking building, that still seemed to be in business despite it's outer appearance.
They approached slowly, wonder just what this place could be. There was no sign, so they assumed it was a local business where the owners assumed everyone just sort of... Knew. And they were right.
The shop was a small caffe/diner. Upon their approach, they noticed a burly looking stallion flipping a sign out front to what they assumed said "closed" judging by the fact that he was now locking the door. He began to stride away before he noticed them looking his was, then gave them a once over with his eyes. He smiled softly, despite his gruff appearance, and sauntered over.
"You are Equestriano, yes?" He asked in a deep, booming voice.
Twilight nodded "Yes. I am Princess Twilight. I am here with my friends and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza for the resigning of the treaty between our two countries. The King and Queen have given us permission to explore the country, now that the treaty has been signed"
The stallion looked slightly lost, his knowledge of the Equestrian language apparently limited, but he smiled again and nodded his head in understanding, having gotten the gist of it.
"If you look for culture and good taste, I have a suggestion to make"
They all looked at him with raised eyebrows when Twilight asked kindly "What would that be?"
The black coated Haytallian turned to the side and pointed off in the distance.
"And hours train journey will lead you to small town, name città volpe. There, you find caffe call La Caffe Di Famiglia. It is own by Mio Famiglia, and lots... How you say... Popular? Yes, popular"
Twilight giggled at his chopped Equestrian and thanked him for the information. the Stallion nodded curtly and grinned as he walked away from the group with a friendly wave.
"Soooo" Rainbow dash began "Are we headded to this Citta Vol somethin place or what?"
Twilight shrugged "We may as well. There isn't much we haven't seen here by now... Looks like you get your wish Fluttershy"
"Oh yay" Fluttershy breathed in hushed excitement.
the wind rattled against the train as they rode into the mountains. Citta Volpe was apparently a small town etched into the side of a rocky cliff. From where they were they could see the entirety of it, including an old abandoned castle high above on the top of the cliff.
"Sooo, awesome!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
"Dash, there is an old abandoned castle right on the edge of our hometown too. I never hear you squeal about Ponyville like that.
"That's because Ponyville I already know that Ponyville is awesome, duh"
Twilight rolled her eyes.
"Sure is a pretty lil' town though" AppleJack admitted, looking out at the landscape as Fluttershy and Rarity both gushed beside her.
They exited the train and began walking around town, looking for any little Caffe by the name "La Caffe Di Famiglia". They were having no luck so far, and strangely it was getting colder outside. It shouldn't have been getting colder, it was summer time. It was also getting darker... Much darker...
Blackened clouds filled the sky as winds howled around them. The friends all exchanged worried glances, knowing something wasn't right. They raised their sights to the sky just in time to find tiny raindrops making their way towards the ground.
It wasn't long before the soft pitter patter of falling droplet surrounded them, and they all ran for cover. They found shelter under a small overhanging roof of a nearby restaurant. The wind howled louder and pushed harder around them as the rain became stronger and fell with force that was painful to the touch when Rainbow Dash reached her hoof out to see just how bad the storm was.
She retracted her hoof with speed even she didn't know she had, and cradled it against her chest.
"Uh, yeah, guys. We aren't going anywhere any time soon"
All of a sudden they heard a voice shouting from across the road, the figure obscured by the pelting water all around.
"Ayyyy!" It shouted "Che Stupido sono tu!?"
"What are they saying?" Pinkie Pie asked, giving Twilight a confused glance.
"I think... They said... That stupid are you... ?" Twilight said, not quite sure if her translation was accurate.
All of a sudden they heard a huff of aggravation, which was surprisingly closer than the figure had once been, and before they even saw anything were being yanked away, through the pelting storm, and into a warm, brightly lit room.
They looked around for a moment but didn't have much time to take in their surroundings as their vision was quickly filled with a fuming mad, grey brown coloured Pegasus with foam white hair which was coloured sort of caramel like at the routes.
"Ho detto, che stupido sono tu!?"
"We don't speak Haytalian!" Rainbow Dash screamed in return, getting right in the other Pegasus's face.
A sudden calm overtook the strange mare as all expression fell from her face and she blinked blankly for a moment... Just staring.
"... Oh..." she said flatly, and the six Equestrians just stared, slack jawed.
the new Pegasus continued in perfect equestrian "I said how stupid are you... but I can see now that you're tourists. Did you just get into town? If so, you wouldn't have heard the storm warning. All ponies are to stay indoors and keep the doors and shutters locked. You came at a very poor time"
The mane six's jaws dropped even further in shock of how well this pony knew their language, and could speak it with hardly an accent even though she was speaking perfect Haytalian just moments before.
"You speak Equestrian?" Was all that left Rainbow Dash's mouth.
The pony in front of them raised an eyebrow in response.
"Ummm... Yes?... I restate my earlier question. How stupid are you?... Never mind, you're Equestrian, the question answers itself"
"HEY!"
she ignored Rainbow Dash and continued speaking as if she had never said anything offensive in the first place.
"One way or another, welcome to the family cafe, Or 'Cafe Di Famiglia'" She bowed slightly and smirked up at them "I am your hostess and waitress, Latte Caffe. May I show you to a table? You seem like you could use a nice hot beverage"
There were so many things going through the ponies's minds at the moment. This was the place they'd been looking for. This little ball snarky aggravation was supposed to be a hostess and was apparently related to that nice stallion they had met back in Roam. How could she just insult them like that and then move on like nothing had happened!?
As they all processed this they moved to a table, ushered by the still smirking Pegasus behind them. After they had all taken a seat, a menu was placed in front of them. They glanced over to Latte, who now held a pleasant smile on her face rather than her previous smirk, and withdrew a pen and flipbook from underneath her wing. She held the book in her hoof and the pen in her wing as she scribbled something before looking back up to them and asked "What would you like?"
Twilight sighed, resigning from the mental war she was having trying to process all of her thoughts, and taking a look at the menu. there were so many specialty drinks, each one with a tantalizing picture beside it that made it look so very desirable. A moment of shifting through pages and she finally made her choice, noting the surprisingly fair amount of food items as well. She looked up, and it seemed that everyone else had made their choice as well.
"I think I'll have a Mocha Latte" Twilight said in an oddly calm voice for having been basically forced into ordering.
Everyone else placed their orders as well and they watched as Latte skipped off and disappeared behind a tall wooden door. Finally they had the chance to take in the decor of the place. It was extremely well decorated. Plain and simple, but not at all bland. The walls were lined with shiny dark wooden trim, the bottom of the wall looked sort of like a door pattern repeated, the upper part had a plain beige wallpaper. All of the counters and table tops were made of the same wood as the walls and doors, but they shone slightly brighter, allowing ponies to see their reflections in them. above them the lights were dangling from golden chains and covered by beige shades that matched the walls. A light hung above every table, and every table was bolted into the hardwood floor.
In the corner, beside the door that Latte had disappeared behind, there was a station which kind of looked like a bar, which upon further inspection was clearly the barista's work station. Though currently, it was devoid of said barista.
The cups along the counter shook slightly as a sudden force swung open the door to the back area and out stepped a dull beige coloured unicorn, who was slightly taller than Latte. Her mane was a dull brown, almost a black, with patches of a creamy dark caramel, not a light caramel like the routes of Latte's mane and tail. Her mane was puffy and short, it curled and the bangs around her horn. Her tail was puffy and short as well, but still somehow managed to hold some sense of being styled.
Her eyes glowed the same shade of gold as Latte's as she stalked towards the group. Stopping in front of them she pushed out her chest and raised her chin almost like she was posing for a magazine. there was a twinkle in her eye as she smirked down on the group, and it gave them all an uneasy feeling before she snickered and dropped the pompous act.
"Has my sister forced you into ordering? she told me what happened. I admit, it i foolish to be out in this storm, I will not make you leave, but do not feel the need to pay us for our hospitality" she spoke in a smooth and low tone, that carried an air of calmness to it, yet was somehow unsettling.
The group let out a breath they hadn't known they were holding and smiled at the unicorn.
"Nah, don't worry 'bout it none. Side's, yer sister was right when she said we'd be needin' a lil' somethin' ta warm us up. An' I reckon this caramel thingy I had my eye on is pretty darn' tasty" AppleJack drawled in reply.
the unicorns face screwed up ever so slightly as her head tilted to the side. She apparently was having a hard time understanding AppleJack's country slang. Eventually her face brightened and a look of understanding stretched across her face. She closed her eyes and chuckled slightly.
"Well then, I had better get to making it" She turned around and took a single step before turning back to face the group "Oh, my apologies, I haven't introduced myself. I am Espresso Caffe, The eldest of the family and the main barista here at La Cafe Di Famiglia"
