Summer's Dream

The white unicorn, her light blue mane in a bun, stood behind the counter, with her chin propped in her hooves. She glanced around the cafe. Nopony else was there, even being after lunch when most ponies would stop in for a coffee, or tea, or one of the smaller treats she got from Sugar Cube Corner. The front of the cafe was clean, nopony  was in the back, and besides it was clean as well. She was all alone. And she was bored. She let out a dramatic sigh. Then glanced around again, even though the bell over the door hadn’t rung. Still nopony but her. She took a deep breath, puffed her cheeks, and blew out a raspberry. “Argh! Why does this have to be a slow day?” she said out loud.

With another sigh she crossed her forelegs and laid her head on the countertop. Closing her eyes she stood there and waited. And waited some more. With a groan she opened her eyes, intent on finding something in the back of the cafe to occupy her time, to stop and wonder how Pinkie Pie got in without the door chiming. Then thought better of it. *Don’t ask, you’ll just get a headache,* she thought to herself.

“Hey, Pinkie. What brings you by?” She asked smiling, as she lifted her head off the counter.

“Oh, nothing much, Mystique. I just thought I’d stop in, see how everything was. Did you need anything ordered from Sugar Cube?” Pinkie asked, as she leaned on the counter as well.

“Hmmm,” Mystique pondered, as she rubbed her chin with a hoof. “Honestly, Pinkie, I’m not sure. Why dont you head to the back and check my stock. If you don’t mind that is. You know what I usually order.”

Pinkie stepped back from the counter. “Sure thing, Mystie! Oh, and summer sure is hot,” she said as she walked around the counter and disappeared in the back. Leaving Mystique standing there looking after the pink mare perplexed.

*What the hay made her say that,* she thought as she turned back around.  *I swear, that mare gets stranger and stranger every year. We're not even in summer, spring just started, the nights are chilly still.* With a shake of her head and a shrug, Mystique stepped around the counter. She grabbed a dust clothe with her magic, a pale blue aura enveloping it. She walked toward the back, intent on some change in routine. Normally she started in the front, yet now she chose the back first. “Might as well do something constructive,” she muttered.

As she worked on the tables, she started humming. The humming grew from just notes to a melody, the melody turning to words as she began to sing softly.

“I'm here to show you who I am,”

“Threw off the veil, it's finally time,”

“There's more to me than glitz and glam, oh-whoa,”

“And now I feel my stars align,”

“For I had believed what I was sold,”

“I did all the things that I was told,”

“But all that has changed, and now I'm bold,”

“'Cause I know,”

The bell over the door tinkled gentle, as Summer eased the door open. Mystique didn’t notice, her back being toward the door. As she continued singing softly, a soft murmur to Summer’s ears, her hips started swaying gently. Summer watched mesmerized, as Mystique’s tail took a counter rhythm to her hip sway. For the space of three breathes, Summer was completely entranced by the gentle swishing of hips and tail. Just as she was going to politely cough to draw the other mare’s attention Mystique began to sing louder, making Summer stop, so entranced by her voice.

“And let the magic in my heart stay true,”

“Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa,”

“And let the magic in my heart stay true,”

“Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa,”

“Just like the magic inside of you,”

“And now I see those colors,”

“Right before my eyes,”

“I hear my voice so clearly,”

“And I know that it is right,”

Mystique quickly pirouetted around on her hind legs, the next verse dying on her lips as she saw the cream mare staring at her. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, she didn't normally sing in public, except in front of very good friends. She was bold, yes, yet rather shy about her novice singing skills. Quickly shaking off her embarrassment, she left the dust clothe on a table and quickly trotted to the counter.

“Welcome to Mystic Brews!” she said cheerfully. “I’m Mystique, what can I get for you?”

“Mystic Brews?” Summer asked, an eyebrow raised.

Mystique chuckled. “Eeyup! It’s my poor attempt at a play of words. My name’s Mystique, and coffee is brewed. So Mystic Brews was born! I know, it’s rather lame, but it was the best I could come up with, and well, now it’s stuck.”

Summer shook her head. “Oh, no! I don’t think it’s lame. It’s rather clever, really. I wouldn't have come up with something like that.”

Mystique smiled at her. “Thank you, I appreciate that. Now, since you listened to my woeful story of naming the cafe,” she chuckled, “what would you like?”

“I… I’m not sure, really. You see, Princess Twilight suggested I stop here. Since she comes in. And well, I really don’t know what you serve,” Summer said, her head dropping slightly feeling somewhat silly.

Mystique smiled and nodded. “Yeah, Twilight comes in once in a while. Mainly when Rainbow shoos her out of the library. Personally, I think Rainbow practically throws her out, probably from one of the windows." Summer gasped, but Mystique waved her hoof. "Oh, Rainbow wouldn't do anything to harm Twilight." She leaned in slightly, "She probably drags and prods her to the closest exit. And for Rainbow, that's either a door, or window." She finished with a chuckle and wink, causing Summer to giggle.

"So, as for what I serve, I can make anything that's coffee based. Or pretty darn close. If coffee isn't to your liking, I also have a good variety of teas, both hot and cold, as well as different juices, and smoothies. And if you feel peckish, I do have some treats from Sugar Cube Corner. Not a wide variety, though, just something to snack on while you relax and enjoy your drink. That was the CMC’s idea.”

“I’m sorry, the CMC?” Summer asked.

“Oh, I’m sorry!” Mystique face hoofed. “You just got into town, so of course you don’t know who I’m talking about. The CMC is the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Three little fillies whose talent together is showing other ponies what their talent truly is. They're Applebloom, Applejack’s little sister, Sweetie Belle, Miss Rarity’s sister, and Scootaloo, Twilight and Rainbow’s adopted daughter.”

“I’ve met Scootaloo,” Summer said, nodding. “She was such polite little filly. And I don’t think it was because her mothers were there.”

Mystique nodded in agreement, “Yeah, all three of them are real sweet. That’s why I took their suggestion of having snacks.” She chuckles, “They usually come in once a week now, after school.”

Summer smiled, then glanced up at the black boards mounted behind the counter. “Uhm, I’m still not sure what to order, though.”

“Hmm,” Mystique muttered. “OK, how about this. I’ll pick something out, and if you don’t like it, anything else is on the house.”

“Ok, that sounds like a plan,” Summer smiled.

“Cool! Now, let me see. You look like somepony that enjoys chocolate.” Summer vigorously nodded at this. Mystique chuckled, “Right then! Won’t be but a moment.” She turned around, glancing at the various ingredients. A mischievous grin spreading on her muzzle. With a quick nod, she lit her horn, grabbing a to go cup. Placing it by the espresso machine, she opened one of the coolers, pulling out chocolate syrup. Squeezing a measured amount into the cup, she glanced over her shoulder at Summer who was looking at the pastry case, then deliberately shot more into the cup. Placing two demi cups under the spout of the espresso she started it up as she added a splash of a creamed coffee colored liquid to the cup, then adding ice. Pouring the contents of the cup into a blender, she started it running as she emptied the demitasse cups into the take out, swirling it gently to get the remainder of syrup mixed up. The blender cut off, Mystique emptied the blended beverage into the cup, placing a lid on it. Turning around she placed the cup in front of Summer, and with a little flourish removed the wrapper of a straw, placing it in the hole of the lid.

Summer glanced at the cup, tentatively pulling it closer. She eyed the straw for a moment, glancing at Mystique who nodded at her encouragingly. Summer placed the straw in her mouth, drawing the liquid into her mouth. When it hit her tongue, her eyes widened, and she swallowed. Glancing again at Mystique, she grabbed the cup in both hooves and greedily sucked on the straw.

“Whoa, slow down a little, filly! You’ll get an ice cream headache drinking like that,” Mystique laughed.

Summer stopped, quickly swallowing. “Oh, my! I’ve never had anything this good!”

Mystique nodded, a very pleased smile on her lips. “Good, I’m glad. I took a chance there. Not many ponies like a blended iced mocha with espresso added in. Some think the espresso makes it too bitter. Personally I like the extra punch.”

“It’s perfect,” Summer said. “In fact, I think this is going to be my go to drink.” She grinned.

“Well,” Mystique said, “in that case, this one is on the house.” As Summer started to protest, Mystique interrupted her, “Nope, on the house. I’ve got you hooked now, and you’ll be coming in regularly.” She giggled, her eyes widening slightly. *What in Tartarus? I don’t giggle!*

Summer nodded, “If you insist, but I’m leaving a tip and you can’t stop me.” She grinned as she dropped two bits into the tip jar. “Thanks again, Mystique. Maybe I’ll see you in the morning?” she asked.

“Sure thing! And hey, if it’s chilly, I’ve got a recipe you’ll like that’ll warm you up,” Mystique replied. She was already planning out something she could brew for the mare, *Something with chocolate for sure. Maybe whipped cream… I wonder what she’d do for chocolate cream.* Blinking her eyes, wondering where that thought came from, she noticed Summer turning to leave. “I open pretty early, for the folks that start their days early, so feel free to come on in if you see lights on.”

Summer nodded as she replied, “Sure thing! Well, I’ll see you in the morning then!” She smiled as she opened the door with a wing, her cup secured in her fetlock. Waving her other wing she walked out the door.

As soon as the door closed, Pinkie spoke up from the back room. “See, I told you Summer was pretty hot.” Mystique turned around, her jaw dropping as she stared at Pinkie. “Got the list, you’re not that low, so I’ll head back to Sugar Cube and get started so you have a fresh batch in the morning on what you’re low on. Talk to you later, Mystie!”

As Pinkie headed out the door, Mystique barely got her thoughts running again, yet too late to voice them. *That sneaky mare!* she thought with a chuckle, *She wasn’t talking about the season, she was talking about a pony. Summer, huh? Pretty name, to go with a pretty mare. Whoa, slow down there Mystique! You just met her. Maybe you’re not her type,* she thought with a sigh.

“Oh, Mystie!” Pinkie’s head popped into one of the windows. “I don’t think Summer Breeze has a job yet. You might offer her one, you know, since you did say it’d be nice to have somepony around to help, and talk to. Laters!” In a pink puff she was gone again, leaving Mystique to seriously ponder what she said.