Chapters Bright Spark whistled to himself as he happily trotted in town. He had a light brown coat with a fiery orange mane and tail, his cutie mark a small spark surrounded by small licks of flames. On that day of May 25th, 2016, it was bright, sunny, and warm; with dandelions in every grassy field as part of Spring's bright and colourful signature.
Everything was the way they usually were, with the shops all the same and in their usual places... except for one difference. He stopped as he noticed a building that he recalled to be old, dusty, and with a 'for sale' sign indicating that it was waiting for a new business to run and a new purpose to serve. Now the sign was gone, and the building was refurbished and almost looked like it was just created yesterday. Six tan, wooden letters now hung above the lower windows in between it's first and second floor, which all together said 'OC Café', and below it a temporary banner that said 'Grand Opening!'.
Never passing an opportunity to explore something new, Bright Spark turned for it's saloon doors to check out the new place.
Calm jazz music played all around him, the smell of coffee warmed up his nostrils, the furniture were colourful yet in darker shades, and the walls were made of oak. There was a painting of six mares sitting round a circular table in fellowship and harmony, and the windows were wide and large enough to have a full view of the street and the ponies walking by. It all gave a warm, comforting feeling with uplifting colours; not bright like a foal's birthday party, but instead subtle yet soothing to the eyes.
"Welcome!" said a pony with a bluish, greyish coat with a light brown mane behind the coal-black counter, with coffee cups stacked upon it, a coffee dispenser beside it, and other sorts of dispensers placed right behind him. Below the shiny black surface of the counter was a wooden wall that held it up, and on the right corner were shelves full of small cold drinks such as iced tea and coffee, chocolate and regular milk, and had simple snacks like muffins and bagels as well. He had a clearly male and slightly country voice, yet he had a mare's muzzle... a familiar one, too.
"Are you Littlepip?"
The pony behind the counter laughed. "I wish! Nah, she's my idle, so much so that I keep using her as my avatar (with Kkat's permission, of course) instead of making my own OC. What's your name?"
"Bright Star."
"Doug; nice to meetcha! Welcome to the OC Café, a place for all OCs to mingle, chill, and enjoy some small beverages. So, anything here you would like?"
"Um... I would like some fruit juice, please."
"Would orange juice do?"
"Sure!"
"Alrighty then, comin' right up!"
Doug took his time as he carefully prepared Bright Star's order, despite how simple it was, humming along with the easy-listening jazz music. Bright Star noticed with slight shock that Doug didn't have a pipbuck as his cutie mark, but instead an hour glass.
"If you use Littlepip as your avatar, then what's with the different cutie mark if you don't mind me asking?"
"Oh, this?" Doug asked as he looked down to his own flank. "I don't need my own OC, sure, but that doesn't mean I like to have my own cutie mark; it adds a little more trade mark instead of a full copy-paste, ya know."
"I see."
"So, why's your cutie mark a spark? What's your special talent?" Doug handed Bright Star his drink.
"Well, how I got it is a long story... let's just say I'm really good with helping ponies and reigniting their sparks, if you get what I mean."
"Oh, sure, I definitely do. It's great to help ponies, isn't it?"
"It sure is."
Suddenly, the bell rang as a dark coated mare with a red mane with purple strands walked in. Her dark green eyes bore of no emotion, her cutiemark an eclipsed blood red moon with the rest of the moon being a purple color with a black outline. She wore a simple cloak and a smartypants doll on her back, magically balanced with a dark green aura.
"Ah, hello! Welcome to the OC Café, what can I get you?"
"Water." she replied duly.
Shrugging, Doug quickly scooped up a simple bottle of water. Silently, the dark coated pony took the bottle with her magic, then gave him a bit in exchange. Then she and her bottle walked to a simple table near the big window and slumped her doll on the table right in front of her, then simply watched the view in silence; listening to the soothing jazz as she began to drift into her own thoughts.
"Um... what's your name?" Doug asked.
"Why is that any of your concerned?"
"Oh, um... I just thought... alright..." Doug backed away back to his counter sheepishly, which made the dark coated mare sigh.
"Fine. It's Eclipse. Yours?"
"Doug, nice to meetcha."
"Ahhh, is that a doll?" asked Bright Spark.
"No, it's Celestia's horse shoe."
Bright Spark's intrigued expression fell into a hurt one, but then snapped into another positive expression as he slouched down at a one of the cushioned U-shaped seats near the painting on the right side, only for a face of realisation to dawn upon him.
"Um, Doug, did I pay for the drink?" Doug gave an embarrassed grin with a blush in reply. "Two or one bit?"
"One."
"Here you go."
"Thanks... first day on the job 'n' all."
"No problem, you're doing great so far!"
"R-really? Nah, I've seen better cafés..."
"Well, like you said, you only just started."
"I guess... thanks."
"Anytime."
The door jingled.
"So; 'OC Café', hah?" Asked a white coated and maned mare with red eyes and a shield for her cutie mark walked in.
"Eeyup! Welcome, what would you like?"
"Oh, just some hot chocolate."
"Hot chocolate it is!"
Once again, Doug took to time to prepare yet another beverage for yet another pony.
"Here you go! That would be two bits."
"Thanks," the white mare took her hot-chocolate in trade of her bits, then took a quick moment to scan the room. "Are they the six element bearers?" she asked the moment she noticed the painting.
"Why, yes, yes they are. It's surprising how unappreciated and unnoticed they are."
"Well, they prefer more modesty. At least, that's what Princess Celestia says."
"You work for the crown?"
"Yes, yes I do." she proudly puffed up chest and her wings fluffed. "Lieutenant Roseana Dodger, at your service."
"Wow, not just a royal guard... but a Lieutenant? That's amazing, Roseana."
"Please, just call me 'Rose'."
"As you wish." Doug saluted with a grin, which earned a small chuckle from Rose. Suddenly, she raised an eyebrow.
"Who's that?"
Rose pointed a hoof at a framed picture of a human with glasses and a black headpiece over his short black hair.
"Oh, that's Adam Smith. He once dreamed of running a café and loved writing about ponies, but one day he..." Doug sighed, "He took his own life from depression two years ago at age nineteen... so, I thought 'why not' and lived his dream for him." Doug gestured around him with his hooves to indicate what he meant, which earned a nod from the Lieutenant and a sniffle from the friendly pony.
To prove what he said, the framed picture was engraved in fake gold,
In Honor of Adam Smith, the brony who wanted to run a café
"Why...? Why did he kill himself?" asked Bright Spark.
"Too much hate, too many harmful words, and too much lack of friendship and care in his life," Doug replied, "So that's why I made this café, to bring in the warmth and friendship he needed and deserved into it."
Eclipse rolled her eyes.
"What?" Doug called her out with an offended look.
"It's silly. I mean, what does a café have to do with 'friendship' if none of us even know each other." Eclipse explained herself.
"Well, that's how friendship always start. In a matter of time we'll make the best of friends!"
Eclipse narrowed her eyes, then leaned her head towards her doll. "This is silly. Isn't it, Nightbeam?"
"Ahhh, you talk to your doll?" asked Bright Spark.
"Shut up."
The room went deathly silent for a time. Doug decided to start cleaning the counter, Bright Spark leaned back to the same cushioned seat and began to halfly drifted into sleep, and Rose simply sat at a table near the wall to quietly enjoy her hot chocolate. Soon, Eclipse simply left her water half empty and calmly trotted to the door. The only reason anypony noticed she left was because of the jingling.
"I like her, she's cute." Doug said with a smile.
"What? But she's so emo!" Rose exclaimed.
"Well, that's what makes her even cuter. But it's the doll that sold me." Doug replied with a grin and a whole-hearted laugh.
"She needs a hug." Bright Spark concluded, which earned two 'yeah's in perfect unison by the Lieutenant and the Café tender.
And then the door jingled again.
A medium sized stallion walked up to the café. He wore a simple white T-shirt with a computer cutie mark and a brown mane. He was an earthpony, but didn’t seem as physically fit as other earthponies. He was always slouched, and was never able to stay still, always needing to move at least one hoof around, but he had a look of responsibility in his eyes.
“The OC Café... this must be the place.” He said in a excited tone as he walked in the door. He walked up slowly to the only pony in the Café.
Doug looked up from the counter, seeing his new customer who came in. “Welcome to the OC Café, how may I help you?” Doug said in a gleeful tone.
“I am Typervader, I guess you are Doug? This is a nice place you have.” Typervader’s voice was
gravely and hard to understand.
“Of course! I take great care of the shop.” Doug replied with a chuckle, pointing over to the picture. “Anyway, are you here about the new job?”
“Why yes, actually. I am here for a part time job. This place seems like a good place to start, to meet OCs and help out a dream. Name’s Chris, but everyone here calls me Typervader.” He explained while looking around the shop.
“Well then, Typervader, I need to head to the back of the café, I should be back in a little bit.” Doug pointed out as he walked to the doors leading to the back. Typervader went behind the counter, looking around at everything.
The door jingled, and in walked in a stallion wearing a fez. He had a dull red and brown striped two-tone mane and tail, same dull red coat, and with a spilled coffee cup & liquor bottle cutie mark. He went in a took a seat at one of the tables. Typervader went over to him, ready for his first order.
“Hi there, welcome to the OC café! I am Typervader, and I will be your host for the day. What can I get you, Mr...?” Typervader stopped, then waved his hoof in the air three times, hoping to get a name.
“Call me Barrista Machiatto, and I brought my own drink.” When Typervader walked away, he got out some Jim Beam Pony to put in his drink.
“Well, alright then, but I don’t think I can serve you unless you order something.” Typervader said, looking towards Barrista.
“Do you serve alcoholic drinks?” He asked him.
“I have no idea. You should ask Doug.” Typervader answered as he walked away.
The door jingled, and a familiar face came into the café
“Hey Doug!” A mare said as she walked in.
“Oh, Doug isn’t here today. I am taking over for the day.” Typervader told her.
“Well then; name’s Rose. Seems Doug needs some staff to help out now. What's your name?”
“Typervader. What can I get for you Rose?” He asked her.
“Hot Chocolate would be great!” Rose said. As Typervader walked away, he noticed the shield cutie mark.
“Are you in the military?” Typervader asked her, hoping he wasn’t prying in.
“Why, yes! I am Lieutenant Roseanna Dodger!” She said as took small bow. She took her drink and took a seat. Then, a tall and lanky stallion came into the café with a cropped mane and tail that's been allowed to grow a bit. He had a slightly scruffy coat due to lack of attention. He had a black mane and tail and light brown coat, but they seemed to be faded from too much sun and too little conditioner. His eyes were a sharp blue and green. His cutie mark was a pegasus in flight silhouetted against a setting sun. He was wearing a pair of heavily worn, but durable saddle bags and a sweat-stained ‘Indiana Jones’ hat. He came in and took a seat with the others.
“Hello sir! How may I help you today?” Typervader asked. But before Windy could answer, Barrista came in and offered him a drink.
“I will make you my famous Shining Jack!” He explained, proudly. He brought out different drink mixes.
“No, no. That's fine. Please.” Windy said. However, he never backed down.
“Even better, I will make one for all of you!"
“I don’t think I’m old enough to drink that, sorry.” Typervader said, going back and doing his work.
“Sure, can’t be too bad, I will take a taste.” Rose said as she got up. He begun to mix his drink, giving one to Windy and one to Rose.
“I want to make a toast. To new friends!” She said as she took a sip. Windy did the same.
“Oh my Celestia! What is in this thing! Its strong!” They both cried out. Barrista just laughed and said, “Why, I can’t tell you, it's a secret.” He said, as he got up. Windy stop drinking and talked to Barrista.
“Why did you give this to me? I told you I didn’t want it. I don’t need gifts from you.” He said, upset at Barrista.
“Now Windy, please. He was just offering you a drink, you should take it while you can.” Rose said, upset seeing something free go to waste.
“I am sorry Rose, but I can’t take gifts from others.” He said, upset by getting a gift, so he left.
“Well then, he doesn’t seem to like gifts.” Barrista said, heading over to where Typervader was.
“Are you sure you don’t want a taste Type?” He asked one last time.
“As much as I would love a drink, I am under the legal age. But feel free to take more business away please. After all, I have a ton of stuff I need to do.” Typervader said, not pleased with Barrista.
“We're all just OC’s here, Type, not like it matters if you have a taste!” He said, trying to get him to try it.
“Well, I supposed it wouldn’t hurt.” Typervader said, waiting for him to make his drink.
“I will warn you Typer, that is the strongest drink I have ever had. I really don’t think you should.” Rose said, trying to save the teen from doing something dumb.
“I won’t have much, I just want him to shut up.” Typervader said, not too pleased that he was doing this.
“Alright, here you go!” Barrista said, handing him the drink. Typervader took a sip from it.
“Holy MOTHER OF JESUS!” He screamed spitting out the drink.
“What in the hell was that?” Typervader said, finding some water to get the taste out.
“HAHAHAHAHAHA!” Rose sat there laughing at Typervader.
“I am never drinking that stuff again!” Typervader said, still trying to shake it off. Then Doug returned.
“Oh, nice to see you again Rose! How have things been going here Typer?” Doug asked him.
“Well besides the fact I just drank the worst thing ever, great!” Typervader said sarcastically.
“Well, glad things went well. Hope you are ready for more work days Typer!” Doug said.
He just sighed, and Rose and Barrista just looked at each other, before Rose brought up conversation.
“Typer here doesn’t seem to be too happy, you should do something about him, Doug.” She said as she walked out. Typervader just blushed.
“I could go ahead and let you serve my drink here, Doug!” Barrista said.
“NO! Bad idea! Bad idea! ” Typervader said in a panic state. Barrista just laughed.
Nothing is better than the sweet smell of coffee in the lunch hour. One of the OC Café's newest members, a cyan blue coated pegasus with a white mane stood behind the counter, and his cutie mark was of a wolf head howling and surrounded by snowflakes.
"What a fine day, I'm glad Doug hired me on." At the sound of the bell, he turned his head to the door.
In walked a runty earth pony, her coffee brown coat and mane well suited her choice of venue. A brown and black bonnet complemented the white highlights in her mane, and the black strap bag completed the unique style, and her cutie mark depicted pen and paper next to a coffee cup.
She walked up to the counter and gave the entire room a good look. She took particular notice in the portrait of the element bearers at the back. When the mare reached the counter she met the blue pony's eyes.
"Sorry, is this that OC café everypony is talking about?" She swung her fringe from her eyes as she spoke. "I read about it in Equestria Daily."
"Of course; I'm Cold Roar, what will you have miss..?" Cold Roar rolled his hoof to her.
"Coffee Penstroke, and I'll have an espresso to go please." She tapped the counter impatiently.
"To go?" Cold Roar questioned. He raised his eyebrow to her as he waited for her response.
"Well yes actually, I have to get back to the Equestrian Academy before our lunch break ends."
Cold Roar poured her drink from the machine and into a paper cup, then passed it over to Coffee Penstroke.
"Wow, the Equestrian Academy; that's a pretty prestigious place. I went to Cloudsdale flight academy myself; actually graduated last year. What year are you in?" He watched Coffee down her entire drink in one go, then hold back a burp.
"My forth year, I'm the school journalist now. Can I get another? I guess I have time after all."
“Sure." Cold Roar prepared another drink for Coffee.
The bell jingled and in stepped another pony. This one was a hat wearing pegasus, and familiar with the OC café . Windy took a single step in and checked about for any more familiar faces.
"Hey what happened to the sign?" Windy directed his question to no one in particular. "It’s above the door right?”
Cold Roar tilted his head and raised an eyebrow at Windy.
"I noticed the missing sign too." Coffee Penstroke added after downing another espresso, “Or at least I didn’t see one outside.”
"Hold up, the sign is missing?" Cold Roar trotted on the spot in panic. Sweat ran down him from his sudden burst of nervous exercise. "Why didn't you say something?"
"I thought you guys were going for a minimalist style."
“What am I gonna do, I’m lucky Doug let me take my first shift alone and I somehow lost his sign.”
"Erm, did that Barrista guy let you guys sell his shining jack drink?" The pony interrupted. He still waited by the door for somepony to welcome him properly. "And where’s that Typervader guy? Tell him Windy is here.”
“Firstly, Typervader is off, and secondly, I think the missing sign is more important than your drink.” Cold Roar stopped his nervous dance and looked down at his hooves. "Sorry Windy. Doug would be disappointed if he saw me talk to customers like that."
“Well it seems you got a big problem on your hooves. I guess I’ll help you find that sign and go look for leads, this place is alright.” Before anypony could object or offer a hoof, Windy had disappeared out the door. The other two looked from each other to the door and sighed.
"Can I get another espresso?" Coffee Penstroke requested while she tapped her empty cup on the black counter.
"Are you sure you should drink that much coffee?" Cold Roar asked in a concerning tone.
"I'm fine, just get me more of the good stuff."
"Okay, but I think you might have a problem." Cold Roar went back and poured a third drink for Coffee Penstroke. When he passed it over, The door jingled and anotherpony stepped through the door.
The new unicorn stallion looked scuffed and his grey coat and black mane was dirty. His cutiemark had a black pentagon and a white minus sign at the center. As he walked he seemed to slouch, as if he held some hardships on his back.
"Hey, are those your letters in the dumpster down the road? Big wooden letters?" The pony moved up to Cold Roar at the counter.
"Really?” Cold Roar’s trotting from earlier repeated once again, but this time in excitement.
“Are they the letters O C C A F and an accented E?"
“Yeah, they were left there by somepony, no idea who though. I can help you get them back if you want.”
“Oh that’d be great--”
Windy returned through the door again, this time with a proud grin on his face. He walked straight passed the unicorn and slammed a photo of the nearby dumpster on the counter. In it were the letters of the OC café sign.
“There’s your sign.” Windy took his hat off and placed it next to the photo.
"Oh yeah, this guy already told us.” Cold Roar pointed his hoof to the unicorn. Windy just stooped with a hint of envy in his eyes. “What was your name again?"
"Divryne, I live on the streets. Thought I'd help out and check this place out in the meantime."
"You're welcome here anytime Divryne, I'll get you a coffee on the house and then we can go get those signs."
“I love coffee.” Divryne gave Cold Roar an appreciative smile. ”Thanks sir.”
“No don’t call me ‘sir’; the name’s Cold Roar.” Cold Roar stepped back before Coffee Penstroke jumped out at him.
"Coffee!" She slammed her cup on a nearby table, to add to her demand. Her eyes twitched frantically and danced about the room.
"I guess I'll have one too, seen as you don't do alcohol." Windy said as he slumped into a seat.
"Great coffee all around, well maybe water for Coffee Penstroke."
“I want coffee!” her voice seemed more assertive than before and her eyes flared for more of her favourite beverage.
“Fine.” Cold Roar returned to his position behind the counter and poured four drinks for all of them to enjoy.
The fog was thick over the streets, enshrouding the world in grey.
Dawn had only just broke
From the thick vapor, a lone figure appeared. Stopping at in front of the windows of a shop, the bright, colorful banners having caught the attention of this stranger.
Grand Opening!
(We’re now hiring!)
-(狂)-
The bell to the entrance of OC Cafe jingled.
He was a stallion, judging from the ashen-colored muzzle poking out of the hood of a black cloak he was wearing, with only four bandaged legs were visible, a collar made out of gold and copper alloy surrounded by five multi-chromatic gems and an emblem in front tied the cloak together. He swept the hood back to reveal forest-green mane and beaming eyes.
“Welcome! Anything you would like?” Doug greeted his newest visitor as he walked up to the counter. The visitor’s horn lit up in green, pulling over a chair and seated himself at the counter. Taking a few moments to scan the menu, he finally spoke up in a jolly voice.
“An iced cup of honey fruit tea will do,” A few moments of hesitation. “With extra love please.”
“Coming right up.” Doug turned to pull a few bottles and jars from the shelves and went to prepare his order. “So… What’s your name?”
“Puppet Craze, of the self-exiled. ” He bowed dramatically. “And are you perhaps the owner of this place?”
“Indeed! I am Doug, Doug the bartender.” The tender levitated the bottles and jars back to their place, and started stirring the mixure. “Looking for me?”
The unicorn took in more of his surroundings, before nodding in confirmation. “I would like to offer you my services.”
“That’s great! I could always use more help.” Doug beamed as he hoofed Puppet his drink. ”Here you go, that would be one bit. Now, just a moment, I’ll go get the forms.” He vanished behind a hidden door.
Puppet fished out a bit, laid it on the counter, grabbed his drink and chugged it down in one go.
“Alright here we are,” Doug reappeared through the doorway, levitating a few forms and an ink-and-quill over. “Fill these up, and you’re good to go!”
-(狂)-
Here he was, first day on the job. Doug had let him take his shift after he finished filing the forms when he learned that Puppet had experience in making beverages.
Puppet nervously paced around the counter. “Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh...” He had done plenty of jobs before this - a worker, an attendance, an actor… but none ever involved taking customer’s orders at a counter.
“It’s pretty simple,” Doug had said. “just smile and be friendly.”
The bell jingled. And there it was, his first ever customer he’d ever be serving. Smile, and be friendly.
“Morning, miss. What would you...?” The cheerful facade crumbled just as quickly as it was constructed. “... like?” Puppet eyed the unicorn mare in a cloak going straight for a corner of the shop and seating herself there. His mouth suddenly feeling a bit dry at the emptiness he was getting. This mare… it felt to him as if a void was there, a black spot that gave off no lights or what so ever. If it wasn’t for the flickering flame that represented this individual, he would have mistaken her as a very elaborate and life-like golem, which would be a core of interwoven and criss-crossed magical circuits.
“Water.” She replied tonelessly. He wordlessly complied, levitating a glass and filled it up with life liquid and passing it to her table. Eyes never leaving the enigma.
The brief moment of silence went on, as Puppet engaged with his customer in an one-sided staring contest. She was shorter than average, dark green eyes, and had a black coat with a dark red mane streaked with dark purple. A burning demonic-red lunar eclipse of a purple-ish moon adorned her flank.
“You thirsty?” Her eyes flickered over to met his, she indicated the glass she was sipping off of.
“Keheheh…” Puppet’s laughter faded into a sigh. ”Constantly,” He rested a hoof at his throat. “Especially when I am not consuming anything at the moment.”
“Then get something to drink.” She ruffled the mane of a smarty pants doll he didn’t notice before. “What’s his problem?” She whispered to the doll.
“So… I am Puppet, Puppet Craze. Yours?” Puppet was mind-boggled. This mare was in a state what his people would call an ‘emotion husk’ - devoided of emotion. Usually these husks would simply lose the will to live, having no emotions to fuel any motivations to respond to the outside world, but this mare… she.. She was defying logic, somehow doing the opposite by some sort of unknown force.
“Does it matter?”
He tried. He tried really hard to see if there was anything blocking his empathy, and with a sinking feeling, he found none.
“Well not really.” ‘Yes, it does matter!’
“Then what’s the point of it?”
“Well-”
The bell jingled merrily, snapping Puppet out of his inner turmoil.
“Morning... You’re new.” Puppet’s attention snapped to the pegasus mare that was completely blindingly white from mane to pelt with a badge as a cutie mark. “Some hot chocolate please.”
“New employee of Doug’s?” His second customer seated herself beside the counter, examining the black cloak which he hadn’t bothered taking it off.
“Yep, Puppet Craze, self-exiled, at your service.” He went to grab the ingredients required for what she had ordered. “What’s yours?”
“Self-exiled?” Her eyes narrowed, flickering to his black cloak for a brief moment, and her suspicion flared. “You aren’t some sort of criminal, are you?”
“What do you think?” Puppet smiled evily and rose up to his hindlegs, spreading his cloak ominously. “Rawr!” He faked a lunge, and laughed when Rosanna jumped backwards into a defensive stance with a wary look. “Nah, it’s just a fancy title for this humble little wanderer. I just travel around and earn a living.” Brief silence. “I was joking about the criminal thing.” He resumed working, chuckling.
She still had that wary look on her face when she returned to her seat.
“Here you go. Two bits.” He passed a steaming mug to the mare. “So I haven’t caught your name yet.”
“The name’s Rosanna Dodger; just call me Rose.” She hoofed him the bits and grabbed the mug.
“Rose… Right, got it. And you can just call me Puppet.” Like he had with Doug before, he bowed. “It’s a pleasure to be your acquiantance.”
“Like-wise,” Rose took a drank of her hot choco, and relaxation flooded the cafe. “What’s being a ‘self-exiled’ like.”
‘Alone… hollow...’ “It was.. quite the journey, eperiencing the sights and sensations that I would have never had if I hadn’t left.” His eyes glazed over as memories resurfaced. “But before that, I was merely trying to escape my feelings. I lost ponies I treasured very dearly to ones who I had thought as kin.”
“It was an act of cowardice, being a self-exiled. Back then, it just basically meant that I isolated myself from everypony else - I didn’t want to feel that grief or betrayal again.” He brought an unconscious hoof to his necklace, where the love of his friends resided in. “But it’s different now. I’ve learned to be better - I was a different pony from when I started. I am… more at peace.”
“Right now? I am just traveling out of habit, learning new stuff and spreading joy.” With a sly, almost invisible smirk, he added. “Keheheh... You could say that time had a changeling effect on me.”
“Hmm...” Puppet flinched in surprise at the unexpected shift in Rose’s mood, anger and grief flared out briefly before it was lost in the sea of sympathy for him. She didn’t show it, but for an empath like him, it was as plain as day.
‘Aanother victim...’ “Okaaay...” Changelings surely had good reputation, didn’t they? He shouldn’t be surprised, but still… “I apologize. Shouldn’t joke about that. Those bugs cause a lot of misery to a lot of ponies.”
“You don’t know the half of it.” She grumbled darkly.
“Anyway,” Puppet tried to change the subject. “What about you, Rose? What’s your life like?”
She contemplated the question for a while, before finally answering. “My life probably wasn’t as interesting or a wildride like yours, but to me, it’s just as worth it as you might thought about yours.” She spoke with a certain conviction. “I serve the Sun as a Royal Guard, went through tartarus to get to where I am today - the best of the best.”
“Sounds like something,” He commented. “the Royal Guard isn’t just for any mundane pony who knew a trick or two to enlist.”
“Quite.” Rose beamed happily.
Silence followed after until Puppet shifted his attention back to his first customer, still sipping at a glass half-full.
“So... I never got your name.” Puppet was very, very curious about this odd mare. So emotionless, how did she survive being like that? “Miss…?”
“Why would you want to know my name?.”
“Um...” Taken aback by the unexpected inquiry, he blurted out the answer. “Because it’s awkward for a conversation?”
“Just call me ‘miss’. It’s fine.”
“But.. You know my name, and I don’t!” He protested. “Come on, at least something I can refer you as?”
“Eclipse.” Came the blunt answer.
“Also known as the ‘Emo’,” Rose muttered, which Eclipse ignored her input and place down an empty glass. “Colts, dunno what’s with the cold shoulders towards everypony.”
“I think I know...” Puppet breathed, watching her grabbing her inanimate companion and heading towards the entrance.
“Pardon?”
“I think I know.” He repeated as he watched Eclipse disappeared into the still foggy world outside, before returning his attention to his other customer.
“You do?” Rose hugged her mug with both hooves and leaned over the counter curiously. “You think you know what got her all depressed like that ?”
“She’s… not exactly what I would call an emo. More like an emotion husk, devoid of emotion;, literally. ” He looked upwards, comparing mental notes. “I don’t know what exactly happened to her, but seriously - I can’t sense anything out of her.”
“Sense what out of her?” She echoed.
“Emotions, there’s no emotions coming from her. She’s like a golem, albeit said golem has an actual soul. She just… responds to what she recieves.. like a golem.” He finished lamely.
“You can sense emotions?” Suspicion, which at that moment he realized what it implied about him. But luckily he was prepared for this kind of scenario.
“I can.” He admitted. “Something I pick up among a lot of other tricks during my travels.”
It was technically true, he had to learn everything himself from the ground up since there was no link to call knowledge upon. Even though changelings were born empathic - capable of sensing emotions. It required further training to distinguish their sources and difference between each individual or else a ling could only detect the presence of said emotion.
He still felt guilty for the misdirection; no matter what.
“Huh, interesting.” Her suspicion finally ebbing, Rose drew the entire mug back and chugged down the last of her drink. “It’s been a pleasant chat with you, Puppet, but my duty calls.” She waved a wing, before she headed for the door. “See you around then?”
“See you around.” He waved back with a hoof.
The bell jingled, and Puppet was alone.
-(狂)-
Puppet gazed into the night skies, sipping a drink he had ordered from the very cafe he worked in. His shift was over, and now he was just a customer seated beside a window.
Looking around to make sure no pony noticed, he tentatively unwrapped one of his bandaged foreleg, revealing fur that burnt away into ashen-grey chitin, riddled with holes.
“There are good changelings like us, Puppet. But there are bad ones too, ones lost to the hunger within themselves.”
He sighed, reapplied his glamour and wrapped the hoof back up again.
ain't life a glass half full?
The Customer is Always Right
The door made a slight jingle when it opened as two ponies walked into the new OC Cafe, one of them was a white coloured pegasus mare carrying a foal, and the other a unicorn stallion wearing a black fedora holding the door for her.
“Are you sure you’re gonna be okay here by yourself, Raven?” asked the mare.
The stallion replied as if automatically, ”For the last time, Vivid; yes, I’ve dealt with solving crimes for years now, I doubt that I’ll have a hard time working part time at a cafe”.
The mare nodded as she nuzzled her coltfriend. “Alright, I guess I’ll see you at home then?”
The stallion nodded and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “Now go on, I promise to bring home something,” Raven said with a smile on his face.
Vivid nodded and gave him a kiss on the cheek before flying off. The stallion then went behind the counter and looked around.
“Hm… Strange. I thought this placed would be more lively with customers,” He was bemused, until he looked to the door.
His ears drooped down as he realized that he had not turned the sign that said
“ Come in we’re Open ”
He used his magic to flip the sign.
As if instantly, an eager customer walks in.
A unicorn stallion with blond hair, and a blue coat walked in writing on a notepad, completely oblivious to his surroundings, yet still being able to find a seat.
Raven broke the silence, “Excuse me sir, what can I get you?”
“One hot coco, please; extra marshmallows if you have any.” The stallion replied without pulling his vision away from his notepad.
Raven went to the back to make the order.
“So, mind telling me who you are?” Raven asked.
The stallion replied, “I’m Later Von; you can call me Later if you want.”
“I don't think my marefriend would be comfy with me calling a stallion“later ””Raven quipped.
Later chuckled slightly at the joke. “Good one. Now it’s my turn to ask. Who are you?”
Raven prepared the drink, then walked over to the table and, handed him his hot coco.
“Crescent Raven; pleased to meet you.” He said before he headed to the table
The stallion took a sip from his drink with a bemused look, and asked, ”Haven’t I heard of that name before?”
“Oh, you’ve probably have, especially when it’s about criminal investigations, since they’re always on the news.”
”Ah, now I remember. You’re that detective from Manehattan. What’s a guy like you doing here working in the OC Cafe?”
“Classified information. But all I can say is, I’m working part time for a case.”
Later nodded,“I won’t pry.” He said as he took another sip from his hot coco.
Raven thought for a second “I think I recognize you from somewhere… Aren’t you the owner of the Now News Newspaper?”
Later nodded, ”Yes. I’m just here to unwind and relax after a long night at the office.”
“That’s good to know.” Raven sat down across him.
The door jingled, and it swung open again as another customer came in. A filly with a cream coloured coat, an orange mane tied in pigtails, and a hoodie with her name in the back walked in, trotting happily towards the counter.
“One big bottle of The Fires of Tartarus Hot Sauce please?” she asked in the most friendly of tones.
Raven only stared at her, but then obliged. He went back and returned with the desired sauce
“Thank you!”
She took a seat a table away from Later. As she sat down, she popped the cap off the bottle and downed it.
Both stallions just stared at her in complete awe for the next couple of seconds.
”What? Is there something wrong?”
Both stallions shook their heads, which earned a shrug from the filly; or so she seems.
Raven then asked,”What’s your name little filly?”
The filly looked at him before answering, ”I’m Honeysuckle! Nice to meet you-- ah... ah… aaa-CHOO! ” The moment she sneezed, her hair burst into flames, and she started to put it out frantically, “Whoops… ehehe.”
Raven flinched, ”Eh… okay.” He just sat there in silence until another customer had arrived.
The door jingled
A unicorn stallion with a grey coat, black tail, and slightly greyed mane walked in. He took a seat in front of the counter and said, ”One cup of coffee please.”
“How do you take it?”
”Just give me black.”
Raven nodded and got to making the order. A few minutes later he handed the customer his drink.
“Thank you,” he said as he took a swig of the dark brown drink.
“So what brings you here, good sir?” Raven asked.
The stallion took another sip before saying, ”Just to get today’s fill of coffee.”
Raven nodded.
”I’m Raven, the stallion over there is Later Von, and the filly is Honeysuckle; what’s your name?”
The stallion replied happily, ”Divryne. Them I know, you though. You new here?”
Raven nodded, ”Yeah. Just working to get some extra money.”
”I see. Well, good luck with that.”
He looked over to Later. “What are you working on for the papers this time, Later?”
Later replied,”Well… it’s sort of a surprise at the moment. I’m not sure I should be sharing my newest topics without releasing it on paper; wouldn’t want to spoil the suspense, do we?
Divryne nodded. ”True.”
“Looks like my day here isn’t gonna be that boring.” said Raven.
Then he remembered Honeysuckle.”You done with that hot sauce kid?”
Honeysuckle smiled and shook her head,”Nope! Not yet.”
Raven smiled wondering if one day his foal would grow up to be like Honeysuckle… hopefully not.
And after a brief moment of silence the alarm clock rang, signaling lunch break.
“Welp, looks like it’s time for me to join you guys.” He said as he took out a sandwich from his saddle bags and took a seat with his new friends.
‘Yep…This day’s gonna be good…’
Rose was having a not-so-great day. Why? Her boss had set her to work overtime for the next week.
She walked through the door into the OC Cafe. This time she was greeted by a familiar face, but not the same face she’d seen any of the other times she’d been here. This time, the face belonged to a friend of hers from when she went to college. Calypso, a blue earth pony mare with a blonde mane and tail, green eyes, and a green upside-down triangle for her cutie mark.
Actually, the upside-down triangle was the alchemist symbol for water.
“Welcome to the OC Cafe, how may I help you?” she asked from the counter.
“Well, I’m surprised to see you here.”
“I’m sorry, do I know you?”
“Uh, Callie, it’s me, Rose.”
“Rose? As in ‘Rosanna Dodger’? As in ‘Rosanna ‘Fisticuffs’ Dodger”?”
“Yep, that’s me,” Rose confirmed.
“Well, it’s crazy meeting you here. I haven’t seen you since graduation.”
Nearby sat a familiar brown Earth Pony. “Sorry to break up your little reunion, but I’m still kinda waiting for my coffee,” she said, slightly irritated.
“Oh, right, sorry,” apologized Calypso, before grabbing a cup of coffee that had apparently cooled off. “Oh great, it’s cold. Well, that’s nothing that a microwave can’t fix.”
“Why don’t you just pour another cup?” Rose asked.
“Oh right, silly me. Heh, first day of work here, and it will probably be my last. You know, I swear, I would loose my head if it wasn’t screwed on.”
“Yes, I know, Callie. I know.” Rose then turned her attention to the coffee-colored teen. “So, what’s your deal?”
“Beg your pardon?” asked the young mare.
“What’s your name?”
“Coffee.”
“You’ll get your coffee. I asked what’s your name.”
“Coffee.”
“Again, you’ll get your coffee. What’s your name?”
“Coffee. My name is Coffee Penstroke.”
“Seriously? Your name is literally ‘Coffee’?” Rose resisted the urge to laugh.
“Yes. Now if you would excuse me, I’m going to get back to waiting for my coffee.” Coffee raised her voice a bit for those four last words.
“Here it is. One espresso to go,” said Calypso as she brought Coffee her coffee.
“Thank you.”
“Your welcome. So, Rose, what can I get you?”
“Well, hot chocolate is my usual, so that.”
“Alright, one hot chocolate coming right up.”
“Oh, and Callie?”
“Yes, Rose?”
“Would you happen to know where Doug is?”
“Yeah. The boss is out running some errands. He should be back soon, I think.”
“Alright, thanks.”
Rose looked around the cafe. There were two other ponies, both Rose recognized. The first was Ms. Sunshine herself, Eclipse, and her little doll too.
The other seemed to be kind of similar to Eclipse, but at the same time very different. The pony was a Pegasus mare with green eyes. Her fur was dark gray, with a disheveled black and silvery gray mane and tale, which Rose thought was weird considering the mare seemed to also be younger than her. Her cutie mark was a trail of hoofprints.
“Hey, haven’t I seen you around somewhere?” Rose asked the young mare.
“I wouldn’t know. Now please go away.”
Rose then figured it out. “Of course, I know you! We met once when I was on patrol.”
“I don’t remember that.”
“No worries. Let’s just start again. I’m Rose, and you are?”
“Trying to ignore you. Go away, please.”
“You know I’m a lieutenant of the Royal Guard, right?”
“You know I lived most of my life on the edge of the Everfree Forest, right?”
“You know I’ve knocked an Ursa Major unconscious with a single punch, right? Beat that!”
“Ugh, would you two just stop measuring horns and buck, alright!” shouted Coffee, getting annoyed by the two bickering mares.
“Alright, alright, fine. But you should really watch that mouth of yours,” said Rose, getting in one last jab before sitting down at a table near the Element Bearers portrait. Calypso brought Rose’s hot chocolate over to her and went back to the counter.
The mare came over to Rose’s table. “I’m sorry. I just overreacted. If you couldn’t tell, I don’t have very good social skills.”
“It’s alright, I started it.”
“Then I guess I’ll end it. My name’s Shadow Star.”
“Nice to meet you, Shad.”
“Don’t call me that.”
Just then, the bell jingled, signaling someone had entered the cafe.
“Welcome to the OC Cafe, how may I help you?” Calypso asked a sand-colored Pegasus mare with pinkish-red mane and tail with a red stip through it. The mane was put messily in the style of a bun. Her cutie mark was a single quaver with a staccato marking on a stave, and on her face was a couple of small scars. She was wearing a white clip-on shirt collar and had a guitar on her back.
“Pineapple juice please,” said the mare in a weak, raspy voice.
“Alright, coming right up, Ms…?”
“Staccato Strangeways.”
“Ms. Strangeways, got it,” said Calypso, before she began to prepare the pineapple juice.
Staccato looked around the cafe and took a seat next to Rose and Shadow. “Hi, I’m Staccato.”
“We heard. I’m Lieutenant Rosanna Dodger, though you can just call me Rose. And that social butterfly right over there is Shadow Star.”
“Nice to meet you both. So, either of you like music?”
“Yeah. Mostly rock music. I don’t know of any other kind of music that can be as energetic as me when at the gym.”
“You work out?”
“At least two hours a day, and four on weekends. I used to do three hours a day and six on weekends, but I shortened it once I became the Equestrian Boxing Champion for the third time and was giving the nicknames ‘The Lady of the Ring’ and ‘The Mare with Iron Hooves’,” Rose boasted.
“I’m impressed. I kinda wish I could do things like you,” said Staccato.
“Yeah, I know I’m pretty awesome, but who said you can’t match my status? I mean you got those scars, that’s gotta count for something.”
“Actually, I got these after smashing into a window as a filly.”
Rosanna’s face softened.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. That just reminded me of my parents for some reason.”
“What do you mean?” asked Shadow.
“I’d rather not talk about it.” There was a long silence after that.
It was only interrupted by Calypso bringing Staccato her pineapple juice.“Here you go,” Calypso said as she interrupted
“Thanks. Well, there’s always a silver lining, Rose. Look at who you are now. You’re a champion and a lieutenant. That’s gotta count for something.”
Eclipse got up out of her chair. “We think it’s time to go,” she said walking towards the door.
“You take care of yourself, nutjob!” Rose shouted at the emo pony as she walked out the door.