Seasoned, Spiced, and Everything Nice
Seasoned, Spiced, and Everything Nice
Written By Ink Mage
Autumn was a wonderful season. A time where little foals and fillies went outside to play with their families; jumping through large piles of crusty leaves and tickling one another while relishing in their mirthful laughs. Others preferred staying in solitude, reading by the fire and watching Equestria's leaves turn into different shades of brown and red. Everything was turning out brilliantly; the weather was in check, and Cloudsdale didn't seem to have any problems in the production of Fall.
In a small town at the edge of a field bordering Ponyville, a cheeky mare was busying herself getting ready for her favorite holiday of the year. Nightmare Night. Pumpkin Spice had always enjoyed the occasion. The festivals, the cheer, the food, the amazing costumes she always saw. All the candy she was able to sneak from little foals was a bonus, too.
She started busying herself with the decorations that needed to be put in the living room of her small cottage. A mug of homemade apple cider brewed on its own in the kitchen, while the fire was busy warming up itself for when her friends popped their heads in for a visit later this evening.
"Good afternoon, Pumpkin Spice!" a cheery voice called out to her. A small mare peeked her head through one of the open windows of the house. Pumpkin Spice immediately went out of her way to open the door for the mare.
"Amber Woods, come in! Come in!" she ushered her inside. Amber Woods' leafy mane whistled a tune as she made her way to the couches settled by the fireplace.
"It's really comfy in here," she started, "but don't you ever get bored of staying inside for so long?"
Pumpkin Spice giggled, shaking her head no. "I quite like it inside, actually. Suits my theme, you know?"
Amber Woods quirked an interested eyebrow. "Theme? You have a theme? What is it?" she asked curiously. Pumpkin Spice shrugged, but quickly retreated to the kitchen before answering.
"One second, I'll get some cider out for us," she said, before emerging from the door to another room in the cottage. On her back were two steaming mugs of the sweet apple drink. "Pick a cup."
"Pick for me," Amber said with a wave of her hoof. "Thanks!"
"Anyway," Pumpkin Spice started again, "you may have a more outdoor Fall theme... but I tend to stay indoors as much as possible," she explained.
Amber rolled her eyes. "Sometimes I wonder how we even became friends in the first place. The two of them giggled, settling into a comfortable silence.
"So..." Pumpkin Spice started again, "how are things with you?"
Amber's ears perked up as the looked at the mare. "What do you mean?" she asked, casting a longing glance towards the door. Pumpkin Spice laughed, setting down her mug and gesturing towards the door.
"C'mon, let's go for a walk," she said with a bounce in her step. Amber grinned, following her friend happily into the streets of the small village.
"Thanks, I really needed to stretch my hooves," Amber said, ignoring the look she got from Pumpkin Spice.
"You never answered my question, you know," Pumpkin said. "How are things?"
"They're fine. Great, actually!" Amber said.
"You're missing the point... how are things with Cinder?" Pumpkin Spice pressed, a light twinkle bordering her open eyelids. Amber squeaked.
"Eh? I... uh... oh fine, you win," she sighed in defeat. "We're really amazing though, thanks for asking!"
Pumpkin Spice giggled. "Aww you two are so cute! Are you coming as his date for the Nightmare Night party tonight?" she asked. Amber nodded.
"Yeah! As much as Cinder hates parties, I managed to convince him to come to this one. We wouldn't miss it for the world!"
Pumpkin Spice grinned and nodded. "Cool! I'll see you there, then!"
"Yeah, anyway, I have to get going..." Amber said, trailing off. Pumpkin Spice winked.
"Gotcha, we'll catch up later," she said. Amber nodded.
"Yeah, see you."
Pumpkin Spice silently retreated back to her cottage, content with the thoughts of sinking into the comfortable couch besides the fire with a good book and a cup of hot cocoa.
And she did exactly that.
"Now, where was I...?" she mumbled to herself, turning to the bookmarked page of the book she was currently reading. She settled herself down, sipping her hot drink and losing herself in the fictional world she was so obsessed with.
"PUMPKIN SPICEEEEEE!!!" a loud voice yelled, before her front door burst open and two mares waltzed inside. Lemon Meringue and Creme Brulee were Pumpkin Spice's best friends, no matter how close she was with other ponies.
"C'mon guys, the least you could do was knock," she groaned, placing her novel aside and gesturing for them to come in. Lemon Meringue, who had called Pumpkin's name earlier, grinned.
"But we need to get ready for the party, right?!" she exclaimed. Creme Brulee nodded.
"She does have a point, Pumpkin. We've been preparing ourselves for hours and we were expecting you to do the same, you know. But instead, we walk in here and find you lazing around and reading. Typical," she droned. Pumpkin scrunched her lips together and shrugged.
"Hey, I was just about to find out what happened to the main character, thank you very much," she said, crossing her hooves with a tight smile playing at her lips.
"Ooh, what'cha readin' now, Pumpky?" Lemon Meringue asked. Pumpkin Spice shrugged.
"Nothing, just a book about a pony who wants a pet flamingo and-"
"I stopped listening at 'book'," Lemon Meringue informed her friend, who was already deadpanning her a look in return.
"Thanks for the honesty," Pumpkin Spice said sarcastically. Lemon grinned.
"You're welcome!" she exclaimed, before making her way inside the kitchen. Creme Brulee shook her head in a disappointed manner. She sighed, turning to the door Lemon Meringue just walked in.
"You do remember what we came here for, right?" she called. Lemon's head instantly popped back into view.
"Oh right. Let's get ready!" she said, tugging at Pumpkin Spice.
Pumpkin Spice's lips quirked up into a smirk.
"Before that... there's something I want to show you both," she said, "follow me!"
Creme Brulee and Lemon Meringue exchanged curious glances.
"What is it?" Creme Brulee asked curiously. Pumpkin Spice grinned, letting out a giggle and running out the door.
"Guess you'll never find out until you catch meee!" she taunted, laughing as Creme Brulee and Lemon Meringue's expression instantly turned into ones of shock.
"Hey! No fair!" Lemon Meringue exclaimed, running after her friend with her creamy mane flowing behind her. Creme Brulee shook her head, closing her eyes and sighing.
"You guys can be so immature sometimes," she said with a small smile, before running after her friends.
Lemon Meringue and Creme Brulee easily caught up to Pumpkin Spice, who wasn't the most athletic out of the three of them. Creme Brulee stuck her tongue out childishly at Lemon Meringue as she passed her, her swirly tail flying behind her.
"Hey!" Lemon Meringue yelled as the three entered an area of town where the Pegasi ponies had yet to clear. "No fair!"
"Everything is fair in races!" Creme Brulee exclaimed, "that's what you told us last week, remember?"
Lemon Meringue put on a sour expression before her face lifted into a smile. From ahead of them, Pumpkin Spice looked back at the duo with a big smile.
"Come on! We're almost there!"
Pumpkin Spice swiftly led them through giant gates which the two other mares were very familiar with. Creme Brulee and Lemon Meringue's jaw dropped at Pumpkin Spice when the three came to a halt.
"YOU BROUGHT US TO THE PARTY!?!?" they yelled simultaneously. Pumpkin Spice sheepishly grinned.
"Uh... maybe?" she said nervously, playing with her hooves as Creme Brulee approached her.
"But we weren't finished getting ready!" Creme Brulee said with an uncharacteristic pout. Pumpkin Spice shrugged.
"That's exactly the point. I knew if we started getting even close to the closet, you'd completely lose track of time," she explained, "besides, have you even looked at yourself lately? You look fit to go to a party no matter what you're wearing."
Creme Brulee sighed, but smiled at her best friend.
"Thanks, Pumpkin," she said.
"Hey! I'm still here too, you know!" Lemon Meringue exclaimed, popping in from behind them. Pumpkin Spice and Creme Brulee laughed, pulling her in for a giant group hug.
"Amber Woods! You came!" Pumpkin Spice exclaimed happily, trotting away from Lemon Meringue and Creme Brulee to greet her friend whom she had seen just a few hours previously.
Amber quirked up upon seeing the mare approach her, and smiled as the two moved in for a hug.
"Pumpkin Spice! See? Told you I would come!" she said.
"Is Cinder somewhere with you?" Pumpkin asked excitedly. Amber Woods rolled her eyes, but nodded nevertheless and moved out of the way, revealing a tall, slender pony with a firey presence.
"Good evening," he said simply. Pumpkin Spice silently cheered upon seeing him and Amber together.
"Hello!" she said happily. "I'll... uh... leave you two be, for now." She winked, and slid away, blending in easily with the crowd.
Cinder blinked, turning to his marefriend.
"Is she always like that?" he asked. Amber blushed.
"Usually," was her reply.
Cinder could only nod.
"Having fun yet?" Pumpkin Spice asked, grabbing three drinks and balancing them on her hooves. She gave one each to Creme Brulee and Lemon Meringue. Creme Brulee looked longingly over to the dressed up ponies as they lined up for the costume contest.
"I really wish we had more time to wear something. I even had the perfect costume planned out," Creme Brulee said. Pumpkin Spice guiltily looked away.
"Sorry about that..." she mumbled. Lemon Meringue shook her head.
"No way! I'd never want to wear some frilly goo-goo nonsense. Creme, you look fine just as you are! Not everypony came wearing a costume!" she said, gesturing over to Cinder and Amber Woods.
Creme Brulee shrugged, but smiled. "You're right. I should stop acting this way and ruining your fun," she said solemnly. Pumpkin Spice raised her eyebrows and quickly shook her head.
"You kidding? I'm having loads of fun!" she said.
Creme Brulee looked uneasily at her.
"You sure? You seem a little... off," she noticed.
Pumpkin Spice laughed. "It's called being happy, Creme. Try it... just for tonight?"
"Yeah, Creme! Just let loose and have fun! Go on!" Lemon Meringue encouraged. Creme Brulee took a deep breath, but nodded.
"Good idea. I hear the dance competition's pretty wild this year... do you guys maybe want to form a team together and compete?" she asked. Pumpkin Spice and Lemon Meringue looked at each other, instantly brightening up and nodding their heads yes.
"ABSOLUTELY!!" they exclaimed together.
