"Hi, you! Welcome to Frosted Berry Bakery! You caught me at a good time! Just finished something special." the mare said before crouching down behind the countertop, flipping something over, and producing what looked like a large brownie that was slightly saggy on top, like it wasn't quite cooked all the way through. And who made a single brownie one at a time, anyway? The mare catches your look of momentary skepticism.
She cocks her head. "Don't look at me like that! If you think it's not done right, think again. It's a molten lava cake, and it's supposed to look like that." Then she deftly hooks a canister of white powder with one of her brown primary feathers and sprinkles it on top of the cake. "If you'd never had one, there's molten chocolate in the middle under all that pastry. It's delicate, like dark chocolate." She proffers the plate to you. "Wanna try it? It's not often somepony comes in literally seconds after one of these is finished cooking. That's when they're best, too."
To be honest, you only wandered in because it smelled nice, not because you were particularly looking to buy anything. Though, with curiosity intrigued and a piping hot dessert cake shoved almost literally under your snout, it was getting harder by the moment to say "no." You nod.
"Seven bits, please! Used to be six, but, y'know, inflation," she says while heading to the register. After she takes your bits, she says, "I can box it up for you if you want, but there's tables here too if you want to eat it while it's fresh. I would really recommend you eat it while it's fresh."
It was what you were planning to do in the first place. You take the plate to the nearest table and settle down into it.
"Enjoy, you!" the mare says one last time before disappearing behind a corner.
You look back at your treat for a moment before cutting it in half. True to her word, the pastry opened up, revealing it to be just a shell and hiding what looked like the stuff of chocolate fountains in the middle. You bring a bit of the syrup and pastry to your muzzle. You're no connoisseur of sweets or a food critic, but you can recognize a masterful dessert when you taste it. Not so sweet as you expected—there was even a bit of bitterness in the syrup. But it was certainly complex and very unlike any brownie you had ever tasted. This was no sweet to be snacked on, rather savored over many minutes and many bites, preferably with a loved one.
You're about to take another bite when something hung on the wall catches your eye. There's the usual there, of course: art of sweets being made, antique paraphernalia, but there was also a golden metal plaque that read, "Blu: Dessert Caterer of the Royal Sisters, Tia and Luna."
It was a perpetual rumor around Canterlot that Princess Celestia could go by "Tia" at times, especially with those she considered personal friends. Was it even possible that this quirky mare was personal friends with Princess Celestia? Sure, some ponies around town would bandy the name on occasion, claiming they had "royal permission" to do something after Princess Celestia would visit them. But that wasn't really all that uncommon, especially around Canterlot—she chatted with locals and wandered the streets at least once a fortnight. It certainly wasn't grounds to claim you were personal friends with her. But this claim was engraved. If it was a joke, it was one hell of a joke.
"Yeah, that one gets all the looks."
You perk your ears up and turn around. There's that brown pegasus again. Blu, you guess. "Believe it. The Princesses definitely do come in here from time to time to get a bite to eat. They came in last Tuesday, actually, up for another load of cheesecake."
Your mouth hangs agape. Blu looked so very young—she couldn't be more than twenty years old. Yet she was claiming that she catered for the Royal Sisters without batting an eyelash? You were inclined to give her points just for her boldness.
"It's a long story for how that came to happen, but it began pretty ordinarily, on a day really not that much unlike today. One of them just stumbled in, actually. I wouldn't normally be sharing this with any pony, but . . ." She looks back to the kitchen briefly before looking back to you. She winks. "I got time, and you don't seem too bad. Cake won't be done for another half hour, and it's quiet. Stop gaping, and I'll tell you how it all started."
So right, it began on a pretty ordinary day, though this was at a time I was still getting settled into Canterlot. Had only opened my bakery about a month ago, and I hadn't gotten too much attention. A swarm of visitors on the grand opening, and a few others through the week, but once the press died down and everyone forgot about the new place, it was quiet. That day was one of those quiet days.
I was just in the back, making, well, something. I don't remember anymore; it was a long time ago. But I heard the bell on the door tinkle, so I went back to greet whoever it was.
"Welcome to Frosted Berry Baker—whoa?!"
And there she was: Princess Celestia. She hops around town every so often, but I didn't think she'd take the time to stop in my bakery! That really shocked me, and I have to admit, I just got completely flustered at that.
"P-P-Princess Celestia! Welcome!" I stuttered out, dropping into the hastiest bow I've probably ever done. "Wh-what are you doing here?" Stupid question, right? The princesses can go wherever they want, and one just made it into my bakery all of a sudden.
"Hello, Blu," she said. Yeah, she knew my name, too. I guess there're a few places where you could get it—that press when I opened up said it plenty of times—but I didn't expect the princess to remember. There's a lot of ponies in Canterlot, and I'm not all that special. "I smelled some delicious scents coming from inside, and I decided to take a look. You don't mind?"
"Of course not, Princess!" I said, still a little jittery from the excitement. "If you need anything, just call!" And I went back to the counter, pretending to sweep something up and clean the countertops even though I knew they were already clean. I didn't want to hover over the princesses of all ponies, but I felt like it'd be offensive for me to just disappear in the back again. They're the princesses!
All in all, it was actually pretty normal after that, but it was Princess Celestia, so everything seemed remarkable. She bought a simple marbled cake and paid with her own bits. Her own bits! You don't really expect a senior princess of Equestria to pay for ordinary stuff with ordinary bits; I half expected her to pay with a treasury bond or a tax break or not pay at all. I would have given it to her regardless. It was just so . . . weird to see Princess Celestia doing completely ordinary stuff.
Then she left, cake in hoof in a box, out the door, just like that. Again, like an everyday citizen. It actually had me think of new perspective on the Princess—maybe she like being down to earth because it helps her understand the ponies better? And then I went to thinking about why the Princess would come into my bakery and buy just a single cake. If they were going to cater for a big event and wanted me to do it, they'd probably call ahead of time and order a whole bunch of stuff. And the princesses had their own chefs, didn't they? I couldn't imagine they wouldn't.
I went through the rest of the day kind of like that, in a daze, serving other ponies but thinking about Princess Celestia and why she'd buy one cake. Then the sun went down and I prepared to close shop for the evening. But that's not the end of the story; it'd be pretty unexciting otherwise, and I couldn't call myself a Royal Caterer after just that.
As I was closing down, the bell tinkled again. Now, this was after I already turned most everything off, covered up the displays, and turned off the lights. The only thing left was to lock the door and leave. So I said automatically, "I'm sorry, I'm closed! I'll be back open bright and early tomorrow—what!?"
That was as far as I got. Because the pony came in anyway, and when I turned around to see who it was, I saw Princess Luna. Yes, that Princess Luna. If I wasn't expecting to see Princess Celestia earlier in the day, I really wasn't expecting to see her counterpart. She's scarcer as a rule, and she's not quite as sociable either. You just don't see as much of her. So for me to see not one, but both princesses of Canterlot visit my bakery in the same day? That was a bit much.
"P-Princess Luna!" And I went down in another hasty bow. "Good mor—evening!"
"Good evening," she replied back. Then she stood there for a second, looking around. I really didn't know what to say or do. If she wanted to buy something, I could start everything up again and make something, however inconvenient it was. I mean, it's the princesses. It was also pretty clear that I was closed, but I didn't want to offend her by asking her to come back in the morning. That's more Princess Celestia's time, not Luna's. And you just don't say "no" to the princesses.
Luckily, she didn't want to buy anything. She did, however, ask a question. "My sister didn't happen to come in here earlier today, did she?"
"Uh, yeah, she did." What else was I supposed to say?
"I see. And she didn't happen to buy a marbled pound cake, did she?"
"She did," I said again, getting a little nervous. It wasn't like Princess Luna was getting belligerent or anything, but it was a little strange that Princess Luna knew about this, and more importantly, was asking me about it. I felt like I did something wrong.
She just nodded though; I didn't know if I gave the right or wrong answers. But then she just said, "Thank you," and left. She didn't buy anything, and she didn't linger in the store for probably more than a couple minutes. Just to ask a couple questions. If my mind wasn't crawling with thoughts before, it was pretty much exploding with them now.
I stayed more-or-less "open" for a couple more minutes, just in case either of the princesses decided to make another surprise visit. And because, well, I needed to calm down a little. In the span of a single workday, I had two princesses visit me, I sold one of them a cake, and I was exposed to this mystery conspiracy plot I didn't know a thing about. It was a lot to take in.
Eventually, though I did close properly and wasn't interrupted by any Princesses of the Night. That was the end of that day, but I was working again tomorrow. I'm pretty sure I opened late that day.
The next day, I didn't really know what to expect, to be honest. I mean, I had just been visited by not one, but two princesses. That doesn't happen every day. And what with whatever Princess Luna wanted to do with Princess Celestia and what that had to do with my shop, that got me curious. I wasn't about to march straight up to the castle and demand to see the Princess or anything, but it had my thoughts spinning for a good portion of the day.
Apparently, though, the princesses weren't done with me. About two hours after I opened and once the bakery was empty, guess who walked in the door again?
"Welcome, Princess Celestia!" I said, no less surprised but a little more coherent than last time.
"Hello, Blu," she said back, again surprising me by why she knew my name. Why did she know my name?
Then she got to browsing again, starting the with the marbled pound cake she bought yesterday and moving to a few other treats. I tried to pretend that nothing was different, like it was just another customer. However much I just wanted to ask what was up about her and Princess Luna, you just don't ask those things unsolicited to a Princess, right?
Before the Princess made a selection and while she was looking in a corner you couldn't really see from the storefront, another pony found their way into my bakery. Then they saw Princess Celestia, and, well . . .
"Welcome to Frosted Berry Bake—oh gosh, don't—er, see you again soon?"
He was right back out the door, wearing the most ridiculous expression I had ever seen. It took everything in my gut to keep from laughing in front of the Princess, but I managed.
The Princess acted like she didn't notice, or maybe she really didn't actually notice. I mean, I wouldn't have argued because it meant time with only Princess Celestia in my bakery, I guess. Privilege!
She wandered around for a couple more seconds before pointing to a pineapple and kiwi fruit flan behind a glass display at the storefront. "I'd like this one," she said.
"Good choice!" I called back, trying to sound both enthusiastic and unintimidated. "Tried" being the key word; it didn't turn out very well. But I walked behind the case and retrieved the pastry for her. "Fourteen bits, please!" I said, again feeling awkward that I was asking for bits from the pony whose face was plastered on the bit itself. But again, she paid for them using said bits from her own purse.
Then she said, "You didn't happen to see my sister sometime today or the day before, did you?"
Oh no, this again? What are you supposed to say to the princesses, though? "I did, actually, last night. She actually asked if you came in earlier in the day," I said while boxing up the flan for her with Frosted Berry Bakery-branded cardstock.
She watched me and the box but didn't betray any expression. Again. Then she smiled. "Thank you, Blu."
"Uh, sure!"
She took the box in her golden magic and turned around to walk out of the bakery. But just as she was about to leave, she turned around again, looked at me, and said, "You make great things here, Blu."
"Th-thanks!" Yes, I just got complimented by the pony who brings the sun up every day. No, it wasn't awkward or uncomfortable in the slightest. I know I make good desserts, but gosh, that was just an endorsement by Princess Celestia!
"But if my sister were to come in later in the day, would you kindly tell her I wasn't here?"
Okay, it's one thing to have your bakery be the scene of some conspiracy you don't know anything about. It's another thing for the Princess to bring you in and try to keep your mouth shut. I mean, I'd understand if it was a griffon or buffalo ambassador or something, but this was her own sister! Still, I'm not about to challenge the Princess. "Of course!" I said.
"Thank you again, Blu." Then she left for the second time in as many days.
Do I need to explain that the rest of the day passed like a daze to me? I really actually don't remember anything for what happened for the rest of the day. Given what Princess Celestia said to me, I was pretty much certain that I was going to have another royal visitor. And if yesterday was anything to go by, she'd probably visit just as I was closing down.
I closed down that day as I normally did, though I did it slower than usual and kept an eye out on the storefront, just in case some special visitor decided to come by. And what do you know, there she came, right on schedule!
She came in as I was "arranging" a few things. Really just pushing them back and forth, whispering "where is she?" under my breath.
"Good evening, Princess Luna!" I said, bowing curtly.
"Good evening, Blu." Oh great, now she knew my name too? "I trust you day went well?"
"Uh, yeah, it did!" Come on, Princess Luna. Was she going to ask something to me or not?
Yes, she was. "My sister didn't happen to come in again today, did she?"
"Nope, I don't know what you're talking about!" That was the excuse I had been rehearsing the entire day. Yes, I know it's incredibly fake now; don't make fun of it, you!
Yeah, so I can see it didn't convince you. It didn't convince Princess Luna, either. She walked painfully slowly around me and looked around at the displays. Most of them were put away for the evening, but one I hadn't finished yet was the one under the counter, the same one that fruit flan Princess Celestia bought came from. I never replaced it with anything else. Princess Luna leaned down and looked at the empty spot, as if she knew exactly what happened earlier in the day. "Are you sure?" she asked.
Let me stop and ask you who you'd be more inclined to say "no" to: Princess Celestia, the benevolent ruler of Equestria whom I've never seen get angry at anything and did just fine on the throne for a thousand years, or Princess Luna, who had once—scratch that, twice—brought eternal night to Equestria because a few too many ponies annoyed her a few too many times? Yeah, that's what I thought.
It's not like I don't like Princess Luna or anything; she's been absolutely fine since she got back, and I know she did change from who she was before. But even now, it's widely known that of the two sisters, Princess Luna is the more vindictive. Now, I don't know if that's true or not, but I wasn't about to find out. I accepted the risk of being blown to the sun tomorrow in exchange for not being blown to the moon right now.
"She . . . She really did," I said. "She bought the fruit flan that was right there." I pointed to the empty spot she was looking at. What did she do, smell her sister's breath on the glass or something? I still don't know how she gravitated right to that spot.
"I see." Again, she didn't smile. But after a few seconds, she rose back to her full height. I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding. "Thank you," she said just like the night before, and she left. Again, without buying anything.
I really considered just not opening up the next day, you know? There was some part in my gut that just knew Princess Celestia and Luna were going to come back to my bakery. I had already very clearly lied to one of them, and I wasn't about to hope that she didn't discover that I did.
So why did I? Well, every day I'm not open is wasted money, right? I still have to pay the lease for this place, so might as well earn my keep. And I just wanted to know what in Equestria was going on with the two of them and what kind of royal scandal I had apparently stumbled my way into.
I was open again the next day, not really hoping but definitely anticipating that I'd get some "special visitors." Princess Celestia had come in at about the same time of day the first two times: about an hour before noon. I won't lie that I was looking at the clock for a little while before.
The times before, Princess Celestia only ever wandered it when there was nopony else in the bakery. This time, I was a little busier, and I had a few customers sticking around, loitering at the tables and nibbling on their treats. Yes, just like you're doing right now, shut up.
I wasn't the only one who bowed when Princess Celestia made her way into Frosted Berry Bakery for the third time. And the expression of everypony's faces when I said, "Welcome back, Princess Celestia."
"Good day, Blu," she said back. "My sister came in last night, didn't she?"
"She-she did," I replied, suddenly remembering that she expressly told me not to say she was in earlier in the day.
"And you did tell her that I bought something?" She wasn't accusatory at all, but she didn't phrase it as a question. She already knew. At least she was courteous in saying it quietly enough that nopony else could overhear.
"I'm sorry, Princess Celestia, but Princess Luna, she . . ." What was I supposed to say? She was intimidating? I was concerned that she might have blasted me to the moon for a second or two? I would be literally challenging her sister, and however less vindictive Princess Celestia might be, my off-handed remark just could not go over well.
I settled on the response I thought would be least offensive. "I just couldn't lie to Princess Luna; she told me to tell the truth." Well, no, she really didn't, but I guess maybe you could spin it that way? "I didn't want to defy you, but I couldn't defy her, either. I'm sorry, Princess Celestia." An apology is always good and makes you less likely to be smitten, right?
"That's alright, my little pony," she said. Phew! She glances around at the treats on display and looks back to me. "I was planning on getting something today, but would you mind if we just chatted today? I feel that my sister will return tonight, and she may very well ask you the same question."
Every day I stay open, I seem to get pulled further and further into this apparently passive-aggressive argument between Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. When you sign on to be a confectioner, you don't plan to be a political advisor, too. But here I was, in Canterlot, having something to do with this. I was beginning to guess at what they might have been arguing over.
But regardless, Princess Celestia had just asked to me to chat with her for a time, and that's another one of those things that you just don't say "no" to. Not that I would have rejected the opportunity to chat with Princess Celestia in any case.
We sat down at a table and just talked for a little while. "So, Blu?" she began. "How did you end up with a bakery in Canterlot?"
"I've, um, always been in Canterlot, Princess, ever since I was young. But once I discovered that I was good at making desserts and other sweet treats, I noticed that there was this vacancy in downtown Canterlot, and it was just too good an opportunity to pass up . . ."
We talked for about half an hour. Small talk things, mostly, but some things about herself, her sister, myself, and my business. Apparently, Princess Celestia has a hoof in issuing all the business licenses in Canterlot, so she knew my business and she knew my name the moment Frosted Berry Bakery opened.
There are other things we talked about, too, but I can't actually tell you all of it! Secrets of the crown and all that . . . Okay, okay, she didn't tell me anything like that, but there's some personal information between herself and Princess Luna I think she'd rather not have in the press. Not that I think you'd take what I say to the press, but hey, can't be too careful, right?
This was when I came to know the Princess as, well, a pony. Just like any other pony with her own life and her own problems, even if it was a very important one, and a sister she loved very much. Have to admit, it's nothing I've had experience with, but I can see where it comes from. Needless to say, after that chat, there wasn't a shred of doubt in my mind that neither of them would smite me or send me anywhere. Probably. Maybe.
It probably did good for all the other ponies in the bakery, too. They were all as nervous as I was at first, but they gradually got more at ease with her just chatting with another pony, just like . . Like any other pony.
"I'm afraid I have to return to the castle now. There are some matters of the state I need to attend to—something about border disputes. It was wonderful talking with you, Blu," Princess Celestia said with a small smile on her face at the end of our time.
"Yeah, it was great talking with you too, Princess Celestia! I hope I didn't take you away from your work from too long." Maybe it's just me, but "matters of the state" and "border disputes" seemed to be pretty pressing issues you'd rather take care of than talk to a baker.
"Getting to know my citizens better is never 'taking me away' from anything," she said, and that was the last I heard from her that day.
I sat at the table for a minute more before I said told myself to get off my flank and get back to daily life; there's patrons that need feeding! So I did just that, though I never forgot what Princess Celestia said; I'd have another visitor this evening, and she would ask me if her sister had bought anything. What with knowing what to expect, getting to know both of them ever-so-slightly better, and knowing I wouldn’t have to dance around trying to say something diplomatically (at least for that day), I really didn't dread or feel intimidated by this upcoming meeting much at all. Heck, if I was really cheeky, I could try and convince her to buy something!
Same old, same old—as the day drew on, the customers grew scarcer, until nightfall and moonrise, when everypony was closing up and heading home. That would have been my schedule too, if not for who I expected would make a last-minute visit. I kept the shop open for her, but just this once. This could very well be the last time I kept
I'm pretty sure she showed up later that day than she did before, but it's hard to tell—night is night to me. But as she walked in, I was ready. "Good evening, Princess Luna; nice to see you again."
"Good evening, Blu," she said, glancing around the bakery. "You have not closed yet?"
"Nope! I was expecting you to come in, though, so I kept the place open for you."
"I see," she said, still glancing around. If this was at any other time with any other pony, I'd be terrified of them slapping some violation on contract on me or something. Strange to say that to Princess Luna now, but she really isn't that intimidating when you get to know her counterpart. Me, I'm just waiting for her to ask me that question.
"My sister didn't happen to buy something else today, did she?"
There it was. "She stepped in today, but she didn't buy anything from me."
"Did she?"
And there we go again. I shook my head again. "No, Princess, she really didn't. We just talked for a little while."
Princess Luna stayed silent then, glancing around the shop a few more times but not stepping up to any of the missing merchandise to smell the vacancy. (Seriously though, that ability is weird.) Feeling bold, I decided to ask her a question. "Princess Luna, why are you so interested in what Princess Celestia buys here?" Given our talk and what she's bought before, I have a feeling I know what it is, but I'd prefer hearing it from the pony's mouth.
She takes her eyes off the stuff behind me and looks at me again. "I don't know if I'm at liberty to share that information, Blu."
"Is it her weight?" I said. Yeah, I know, never, ever do what I did and expect to get away with it intact. It was just because I noticed that Princess Celestia had a sweet tooth, hence why she kept coming back and buying things. She talked that an awful lot. And Princess Luna was probably concerned about that and trying to catch wind her diet and what she bought. Also hence why Princess Celestia asked me once to say she'd never been here.
This was the first time I saw Princess Luna behave not princess-like. Her face flashed through all of surprise, anger, and confusion in a couple seconds, making a bunch of funny facial expressions. "She—she told you?" she finally managed to sputter out.
"No, but I guessed. Am I right?"
She held her breath then, as if she was thinking whether she was allowed to say it or not. And when she let it out, her whole body deflated just a little bit. "You are," she said quietly. "It's an ongoing problem. I asked her to watch what she eats, but she won't listen. I know what she eats from the royal chefs, but I don't know when she finds a new bakery to frequent, apparently." She started pacing. "It's not like she's letting herself go or anything like that, but I'm concerned about it."
I trusting you won't tell this to anyone, okay? You seem like a good pony, and I need you to make good on that. It's probably nothing they couldn't handle, but we don't need yet another scandal about the royal sisters, okay? Just know that Princess Celestia is watching her weight and just leave it there for me.
Anyhow, that was the first time I heard Princess Luna really be spirited in anything she said. Then again, that was the first time she didn't say some variation of "was my sister here" or "I see." Going off what happened earlier today, I sat down at a table then and brought over a small fluffy sponge cake, big enough to share. "Talk?" I said. It seemed like she had a lot to say.
She opened her mouth and fixed her eyes on the cake.
I cut it in half. "It's a sponge cake, Princess Luna. It's mostly air inside."
She sighed again and seemed to think about it for a second. I mean, if she was busy, I'd understand. But if she could spare time every day to come down here to ask a question, I thought she could spare a few minutes more to chat. And given how ridiculous the past few days had been, if I could get to know one of the Princesses, why not try to make it a double?
But then she came over and sat down. And she just unloaded. You wouldn't think of Princess Luna as really talkative, right? Well, she's not—at first. When you get her going, though, she has a lot to talk about. She talked about her sister mostly, and again, I won't go into a whole lot more detail, but it was really clear to me she loved her too.
"Have you ever tried, you know, talking to her?" I said.
She snorted. "I tried, Blu! I've told her so many times to stop eating so much junk food, stop looking for cakes to eat, but no, she won't listen! Tia just thinks of me like a little sister, like she knows better and doesn't have to listen to me."
Yep, that was when I first heard it: Tia. It's kind of flattering and unnerving at the same time to hear Princess Luna be so casual with me. This was the first time we talked, after all, but as I said, she's surprisingly talkative when she gets going. "I mean, like, talk talk to her, though. Not like that. Like this, like we're doing right now. I can't imagine you'd have to snoop around and figure out what she had for dessert otherwise." I cock my head. "I don't mean to tell you what to do or anything, but did you try that before?"
"Yes, I did. Several times I have, to stop craving cake, to stop insisting on dessert, to lay off all of the food. How is one supposed to convince somepony to do something they seem so obstinately opposed to?"
Confectioner, conspiracy theorist, dietician, and apparently family counselor: what kind of bakery did I make for myself? I didn't really know what to say to that; needless to say, it's not exactly something I'm an expert in. "I don't know, Princess Luna, I really just don't know. But I mean, I don't think snooping around the places she shops and asking a baker is going to really change things that much." Not that I'm complaining about the extra business or remarkable guests, but I'm pretty sure anybody would say this was getting just a little bit ridiculous.
She was silent for a second then. Then she looked down at the cake. She shook her head. "You're right, Blu. I apologize for bothering you this late with my own problem. You shan't see me again."
Then she got up and made her way to the door, and that got me to just raise my hoof instinctually and shout, "Stop, please!"
She stopped but didn't turn around.
I like Princess Luna, I really do, and even if her problems were technically not the ones I needed to bother with, I didn't want to boot her out, either. And maybe you see this as selfish, but having a pair of princesses visit your little place regularly is just awesome. When they're not, well, using me as a go-between for their argument, at least.
What could a baker do about a dispute among thousand-year-old demigods, though? An idea popped into my head, probably the best idea I've ever had. "Just wait for one second," I said before rushing into action. It probably didn't actually take me much longer than that literal one second to rush behind the counter, grab one of my branded boxes, and box up another angel sponge cake, identical to the one I shared between myself and Princess Luna.
I approached Princess Luna with the box tied with ribbon in mouth. "Tell her it's a gift from Blu. Angel sponge cake, extra light. She could probably eat twenty of these without putting on a pound. If she wants to come back, she can satisfy her sweet tooth with one of these."
Princess Luna looked at it for a second. "That is a good idea. Thank you, Blu," she said, taking up the cake in her own midnight blue magic. Then she winced. "I am afraid I don't have any coins to pay you with, but I will repay you your time and your gift."
"No-no-no, don't worry about it! Just let me know how it goes, okay?" You have no idea how fantastic it sounds when you feel like you can tell one of the princesses to get back to you. And when they agree.
"I shall, Blu. Fare thee well," Princess Luna said upon leaving the bakery. All in all, we were probably occupied a full hour past when closing time would normally be.
I don't really know what else to say. It's almost the end of the story, I guess. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna didn't come back the next day, or the day after that, and then I was closed for the weekend. They did come by at the beginning of next week though. But this time, they were together.
It was again close to closing time when there wasn't anypony else in the bakery when the two of them strode in together. After greetings and small talk again—and yeah, small talk with the princesses can't exactly be called "small talk" anymore—Princess Luna talked about when I thought they'd be interested in.
"Blu, I must thank you for the excellent angel sponge cake you gifted to me last time we met. It was, indeed, the portal to new conversation. Although she still won't forsake her sweets—" Princess Luna glared sidelong at her sister then, and Princess Celestia pretended not to notice "—it is better if she should treat herself to things like the cake you supplied, and not the fattening ones. It seems my sister has taken a liking to your creations as well."
That is high praise when you get told that Princess Celestia likes what you make. I have a right to be proud, and I know what I'm making. Just ask Princess Celestia!
Princess Celestia piped up then. "If I would speak—" Princess Luna flicked her ear at that "—Blu, I found your company quite pleasant and your treats delightful, it is true. Though I must apologize that you had to find yourself in the midst of our disagreement."
"O-Oh, no! I'm glad I could help, and I'm glad you like my desserts!" There was a little part of me that wanted to ask her whether she'd change her habits, but I lost my nerve at the last second. Even after everything that happened, effectively telling the Princess who brings the sun up every day that she needs to go on a diet . . . Yeah, I didn't want to do that. Though given what I've seen of what they've bought, it looks like they've been making some small changes, so there's that.
Princess Luna spoke again. "Miss Blu, I'd like to proclaim you our official dessert caterer for the time being. If my sister should have desserts, best she have them here, where I can insist she should go light."
And there was the beginning of my most impressive job title of all the jobs I had taken on over the past week. I got to say though, it's a good job!
You sit in your seat, stunned for a time. The molten lava cake was eaten through ages ago, but you barely noticed; there was a story that needed finishing.
Blu smirked. "That plaque is no joke; it's the real deal. I had that engraved when I got my official title, and believe me, the princesses still come in every so often—probably once every two weeks or so—to buy something. Almost always together, and almost always something light. Hopefully, I'm doing something good for Princess Celestia's diet!
"Anyhow, all that is on the hush-hush, you know? I trust you not to blab about this to too many people. Not the 'Blu's the official royal dessert caterer'—please, tell everybody about that if you want!—but the, y'know, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna stuff that they'd probably not want the world to know."
You nod dumbly, now struck by the full measure of pony in front of you. She was so young, so quirky, yet knew how to make all kinds of desserts, and also had royal connections. Here was the dictionary definition of a prodigy.
"Good! Sorry, I've got to go now though—already spent enough time telling you the story. Hope the cake's not dry. Just leave your plate on the tray near the door, and I'll take care of it later. Come back soon!"