The Different Prince

baroness Lyra seemed to have some keen insight for good outdoor restaurants that could accommodate our fine guest. This one was run by a mare named Saffron Masala and her father. Well, her father mainly pulled a trolley with on it from table to table. Fat and a little grumpy, but he did his work well. Seems her mother had died some years ago and she'd been taking care of her father since. Which was sweet.

Though, we nearly gave her a heart attack when we brought Corner Stone to the tables outside.

"I am afraid we don't have big enough chairs," she said in a distant voice as she stared.

The giantess wasn't too familiar with such furnishings anyway, she was all to happy to sit and enjoy the smells, as well as the attention. She just ate it up. Must have been popular way back when too.

Lyra ordered a curry bun and I did the same. For our friend we ordered three of everything on the menu. Quite the sales day for the restaurant. You've never seen such a mighty being in a state of bliss as she tried foods that hadn't even been conceived when she roamed the world with a stone spear.

It was also then that we found what the wheels were for.

Why won't they accept my wheels? she asked us curiously as she tried to push a couple of the giant stone creations into Saffron's hooves. I know I carved them right. Does she not want to be paid? We had to explain to her that stone wheels weren't exactly accepted currency these days. She seemed unconvinced. But, everyone needs wheels. What else could your economy use?

Lyra had brought a few bits for personal reasons and showed them to her.

What use are those? You cannot move a cart with them.

"She'd be surprised how you could move with those," I mumbled in good humor. While she and my wetnurse bickered back and forth about modern economics, I returned to my bun. So delicious.

Then there was a tug at my armor. Looking over I saw nothing. Down, however, I was met with a gaggle of small fillies.

"Um... hello?" I smiled kindly at them. They all jumped back with a range of high pitched squeaks, but continued to stare. "How can your prince assist you?"

One of them, taller than the rest, probably the leader, stepped forward. "M-Mr... how is it that you can talk?"

I shrugged. "Just something that came with the territory, I suppose."

She did not seem satisfied with that answer. "My mother says that's impossible. She thinks Celestia has been experimenting with forbidden magic. Are you really a mare that got transformed into a colt?"

I blinked. What? That was a new one. "Uh... no? I pretty sure I've always been male."

"But mother says that's impossible," she said matter-of-factly. The other fillies nodded. Were they all of the same brood or something.

"Well, then, obviously, your mother is... wrong," I flatly stated. Their gasps of horror at what I had just said were almost cute. "Something wrong?"

SLAP!

The lead filly had actually slapped me. The sound drawing everypony's attention. I just stared. "Well... someone's a spoiled little thing."

SLAP!

Lyra was between us in an instant. "What in Tartarus gives you the right to assault the crown prince of Equestria, you little brat?"

The filly pointed an accusing finger at me. "He called my mother stupid."

I would have retorted, but I was above that. I knew the type too well. Any defense we try and raise, they just play the victim card.

Lyra huffed. "If she raised a little monster like you, then I would he's right."

I barely kept myself from bursting into laughter. I watched in disguised amusement as all the little fillies gasped again in horror of what the mint mare had just dared say to them.

"You... you can't say that," the filly protested.

Lyra leaned down to her level and smiled wickedly. "The prince is very kind. Too a fault even. You attacked him and he just shrugged it off like nothing. I on the other hand, am not so forgiving."

The filly smirked up at her. "Oh yeah? And what are you gonna do about it? Huh?"

Lyra stood up straight and called over a guard. "Find this filly's mother I'm sure she and Celestia are going to have a lovely chat about this incident."

Gee, the shade of white the filly became made snow look like tar. "No... wait... you can't do that."

Lyra turned and ignored her pleas as the guard stood over her, smiling equally as evil as she asked for her to show her to her mother. The tears and cries were like music to me. Justice had been served. Who knew it tasted so sweet? Was it any wonder that Lyra was one of my favorite friends?

She sat back down and acted as if nothing had happened.

"Thank you," I said gratefully.

She looked at me and smiled. "No problem. Even if you weren't royalty... no one, and I mean no one, treats my colt like that. Good self control though. I wouldn't have blamed you had you decided to slap her back."

"I didn't want to hurt her," I explained with a chuckle.

Lyra shrugged. "A little pain might have been exactly what she needed."

"I think having her mother and my mother talk about her actions is punishment enough," I said as I watched the guard lead the filly away by the hand. No, I would not feel sorry for her. "So... what's next on the list?"

"After dessert," Lyra chided me before looking at her list. "That would be... Baggy Bagger's Bags, for your school bags."

I nodded. "Alright. Do I need a uniform?"

"It'll have to be tailored," she told me, but nodded. "But, we still have other places afterwards. Gotta make sure your prepared for everything... I'm half convinced that you mother had Twilight write this list."

I nodded and shook my head. A strange circular motion if you must know. "Sounds like something she would do."