Picnic with a Former Emperor
You still remembered the first time you had really met Sprout. You didn't treat yourself to pizza often, but when you did, that bitter little stallion was usually working at the cart--or at least, he seemed bitter on the surface. But you had witnessed how his eyes would light up whenever anypony said something nice to him, however rare that was. It had happened the first time you interacted with him. While walking up to the pizza cart, you had noticed his stiff frown and glowering stare; he looked as if he would rather be anywhere in Equestria besides doing his job. You felt pity in response to seeing him so unhappy. Sure, you had heard of his past...mistakes, but you couldn't resist making an attempt to brighten his day.
And so, after placing your order, you had casually added, "I like your eyes! They're really pretty."
It was no lie, of course. They were a vibrant emerald green, creating a striking contrast against his scarlet coat.
A giddy smile had slowly spread across his face, and you caught a glimpse of his tail swishing behind him as he happily responded. "Th-they are?"
From that moment on, you realized that Sprout was simply a pony starving for attention and praise. It seemed to bring him innocent yet blissful glee, and you found that adorable. And so, whenever you went for a pizza and happened to be served by him, you would remember to shoot at least one compliment his way. His reactions were always worth it, and you began to think of him as cute by some definition--especially since, as of late, he brightened right up whenever he saw you.
Today, however, you were feeling quite lazy. You were about to rewatch one of your favorite TV shows, and though your stomach was rumbling periodically, you didn't possess the desire to head out for food while it was getting dark outside. You could always cook something up in the kitchen, but you were short on decent ingredients. The most logical course of action was to order a pizza!
You grabbed your phone, ordered a medium-sized pizza with all your favorite toppings, and leaned back on the couch in front of the television. You started playing the first episode of the show to occupy your mind while you waited for your food to be prepared and delivered.
About twenty minutes later, during the ending credits of the first episode, you were alerted by the sound of a hoof knocking at your door. You hopped off the couch and trotted over to answer it. Once you swung the door open, you froze in surprise to see Sprout standing on your doorstep. He was wearing a signature cap from the pizza cart he worked for, and was balancing a pizza with one of his forelegs. He hadn't expected to see you either, his eyes widening as he took one hesitant step back.
You were the first to speak up. "Sprout! I didn't know you helped with deliveries too."
His gaze darted left and right as if he were anxious about something, but you couldn't imagine what there was to be afraid of. "Erm, yeah. I never got your name before, so I didn't realize this pizza was for you..."
You carefully took the warm pizza box from Sprout. "I'll pay for it, just wait here a sec!"
As you brought the pizza inside and set it on the edge of your couch, you noticed that the weight of the box seemed off somehow. Quickly deciding that you were just imagining things, you grabbed enough money to pay for the pizza (as well as some extra) and headed to the doorway again. Sprout was shuffling a hoof on the ground nervously.
You approached him with a smile and handed him the payment. "I've included a tip 'cause I think you deserve it. You're super awesome, so don't forget to buy something nice for yourself!"
Sprout quickly glanced at the money in his hoof and then shoved it into a saddlebag strapped to his side. "Um... thanks? You really didn't have to."
You tilted your head to one side and frowned. That reaction lacked the usual fervor that occurred when you bathed Sprout in attention. He looked away and took a few steps backward, abstaining from meeting your concerned gaze.
"Anyway, I should be heading back. Have a good evening!"
You slowly shut the door as he turned around and gallopped off. You hoped there was nothing tragic going on in his life, but why else would he be acting so strange? Your brow creased with worry even as you settled down on your comfy couch and picked up the box full of hot, mouth-watering pizza. You would have to go and check on him sometime. In any case, perhaps digging into your delicious meal would help steer your mind away from these worries...
You lifted the lid of the box, and your jaw fell open in horror to see that half of the pizza was missing!
You remained as stiff as stone for a few moments while your brain whipped up a possible explanation, and then you clenched your teeth in annoyance. That rascal Sprout must have eaten some of your pizza, and that was why he had been acting so suspicious! You really regretted giving him a tip.
Setting the sabotaged pizza aside, you picked up your phone and called the pizza place again. Shortly afterwards, an unfamiliar voice rasped out of the speaker. "This is Maretime Pizza. How can I help you?"
You briefly considered spilling the beans to whoever this pony was, but you deduced that you probably shouldn't get Sprout in trouble without knowing for certain he was the culprit. You cleared your throat and responded, "Hey, could you get Sprout to ring me back when he gets there? It's important."
"Not sure why you need to speak to him, but sure..."
When it was all said and done, you continued to watch your show as the minutes ticked by. You fumed for a while, forelegs crossed, but you couldn't bring yourself to waste the remainder of the pizza. So, you picked up a slice and began to dig in before it grew too cold.
Soon enough, your phone vibrated as it started to ring. You swiftly snatched it up and answered the call.
"Hi..." You could practically hear the sheepishness squirming in Sprout's voice.
"Did you steal some of my pizza?" you growled into the phone.
"W-what? Nooo! I uh..." Sprout fumbled with his words for a moment as he conjured an explanation. "Th-the cook must've forgot to make the rest of your pizza!"
"Seriously? That's your best excuse? I ought to tell your boss what you did!"
"NO!" After his outburst, Sprout immediately dropped his voice to a harsh whisper. "Fine, I admit it! I ate half your pizza on the way because I was really hungry. B-but I wouldn't have done it if I knew it was you. Please don't report me, this job is all I have after failing as an emperor. I'll do anything to make it up to you, I swear!"
"Hmm..." You were still disappointed by his misbehavior, but you felt compassion sinking in. And then a sly smirk claimed your face as you considered his offer. "How about this: You can make up for stealing my food by treating me to a picnic date."
"A picnic WHAT?"
"Just set up a picnic for us and bring all the food and drinks. Daisy Fields. I'll be there at lunchtime tomorrow. Deal?"
You heard a heavy sigh from Sprout. "You didn't have to call it a date! But f-fine... And this better mean you won't tell anypony what I did!"
You grinned to yourself. "Not a soul."
The smile lingered on your face long after you ended the call. You were amused by how flustered Sprout had sounded over the phone, but you could feel a hint of warmth forming on your cheeks too. You hadn't meant anything serious by the word 'date', but the idea of spending time with Sprout did encourage your heart to beat at a more rapid pace. It would be nice to actually get to know him outside of your brief interactions at his job, and he was quite the cute stallion... Not conventionally charming, but still distinctly endearing.
One thing was for certain; you were really looking forward to tomorrow!
Picnic with a Former Emperor
You merrily trotted your way to Daisy Fields, eager to meet up with Sprout and find out what he had brought along for the picnic. You hoped he wouldn't skip out on keeping his word. It seemed like the kind of thing that unreliable little dork would do, but you strived to remain optimistic.
Eventually you had reached a wide expanse of lush grass and daisies, and a large tree came into view. In the shadow of that tree, a particular sight caught your eye. There was Sprout huddled in the shade with a basket by his side, and in front of him a green gingham blanket was spread on the ground. As you drew closer, you spotted sandwiches, cupcakes, and strawberries laid out in plates on the blanket, as well as a couple of fruit smoothies. Your heart soared as you were happily surprised. Sprout gave you a blank poker face when you approached, and you couldn't resist the urge to tease him a little.
Halting just at the edge of the picnic blanket, you proceeded to lower your head to the ground in a bow. "Emperor Sprout, I have arrived!"
Sprout groaned and planted a hoof against his forehead. "Knock it off!"
"Fine, fine..." you uttered lightheartedly. Stepping around the picnic blanket, you closed the distance between the two of you before sitting down on the grass, right by Sprout's side.
He glanced over at you, drawing back with confusion. "Why are you sitting next to me?"
"Because I want to be next to you, of course."
Sprout opened his mouth to respond, but he immediately shut it again when you booped his nose with your hoof. Caught off guard, he then turned away and shifted anxiously on his haunches.
You patted his shoulder. "I know this is our first date, but you need to lighten up a little!"
Instantly, Sprout's gaze shot towards you again, his face flushed. "I t-told you not to call it a daaate!" The pitch of his voice rose to a whine by the time he finished the sentence.
You pulled the bowl of strawberries close to you and plucked one up before shoving it into Sprout's mouth so as to shut him up.
"Mmmph!"
As he reluctantly began chewing the strawberry, his cheeks visibly stuffed, you picked one up for yourself and leisurely nibbled at it. "I must say, this is a decent attempt at making up for stealing half my pizza. I suppose I'll forgive you."
Sprout took a minute to finish his strawberry and asked. "Really? So you won't tell my boss?"
A mischievous look crossed your face again. "I didn't know emperors had bosses."
Sprout hunched his shoulders with embarrassment as he muttered, "I was only emperor for a few days... I swear I won't do it again!"
"It's OK, I'm just messing with ya." You leaned over and swiped up one of the sandwiches. "Ooh nice, peanut butter and jelly. Did you make them?"
He fidgeted his hooves on the ground. "Yeah. I know I didn't bring anything fancy, but umm... I'm not used to doing things for anypony."
"I think you did well. And I'm just glad I'm actually getting to spend some quality time with you."
You smiled at him, and he stared at you with widening eyes before bashfully looking away again. You could tell some of his discomfort was melting away to uncover the vulnerable, attention-craving pony he was inside. You began eating the sandwich, and after a short while, Sprout selected a sandwich for himself and began chowing down too. You watched with amusement as he practically shoved the sandwich into his face. Hmm, so he's a bit of a ravenous eater...
He devoured two sandwiches in the time it took for you to finish one. Then he picked up one of the smoothies with his hoof and began sipping it, leaning back against the trunk of a tree. You felt prompted to have a drink too, craving some refreshing fruitiness. After you grabbed the remaining smoothie and gave it a few sips, you decided to take the initiative to learn more about your companion.
"So, Sprout, what do you like to do in your free time?"
He let the tip of the straw pop out of his mouth so he could respond, "Uh... I like reading comic books and watching movies."
"Ooh, maybe seeing a movie could be our second date."
Sprout's mouth gaped in horror. "I thought I only owed you this one!"
"Maybe so, but I'd like to keep meeting up with you... if you don't mind." You leaned closer to him, causing him to draw back with apprehension. You drove your muzzle forward to briefly nuzzle his cheek, eliciting a slight gasp from the stallion.
You pulled back with a soft giggle, leaving him dazed, before continuing to sip your smoothie. You momentarily took your eyes off Sprout as you gazed at the delicate flowers surrounding you. You felt comfortable and at ease, and were grateful you were getting to share a cozy moment with the pony you had taken quite an interest in.
You gently broke the brief silence. "Got any cool stories from your past? Aside from... you know."
Sprout set his smoothie down and cleared his throat. "Ehm... Not really. I've always been seen as boring and unlikeable. Especially compared to Hitch."
You looked to him, your eyes brimming with sincerity and compassion. "You're not boring, and I personally think you're likeable." You waited a heartbeat before adding, "Lovable, even!"
With some hesitance, he met your gaze. "You really think so? Mommy's usually the only pony who says stuff like that to me..."
"Of course I mean it." You edged a little closer and wrapped a foreleg around him, pulling him into a semi-hug. You heard a startled squeak catch in his throat and he tensed up before settling into your embrace. With a dash of boldness, you nuzzled his face again as you pushed against him some more, feeling his soft fuzzy fur brush yours.
You ended up shoving a bit too much of your weight against him, causing him to flop onto his back with you toppling over with him. He let out an astonished yelp as you landed on top of him. You were stunned for a moment, but you soon seized the opportunity to bump Sprout's snout with your own.
"Boop!"
You were certain you could feel his heart pounding in his chest as you pressed down on him, and he squirmed slightly, though he wasn't making any real effort to shove you away from him. He turned his head to the side but still glanced up at you timidly.
"Hey Sprout?" you asked, admiring his bright green eyes.
He blinked a couple of times. "Yeah?"
"Are you ticklish?"
"What?"
Before he had another moment to answer, you lowered your head and began peppering little kisses on his neck, your lips just barely touching his coat each time. He let out a yelp before bursting into laughter, writhing beneath you and desperately kicking out his hind legs. However, his throes weren't nearly strong enough to push you off of him.
"Ahahahaha! Please, h-have mercy--hahaha!"
You put a pause on your barrage to tauntingly reply, "Only when you stop laughing."
"B-b-but I can't stop unless--HAHAHA!"
He began tearing up from laughter as you continued attacking him with playful kisses, and your heart fluttered at the sweet sound of his giggles--Well, they were more like cackles, but you thought he sounded adorable nonetheless. After a minute or so, you decided to give him a break. You sat upright while Sprout still lay in the grass, franticly panting for air after the laughing fit you had caused.
He wiped the tears away from his eyes with the back of his hoof. "Jeez, I thought I was gonna DIE!"
Thankfully, there was humor in his tone. You smiled down at him. "Well, that's what you get for being so irresistibly cute."
His already-crimson cheeks reddened even more, and he lifted his head while wearing a doubtful frown. "You really think I'm cute?"
"Of course I do, silly," you assured. You reached over and patted his silky blonde mane a couple of times.
"Nooo!" He flopped back down in the grass, shyly covering his face with his hooves. With his vision obscured, you sneakily placed your hoof on his belly and began rubbing it as if he were a dog begging for belly-rubs.
"HEY!" He removed his hooves from his face and gave a start, but quickly relaxed as you continued to run your hoof back and forth across his fur. "Actually, this feels kinda nice..."
You both remained that way for a while, with Sprout eventually closing his eyes as he allowed you to keep stroking his soft belly. Afterwards, you decided to lie down in the grass next to him as you let out a contented sigh. Looking up you could see the branches of the tree shifting gently in the breeze, and beyond them, fluffy white clouds were floating through the sky at a leisurely pace.
"I'm kinda glad you stole my pizza," you murmured to him, "because it gave me an excuse to get you to hang out with me."
"That was the plan all along!" Sprout responded with a chuckle. You were glad to note that he seemed much more at ease after the relaxing belly-rub.
"Oh, you fibber!"
You lightly swatted him with a hoof, and then the two of you sat upright after exchanging amused glances. You looked over the picnic spread.
"I guess we should finish up soon," you remarked.
Sprout nodded in agreement. "Mm, maybe... but I'm kinda full from the sandwiches."
"Nonsense, there's always room for dessert!"
You took one of the cupcakes off a plate and handed it to Sprout; in spite of his prior statement, his eyes lit up at the sight of the sugary snack, and he swiped it from you eagerly. As he tucked in, you fetched a cupcake for yourself as well. They were chocolate with a generous swirl of vanilla frosting and a glazed cherry on top, and you recognized them from a popular bakery in Maretime Bay.
When you both were finished, Sprout began licking crumbs off his hooves and you noticed that he had some of the creamy white frosting smeared around his muzzle. You placed your hooves on his shoulders and turned him to directly face you.
"Sprout, hold still," you told him, staring at him intently.
"What is it?" His eyes widened in bewilderment.
He obediently remained still even as you drew your muzzle closer to his. It wasn't until you had tilted your head and licked some frosting off his cheek, that he suddenly recoiled and feebly shoved you away.
"HEY, I can do it myself!" With a huff, he then reached into the picnic basket and pulled out a napkin before wiping it over his face.
"S-s-sorry!" Despite your apology, you were wearing a grin and there was nothing you could do to prevent yourself from snickering.
Sprout had seemed indignant, but you could make out a blush lingering on his cheeks. You admired him for a few moments, before surprising him by leaning on his shoulder once more, this time far more tenderly. He jolted for a moment, but you heard him take a deep breath to calm himself down.
"Thanks for the date, it's been wonderful so far. You're a sweet pony," you softly said.
He gave you a lop-sided smile. "I am?"
"Mmhm! And I'm glad you didn't object to me using the word 'date' this time."
Sprout's pupils shrank. "Uhh that's j-just because I wasn't paying attention! This was NOT a date!"
You drew back and spoke again, your tone brimming with playfulness. "If this really wasn't a date, then maybe our next meeting could be? I think I mentioned seeing a movie--how about this weekend?"
"Oh, a movie? Sure. I'd like to uh, see you again... You're nice to me."
He nervously tapped his front hooves together, before squeaking in surprise as you suddenly pulled him into a tight hug, wrapping your forelegs around his back. He was too shocked to return the embrace, but you didn't mind. You reveled in how soft and warm he felt, and you could feel his chest rising and falling with his quickened breaths.
"Thanks again, Sprout! I can't wait to spend more time with you."
You couldn't view his expression as your face was buried against his shoulder, but you could pretty much hear the shy smile in his voice as he responded.
"Um, y-yeah... Me too!"
Author's Note
The writing style in this story was more simple than in my usual stories, but I just wanted to write something cute and silly to cheer myself up!
