A cool wind blew through the town of Ponyville; somewhere a colt shivers and leans against his mother body.
Daily life doesn't change when the weather does; everypony still had a job to do.
Scarves became a must have for every colt and filly, Rarity was just waving goodbye to her last costumer for the day. Today she had plans with her friends and could not be late; against her sides rested two thick saddle bags plump but not heavy, her insignia ingrained on their sides.
With a farewell jingle from her doorbell she was off, the cool air brushed her beautiful white coat and her body shivered in response. Blue magic surrounded her right saddle bag, popping the top and allowing her recently costumed design scarf to float out; the moment it was securely around her neck she relaxed her body, now enjoying the winter season a little bit more comfortably.
Applejack felt restless being cooped up inside most of the winter, it wasn’t having time off that made the orange earth pony feel on edge. Her reasons for the dislike of the season were much deeper then that. Every year now when the snow fell and there were no apples to buck she had to focus on other chores, and every time she did it bothered her to see how run down everything around the farm had become.
For the rest of the year she could distract herself with her trees; they always needed bucking. It was during this chill period when all she had to do was fix things did reality seem most cruel. The house, the barn, and every shed on the property all looked good on the surface but within their beams held doom.
The orange earth pony loved working at the market selling her goods; the feeling of watching ponies enjoy her hard work gave her a warm feeling like nothing else. Perhaps this was why her home life seemed so unsettling now. The apple family was well known for selling cheap produce anypony could afford, but as times changed so did the currency.
Time after time they had to skip on one last repair to this or buy lesser quality that, all in an attempt to make ends meet. It was during Applejack’s generation that times became unbearable and income was top priority, to bad she never saw it that way. With the mornings odd jobs done early she started the long trot to town to meet up with her friends, and hopefully an answer to her dilemma.
Frost hugged the window seals around sugarcube corner, as it has been for the past many days. Inside of this friendly establishment noise and laughter filled the air; it was the usual sounds you’d expect from a small town bakery. Pinkie pie was in the kitchen helping Mr. Cake with the ovens while Mrs. Cake tended to the store front, it was warm in the kitchen but Pinkie could hardly notice.
Today she was going to a new place in Ponyvile, somewhere new which housed delicacies from all over the world. All of her friends would be there, and thinking of it caused a few more accidents then normal. After the fourth batch of burned gingerbread pony cookies Pinkie knew it was time to go, she bid ado to the store and rushed off to the groups meeting place.
High above the small town where the puffy clouds played, swooshed a rainbow blur. Rainbow dash glided from one cloud to another in blissful glee. For the past year near the edge of town a new building was being constructed, normally Dash wouldn’t pay much attention to construction sites but this one made her curious.
She could always see Cloudsdale Pegasi fly out to it with clouds. The entire thing was covered in clouds so thick you couldn’t see the structure within, and Rainbow wanted to know why. Today when they visited this “Mall” they called it, she’d snoop around and learn all its secrets.
Fluttershy was feeling anxious today, she was in her home pacing the floor back and forth trying to talk her self up for what she was about to do today. The mall’s construct had been interfering with her animal’s natural habitat, no one was harmed, and all the animals got new homes, but this was about space.
Ponies didn’t use the rolling hills the mall was built upon but many animals used it for running around in, now the yellow mares house was a nature preserve with all of her little friend having no where else to play, they decided to use her home and yard as a playground. The animal loving pony couldn’t ask her friends to leave, the only thing she could think to do now was ask if the mall could spare some room. An idea she was not keen on completing, but maybe with all of her friends going to she might pull it off.
A white sheet of paper held in place by purple magic was levitated in front of also purple unicorn; the feminine voice of Twilight Sparkle read the flayer once more.
“The Grand opening of the 'Mall of Equestria' will open on Monday” her voice lowered to a mumble as she read over sections of information she already knew.
Once her third review of the paper was finished she called down to her assistant baby dragon Spike.
“I really wished you’d come with us Spike. Who knows how long these items will last! You might never get a chance to see an event like this again” Spike rolled his eyes at her while descending the stairs.
Spike will never forget that day when Twilight asked him to join her for shopping in a canterlot department store. He had to wait while she tried on clothes, hold all the bags, smell all the perfumes, nothing manly or cool about it. Sure Twilight wasn’t the kind of girlie girl to spend all day looking at outfits now, but with five other uncertainties he wasn’t about to take the chance.
“You know someone has to stay behind and keep the library open, besides I already got all my Hearts Warming shopping done early” the young dragon boosted.
Twilight hugged her friend one last time before heading off, she could be gone all day and felt he might get lonely.
“I know, and I’m sorry. You just don’t get many chances to come out with everyone, I had to offer”. The librarian mare hurried out the door to meet her friends, today she thought was going to be fun.
The gang all found each other and walked along the path to the mall. They talked about the huge Ad campaign the mall had before it opened. Pegasi had shifted clouds around to write the malls name in the sky, and all the local papers had front page stories about it, Twilight showed off the one she had been reading earlier. They were even scheduling a fireworks display that night in honor of the holidays.
They had all agreed to go shopping together and make a fun day out of what would surely have been a chore otherwise.
Rarity levitated the custom scarves for everyone to wear, each one the same color scheme of its owners coat. There was snow on the ground and the breeze cool but with friendship in there hearts, and Celestia’s sun warming their bodies it hardly felt cold at all.
As they approached, Pinkie Pie was the first to comment on the structure they were at last nearing.
“Holy guacamoley! That place is huge!” Everypony looked up and up as every step made the large structure even bigger.
“Oh my, as much as I was looking forward to spending the day with all of you. I’m not sure of spending it trotting up and down this place”, Rarity said with a notable worry in her voice.
Rainbow Dash took to the skies to see the thing from a birds eye view. Even up here it was impressive, it was big enough to house five dragons easy, she thought.
Rainbow glided back to her friends landing next to Rarity and placing a hoof on her back, deciding not to worry her friend more she tried shooing away her doubts.
“Don’t worry so much! This place only looks big”.
Twilight too felt like reinsuring her friend, warming her smile to its utmost limits and looking forward calmly.
“It’s a place of business rarity; they will have plenty of places to rest and eat. We won’t be running on our hooves all day, besides it will be so much fun I doubt we’ll even notice the fatigue”.
The whole scene only got more impressive as they were finally at the main entrance. Ponies, griffins, even a diamond dog was seen pouring through all four of the spinning doorways. This 'Mall of Equestria' was a bigger deal then they thought if it was capable of bringing people outside of Ponyville to it.
it took a bit of patience watching how everyone else made it through, but eventually they were all able to time it right and got flung inside. Expect for Fluttershy and Pinkie who got hung up in the large glass cylinder a few rotations. Some magic from Twilight saved her two friends; Fluttershy’s cheeks were turning green as she felt her stomach still looping and Pinkie pie was twirling in a cartoonish fashion eyes spinning around.
Twilight trotted up to the large map display in front of them.
“Hmm…this looks pretty simple, all the stores for clothes are in the east wing, nick knacks on the west, children’s up north, and gadgets take up the south”.
Applejack looked around them and noticed they were in a huge area surrounded by food merchants, but instead of carts like in the market place every vendor had a store front shop right in the walls.
“hey Twi’ where on the map does it say we are?” she asked while still taking in the sight.
“Let’s see…here, it’s called a food court. Seems like there are still some other eateries throughout the mall but this is like the more diverse section. Amazing! Although I wonder why there are so many little names everywhere, they can’t have stores just in the walkway…can they?”
Twilight held a hoof to her chin in thought of this. Meanwhile no one noticed both Rainbow Dash and Pinkie had disappeared.
None of the four were hungry yet only having just arrived and with still so much to see they continued on, looking inside each of the stores as they pasted them. Everypony had a good look at the map before they left the food court and kept where they each wanted to go in mind: Rarity didn’t see anything eye catching and decided she would browse, Twilight wanted to look at the nick knacks for a snow globe, Applejack was curious if the hardwood stores had any decent prices for some equipment the farm needed, and Fluttershy saw they had an exotic animal store.
They reached the central hub of the mall after an exhausting trot; relaxing on some benches they chose to rest and watch the ice skaters. Here in the Malls epicenter was an Olympic sized ice rink were both families and professions skated and enjoyed themselves.
Twilight yawned and rested her head lower and lower till she was flat against the bench she had taken for herself, the purple mare thought back to the night before and how she didn’t sleep thinking of everything the mall had in store for them, eyes too heavy to hold on her mind drifted off, while the faint sounds of seasonal music played around her.
The food court was very open and allowed for an impressive echo of voices, though with so many ponies all talking and munching at the same time, it would be hard to understand what they were saying. Gingersnap, a white unicorn with light brown hair; was standing in front of a stand that advertised its Philly cheese lettuce sandwiches.
Gingersnap was holding a tray of bite size mini Phillies that she was supposed to offer to any passersby in hope they would buy some. However, it was hard to keep a happy looking smile when your shop had fewer customers than the one next to you.
Her dads shop was called “Mount Phillies,” with a claim to serving the worlds biggest Phillies. It was being overshadowed, however, by the store next door called “smooth”, run by two sisters. They specialized in fruit smoothies, which wouldn’t normally be a problem because they were always looked at as desserts, except now they were selling them as on the go meals.
Both families were familiar with each other, already having eaten at each other’s place of business many times before. With the promise of bigger profits, both parties had to step up their game to draw in as much new business as they could. It was just the sisters had a better offer.
Ponies didn’t want to carry around cumbersome sandwiches when they could have a cool drink instead, that would also keep the munchies away while they shopped. It might not have made a difference if they were placed farther apart, but when next to each other there was no competition.
That’s when Gingersnaps dad had the great idea to make mini bite Phillies for the on the go pony. The problem wasn’t with the size of the food, however; it was the way it made you feel after eating it. Even in mini form the Phillies left one feeling heavy. Compared to the light sweet and cool drinks next door, the logical choice was obvious.
Still lost in thought, Gingersnap couldn’t hear the sound of eating as a pink earth pony popped one mini bite after another into her mouth. Even the happy mumbles went unnoticed as she continued to stare over at Flitter, the younger of the sisters, also giving away free samples. Wearing an inviting smile, the lilac colored younger sister had mobs of consumers all around her. Her soft light orange eyes looked over the crown, telling them of the many types of smoothies they had.
Pinkie Pie downed the last of the dozen mini Phillies before letting out a little burp. The following giggles finally alerted Gingersnap to the mare’s presence.
She lifted the empty tray out of reflex to offer the free samples.
“Would you care for one miss?” she offered without hesitation.
Pinkie looked at her and back down at the saucer before breaking out into an innocent grin. Gingersnap raised an eyebrow before looking down herself and noticing she had none left. She was about offer an apology before the situation dawned on her.
“Did you just eat all my free samples!?” the pallid mare asked, shock and anger coloring her tone. The undertone of her words mostly lost behind the decree of free samples.
Personal space being a concept Pinkie never bothered with, she was now nose to nose with Gingersnap, whom now stared significantly more worried at her newest problem.
“Did you just say free-samples?!” even the uttering of the words thundered from her lips, the excitement behind them uncontrollable.
For Pinkie it was a matter of life and death as she waited for even the slightest muscle twitch of Gingersnap’s body to unleash her inner hunger, which she delightfully called Dragon, for she had seen every vendor here all carrying the same silver tray with goodies riding atop them. Gingersnap, unaware of the implications she was about to unleash, tried to answer under the stare of her customer. Standing between what was sure to be every last available free treat and her own safety, the white unicorn found the strength to begin mouthing the consentient syllable ‘y’.
All that needed to be said had been said in Pinkies mind. A flash of pink followed next with a whisper of mumbled chewing. Tray by tray fell empty with Pinkie having unleashed that “Dragon”. By the time anypony had noticed the change, Pinkie had already come full circle and rested at Gingersnaps feet a much rounder Pie.
Feeling some form of responsibility, Gingersnap had dragged Pinkie back behind the counter to hide what she felt she had started. Her dad, named Big Sam, a red manned, orange coated earth pony, found the boundless gut of his guest amusing and chuckled heartily when he heard his daughter’s explanation.
“No kidding? So that crazy wind was you?” He pointed a hoof at Pinkie’s resting form.
“This is no laughing matter; she ate all the free samples. Now we’re going to have nothing to attract customers. We’re going to lose all our business to ‘smooth’ again”. Gingersnaps frustration grew with each sentence, tears forming at the edge of her eyes. Her father walked over and placed an arm around his daughter. The little belly bump Pinkie had was gone, and with it its slumbering side effect. She was back on all four hooves listening to the words and nodding before looking rather shocked.
“What! How could nopony buy these amazing fantastic Phillies?” The pink mare asked, honestly unsure.
Wiping away a rouge tear she tried her best to answer, “We sell hearty filling sandwiches here, but no pony wants to feel full while they trot around the mall. They want light cool drinks.” Her head lowered as she talked; just thinking about it was bringing her mood even lower.
“Well what about when they’re leaving for home?” Pinkie said as simply as that.
The two deli ponies were taken back by this, neither of them sure of what she just said. The pink mare rolled her eyes as she waited for the question they had yet to ask. Not being the most patient of ponies she started talking again.
“Well duh! Nopony want to have a full belly and then walk around for hours. But, after you have walked around for hours and are about to go home, do you really think a drink is going to be enough? Nope! That’s when you take home a nice big crunchy chewy yummy cheese lettuce Philly!”
Big Sam had worked with his favored dish for years, but at the mare’s description he found himself slightly drooling. A big, happy grin spread over his features at the opportunity that presented itself here.
“Ma’am, would you be interested in helping us advertise? With your help we might make it here after all.”
Pinkie had a rather aloof look to her, eyelids half open. Gingersnap walked over to Pinkie, looking all but hopeful and asks with pleading eyes.
“Please…we worked so hard at making everypony happy. I don’t want to give up yet. We need you.”
Pinkie’s façade melted away and she spun around faster than their eyes could follow. When the mare stopped she was dressed in a white apron with a picture of their signature sandwich on it.
“Oki Doki Loki!”
Pinkie then hopped up on the counter and began speaking to the crowd of hungry ponies.
“Are you a hungry pony looking for something to eat!?” the mare shouted at some poor pony standing nearby.
He tried to stammer out a reply, but she was already yelling out again before he could answer.
“What pony doesn’t work up a great big hungry belly walking around in this huge place? And I can see from your bags you’re headed home right?”
She continued on after pointing a hoof at his plump looking saddlebags.
“Do you really want to go home and make something after being so tired? No? I bet you’d like something here to take with you. Well look no further because have I got a treat for you!”
Back flipping off the table landing behind the counter once more, she was handed a freshly made medium sized Philly, their classic. Without anyone seeing her, Pinkie had vanished from behind the counter and was standing next to the pony she had been talking to moments before, holding the delicious sandwich inches away from his nose. She asked him to smell it.
The nose and mouth are linked; smell something and you taste it. Pinkie knew this and was about to exploit that fact for all it was worth. Watching his sniffer do its thing, she started describing every aspect of the sandwich.
“Can you smell the bread? Wheat grain harvested from golden fields sun kissed by Celestia herself?”
The image was playing through his head like a memory, a waking dream something he had never actually experienced.
“Those thick cut lettuce leaves greener then Everfree, which drank nothing but crystal clear waters.”
His mouth was watering now, and even the crowds next to them were swallowing hard, trying desperately to hold back their own juices.
“Mmm... and I can just taste those gooey cheeses… can you?”
She asked in a deliberately slow tone, egging him on to plead for more. He shook his head up and down violently and she continued.
Breathing right next to his ear, she spook once more in a soft tone, “You want to know what that is like?”
Again she teased, forcing him to leave the wonderful dreamscape she had crafted and talk to her. All he could offer her was a happy affirming mumbled yes.
“Well you can find out right over there.” She pointed a hoof at the deli.
More than a dozen hungry eyes followed the advertisers hoof to the shop named Mount Phillies, whose proprietors stood looking more than a little nervous.
Pinkie, satisfied in both spirits and tummy, hopped out of the massive food court down the mall’s hallways, discarding her get-up as she did so, knowing she helped make a lot of ponies very happy that day. Left in her wake was Gingersnap and her papa making orders, and having a fun time doing so, safe in the knowledge of how to create this bolt of lightning twice.
A dream came from Twilight's slumber. She was a filly again, going to watch the Equestrian figure skating championship held that year in Canterlot. Her mother, father, and big brother were all there with her. Everypony was excited about the event, but none so much as the little filly.
They all had excellent seats: front row right down on the ground floor. It was a bit cold sitting right next to the ice rink, but they all had dressed a little more warmly in scarves and coats. And with the addition of some stadium bought hot coco, the chills were easily at bay.
Not in control of her own dream, time faded by and now her favorite figure skater Ponya Herding had taken stage. The mare had a dark blond mane and light yellow coat, and like herself she was a unicorn. Normally Twily, as her brother liked to call her, wouldn’t be interested in any form of sport, being more concerned with her reading.
It was her brother, in fact, that got her so interested by comparing this event to what would surely be an historical event.
Truth be told, her brother just wanted her to be excited about something other than books and had hoped this would spark an interest in either the sport or the skating, both fun pastimes that could introduce his sister to a world beyond the school or library.
For Twilight’s part in this she really did like the way the skaters had the appearance of dancing on ice, the sparkly outfits that even the stallions wore, and the nice music everyone danced to. But, true to her nature, she was mostly interested in watching history in the making.
Ponya Herding was attempting to be the first unicorn to complete a triple axel jump in competition without using magic.
If she succeeded, her score would propel her to the top of the ranks but, should she fail, what would have been a passing score would drop to within elimination standers.
A hush fell over the crowd as she began her performance. Enough ponies had heard of her feat and supported her enough to give her this momentary peace. Her routine started out normally, slowly building up speed, twisting and flexing like any ballerina on stage.
The pressure was deafening as they waited for her well announced triple axel. She skated to the lasted hip song circling Conterlot, its steady beat allowing many sharp curves to skate too. The propelling momentum was keeping her nerves down and exciting the crowd boosting her resolve even more.
Twilight watched on as the song reached its end, Ponya could delay no longer. Dipping her front legs down building within them the needed strength to jump up; at the same time slightly extending both up and out her right back hoof necessary for the rotation, all at once she leaped up earning an excitable gasp from the audience.
In Twilights dream time slowed and she watched on with hopeful eyes her sports idol attempt the most challenging feat of her career, on the outside; her body had not moved still laying motionless sleeping away under the lights and sounds of the malls decorations.
Sights also being enjoyed by a bouncing pink pony; bouncing her way over.
Author's Note
I'd like to thank Whammy for proof-reading this story.
