A/N: While it's not necessary to read the previous fic: Stray Ardor, to understand what's going on, I strongly recommend it to to fill in some of the blanks. Also I suck at writing a New York accent so please forgive me.
Update: I changed his name from Pony Joe to Doughnut Joe because of the series retcon. Also Donut will be used for business purposes and Doughnut is to used as his proper name.
Twilight had been searching all over the house and library to see if the spell she had been working on had done anything that could possible to do harm to their home. In the process of searching she had found Pinkie's party invitation and began to read it. 'It's probably just another random stranger moving to Ponyville.' She mused to herself as she read the card trapped in her horn's magic. Then her eyes grew wide when she read the name of the new pony in town. The card read, Joseph Bean and that the party was to be held in the new diner that was built across town.
Twilight knew that name and she knew it well. Joseph Bean or as most ponies knew him as 'Doughnut Joe’. She smiled remembering her time studying back in her home town of Canterlot. When the library was closed there was one place open at late at night and that was a certain diner with bright red neon lights that simply read “Donut Joe’s.” It had a pleasant atmosphere, a great selection of doughnuts, soups and sandwiches and there was always a fresh pot of coffee on the burner. There was something else there too, there was a kind light tan unicorn named Joseph who ran the establishment. He was always there to lend an ear and listen to anypony's problems and offer advice.
Twilight was reminiscing on a time when she needed his sage like wisdom. She had fallen asleep in a pile of books in his restaurant and it was past closing time. She had been frantically searching for a repair spell as Spike had accidentally set fire to a valuable book written by none other than Clover the Clever. Twilight was fearful that Celestia would take Spike away from her. As she lay sleeping on the pile of pressed paper beneath her she felt a hoof nudging her, she awoke to find Joe in front of her.
5 years ago
"Twilight, it's past closing time, I don't mean to wake ya, but I gotta lock up, it's two in the mornin'." Joe said in his thick Brookmane accent with a warm smile.
Joe looked down at young unicorn and noticed something was wrong. Joe was exhausted from the day's work but he wasn't going to leave someone he had come to call a friend in despair.
"Twi is there something you need to get off your chest?"
She looked up at him, even though he was only six years older than her, his advice was sound and very reliable.
"I...uh...I don't know what to do. Today I when I was studying at home I left a very valuable and irreplaceable book that Princess Celestia herself lent me on the floor. Anyway, Spike went towards the book and I thought nothing of it, but today he sneezed fire for the first time and the books was engulfed in green flame. Needless to say the book was destroyed. I'm scared what the princess will do when she finds out." she broke down in tears and wept into the books on the table.
Joe placed a hoof on her shoulder. Twilight looked up again.
"I just don't want Spike to be taken away from me. I know this sounds weird but I've grown attached to him in almost a mother like way. I even remember that time period when he was learning to talk and he called me mommy. That's why I spent all day looking for repair spells for that book and I've yet to find anything, please Joe what should I do."
"First thing's first it's great that ya care so much about Spike, he's lucky to have ya. For as long as I've known ya, you've always been wise beyond your years, but ya've always tended to overreacted to problems. Tell me this how long have you been the princess's student?" Joe asked in a very sympathetic voice.
"About seven years, what does that have to do with anything?"
"In the seven years ya've known her, has she ever acted cruel?"
"No, but..."
"But nothing. Do you honestly believe she would punish a child or take away something so dear to ya?"
Twilight's ears perked up as she saw the logic in Joe's words.
"No, I guess not."
"Listen just tell her the truth and everything will be fine. I know ya probably were looking for somethin elaborate, but when it comes down to it sometimes the answer is just that simple." Joe said with a reassuring grin.
Twilight did as Joe had suggested. Though she was relieved to not have Spike taken away from her, she wasn't left off the hook so easily. To pay for the damages she had to work in the palace as a bookbinder for three months replacing and repairing book bindings.
Twilight smiled at the memory. The only thing besides her parents she missed from Canterlot was the company of Pony Joe. Twilight back then was complete shut in and besides Spike, Joe had been her only friend. She had even developed a crush on the diner owner and now he was moving to Ponyville. Her mind was in a frenzied state and butterflies were in her stomach.
Twilight shook off these thought and went back to task at hoof and was still checking the house for anomalies, it was four in the morning and she could no longer keep her eyes opened and as she was checking under the dining room table she met sleep's warm embrace and passed out right then and there.
Meanwhile back in Canterlot a certain tan unicorn is closing up shop and getting ready for his big day tomorrow.
His name was Joseph Francisco Bean, but everyone just referred to him as Dougnut Joe. Joe was wasn't from Canterlot originally as his thick accent gave way, born and raised most of his childhood in Brookmane by his mother. At the age of thirteen he was sent to live with his father in Canterlot who owned a tiny little eatery where mostly blue collar workers and college kids would frequently eat.
At the age of seventeen he was given the little restuarant as a graduation gift as his dad had moved back to Brookmane to patch things up with his mother. It was soon after that was that he changed the name of the diner to the amply named 'Donut Joe's' which was far as from a high class eatery as one could get. Joe may have never have gone to college but his eye for business and quality were second to none. Those that frequented his shop saw this and over time his diner had attracted a wide variety of clientele. Everypony from blue collar workers to celebrities like the Wonderbolts, Sapphire Shores, Hoity Toity and even big shot foreign politicians like the vice president of Draconia and the Prime Minister of The Griffin Kingdom had visited his diner.
Doughnut Joe's major claim to fame was when the none other than The Sun Goddess herself and the current Elements of Harmony had come into Joe's diner during the chaos that was the Grand Galloping Gala last year. News of this had reached the Equestria Daily newspaper and let’s just say you couldn't buy better publicity. Celestia herself was so pleased with the bear claws, the crullers and the espresso she contemplated knighting the doughnut marked stallion possibly even having him replace her own incompetent nephew.
That night important for another reason it's when she came back after a six month absence. Twilight Sparkle was her name and she used to be a regular customer, then she disappeared without a trace.
It was in her absence that Joe realized how much he missed her at first as a good friend. He remembers they met Joe was working late as a buscolt back when it was his father's diner. Twilight had shown up to study and after some very awkward dialogue the two over the course of six years had become great friends.
Now, presently he was getting ready to leave Canterlot for good. Life was great but a little too hectic. He wasn't closing down Donut Joe's he was expanding as he called it. The original diner would be under the very competent hooves of his baby brother named Latte. Dougnut Joe's varied clientele would not notice a dip in the quality of service. Joe was opening a diner is Ponyville. He chose this location for two reasons. One was to live in the countryside and two it was close enough to Canterlot to where if something went wrong at The Original Doughnut Joe's he could get there in time to resolve any issues. A possible third reason was to reconnect with old friends. Needless to say the last four months were a pain in flank as he has to deal with architects, contractors and regulations.
He knew three ponies in Ponyville that ran a local bakery. He had met Carrot and Cup Cake and Pinkie Pie an energetic little mare at an annual restaurant expo in Fillydelphia. The four of them had hit off very well. So naturally when he had picked their town for his new restaurant he called them to see if they could throw a party to celebrate the new eatery. The only issue was he has waited to the last minute to ask for the party.
Earlier that day over the phone
"Yeah, Hi Carrot, it's me Joe, I know it's really short notice but I was wonderin if I could get a grand opening party set up for tomorrow. It's just that that with how hectic things are over here I just pushed planning my new store's opening party farther away and was wonderin if you could help me set something up at the last minute."
"I don't Know Joe, a party like that seems kinda impossible."
Suddenly Pinkie burst through the door wearing a bandana and eye patch and tackled Carrot for the phone.
"No party is impossible of Solid Pie" Pinkie said doing her best David Hayter impression and with that she hung up the phone.
He turned the lights off, locked up and headed for home.
"Finally, well it's been fun and thanks for all the fish." he said giving what he felt was a fitting quote as he gave a gentle sigh and looked up to the new neon sign that had been installed earlier that day that read "The Original Donut Joe's".
New Towns and Old Friends
The next day...well technically 5 hours later.
Joe had woken up and was ready to leave his home which was situated over his diner. There wasn't much left to do, he had a pegasus moving company coming by to move his possessions into his new home in Ponyville. His only task left in Canterlot was to see that his younger brother was ready for today's opening. He walked downstairs to see that Latte was waiting for him in the main area of the restaurant.
Joe was one of three children and out his other siblings he was the closest with his baby brother Latte. Even through his parent's divorce he and Latte were thick as thieves and that's the main reason Joe asked the twenty year old copper coated Unicorn to become the manager of The Original Donut Joe's.
"Yo, Joe I was wonderin when ya were gonna wake up, what's a matta you getting too old?" Latte spoke with a hint of sarcasm to his voice.
"Who are ya callin old, I'm only twenty-seven." Joe said and he messed up Latte's combed and prissy mane.
"Ay! Why'd you that for?!"
"It won't matta anyway, cuz you'll be so stressed out by the end of the day, you'll be pullin your mane out."
"I've run the store before Joey."
"Yes, but not that like this. Today you'll be gettin a million questions and most of them will be: where's Pony Joe, where is the bathroom and Can I get extra sprinkles?"
Latte looked his brother in the eye and gave him a mock salute, pull a turned over chair from a table and jumped on the table.
"I can do this Joe, this Latte's time to shine and show this town the best Celestia damn cup of coffee ever seen by mere mortals!!!" Latte with fire in eyes yelled in a boastful and semi-patriotic voice that would make Captain Equestria hang his head in shame.
Normally, Joe would have rolled his eyes but he had to admit two things. One was that his brother's special gift was coffee brewing. He could take the most worthless beans and turn them into liquid gold. Joe was great at making doughnuts but the one thing Latte had Joe beat by a mile was his brewing skills. The other thing Joe had to admit was that Latte's passion and love for his skills meant to Joe that there nopony else he could see running his diner more competently or keeping the quality he had established from slipping than Latte. Joe was proud of little Latte even with his strange outburst and cocky attitude.
"Anyway Latte get down from there. I need to grab my saddlebags and get goin', but before I do come give ya big brother a hug."
Joe Pulled Latte into a bone crushing bear hug. "Joe...ahg...can't...breath...crushin......spine." He let go and went up stairs to get ready.
30 minutes later.
Joe left and before leaving he wished his brother luck and was on his way to Ponyville. In his bags were a bag of day old doughnut holes, a copy of Cantelot Rock magazine, a small satchel of fifteen bits, a wallet, a bottle of water and a banket 'just in case there's an accident with movers like the time they were bringing my cousin's piano and anvil collection from Fillydelphia and the accidentally dropped some of the items.'
'It is beautiful day. The path to Ponyville was about fifty or so miles from the Canterlot and but it doesn't feel quite that long and that was due to the bends in the road and the lush scenery that adorned the path. Ponyville itself was a odd little town located near two large forest from what I'm told. One forest was known as the Everfree and it was mysterious, provocative and deadly. The things nightmares are made of with its deadly creatures and tales of it holdin a small little hamlet from which there is no escape. On the exact opposite end of the spectrum there was the White Tail Woods and it was a beautiful tree laden paradise with its acres and acres of oaks, pines and birch trees, there were hills, mountains and untold riches waiting to be found.' Joe thought to himself as he walked towards his destination.
Back in Ponyville
Twilight had fallen asleep under the dining room table last night when she was checking to see if the spell that had backfired yesterday had done as kind of damage to their home. Slowly she was waking up; she could smell breakfast and hear the some of the idle conversation. She spoke awake when she heard Spike make his breakfast announcement.
"Twilight! Breakfast is re-"
THUMP
Twilght banged her horn against the table and winced in pain. 'at least with this pain I guess I won't be needing my morning coffee.'
"Ow."
She saw Scootaloo looking under the table at her as she rubbed her horn.
"Twilight?" Scootaloo said in a surprised tone.
Twilight crawled out from under the table, still in slight pain. "Ow... Good morning."
Spike was confused. "Did you sleep under the table?"
She gave a sheepish grin of embarrassment. "I was inspecting all of the items in the house looking for...oddities, but I guess I fell asleep while checking under the table."
"Oddities?" Spike said as he sat down next to Scootaloo.
"Oh, nothing to worry about."
They ate their breakfast and Twilight had excused herself.
"I'm going to go buy a gift for Joe Bean, I'll see you two at the party, bye!" Twilight trotted off to exit the library.
Once outside Twilight thought to herself. 'Now, what do I get him, it's been months since we saw last saw each other. Even then we really didn't have time to catch up.'
Just then an idea popped into head, but first she needed to head down to the Carousel Boutique and she hoped Rarity could pull it off.
Over at the Boutique
Twilight opened the door to Rarity's boutique and the bell chimed.
Rarity was across the room, working on a manikin; she turned around with her eyes closed past her designer glasses, muzzle in the air to give her a regal appearance and began to recite her greeting. "Welcome to the Carousel Boutique, where every garment is chic, unique and magnifi-" She opened her eyes to look at the pony that just walked in. "Oh hello Twilight, what can I help you with today?"
Twilight trotted up to her good friend. "I was wondering if you could make an apron for me, its for a friend that’s coming to Ponyville."
Rarity lowered her glasses with a hoof. "A friend you say?"
"Mhm, a friend from Canterlot." Twilight replied
Rarity gasped but returned with a devious looking smile. "A friend you say?" This time putting emphasis on friend, as if implying something more.
"You already asked that..."
Rarity used her magic to begin to gather fabric across the room. "So who’s the lucky stallion?" She asked as she trotted over to her work desk.
"Joe bean." Twilight replied bluntly, but then recoiled, flushed, as she realized what she had answered to. "No! It's not like that Rarity, he’s a friend."
Rarity, now focusing on her work, only giggled. "Yes Twilight, of course." She started snipping away at the fabric, now with an apron in progress. "Is there any specific thing you would like on the apron? A heart perhaps?"
Twilight's blood rushed to her face again, and she tried to hide it as Rarity looked over at her. "N-no... just embroidered wording that reads 'Pony Joe' and beneath it saying 'Donut Joe's Diner' in loki cola font and done up in the team colors of the Manehattan Money Colt's baseball team, please."
Rarity giggled again as she saw Twilight's reaction. "Okay, Twilight, come back in a few hours and I shall have it done. In the meantime feel free to come in if you wish to have any advice." She winked at Twilight.
Twilight smiled gratefully at her friend. "Thank you so much Rarity I-... Advice?"
Rarity became lost in her work, now blocking out anything outside of thoughts or sounds that wasn't her work.
Twilight sighed in defeat as she trotted outside of the boutique.
It was past Three o'clock when Joe made his way into town. He spotted an apple cart with an oddly familiar looking mare running the stand. He needed to find Sugar Cube Corner and speak to the Cakes and Pinkie about tonight's party, so he figured why not ask the apple vendor?
"Hello Miss, can ya tell me where Sugar Cube Corner is?"
"Howdy Stranger, Ah sure as shoot can. It's about two blocks and then ya make a right. Ya can miss it; it looks like a gingerbread house."
"Thank ya miss." Joe paused for a second. "Say ya look familiar, ya ever visit my diner in Canterlot."
"Ya know, ah was thinkin the same thing when yaw approached me. Ah remember goin' to a doughnut shop after the Gala went bust. Oh, ah know who ya are, yaw is that doughnut shop owner, right?"
"Joseph Bean or as everypony else calls me 'Doughnut Joe' nice to meet ya miss...” Joe stopped with his hoof out reached as a gesture of good will.
"...Applejack Apple, but just Applejack will do, sugercube. Say, you're the one they are haven a party fer at that new diner on the other side of town.” Applejack said and then she proceeded to shake Joe's outstretched hoof with a lot of force before letting go.
"Yes I am and do please stop by tonight. Anyway I gotta be goin' Applejack. It was nice meetin ya and I'll see ya at the party later."
Joe then trotted off to find Sugar Cube Corner. As he walked through the town he took in the sights. He fell in love with its rustic appeal, the sounds of a lay back way of life, the greeting of friendly town's folk. The odd he noticed was everypony seemed to me humming a Pony Lee Lewis song. This was the polar Opposite of Manehattan, Brookmane and Canterlot. A town like this meant he could even afford to have shorter work hours on the week days. He kept looking around like one of the many tourists that frequented his home towns. 'This is what I wanted, a place where I could get away from all the hustle and bustle of the big city.' Joe thought to himself and without watching where he was going slammed right into the pink door of Sugar Cube Corner.
"Arghhh..." Joe mumbled as he pried himself off the door and entered the bakery.
He sees two familiar looking earth pony bakers behind the counter. "Hey, Carrot and...uh Pinkie? How are ya doin? Where's Mrs. Cake?"
Pinkie and Carrot Cake just looked at each other. Pinkie seemed kind of annoyed at the question.
Carrot sighed and looked at the tan unicorn in front of him. "Um...Joe, you may want to sit down for this one."
Pinkie brought over a tray of cupcakes as they began to tell relay the events of the last several months.
An hour later Joe and heard a tale of deep rooted reverse spousal abuse, a budding affair, salvation, court drama and love everlasting.
Carrot grabbed Pinkie's hoof and nuzzled her as he finished retelling their story. "At the end of all the drama, Pinkie really was My Pink Savior."(read My Pink Savation by Wintertwister if you want the back story)
Joe blinked away a few tears that had built up in his eyes. "Wow...I had no idea...Cup could could be so horrible, but I am happy for the two of ya. I'm sorry for bringing down the mood, but are we good for the party later today? I know it was such short notice"
Pinkie pulled away from Carrrot. "Yep, I got everything ready and invited the whole town."
"Okay that's wonderful, and thanks again Pinkie."
"Okie dokie loki." Pinkie said as she suddenly ran off somewhere.
Carrot shook his head and let out a slight chuckle. "I don't know if I'll ever get used to that."
"Well, it was nice catching up Carrot. I think I go explore the town till the party begins."
Meanwhile, Twilight was back at the library lying on the couch, steadying an icepack between her horn and forehead. Her horn still ached from this morning's incident, but the ice pack helped generally. She laid there thinking...thinking about the coming hours of being re-united with her long lost friend Joe Bean, but also contemplating her feelings. 'Can I be brave enough to tell him how I feel? After all this time...I've loved him distantly, but I'm scared that he doesn't feel the same.' She began to become lost in thought, but then finding her conscious returning with a question from earlier. 'Why was everypony in town humming Great Balls of Fire?'
Those were her thoughts as she drifted off to sleep.
After walking around town and getting a general understanding of where everything was Joe had arrived to his new diner/home just as the party was getting started. His Ponyville diner was even grander than his Canterlot diner, yet kept with the rustic appeal of the town. His new place was a three story and constructed with brick and stucco. It has two floors for dining a fireplace on the first floor and a covered patio area for outside dining. The third floor was Joe's new living quarters.
The party was going very well and just like Pinkie promised it looked like ninety percent of the town had showed up to the restaurant. 'I better remind myself not to get into the catering business, because competing against Sugar Cube Corner would leave me bankrupt' Joe thought as he walked around his diner greeting his guests and setting thing up for the next day.
He had seen a familiar purple dragon and what he could only assume was his date.
"Hey!" Spike called out to Joe.
"Spike! How are ya?" Pony Joe said happily, putting away the last of some supplies under the counter.
"Great, like it in Ponyville?"
"Yeah, nice and quiet town, beats Canterlot any day, don’t get me wrong I still have my first restaurant but I just needed to expand and leave the hustle and bustle of the big city...Say, where’s Twilight? I haven't seen her in awhile."
Spike shrugged. "I haven't seen her since this morning."
"Alright, hopefully I can talk with her later; I need to finish putting stuff away before more people come in." Doughnut Joe trotted into a room in the back. After a few minutes he came back out and continued to walk around his party and mingle with guests.
Suddenly Applejack spotted him a waved him over. Joe made his way to the orange mare.
"Pony Joe ah'd like to introduce ya to mah friends. This here is Pinkie."
"Applejack I've known Pinkie for a little over a year." said Joe as he rubbed the back of head.
"Hiya, Joey, do like the party I set up for you. "
"Yeah, Pinkie it's great."
Applejack looked back to Joe "Anyway this here is Rarity."
"Charmed. I know you, you're the same stallion that--" Rarity was interrupted as a certain purple unicorn mare teleported into the room her muzzle just a few inches away from Joe's, embarrassed she takes a few steps back.
Joe knew that mare anywhere. "Twilight Sparkle it's great to see you after two years." He greeted her with a smile and a light hug that made her slight blush burn a little warmer.
“Hi, Joe It’s great to see you too. It’s been a long time.” Twilight said to Joe as they faced the rest of her friends.
The others just stared at the two, while Rarity gave Twilight a slight nod which made her face warm up.
Applejack cleared her throat "The next pony here you gotta meet is our good friend Fluttershy."
"Hi, Shy." Joe said as her offered a hoof to her.
"Umm...hello" she said in her softest voice.
"She's on the timid side ain't she?"
Applejack shook her head. "She'll come around"
"Is that everyone?"
"Nah, Our friend Rainbow Dash was supposed to be here but she said she had to go visit her dad. Oddly enough I saw her flying towards Canterlot after she gave Spike a letter to send to the Princess. It's probably nothin', sugarcube."
The five of them dispersed leave leaving Pony Joe and Twilight alone to talk.
"Hey, Twilight wanna catch up on old times?"
Twilight looked at him was a raised eyebrow. "Yeah, but it's kinda noisy in here."
"We can go to my roof patio then and pull up some chairs and chat."
"Sure."
The two of them went up stairs to Joe's roof top.
Four hours later.
"...and that's when I offered to let Scootaloo stay with us." Twilight said as she finished retelling the major events since the last time they spoke. Joe told tales of unusually orders and the time Luna teleported into the store after closing and accidentally set fire to three tables. Once the two were done sharing personal anecdotes, they spoke about everything under Celestia's sun. Twilight was surprised when anypony could hold their own in a conversation with her.
"That was very kind of ya Twilight." Joe said with a hint of admiration. As she spoke it confirmed feelings that building up within Joe. Twilight was everything he wanted in a mare. She was selfless, kind, smart and beautiful.
They had noticed the party had died down and it was two in the morning. They looked at the clock and laughed.
"Well...it was nice chatting with you Twi, but I gotta get up at 6am to start making doughnuts. Oh, I know why don’t you, Spike, Scootaloo come in for breakfast my treat."
"I'd like that" Twilight smiled and was ready to leave when she realized she was forgetting something.
"Joe before I forget, I got you something." She reached into a her saddlebag and produced a navy blue and white pin striped apron with his name and the name of his diner embroidered in loki cola font. Needless to say Joe was taken aback by the gesture.
"It's fantastic Twilight...Thank ya so much." Those were the only words Joe could manage to get out. The next action Twilight took left the stallion dumbfounded. She leaned forward and gave his a peck on the cheek before trotting out the door.
Sorry for the wait.
A/N: This is kinda filler, but think of it as the stuff inside a Twinkie. Also I'm putting up the next real full chapter up later this week, It's 3.5 k words plus I'll need to edit it. Trust me, it's 70% done. College, job hunting and sobriety were killing my update pattern.
* Retcon Pony Joe will now be referred to an Doughnut Joe.
It was the grand re-opening of Doughnut Joe's Diner in Canterlot with some new changes like the rotating sign out front had been replaced with a new one done up in yellow, red and orange neon that read: The Original Doughnut Joe's. The biggest addition was that the restaurant was under the new management of Latte Bean, Joe's younger brother. The twenty year old coffee colored stallion may have seemed too young to run one of the most popular eateries in the city, but the restaurant business was in his blood, not to mention his special skill was coffee from Kona to Coltlumbia, from dark roast to the dreaded decaf, from macchiatos to yuanyangs, the young stallion knew all about his craft.
It was this passion and drive that made his obvious choice for the new manager of Joe's beloved diner. His only big flaws were his pride and love for his over-styled mane he would spend three hours getting it done and even worked in a way to keep in perfect even when wearing a mane-net while working all day. Latte was getting ready to open the store and took one last look at the mirror making sure it was perfect. 'Even while workin' I gotta be stylin' and profilin' damn I look pretty.' Latte made his way into the store to make preparations for the busy they ahead of him. The dinner never had much in terms of staff and besides the manager/baker there was a short-order cook. As for cleaning it was always done by the flip of a coin.
The only employee was Eye Patch the sixty-two year old hippogriff short order chef. He's been working there since Joe first took over the shop. He was a blessing when it came to serving the visiting griffons, dragons or frankly any other creature that ate meat. Latte cringed a little at the thought of the ancient employee with a cigarette hanging out of his beak eating another creature.
"Ay, Patchy, good mornin'." the Unicorn slapped him on the back.
"Grr abbba. Lttay, shiahhh ah startinnn, break fistsh rahsh...." Eye Patch chuckled as he puffed away on his smoke while changing the oil of the deep fat fryers and getting ready for the day. To anypony else that sentence he greeted Latte with was complete gibberish, but to Latte whom after knowing the old codger for years understood his mumbles and speech patterns.
"Yeah, I expect the morin' rush ta be something fierce, too."
Forty minutes later
Everything had been taken care of: the bathrooms and tables were clean, the fresh batch of doughnuts was on display and the coffee and espresso machines were filled with water. Latte went to the front of the diner, unlocked the door, and switched the sign to open.
"That wasn't so har--" Latte's monologue was interrupted by the breakfast rush as they trampled him trying to get to the front counter. "...ow." He mumbled as he laid on the tiled surface with his apron covered in hoof and claw marks.
He whipped out a tape recorder. "Note ta self, hire more ponies."
He began to serve his varied clientele because the shop was popular with the Cantelot elite and the diner's prices were still affortheble to the blue collar workers and college students.
A blue maned unicorn socialite popped into the store at around three in the afternoon when the lunch rush had long since ended. The stallion was flush as he had visible bags under his eyes.
"I dear, say old sport do you have what the devil did Fluer call them...um...ah yes, Pregnancy Puffs?"
Latte knew what the stallion was looking for, it was a culinary invention that Joe had came up called Pregnancy Puffs. Latte always thought the name was stupid, but that his brother was some kind of genius. They were doughnut holes magically flavored to taste like what a mother to be craved at the time ranging from hot fudge and mustard to pickles and nacho cheese. 'Eww, nasty.'
"Yes, sir we got 'em, how many?"
"Um..." The unicorn adjusted his monocle to read Latte's name tag. "...Latte, I need about three dozen and hurry, because I do fear for my life." He begged as cell phone when off and answered it. All Latte could hear was yelling in what he assumed was Prench as the tall unicorn winced.
"Sir, ya orders ready." Fancy grabbed his purchase and threw his Diamond debit card on the counter.
"Take it! IN THE WORDS OF FOTO FINISH, I GO NOW!!!" He bolted out the door with his doughnut holes.
It had been the longest day of his life. Like his brother had predicted he was greeted by the three same questions all day and he gave the same response to response to each one of them.
"Where's Joe?"
"He retired and moved out ta the country."
"Where is the bathroom?"
"Same place it's always been for the past twenty-seven years in the back."
"Can I get extra sprinkles?"
"Yes."
The oddest request that happened was when an older attractive mare asked Latte to sing a birththey song to her foal. "Miss we don't hava birthday song..." He saw an opportunity as he looked into her pleading eyes. "...but we do, now." Latte made a fool out himself, but it wasn't in vane, because when he was done the mare threw a piece of paper with her address, phone number and left the store with a seductive smile. 'Alright, giggity, giggity.'
Patchy shot him a disapproving glare and shook his head. "Shebee frrrr ba, yeabeee ah mn-whur."
Latte smiled. "Don't judge me, when's the last time ya got any? Cloudstock '68?"
"..."
"Yeah, thought so, now let's get workin' on the special order for the palace tonight."
To say it was a massive order was an understatement, but sadly according to Joe this was a regular order for castle...well since the gala had been decimated two years ago and the princess and the elements of harmony had visited the store.
After about an hour later Latte and Eye Patch had finished the castle's order and Latte was going over it one last time. "Let's see...Celestia's personal doughnut mixed shipment of three dozen glazed crullers and classic cake doughnuts. There is two barrels of Kona coffee for Luna's night court, twelve dozen bacon covered coconut cream filled éclairs smothered in waffle batter for Discord. Whew! It must be nice being immortal and not have to worry about things like calories, diabetes or getting fat."
Luna's royal guards came in with a trailer to escort the precious cargo to the princesses and the god of chaos. Speaking of whom allowed the dinner and a few other stores to be spared from Chaos Fridays as he called it.
Latte's day was finally winding down at around three in the morning. On the weekends the little dinner was popular in the early mornings because the clubs were starting to let out and their patrons were exhausted drunk and hungry. There was one other diner open that late or that early depending on how you viewed it. The name of the restaurant was Dreary's located off of 84th street and to put it politely it sucked and the brothers always made an in-joke about the chain of cheap, low quality restaurants.
"Dreary's, it's 2AM there's still time for one more bad decision."
The great thing about the customers you get this late at night or early in the morning were the stories they told and the company they brought with them. Once in awhile a celebrity would walk in as well and as customary they ate free, but had to take a photo and autograph it so it could placed on the wall. Tonight was no exception however, these celebrities were familiar faces; it was the talented MC W1SH and the "sensational" Sapphire Shores.
"...and like I was sayin' you can't give a toaster oven to...um Sapphire how'd it go again?" MC W1SH was trying to remember the punch line of his story.
"You can't give a toaster oven to a lovesick gerbil because it'll *BLEEEEEEEP, BLEEP, BLEEP* with a rubber hose and *BLEEP* taco stand." Everyone laughed at their fairy raunchy tale about the time their tour bus crashed into a pet store.
Sadly all good things must come to an end and as Eye Patch left it time to close up the shop and head for a much needed sleep and get ready for another day. All and all it wasn't as bad as Joe had made it seem, as Latte switched the sigh to closed and turned off the neon sign, locked up and went up stairs to bed.
Thanks for being patient and the next chapter will be out soon.
The Finale?
A/N: Sorry for the long wait and for Grammar Hounds the spelling of doughnut and donut are both grammatically correct as ‘donut’ is the shortened version of the word. If you see inconsistencies with the name Pony Joe that’s do to me fixing the series retcon of the name to Doughnut Joe.
The sun was just beginning to rise over the landscape of Equestria and Twilight made sure to get up early today. Last night she thought about Joe's offer to treat her and her two wards to breakfast, she was more than happy to spend more time with Joe. Twilight had actually managed to wake up before her young assistant this morning, she first trotted over to Spike’s room and poked her head through the doorway after opening it a crack.
"Spike, it’s time to wake up." She told her assistant, knowing just the right volume to wake him up without being too loud.
Spike’s head arose from his bed, "Huh, Breakfast? What did I sleep in again?" He asked as he rubbed his eyes, trying to wake himself up more.
Twilight let out a light giggle, “No, Joe said he would treat us to breakfast this morning, and I thought it would be nice to let you relax for one morning.”
Spike hopped up out of bed and walked over to Twilight, still stretching, “Alright, sounds good.”
She quickly patted Spike on the head, teasing him as a mother would, “Wake up your girlfriend and she can come too.”
Spike’s purple scales became crimson and he was too nervous to say anything back. He just nodded and half-jogged off to go to Scootaloo’s room.
Ponyville in its early hours of the dawn was a sight to be appreciated by anyone with an eye. Its peaceful atmosphere of a simple country town was calming to say the least. The stores and carts were just starting to be set up; ready to make today’s bit. The Flower Triplets were taking their anxiety medication, less something different walks into town and gives them a heart attack. Sweeps was cleaning the town's cobble stones, always the nocturnal pony; he made sure the streets stayed clean while everyone was asleep. Aside from the merchants getting ready and custodial work being done, Ponyville was void of life. As the three of them walked through the town early in the morning, Spike questioned why they were up so early to which Twilight responded because Joe wanted get us our food before the diner opened and avoid the rush.
After ten minutes of walking they made it to Doughnut Joe's. The lights were on but the sign in the door said: Closed. They waited for a few minutes and out walked Joe placing newspapers in the rack by the door.
"Good Mornin' Twilight, Spike and uh…uh ..." Joe paused trying to remember the pegasus's name as Spike had introduced her."...Scootaloo?" He received a nod of approval from the filly.
There was an awkward twenty second pause. "Oh, where’re ma manners? Please come in." Joe said hastily.
Twilight grabbed a paper with an interesting headline: Appleloosa’s New Mayor Wins by landslide: Braeburn Apple. She continued reading the story about how Braeburn head of the local Apple farm and Appaloosa tourism board won the election. Just as she read the beginning of the article the diner's corner television set to the Canterlot News Network was talking about the very same story.
"...and in political news the growing frontier settlement of Appleloosa just elected its third mayor, Mr. Braeburn Apple. Here with us in the field is Glitchy Hooves."
The cycloptic newspony was checking his ear piece behind him were large crowds of ponies, buffalos, balloons and confetti. Everything seemed situated near a large podium. "Thank you, Gale. It's political pandemonium here, the celebration is huge and hopes are high for the recently elected Mayor Braeburn. In just a few moments we've been told that he will be making a public acceptance speech and he w--" The doors behind the podium opened and Braeburn wearing his iconic akubra hat stepped out along with two other ponies and a buffalo cow. Glitchy's camera-colt zoomed in on the newly elected mayor.
The amber earth pony cleared his throat and smiled. "I'm proud to be elected this here mayor of our AAAPPLELOOOOSA!!! I'd like to take a moment to say thank to all the folk that made this possible. First I'd like to thank y'all for votin’ for me, next I like to thank my family for their support and last but not least I'd like to thank my supportive wife Little Strongheart, WHOO!!! Babe we did it!!!" The orange cow blushed and facehooved at the same time at the excited new mayor whom despite his status was still the same hillbilly that everyone had come to love and respect. Braeburn continued to thank everything and everyone in what was sure to become the longest thank you speech of all time.
As they were busy watching the news, sitting at the front counter, Joe to the back room to check on his inventory for a moment and get their breakfast.
"Hey uh… Twi? Why are you so happy to be here?" Scootaloo noticed how Twilight seemed to be at the moment.
She was sitting down happily on a stool with her hooves politely on the counter. "Well, in Canterlot I used to go to Joe's to grab a bite to eat, and burn the midnight oil." She replied, thinking of the happy memories.
"What does oil have to do with anything?" Scootaloo asked, clueless.
"She means study." Spike answered for Twilight.
"Oh..."
"I was practically raised there." Spike suddenly piped up.
"Spike, that's not tr..." Twilight recalled the amount of time she brought Spike with her to Joe's diner in Canterlot even when his dad owned the restaurant. Then she remembered that Spike's first words were: extra sprinkles."Okay, you may have a point Spike."
Spike turned to his girlfriend and started to explain why he loved Joe’s so much, telling her about all the times he spent in his younger childhood in his eatery.
Twilight wasn’t paying attention to either of them; she had her hooves propped up on the counter, supporting her head as she awaited Joe to come back.
Joe was in the back, making sure he made them a special breakfast, he loaded a large platter with donuts in an arranged circle, and in the center he made a heart framed with doughnut wholes with a ‘T’ in the center. He felt shaky and hoped Twilight would see it, he picked up the platter and attempted to carry it to the front. He almost dropped it after a few steps so he took a few deep breaths to calm himself.
“Okay Joe, ya got this, just like any other mare back at ho-…” He stopped himself, and felt bad. Twilight wasn’t like any mares back home, he actually really liked her. Her hair, her voice, and her nerdy little idiosyncrasies she had always made him smile. He took one last deep breath and steadied himself as he trotted back into the view of the others. He saw them all patiently waiting happily.
Joe set down the platter in front of all three of them, and he waited to see Twilight’s reaction.
Her eyes were glued to only him and she did a little awkward wave.
Joe smiled and he looked down at the platter, to signal her to check it, but he saw both Spike and Scootaloo already attacking the platter of doughnuts and ruined his love message.
A few moments later Scootaloo looked up from the meal at a clock that hung on the other side of the counter, near where Joe was standing, a mouth full of donuts. “Mmph mph!”
Spike swallowed his mouth full of doughnuts, “What?”
Scootaloo forced hers down, “It’s time to go to school, and I’ll be late! Ugh… Cherilee is going to give me detention again.”
“No you won’t, I know a shortcut.” Spike jumped off his stool and waited for her.
She jumped off her stool and landed at Spike’s side, “Thanks Spike I-“
Spike was nuzzling her, forcing her face to turn five shades of red.
She stood there frozen.
“Payback is fun.” Spike said quickly before walking forward after getting revenge for making him snort soot.
Scootaloo stood frozen for a moment longer, but then quickly galloped after Spike, “H-hey! Wait for me!”
There was that brief awkward moment of silence as Spike and Scootaloo left the diner. Joe was the first to speak. "Errr...anyway I got about twenty minutes before this place officially opens up, so why don't we continue where we left off yesterday. Ya mentioned somethin' about Spike being able ta cook."
"Oh yes, Spike's a terrific chef, why do you ask?"
"well, if the morning rush is anything like back in Canterlot, I gonna need ta hire a second cook."
The two make more small talk, Joe mentions the time in when he was confused for Con Mane when he went to visit his parents back in Manehattan and they continue to talk until the clock chimed nine signaling it was time for the diner to open and as Joe looks toward the front door and sees a line forming outside.
"Well, m'lady this is where we must part." Joe says in his cheesiest voice and smirk.
Twilight laughed and ruffled up his mane. "Bye Joe, I need to head down to the train station to pick up a new book order. I'll make sure to give Spike your message."
Later Spike got Joe's message and was back at the diner.
"Hey, Spike Twilight said you are quit the cook and I need to hire some ponies to help me run the diner. I need reliable employees, but I lack knowledge of any available locals I can trust to get the job done. My point is would ya like a part-time job?"
"We'll it'd be nice to have something to do while Scoot's and my friends are at school. Plus some spending money would be nice too, so okay. "
"Great anyway ya wouldn't happen ta know anyone else interested in a job? Like I said I need others ta help run things. "
Spike tapped his claw against the counter trying to think of ponies he knew and one name stuck out: Truffles. The slate gray colt he met at the Copper Kettle cooking competition a few years back and since then the two had formed a friendly rivalry. "I think I know somepony that fits that desciption. His name is Truffles and he's a great cook." Spike would never admit it, but Truffles was better in some ways.
"What about those friends of yers?"
Spike knew Applebloom did not receive her families cooking skills and her dishes ranged from burnt to charcoal. Sweetie Bell, if what Rarity had told him was to be believed could burn juice. His Scootaloo had no interest in cooking. Last there was Snips and Snails, which he started to have a day dream over what those two could do to Joe's diner if left alone for more than ten minutes.
(Enter Spike's daydream sequence)
It was quiet in the dinner the lunch rush had come and gone, leaving a pair of blue and yellow unicorn colts by themselves.
"Hey Snails look at this book I found the other day in a locked trunk of my attic." The two looked at the brown wrinkly cover.
"Gosh Snips it looks really old. What do you think it is?"
"I think it says...um...Nominecrocon. Must be a cook book!" Snips exclaimed as the of them fired off a single brain cell thinking that they could get a raise if they make something super delicious.
"Snip, I think I found something called: Chothulu."
"Hmmm, chocolate? Perfect! Let's read what it says."
The two began to read aloud from the ancient text. "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn."
"I think that sounded like a whole bunch of gibberish." Snails looked outside. "Hey Snips."
"Yeah?"
"Is is scheduled to rain blood?"
Then from the darkest cloud a winged figure apea--
"Spike!!!"
"Huh? What?"
"I was asking you why not any of yer friends?"
"Oh, yeah. They aren't into cooking, sorry."
The two spent the next fifth teen minutes going over Spike's responsibilities as well as basic safety requirements for food preparation. The young dragon just took in everything and was lucky that it wasn't anything more than basic common sense.
"So, I'll see ya bright and early tomorrow, Spike."
On Twilight's end of the spectrum.
Twilight had left the diner looking very calm and collected, but on the inside she was feeling the same kind of love sickness that would affect a filly with her first crush. She bit her lip and knew that she had to see one mare in town, however since Rainbow Dash was unavailable for relationship advice she had to settle for Rarity. Of course that would have to wait till after she picked up that book delivery.
Twenty-three minutes and three cargo crates later, the lavender colored mare opened the door Carousel Boutique.
Rarity heard the chime of the front door and trotted into the front to greet a possible new customer with her store's slogan when she realized it was Twilight. "Oh, Twilight how can I help you? Here for another gift for your special somepony." She emphasized the last word with an arched eye brow and a smirk.
The normally composed bookworm blushed as she finally gave in to friend's needling. "I...need advice." Twilight said doing her best impression of Fluttershy.
The white mare squeed in delight at someone had finally come to her for help. "Why but of course, I'd be delighted to help you, darling."
"Thank you Rarity. It's just that I've started talking to him yesterday at his welcoming party; one part of me says, 'I'm going too fast and that I need to think this through logically' and another part of me says, 'I'm going too slow.' I don't know what to do and books, my beloved books can't help me with this." Twilight said in a very rushed manner on the verge of hyperventilating.
"If you pardon me for saying this, but it doesn't feel rushed at all; you mentioned that you had known him since you both were foals."
Twilight remembered when she was first meet Joe.
(Flashback)
Twilight must of been around four years old when her father: Night Light first took her to that little doughnut shop in Canterlot named Splash and Dash Donuts. It was kind of a father/daughter outing as Shining was out with his friends. She could remember the smells of bitter coffee and fresh pastries coming out of the fryers. Then there was owner was a massive tan unicorn with a coffee mug for his cutie mark. Needless to say the little filly was terrified of the stallion and hid behind her father's hooves. Then she noticed a much smaller version of the same stallion, but with green eyes and without his cutie mark. He was putting donuts into boxes for another customer.
As he jumped down from the step stool he noticed the wide-eyed purple filly and while she was still hidden behind the forelegs of her father the colt offered her a glazed doughnut with extra sprinkles.
"Would ya like dwonuth?" The colt said with his last word ending in a lisp.
Hesitantly she grabbed the fried sticky pastry and with one test bite to make sure it was safe, she almost inhaled it on the second bite causing both stallions in the room to laugh as well as the colt and the blissfully unaware Twilight...
(End Flashback)
"Um...Twilight, darling?"
The librarian broke out of her day dream. "Oh, sorry Rarity. I was just thinking about the time I first meet Joey."
All the fashionista could do was smirk. "I don't think you have to question yourself on whether or not you're going too fast. I will say that in your case there is no reward without taking a risk."
For as simple as Rarity's advice was she had to admit that it did make a lot of sense. Doughnut Joe wasn't a new face and before she came to Ponyville other than her brother and Spike, the tan unicorn was one of her only friends.
Twilight gave a sigh of relief. "Thanks Rarity."
"Anytime, but if you ever need to make use of one of my ensemble do not hesitate to stop by the Boutique."
Twilight walked out the door and thanked Rarity once more before heading back to the library.
Later, that day Joe made up his mind and trotted to the Ponyville library just as the sun was setting and knocked on the door. 'Fortune favors the bold.'
"Hey Twi, I was wonderin' if you'd like to go grab a bite ta eat tomorrow night, maybe see a movie afterwards?" Joe felt hesitant as he had under no pretenses asked her out again.
Twilight looked at the doughnut marked stallion trying to read his expression before asking her own question hoping that she was wrong. "You mean as friends right?"
Doughnut Joe sighed. "No, not as friends. Something more...the truth is I like you a lot and I wanted ta ask you on a date for the longest time." Joe braced himself for impact.
"yes."
"Huh?" The normally bold and outspoken unicorn found himself confused and at a lose of words that would have made Big Mac seem talkative.
"I said, yes Joey. I would like to go out with you tonight. What time do you want to pick me up?" Twilight had taken the advice Rarity had given her and that is you want something don't be afraid to just go for it. 'Not that Joe was a thing, but rather a...oh I'm monologuing to myself. I need to stop, but there are so many variables and I ne--' Joe interrupted her train of thought.
"Um, Twilight I was saying is six o'clock, good? That way we can catch an early dinner and then we can see what's playing and decide where ta go from there."
The Next Day.
Spike walked Scootaloo to school. Instead of heading back to the library the young dragon took off towards Donut's Joe's Diner for his first day of work. He was humming Workin' For A Livin' as he made his way through town.
After about ten or so minutes he clad in his paper hat and apron was in the swing of things has he tackled the breakfast rush with such ease making his employer double take at the drake's quickness and organization. The years of Twilight's OCD behavior and timed cooking competitions had forged his mind into something stronger than steel. No order was too much for him.
"Hay bacon, three fried eggs, and two sides of hash browns!"
"Egg white omelet, no cheese and a covered in salsa verde!"
"Sixteen imaginary cupcakes and a bowl of coleslaw!"
Spike would chime in every so often with the ringing of a bell and two words. "ORDER UP!"
By the time the breakfast rush had basically died down the kitchen looked like the sight of ancient and grizzly battlefield as egg shells, grease, paper wrappers and assorted food debris littered the small area.
While Spike was cleaning up Joe was trying to get the overstuffed cash register to close. "Why...can't...Equestria use paper...ugh...money like the Griffin Empire....gah...*click*... whew, finally." The stallion happy that he was able to get the damn thing to click shut after several minutes of pushing and banging the cash tray to stay shut.
Joe went back into the kitchen to discuss some business with his new employee. However, when the donut marked stallion got there, he was once again shocked as the entire cooking area that less than fifteen minutes ago looked like a parasprite invasion now looked even cleaner than when Joe built the diner. "Aye Spike, ya still there? I got something I need ta talk to ya about."
"I'm in the walk in freezer; I'll be right out." The little dragon emerged covered in cooking grease set on fire.
To say Joe was confused would have been an understatement. "Uhhh..."
"What? Oh this?" Spike pointed to the smoldering lumps of cooking grease burning on his scales. "I'm cold blooded and that freezer would be the end of me, so I set myself on fire so I could do my job, neat huh?" He used his long tongue and licked the flaming vegetable shortening off causing him to spin like a top for a few seconds.
"First, I'll give ya points for thinkin' outside the box. Second, that's wicked nasty. Third, I have somethings I'd like ta discuss with ya."
"Alrighty, what did you need?"
"I kinda need ya ta come in tonight and work from five until closing."
"Um, sure." Spike looked somewhat disappointed and Joe knew the look from back in his own younger years when his dad made him come into work on Friday nights.
"Tell ya what, since there's no one else workin' here, I'll give ya time and a half." With those last words Spike's face perked back up.
The young drake with renewed spirits and the promise of more bits gave his boss a mock salute. "You can count on me."
"Since it's pretty much dead around here till the dinner rush, go and take the afternoon off and be back here at 4:30." Doughnut Joe ruffled Spike's head spines and sent him on his way.
The dragon took off his apron and paper hat and walked out of the diner. Joe sighed. "It's easier to keep a good employee happy than it is to train a bad one." Joe said to himself as he went upstairs to get ready for his date.
Several Hours Later.
Joe stood outside the library in a dress shirt and blazer with his mane combed back and knocked on the door.
Twilight opened the second story window. "Be down in just a few minutes." After she closed the window the sounds of banging, glass shattering as well as symphony of other odd sounds could be heard leaving Joe dumbfounded.
The purple mare finally emerged from her home fifteen minutes later wearing something she borrowed from her fashionable friend.
"Sorry, about the wait." Twilight replied in a a sheepish tone.
"Don't worry abo--" Joe took in the sight of his date and was at a loss of words. "er...wow." That's all the light tan stallion could say as in his mind he turned into that stereotypical howling diamond dog from those Tex Aviary cartoons he used to watch as a foal.
Twilight couldn't help but giggle at Joe's display as he finally broke out of his trance. "Shall we be on our way Miss Sparkle?" He took out the flower from his jacket and placed it behind her ear trying to recover any charm points he may have lost for his early actions.
At Joe's Diner, Spike is cleaning up the store at night, after he agreed to work an extra shift. The diner itself was relatively dead as it was almost closing time as chairs were overturned and placed on the tables and the floored were swept clean from the earlier dinner crowd. Just as Spike began to reflect today’s events the door he heard the door open. 'Crap.' Spike thought as he feared it might be a late night patron and started to mentally chastise himself for not switching the "open" sign to "closed."
He turned his head to see who had walked into the vacant restaurant. "Sorry, we're clo--" The drake was met with two familiar faces and a third not so familiar face. "Snips, and Snails and uh..."
"Oh, this is Rumble and he's hangin' out with us tonight."
Spike put his apron on the hook behind him as he continued to wipe down the counters. "Alright, where are you guys goin' tonight?"
"Not just us, but you as well." Snips countered Spike's question.
"We heard from a reliable source that you get off work in a few minutes."
"Uh Snips, I thought we just looked at the closing time chart outside."
"That's beside the point, so Spike wanna do something awesome and dangerous."
Spike put the rag away and stepped out from where he was working. 'Scootaloo said she was having a sleep over with the rest of the CMC's and whatever they're planning couldn't be worse than the Ursa Minor incident.'
"Awww, what the hell? I'm in!!!" He clinched his claws into a fist and brohoofed the other three colts. They left the dinner as soon as Spike locked up the back and front doors.
After about twelve minutes of following his friends Spike was curious what adventure they had planned for tonight. He was about to question where exactly they were going, but they stopped in front of a small house letting him now that they had reached their destination.
"We're here." Whispered Snips to the other three guys.
"Yeah, but what exactly are we doin' here?"
"We're going on a sock raid." The short blue unicorn said as his other partners in crime looked a tad nervous.
"Once we climb the window via this rope. Snails where's the rope?"
"Oh, it right here." Snails levitated a length of rope from his saddle bags.
Spike was actually dumbfounded because in all the time he had known the two colts this was as close to a coherent plan they have ever had the brain power to form. 'Still, why not have Rumble fly in and unlock the front door?'
They actually made it inside without any issues and as the four of them rummaged through the dresser drawers they suddenly heard the lights flicker on and saw the silhouette of a familiar pony in the door way.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY HOME!?”
"Uh oh, she's home early." Snails said slowly.
"Shit, you MORONS didn't say this was Mayor Mare's house!" Spike half shouted as he attempted to whisper.
Rumble, whom had been going with the flow up until now turned to the other three. "RUN!!!"
Snips, snails, Spike and Rumble bolted for the open window which now seemed further than it was when they first started his stupid quest. The grey colt flew out the window with minimal effort. As the other three closed in on their goal, Snips tripped on a hair brush on the floor.
Snails turned to Spike as they ran toward the window. "Should we help him, aye?"
"Are you kidding? It's every dra...err guy for himself." The two jumped out the window thankful for the azalea bushes that cushioned their fall.
The two of them proceeded to run down for another two blocks and hid behind a corner.
Out of breath the purple dragon tried to recollect his thoughts. "I think we’re...*pant* safe no--" Rumble appeared out of nowhere and caused Spike and Snails to scream like frightened fillies as not even Snails knew his voice could go that high.
Once everything was settled Rumble turned to his other partners in crime. "Ya think Snips will rat us out?"
"Nah, we did a Pinkie promise before we picked you up, aye." One cue Pinkie materialized out of a nearby drainage pipe in the alley.
"Foreveeeeer." She said stretching out that last syllable.
The three of them shrugged. "Anyway, since this whole adventure thing sucked, let's go get some pizzas and go to my house and we can play my brother's Cross-Station." Rumble suggested and that was exactly what they did for the rest of the night.
While that going on, the cutie mark crusaders were having a slumber party in their clubhouse.
"...and like I was saying, it's weird that Rainbow is hardly ever in Ponyville lately. When I asked her she said it was family related and flew towards Canterlot." The orange filly shrugged her shoulders.
Applebloom changed the subject. "Oh, did ya see the look on Diamond Tiara's face when Truffles told her off? It was really somethin’."
(Flashback to earlier that day)
It was lunch time at Ponyville Elementary School and a certain pink earth pony and her silver coated lackey were harassing the other foals and this time they were bothering a husky grey colt.
Silver Spoon was repeating the insults her obnoxious friend said to the colt. "Like, you're just a fat loser and the only thing that separates you from those blank flanks is a fork and knife...how do you even get a cutie mark for eating anyway?" The two of them laughed at their own jokes.
Truffles was a relatively calm colt, he recently moved to Ponyville from the Equestrian providence of Balegium to live with his father Horte Cuisine. The annoying fillies in front of him chose today to bully him, but the fat jokes meant nothing to him. Sure he had buttons but they weren't pushing them and eventually they realized it too, so they gave up and moved on to someone else...that was a mistake.
"Urgh, whatever tubby. Hey Silver let's go, I feel fatter just by being around him." The two fillies left and made their way towards the tiny pinto colt playing with Dinky Whooves.
It wasn't a pretty sight as two resident brats started their game of insults by attacking Dinky's wall-eyed mother and Pipsqueak’s height and blotchy coat.
All the earlier jabs didn't get to him, but when the two school terrors started attacking his friends well, 'now it was time to get angry.'
The rest of the foals on the lunch benches watched Truffles get up and like a mighty stone golem made his way towards the offending fillies.
"Leave them alone." The last word tented with a slight accent.
"Well, well if isn't the chubby cherub from Prance come to save the day."
They had just pushed another button. "It's Balegium for the thousandth time, chienne." His father would be very cross over the vulgarity. "Leave them alone, now." He said once more but this time slightly raising his voice.
They ignored him and continued to verbally abuse Pip and Dinky mostly because they ran out of fat jokes and didn't know any cultural stereotypes about his previous home.
"I said stop it! You two aren't anything special, unless special ed. counts." The little grey colt paused so that that the rest of foals could take in his words.
The two fillies in front of him just stood there dumbstruck as they tried to use as a comeback. "Y-yeah, we'll um...ah...you're --" Diamond was interrupted by Truffles.
"You're a proof the money can't buy a personality. You called my cutie mark useless, when yours is a Celestia damned accessory! Your name really does suit you, because like a low grade gem you're covered in flaws." The normally defiant filly just shrank lower and lower.
He turned his attention to Silver Spoon. "Attendez, I haven't even started on you, because in many ways you're actually worse. Diamond is a jerk, but at least she's an original 'jerk'." He used air quotes to make his point. "I bet you haven't ever had an original thought of your own, since...well ever." The colt ended his verbal assault on the two snobs. As soon as they left the area the lunch area cheered him on and he helped Pip and Dinky to their hooves giving both his best friends a brohoof and a hug respectively.
(End of flashback)
Applebloom was stuck in a dreamy trance as she recalled his verbal flank kickin' of the two stuck up bullies and his reasons for doing it in the first place.
"Applebloom, Applebloom!" The yellow filly didn't respond and a mischievous Sweetie Belle got an idea as she called Scootaloo and whispered her plan.
"I like it." Scootaloo giggled at the prank.
Sweetie Belle covered her ears and their resident pegasus cleared her throat. The tree house was assaulted by a high pitch scream in A-sharp.
"AHHHHH!!!" Applebloom screamed as she was broken from her thoughts by the deafening roar of her pegasus friend and once the other two were satisfied with her reaction they broke out laughing.
Applebloom glared at her friends. "Very funny." Her voice dripped with sarcasm.
"We thought it was. You were practically drooling while thinking about Truffles." Sweetie smirked as heat spread to the face of the yellow filly.
Scootaloo got up an took off one of the curtains from the windows in an attempt to mimic Bloom's bow. "Oh, Truffles start speakin' fancy ta me." The orange filly cooed as she tried to do an impression of her earth pony friend. Sweetie Belle was watching all this while she munched on a bag a popcorn she brought with her for the sleepover.
Once Scootaloo and Sweetie had their fun, they both met with a set of pillows to face by Applebloom. The clubhouse descended into a free for all battle of laughing fillies and some lighthearted revenge.
As for Twilight's and Joe's Date.
Twilight and Joe were seated at Rojo Del Pan. It was a one story cream colored restaurant with a terra cotta roof, outside patio seating and out front nestled in some rocks and cacti was an old wagon wheel that bore its name. Joe's choice in restaurant surprised her mostly because she didn't even know Ponyville had a place like this. "I've never had Cubban food before Joe."
"Yeah, ya don't usually find places that like this outside the Griffin Empire or major cities in Equestria let alone the kinda that cater to pony diets. They had a few places like this in Manehattan and I figured ya might want ta try something new."
The waiter came by to take their orders. Joe opted for the squash paella where as for his recommendation Twilight ordered a mixed flower creole. During the wait and throughout their dinner to which Twilight really enjoyed and proclaimed "that when I'm buried to line the casket with the creole sauce." Joe laughed at the comment and truth be told it felt great for Twilight to cut loose and enjoy herself in the company of one of her oldest friends. They made light conversation and talked about what had been going on in each others respective lives. Joe told her about how his parents were getting remarried for the nineteenth time in twenty-five years. Twilight told him the story about how she almost destroyed the town because of her own obsessive behavior. Both got a good laugh from each others tales.
"....then you and my brother told me about the bi-pedal monster that made pony bones into a fat free desert and I was so scared I slept in my parents’ room for a week."
"How were we supposta know ya'd buy into an old pony story?" Joe scratched his chin. "I guess it didn't help that when you were finally asleep that night we jumped out of the closet yelling we are the Jell-O harvesters." The two broke out laughing at the prank Shinning and Joe played on her as a filly.
That's pretty much how the rest of their dinner played out until they realized it was almost time for their movie.
(About Two Hours Later)
After the movie they were talking about how great it was and they are walking back to the library.
It was almost midnight when the unicorn pair left the theater. The two had gone to a showing of Displaced in Explanation which was a romantic comedy about a washed up actor and a young married mare. Oddly enough Joe actually was just as adamant about the film as Twilight.
"I wonder what Bill Mulery whispered into her ear?"
"I bet it was just right." They both squeed at the thought and in the process Joe may have lost several stallion cards right then and there.
They both continued to talk about it as they walked back to the library. When they arrived at their destination, Joe had finished telling her about the time someone tried to rob his diner. "...and then I used my Brookmane Rage and flung the thug into the Milkshake machine." Twilight laughed at the absurdity of the story.
The two looked were at the door and at each other not really sure what do or say next. "Um, thank you Joey I had a lovely time tonight..." Twilight wasn't sure what to do next since she decided against reading The Egghead's Guide to Dating Childhood Friends.
Joe went to give Twilight a peck on the cheek and say good night to her, but just as he moved forward she turned her head causing him to miss his target and plant one her lips. He was going to pull back and apologize but he was shocked when Twilight leaned into him deepening the kiss.
Eventually the two of them had to come up for air as they parted their heads both blushing madly and blurting out sentence fragments. "That was...Uh...I mean...um wonderful."
"I love you Twilight Sparkle." Joe said in a quick rushed manner and worried that things may be moving too fast.
The Purple mare then erased any fears he had with her next words. ""I love you too...Joey" She said with a smirk. They both were worried that they were moving too fast, but then they realized if they were perfect strangers then yes, but they knew each other since they were foals and built up a solid foundation of friendship.
Twilight opened the door and turned back to her doughnut marked companion. "Hey would you like to come inside for some coffee?"
Joe simply nodded and trotted inside the library. As the new couple made their way to the kitchen, they both realized that an old friendship could become Something More. Of course little did they know the about the upcoming excitement that awaited them as the streets were covered in flyers in no part thanks to a certain pink mare that read: Dash's Dad is a Scary Looking Alien, but Welcome Him Anyway Because he's Not Gonna Hurt You Party, Tomorrow at 5PM at Sugar Cube Corner. That is a story for another time.
The End
Some things I need to get out of the way:
Rojo Del Pan is based off a real Cuban restaurant named La Carreta about 30 minutes from where I live. One in Miami and another near Hollywood.
I am writing a chapter that explains what happened to Rainbow Dash as well as a sequel story that takes place 5 and 10 years later.
Special thanks goes to user: WinterTwister.
Thanks for waiting, 6.5k was a lot to edit and I'm back.
