Twilight stared down at Spike, disapprovingly, as they walked through the streets of Ponyville. “Honestly Spike, you couldn’t act anymore childish?”
“I just don’t see the point in dragging me into town with you, just to buy a new quill.” said Spike, defensively, “I’d be more than happy to stay and clean up the library.”
“Although we both know you would just go back to sleep.” Twilight muttered under her breath, “In any case, you shouldn’t have gone so far as to scorching my bed sheets, just out of irritation. You know, sometimes Spike, you have got to start acting your age!”
The words had barely left Twilight lips, when they heard a scream coming from up the street. They both ran as quickly as they could, to realise that it was coming from Sugar Cube Corner. Twilight was beginning to feel worried, she had never heard Mrs Cake scream like that before, but before she could do anything, the door flew open and two stallions stumbled out, gasping for breath.
Even without Pinkie Pie to point it out, Twilight could clearly see that these two were not resident of Ponyvillle. One of them was a tall and lanky stallion, and judging by the white of his short mane and moustache, he was obviously in his later years of life. He wore light-rimmed glasses, with a dark grey cap, placed neatly on his head. He also had a shirt and tie, and a green military field jacket. Twilight noticed his Cutie Mark looked like a wooden sign.
The second Pony was slightly shorter that the other, and had more of a build in his body as well. Twilight assumed that he must be around the same age, because although his mane still had its black colour, there were patches of grey and white starting to appear, and as he had removed his flat cap to wipe his brow, there was already a bald patch starting to appear. He too was wearing a shirt and tie, but he was more covered up; he was wearing a yellowish-brown jumper over the shirt, while over that, was a black waistcoat, and over that, he wore a light grey jacket. His Cutie Mark looked like a piece of flooring. As they stood there, catching their breath, Mrs Cake came storming out, hitting a third stallion across the head, with a baking tray. Her mane was sticking out in places, and her apron was hanging off her body slightly. She gave them all a good whack with the tray and stormed back into the store, while Twilight examined the third one, and knew one thing, if Rarity saw him, she would have fainted.
This stallion was an absolute mess. His white mane looked as if it hadn’t seen a brush for years, and was sticking out of a tatty lime-green woolly hat, while his chin and muzzle were flecked with unshaven stubble. He had a white neckerchief wrapped around his neck, wearing a grey jumper, which had a great big hole in the middle. His brown jacket wasn’t any better. It looked battered, and was patched and frayed in certain places. Pieces of the fabric had been torn away completely, and in some places, he had carelessly sewn over the holes with fabric, which were quite noticeable, as they were a different shade of brown to the jacket, and on his hind legs, he wore a pair of old, dirty and battered looking wellies, and his Cutie Mark was nothing, but just one bit.
When Mrs Cake had gone back into Sugar Cube Corner, and they had got their breath back, the tall pony went over and gave the scruffy one another hit across the head and said, “Why on Earth did you have to grab the woman?”
“Well, it charges me batteries!” replied the scruffy one, giving a very cheeky giggle.
“I’ve never been too fond of batteries.” said the stallion in the grey jacket, “You never really seem to notice just how much of life can consist of simply changing a battery.”
The other two raised their eyebrows at him, and then the scruffy one broke the silence by saying, “Well thought, Norm. However, the opposite sex is always just one way.” and from inside one of his pockets, he pulled out a slightly crushed cupcake, and walked off, chewing loudly. The others rolled their eyes and followed. Twilight stood there for a second, watching them, until she finally decided to go into the bakery.
When the doorbell jingled, Mrs Cake rushed out of the kitchen, brandishing a rolling pin, and looking frantic. When she saw that it was Twilight however, she lowered it, slowly, “Oh, it’s you dearie. Is there anything you want?”
“No thank you.” said Twilight, and then in an uncertain sort of voice, she asked “What exactly happened here?”
Mrs Cake’s back arched slightly at the question, her eyes darted straight at Twilight, “Never, in all my years.” she breathed, quietly, “I was just minding the counter, when THOSE three…”, she cried out, looking as though she may actually hit Twilight with the rolling pin either way and pointing at the door, “they asked for some simple cupcakes, but my eyes were stuck on that one in the wellies. I could see his eyes were lingering on more than the cakes in the display counter. Anyway, as I went to fetch their order, he had sneaked around the counter and… everything else was a blur.” she shuddered slightly, “And as I ran into the kitchen, he followed me, and started chasing me, as if he was a colt again, but he soon stopped when I gave the back of my best baking tray.”
Twilight had to stifle a laugh at this story, and by the end of it, she still wasn’t sure whether she should feel interested that these stallions, who looked old enough to be her grandfather, were still finding some of the enjoyments in life, and to feel disapproved at the fact that despite their age, they still had the mind-set of a bunch of school-colts.
