Breakfast - Caramelized fond

>You are Shimmer Light.
>Hexferry doesn't have anything planned for today, so you'll just be walking back from the market.
>... Alone.
>Hexferry is busy with Caramel.
>That's fine, she has a life and other friends to attend to, you can't be the only pony she knows.
>You keep on calling yourself her friend.
>Once again, that'll never stop being odd.
>... You bought some pancake mix from the market today.
>Hexferry has planned a sleepover at your house for a few days from now, you need to make sure you have food she can eat.
>You can even make some into a pancake milkshake.
>Those are fairly good.
>You also have a few other foods Hexferry can eat, but you don't have any special plans for them.
>They'll probably just sit there until she finishes them off or they go bad.
>And you always check the expiration dates of your foods.
>Nothing imperfect stayed in your house, that was your policy.
>... You'll keep that mindset for cleaning, but you won't keep it otherwise.
>You found the hard way you're far from perfect.
>"Miss Shimmer!"
>That... is a voice you haven't heard since it started to get cold.
>You turn to see a bundled up filly walking next to you.
>... It's Orange Pop.
>"It's been a while!"
>She isn't bundled up nearly as much as you are.
>... But no one is.
>No one ever will be.
>It's way too cold out, and it's not even Winter.
>... For another two months.
>Then the worst of it all wi-
>"Where's Miss Hexferry?"
>You really need to stop thinking about the cold.
"She's... with someone else."
>"Who?"
"Caramel."
>She scrunches her nose.
>"Every time she hangs out with Caramel, she can't stop saying some weird "baka" thing. No one has explained it yet, and I just can't figure it out."
>... Well, she hasn't done that with you.
>Is that a good thing?
>If it's something she says around Caramel, it's not something you want her to say around you.
>You turn forward and continue on your regular path.


>"Does she say weird things around you?"
>... That actually caught you off-guard.
>Does she?
>You haven't really noticed anything odd about her behavior around you.
>... Besides her giving you a chance at all.
>You shake your head.
>"Really? I thought all best friends had weird things they said to each other."
>Wait, does she think you and Hexferry are best friends?
>That's simply not the case.
>You won't be rude enough to point it out to her, but it's just not true.
>... Well, it's half true.
>She's your best friend...
>... But you aren't hers.
>... That hurt much more than you thought it would.
>Maybe Caramel has some kind of appeal you don't know of.
>Something you probably can't comprehend.
>Hexferry has known Caramel much longer than she's known you.
>It isn't even a fair fight, really.
>Whatever, this empty feeling in your chest will go away... soon.
>Hopefully.
>"M-Miss Shimmer?"
>You look down at the filly.
>"Would... it be okay if I rode on your back?"
>... What?
>"I promise I won't touch your wings and I'll be careful."
>Your confusion stays.
>Her eyes appear to shine.
>... Friends do odd things for each other...
>You slowly bend down so she can easily climb on.
>... And you take the bag of groceries off your back and carry it in your hoof.
>Orange Pop seems overjoyed as she waste no time hopping up.
>She curls up to the base of your neck and lightly holds on.
>"Thank you."
>You can be nice.
>... Though you wonder if it'll be rude when you ask her where her house is.
>...
>Her house is actually only about ten houses away from yours, with her home being closer to the market.
>When you dropped her off, she thanked you and waved goodbye before rushing inside to speak with a mare.
>You were walking away, so you couldn't really hear who it was, but you recognize the voice.
>If you saw them, you'd be able to tell who it was.
>They're probably a family member of Orange Pop.
>Whatever the case is, you enjoyed today.
>You want to see her more often.