"Where did you pop out from? What does this have to do with you?"
After all, the adult pony was clearly in the wrong. He felt uncomfortable under Sunset Shimmer's gaze, but he refused to back down verbally.
"I saw it just now; she was here first, and you're the one who cut in line. Logically, this salad belongs to her. It's one thing to be unscrupulous yourself, but how can you demand a higher price? Did you even ask the shop's opinion?"
The adult pony instinctively glanced toward the takeout counter; the server was also glaring at him with dissatisfaction. Openly engaging in scalping right at their shop entrance was undoubtedly ruining the reputation of their Hay Cafe.
"I'm sorry, sir, but you'll have to go fill your stomach somewhere else today. Our salad is sold out."
The server handed the salad to the cream-colored pony and gave her a discount, as compensation for the unpleasant experience she encountered while shopping at their store.
Having been rebuffed by multiple parties, the adult pony's pride was stung. He snorted through his nose and glared furiously at Sunset Shimmer.
He had only intended to make a quick buck; if it weren't for this amber-colored pony meddling, things wouldn't have become so troublesome.
"You think you're pretty tough, huh? So fond of playing the hero?"
"And what are you? Using your adult height and strength just to bully a child? Don't use your own history of misbehavior to judge me."
Facing the adult pony's threat, Sunset Shimmer didn't feel intimidated at all.
She never paid any mind to guys like this who only knew how to bluff. Did he really think she had become a pushover just because she laid down her arrogance? Even if he actually had the courage to fight, Sunset Shimmer's magic would teach him that age was never the absolute advantage in determining strength.
"Whoa, whoa... what's happening here?"
Just then, Aurora, who had left, came jogging back with a paper bag in her mouth. She didn't know what had happened while she was away buying a cupcake at Sugar Cube Corner.
Anyway, as soon as she returned, she saw Sunset Shimmer confronting an adult pony, with Fluttershy shielded behind her.
That soft, delicate, pitiful-looking cream-colored pony with a pink mane, and whose cutie mark was three pink butterflies, was clearly Fluttershy; Aurora couldn't possibly mistake her.
Then it went without saying who the bad guy on the scene was.
"He was extorting her."
Sunset Shimmer stated the sequence of events concisely.
"I did not! I was just... playing a little joke on her!"
The adult pony hadn't expected other ponies to intervene in this dispute, and with Sunset Shimmer slapping such a heavy label on him right off the bat, he immediately raised his voice, attempting to excuse himself.
Aurora handed the paper bag to Sunset Shimmer to hold for her; after all, it was inconvenient to speak with something in her mouth.
"Sir, I know you're in a hurry, but don't be so anxious yet. It's not the one with the loudest voice who's right; I'm certain the law doesn't state that."
Aurora gently soothed the adult pony's emotions, although this tone didn't quite match what she was about to say.
"But the law does state something else: for provoking trouble and disturbing public order, one will be sentenced to ten to fifteen days of imprisonment, accompanied by a fine. In Ponyville, it might also require mandatory participation in community service."
"The interesting thing is, your behavior and the impact you've caused fit perfectly with what I just said, which really makes everyone want to laugh."
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 70 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!