Although they didn't know what Aurora was going to do, they had been busy all morning and were indeed hungry. Sunset Shimmer and Twilight Sparkle didn't ask further, staying in their seats to wait for her return and for their food to be served.
The service speed at Western-style restaurants was as slow as ever, even when everything on the menu was vegetarian.
If this were in the mysterious Eastern Continent, three dishes and a soup would be served in ten minutes, complete with both meat and vegetables, and freshly stir-fried at that—let alone simple vegetarian meals like this.
Sunset Shimmer began to feel a bit bored, while Twilight Sparkle beside her was absorbed in reading the book she had brought along.
But Sunset Shimmer didn't want to study during her break, especially since Twilight Sparkle was reading a book she had already mastered.
Perhaps she should have followed Aurora to look around earlier?
However, Sunset Shimmer reconsidered; she couldn't leave a pony as small as Twilight Sparkle alone in an unfamiliar place, so she quickly dismissed the thought.
Bored out of her mind, Sunset Shimmer had no choice but to divert her attention to her surroundings, and that was when she heard some noisy commotion.
The restaurant was already bustling during mealtime, but amidst the hustle and bustle, there was a somewhat sharp voice, and it wasn't far from them.
Driven by the instinct to watch the drama, Sunset Shimmer twitched her ears, turning them toward the source of the sound, and peered over the crowd of ponies to get a better look.
Sunset Shimmer realized the commotion was caused by an adult pony cutting in line; he had shoved the Foal in front of him out of the queue as if it were nothing, which drew condemnation from the ponies nearby.
"How lacking in public morality!"
"What?"
Twilight Sparkle, who had been reading, heard Sunset Shimmer's indignant voice and looked up at her in confusion.
Following the direction of Sunset Shimmer's hoof, Twilight Sparkle also turned her attention to the disturbance happening over there.
They saw the server at the Hay Cafe takeout counter poking their head out, looking troubled as they said to the pony outside, "I'm very sorry, but due to insufficient stock, this is the last salad for today."
"Great, I'll take it!"
The pony who had cut in line produced a few bits and prepared to complete the transaction with the server.
But the pony who had been cut off looked anxious and flustered upon hearing that it was the last salad, so she gathered her courage and called out to the large pony in front.
"Um... excuse me, sir, what I meant to say is... my friends are very hungry, and they need this salad. Would you mind letting me have it? If you're willing..."
"What did you say? Are you trying to mimic a mosquito? Can you speak up?!"
The adult pony's voice was deep and powerful, causing the shy young filly to shrink back in place, burying her face in her pink mane, unable to make another sound.
The timid appearance of this cream-colored Pegasus satisfied the adult pony, and he lowered his voice slightly to continue.
"Oh, I see. You want this salad, don't you?"
The cream-colored pony nodded immediately, thinking the gentleman was willing to show some kindness.
"Of course, no problem! But I'm also very hungry. If you're willing to pay double for it, I might be able to let my stomach wait a little longer. You know, little girl, it's not a good feeling to be hungry."
The cream-colored pony felt that the other party had a point, so she took her coin purse out of her bag to pay, but after counting, she looked up in distress.
"I'm sorry, sir, I might not have enough money today. Could you make it a little cheaper...?"
"Alright then, I'll take a loss. Just give me whatever you have."
The adult pony was secretly pleased to have encountered a fool, while putting on an aggrieved expression.
"What a scoundrel!" x 2
The two ponies who witnessed this scene said in unison.
"Twilight, you stay here."
Sunset Shimmer couldn't stand it anymore. She instructed Twilight Sparkle to stay in her seat and not wander off; she had to go over and see justice done.
"Hey, hey, sir, don't you think that's a bit wrong? There are so many ponies around watching; you should have at least some shame, right?"
Sunset Shimmer stepped between them, extending a hoof to stop the cream-colored pony from paying, while looking defiantly at the adult pony who towered over them.
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