>The train came to a stop in the Canterlot station, the sound of steam cluing you in to your arrival.
>"Now arriving at Canterlot!"
>That tipped you off, too.
>You grab the encased cake and get up from your seat, the ponies around you filing into the aisle and forming a line.
>It'd be a few minutes before you could get off, it seemed.
>The cake was holding up fine, so you supposed there was time to waste.
>The mumbles of the crowd and the pushing and shoving did little to dampen your already low spirit.
>It was just another rush hour at Sugar Cube Corner to you.
>More random faces you'd see ever so sporadically.
>As you finally left the train, the bright rays of Canterlot sunshine hit you, making you shield your eyes.
>The rather exuberant air of Canterlot didn't compare to the more homely feel of Ponyville.
>You felt more alone than ever here.
>Considering the delivery wasn't to be made until tomorrow, it may be best to head to the hotel the Cakes reserved a room for you in.
>Better then getting lost in the city.
>Walking along the rather clean road, you didn't pay attention to the odd looks you were getting, or the more elite sneering and turning their noses up at you.
>You'd never been to Canterlot, and word of your existence seemed to only reach certain ponies (Celestia, for example).
>At least they weren't as xenophobic as Ponyville.
>Those were the days.
>You remembered the directions to the hotel from the Cakes well enough, and so arrived in no time.
>Incidentally, you were staying at the same hotel they stayed in during their honeymoon.
>In the same room as they were in.
>You'd let that sink in on the train.
>Pushing through the entrance, a bellcolt was already at your side.
>"Can I take any of that off you, sir?"
>In truth, you'd only had one other set of clothes, as you expected to be gone by tomorrow.
>Besides, weren't these ponies supposed to be apprehensive of you?
>Maybe he just really liked his job.
"No, I'll be fine."
>"Of course."
>The bellcolt slinked back to the entrance, awaiting his next visiting prey.
>You made your way up to the front desk, the pony behind the counter smiling and unfazed by your presence.
>"Welcome to The Golden Unicorn! How can I help you?"
"I have a room reserved."
>"Name?"
"Anonymous."
>She looks at her list.
>"Let's see...ah, here you are! Room 159."
>A key encased in magic sets itself on the desk.
>"Here's your room key. It'll be on the third floor. Will you need help with luggage?"
>The same bellcolt from before zips to your side eagerly.
>You grab the key and shake your head.
"I'll be fine."
>He returns to the door once more.
>Heading off in the direction the greeter pointed in, you manage to find some stairs and climb up.
>The third floor came into sight, with a view of Canterlot to boot.
>After a bit of walking, the door to room 159 comes into view, to your relief.
>You were ready to sit down and be away from the outside.
>Unlocking the door, you enter and set your clothes on the bed before really looking around at the room.
>A window at the far end, two beds, side table with a lamp in between, and a mini-fridge under a desk.
>The cake is put into the fridge as soon as it's spotted.
>Settled in, you sit down on the bed to think.
>Will the guards try to attack you on sight when you get to the castle?
>Will Celestia like her cake?
>Well, actually, you knew she would.
>You'd never let a customer down, after all.
>But then, why did you never feel satisfaction from it?
>Or anything?
>Ever since your arrival in Equestria, you'd always felt...empty.
>Being the only human certainly didn't help things.
>The only time this changed was when you were baking.
>Maybe you needed to feel useful?
>No matter what, though, once you left the oven, you went back into a dour mood.
>There was just no point, it seemed.
>No matter what, you'd stay like this.
>Alone.
>Nothing to feel proud of.
>A void inside that could never be filled, no matter what.
>Maybe if you could remember what your life was like before Equestria, you could find out what made you this way.
>Perhaps you could ask Twilight to try sifting through your memories again once you got back home.
>There had to be a reason for this-
>*KNOCK KNOCK*
>You were suddenly brought out of your thoughts.
>"Room service! Can I come in?"
>Great.
>Just let her in. It's not like she'll bother you.
"Door's unlocked."
>In comes a jade colored mare with a flowing, dark green mane.
>"Hello, I'm Spring Skies! I'll be your room service mare for your stay! Can I do anything for you?"
>The cheery mare leaned inwards, anticipating your response.
>What was with this hotel staff?
>They were all way too happy.
>Or was it just because you weren't?
>...
>She seems like she wants to work.
"What exactly do your services consist of?"
>"Oh, general housekeeping, or in this case, roomkeeping," she giggled at her own joke, "serving food, massage services, you know, the works."
"Right. Just...wipe the windows or something. They look damp."
>"Right away, sir!"
>As the pony dashes to the window, you feel yourself dozing off on the admittedly comfy bed.
>"I'll make sure the window doesn't have a smudge on it, Mr. Anonymous!"
>Her wipes against the window come out as loud squeaks, bothering you to no end.
>Putting the pillow over your head, you try to find peace in the darkness of the bed's covers.
>Spring blabs on about something else, but you find yourself able to channel it out.
>Soon enough, all is silent, and you fall asleep.
 
>Waking up the next morning, you find a note on the nightstand next to the bed.
>Picking it up, it read, "Oh, I'm sorry, was I too loud? I'll make sure to keep my wiping to a small swish from now on! -Spring Skies."
>These fucking horses.
 
>Canterlot during the morning hours was as hustle-bustle as it was during any other time of the day.
>Finding the castle was an easy task, considering it towered over the city.
>However, finding the castle while trying to protect a cake from harm in a crowd of ponies was a different story...
>Your arms swiveled around as you moved the cake away from ponies about to bump into it, while simultaneously trying to keep yourself on your feet.
>A snooty couple came into view, right in the path of the cake in your hands.
>Having just lowered the cake to avoid a banner being carried, you quickly lifted the container and moved aside to avoid the couple.
>At this point, you were working up quite the sweat.
>Nevertheless, your resolve was rewarded as the castle became visible up ahead.
>Even better, the amount of ponies to dodge became smaller the closer the castle came.
>Guards could be seen patrolling the castle's borders, and an intimidating air swept over you.
>This was just another customer, certainly.
>But you'd never had one with their own bodyguard, let alone an entire army to protect them.
>Stay cool, Anon.
>Approaching the castle, several guards took notice to your presence.
>While they did eye you down, they made no sudden movements or visible threats.
>Perhaps they knew a cake delivery was going to happen.
>As the castle gate gets closer, you feel your heart begin to beat a little faster.
>There's a lot of eyes on you now.
>Making it to the entrance, two guards greet you with hard stares.
>"What is your business here?"
>You fumble with the cake.
"I-I'm here to deliver a cake to Princess Celestia."
>The two look at each other, then nod.
>"Yes, we've been expecting you," one of the guards say before looking at you.
>"Proceed," the other one says, motioning towards the doors.
>A sigh of relief, and you're into the castle.
>The ornate decorations and spacey halls take you back a bit more than you thought they would.
>Even your low mood wasn't enough to hold back your wonderment.
>Another guard approaches as you ogle the castle interior.
>"Cake delivery, correct?"
"Yes, sir."
>"Princess Celestia has been informed of your arrival. Follow me."
>The guard turns around and moves at a brisk pace, giving you no trouble in following him.
>It's almost like receiving a tour of the castle.
>The large stained glass windows, the antique decorations.
>Even if they were just hallways, it was damn impressive.
>The tour ends, however, when the guard pushes open the door to the dining room.
>Inside, a long table accompanied by huge windows showing the entire city meets you.
>At the end of the table is a white, slender pony with a flowing mane.
>"Anonymous," she greets with a smile, "I've been looking forward to this."
"Have you?"
>"Very much so. Please, take the seat next to me."
>The guard escorts you to her chosen seat, still watching while you sit and place the cake on the table.
"Here it is. I hope the payment is in order."
>"Of course. A lump sum will be sent directly to Sugar Cube Corner by tomorrow. Before that, though," she says teasingly, "I have to taste it."
>You pop the lid off of the container holding the cake, the princess licking her lips as she gazed on at it.
>She takes a knife and slices into it, smiling as she hears the light crunch of the breaking outer shell of the cake.
>She hovers a plate over to herself, accompanied by a fork.
>Setting the cake on the plate, she cuts into it and takes a bite.
>Suddenly, her eyes roll into the back of her head, and she hums, delighted.
>"It's..."
"Good?"
>She looks at you coyly and chuckles. "I was going to say a work of culinary art, but I suppose that works, too."
>She takes another bite, the crunch of the hardened exterior being audible in her mouth.
>She swallows, then speaks.
>"The perfect outer casing is chilled enough so as to be a quick snap of a bite, but not a hard crunch. The oozing inner filling compliments this, providing most of the flavor that the shell has lost in the hardening process. The white chocolate shavings also mesh well with the red velvet of the cake itself, blending into a truly unique flavor."
>Never before had someone actually critiqued your works like that.
>Except...
>Someone.
>You felt like this had happened before.
>Nonetheless, your job was done.
>You get up from your seat.
"I'm glad you like it. I'll be taking my leave, now."
>Before you can leave the room, Celestia calls out. "Wait."
>Stopping, you turn to look at her.
"Yes?"
>"Don't you want to try some yourself?"
>Despite baking for what may be years by your own memory, you could barely remember the last time you had your own confections, let alone have one of your customers invite you to eat it with them.
>Yet oddly, it felt familiar...
>What was with these deja vu feelings?
>Deciding to oblige her request, you sit back down and take a slice of cake for yourself.
>Biting into it, you find that, while you can agree on its magnificent flavor, you don't react as strongly as Celestia.
>Possibly because it's your own work, and you expect nothing more than the best.
>"I'm glad what ponies say about your baking is true, Anonymous."
"I'm glad you think that way, Princess."
>You take another bite of your creation, watching as Celestia finishes her share.
>"I wasn't finished. I'm glad you're as good as they say, because I'd like another cake."
>You freeze.
>That quickly?
"As much as I'd love to, Princess, I can't exactly do that."
>She cocks her head.
>"How come?"
"I only expected to be here for a single day. In fact, the train back to Ponyville leaves in an hour. I don't have any extra money for the hotel I'm in, and I've only got one set of clothes."
>She puts a hoof on her chin, humming in thought.
>"Yes, quite the predicament..."
>Suddenly, she gasps and smiles, having thought of something.
>"Anonymous, how would you like to stay here in the castle? At least until the next cake is finished."
>Now THAT was quite the offer.
"It's a tempting option, but...I still don't have more clothes."
>"I can have one of my tailors make you up anything you desire."
>She didn't seem forceful in trying to keep you here, but she definitely didn't want you to go.
>The cake must have been that good.
"All of that's great, Princess, but...well I still have to go back and help out at Sugar Cube Corner."
>She looked as though she was about to say something, but then stopped herself.
>There wasn't exactly a way she could counter that.
>"...you're right. I'm sorry, I shouldn't try and keep you from your job."
>She gave a sad smile.
>"It may be best if you left, so as to catch your train."
>Her eyes told you to stay.
>...perhaps...
"Maybe I could write them a letter to ask if they need me back, Princess."
>She suddenly perked up.
>"Oh, you don't have to."
"It's no problem," you tell her, waving your hand. "Think I could get something to write with?"
>She nodded, and turned to the guard next to you two.
>He understood the request and dashed off to grab some writing materials.
>He returned momentarily with a quill, inkwell, and parchment.
>"I'll just have some more of this, if you don't mind..."
>Another slice of your cake is lifted onto Celestia's plate.
>You write out a letter to Mr. and Mrs. Cake, telling them about the situation and asking whether or not you should accept Celestia's invitation.
>When you finish, you roll up the parchment and hand it to the guard, who salutes and runs off with the message.
"How long will it take him to get the message there?"
>Celestia swallows her bite.
>"About a few minutes. They know the entirety of the country like the back of their hooves."
>Impressive.
>But to expect anything less would be foolish.
"So, I have to admit, Celestia, when you critiqued my cake...I liked to hear what you think."
>She smiled.
>"Excellent. Then that would mean you wouldn't mind if I did the same to your next creations."
"Of course."
>The same guard from before comes back with no message in his mouth, not even breaking a sweat.
>"That was a bit earlier then expected."
>"Anonymous, the Cakes opted to give you a verbal message instead of a written one."
"Okay, let's hear it."
>He clears his throat.
>"The Cakes have decided that Anonymous should no doubt accept Princess Celestia's offer, claiming that they are doing just fine without him. If I may add a bit of color to the message, they stated it would be 'outright crazy' to turn down the princess."
>Celestia smiled.
>"Well, what will you do, Anonymous?" she asked rhetorically.
>You got up from your seat, looking at the door.
"I figure I'll grab my things from the hotel."
 
>"Thank you very much for your stay at the Golden Unicorn! We hope to see you again!"
>You were glad to be out of this place.
>All the workers were absolutely overbearing, and it was more stressful than not to deal with them.
>You exited the hotel, dirty clothes in hand.
>Outside, a royal carriage awaited to take you to your temporary new home.
>You took your seat, then felt the carriage jump before it took off.
>It was odd how fate worked.
>Somehow, because of your baking skills, you'd ended up being able to stay with a princess of a country of talking ponies.
>Yet somehow...
>Somehow, you still didn't feel satisfied.
>You felt downtrodden, despite these lucky circumstances.
>What you did notice, however, was that feeling leaving you when Celestia talked about your cake.
>How she invited you to eat with her despite it being hers.
>These actions uplifted you, and you didn't know why.
>Perhaps, though, in the coming days, you'd experience it more and uncover the mystery.
>As the castle once again came into view, you had a feeling that Celestia somehow could be the answer to all of this.