In desperation a boy escaped everything, even himself, to a place that would give him a new name, a new life, and the magic of love and friendship. Pony!Harry, m/m, m/f, f/f pairings. Includes the Mane 6 and all the other cast of MLP, episode spoilers, set in MLP world, AU.
Disclaimer: I claim nothing of the Harry Potter franchise nor the My Little Pony franchise, as everything is the rightful properties of their owners and affiliates. No infringement was intended, and no money is being made.
A/n: another interlude chappie.
Warning for Fic: Spoilers, OC's (though unimportant), and possible overused equine replacements of common word usages. Some animal deaths.
Chapter 11: Interlude 2: Winner.
Dusk yawned as he pushed open the shutters on what was proving to be a rather nice late fall morning, just the right amount of nip in the air, and just the right amount of sun.
He knew it wouldn't be long until he, like every rural pony, would be closing up shop for the winter.
Winters didn't last as long in Equestria as they had on Earth, maybe about 3 months or so, it tended to vary significantly especially when compared to his old home world, but the pegusi certainly made up for the smaller time with ridiculous amounts of snow fall, which Is why many ponies didn't venture out as much doing the winter.
Dusk, while he was closing up like the others soon for the season, still made deliveries of hot carafes of tea, particularly the medicinal teas, during the off time. It was free of charge, since some of his stalk would go bad by the time opening time rolled around again; it was the same for other businesses as well.
To celebrate his first winter closing in a few weeks he was going to be hosting a tea party for the town and Pinky Pie was going to be providing the pastries since Mr. and Mrs. Cake would be leaving to visit family during that time.
He was just reaching for the newspaper when he noticed he had a guest sitting primly on his stoop.
"Oh! Opal! My your fur is looking quite lovely this morning…though you do look a bit frazzled," he greeted his usual first guest of the day as the prim and proper white Persian came inside, her snout in the air.
The cat took a stool that he kept for her (the seat a plush blue cashmere stuffed with swan down) in the kitchen while Dusk bustled about to bring her the usual as well as start brewing for the breakfast wave which would be arriving not to long from now.
"There you go," he said, taking a seat in front of her and levitating a saucer of steaming golden green liquid and a plate with finger sandwiches.
"Catnip and whitefish tea with extra cream and a tuna and gouda sandwich, no crust."
Opal let out a gusty sigh and primly dived into her food, lapping at her tea delicately.
"So…problems at home again?" Dusk opened sympathetically, leaning against the counter as he began cleaning tea cups and travel mugs.
The cat, finishing her food and tea, cleaned her face before she went off into a rant of meows, growls and hisses occasionally making awkward poses to accentuate her plight.
"Well, I'm sure once the latest fashion crisis with Rarity dies down, things will be fine. I think I remember her telling me something about making dresses for her friends for the Galloping Gala, my advice would be to weather it by staying with Fluttershy for a little siesta and pampering, you know how she is."
Opal seemed pleased at that idea and even consented to deliver Fluttershy's order of carrot tea for her pet rabbit Angel.
"As always, good to see you again Opal, have a good day," Dusk said as he escorted the cat to the front door, who nodded at him regally with the paper bag in her mouth and dashed off towards Fluttershy's home.
Ooo ooo ooo
2 weeks later, after Rarity's fashion show, Dusk's Grand Tea Party Spectacular brought nearly every pony in town fit to bursting into his shop. It was so successful; that he actually managed to run short on the supplies he would need to fill his winter orders and another trip to Sweet Apple Acres and the Everfree forest would be in order.
Brew Bag even surprised him with a visit to his official seasonal closing, and told him how proud he was that things had gone so well for him in Ponyville. Though he couldn't stay long, since he was off to gather some rare tea supplies in the Volcano of Clopinieghjaro island.
When it came time to award the most steadfast customer he'd had for his first year of business, the prize went to the customer that visited his shop the most regularly,the scores tallied from tea orders that He kept on file, everyone was surprised when the winner was announced. Opal sauntered regally up to the bemused Dusk as he placed the winner's wreath on her head and a coupon good for a life time supply of the customer's most commonly asked for tea order in her collar, with the final touch of Opal's picture being taken and added to the wall above the VIP seats, the first of what Dusk planned to be a yearly tradition. Derpy just shrugged when he sent her a questioning look during the entire thing.
When other ponies asked why he had chosen the cat, he simply said that Opal held the highest customer visit counts out of anyone in the village, but offered a second prize to Rainbow Dash with a month's supply of her favorite Wonderbolt brew and a free pastry of choice once a week, as second most frequenting customer.
Rainbow Dash would later remark that she still couldn't believe that she had been beaten by Rarity's cat of all beings, and said cat actually had the receipts to prove it.
Ooo ooo ooo
A/n: another shorty, I love Opal. review and let me know what you think.