Chapter Seventeen
"So, you said that this is your first trip outside of Whinnesota?" The elder mare asked SweeTango while they counted supplies within the barn.
"Yes ma'am," she answered. "It's like it's been my little security blanket my whole life. Most of my family grew up there, and marketing and food beverage has always been in our blood."
"Marketing?" Starburst asked.
"Yes. Marketing plays a huge part in business by learning about the products and finding the best ways to exploit them based on the target market. That's actually what I do."
"Wait, so were you the one behind the gummy sample I tried before?" The orange mare nodded.
"That's right! Zesty came up with the idea, and I convinced you to try it! I bet you didn't even notice!"
"I didn't!" The ashen mare laughed. "You definitely had me!"
"What made you and Zestar Apple want to go into business together?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Funny you should ask," SweeTango began. "My family was strictly tied to food beverage, and his family was tied to marketing. I've learned so much about what my family has always done, but...I felt uneasy when it came to food and beverage production. It was the same for Zesty: he was knowledgeable in marketing, but couldn't really shine in that element. We just felt out of place."
"So you both were the exact opposite…" Starburst said. "It must've been awful not being able to make your families happy, but it seems like it worked out for you both in the end, right?"
SweeTango looked down.
"Yeah, we found a way to work around it, but it wasn't easy. Zesty and I first met as fillies at a school that required us to prepare and present an unique dish. Even though he was from a family that fielded in marketing, he's not particularly keen on speaking in a crowd. When I was paired with him, he could talk for hours about food, describe their textures and flavors, and even know what was best to pair them with. I, on the other hoof, realized I could easily talk to other ponies. I could persuade them to make anything sound appealing, have them picture what they look forward to eating, and entice that interest using tasteful words. This gave us the opportunity to try out each other's roles!"
"How did that work out?" Applejack asked. The other mare turned to her and smiled.
"We passed, of course! We had the highest grade in the class! It was then that we were able to get our cutie marks, too."
"That's awesome!" The filly exclaimed. "That's the best accomplishment anypony could ever get!"
"Yes, but it saddened us when our families didn't approve of our talents at first. It was like a feud we shouldn't have expected considering food beverage and marketing have worked together forever. That's why we set a course to form our own business when we got older. Zesty would handle the products, and I would handle bringing in customers! Our store has been booming since we've opened. Since we've told our families that we were offered to station ourselves at the Golden Apple Harvest, they were finally happy with our partnership despite being talented in the latter. In fact, we have them watching over our store while we're gone."
The story was a lot to take in, but Starburst could definitely relate. Without her memories, it's difficult knowing where she fits in the world. It's hard to not keep thinking about it, since from first meeting Twilight to completing her first trial...She still feels out of place. Will there ever be a moment where she could really shine like SweeTango and Zestar's journey? She seemed to be digging an even bigger hole the more she thought about it, but the hair-bowed mare watched her reaction and placed a hoof on her shoulder.
"It's all right to be out of place," she smiled, instantly breaking the ashen mare's focus. "Everypony will have that moment, and it doesn't matter how early or late it begins. Once you have found where you fit, be the brightest in that field."
Be the brightest...Those were the best words a strong marketer could ever say to persuade an ambivalent pony. She really is confident in her job, and that made Starburst smile. It takes her back to her first trial. She could easily persuade others into choosing the best judgement because she was confident, and that wouldn't have been possible if she wasn't a good listener. That was the whole reason why learning the element of kindness was the best start...Glad Twilight made the best call.
"Is that your necklace?" The curious pony asked.
"Huh? Oh yeah. A friend of mine gave it to me for helping her."
"It really is beautiful, you know. It's a good addition of color that contrasts with your primrose eyes."
"You think so?"
"Definitely! I only say this so you can have more confidence in yourself."
"Is it okay being different?"
"I wouldn't say "different"...I believe "unique" fits you better."
Unique...It has a better ring to it. After recalling her methods to passing the kindness trial, it caused her to smile again.
"Thank you," the ashen pony said. "It's a work in progress, but I'll get there. I bet it's so thrilling to have a humble partner."
"Zesty really is sweet," she said. "I can't bear to part with him. It's like...we fit each other, you know?"
The pony realized what she said after seeing how the other ponies look at her with smug faces.
"Come on, girls...It isn't like that."
"He's quite the looker though," Granny comments. "It'd be so easy having a fella like him be swept up by another!"
"You saw him, Granny?" Apple Bloom asked. "What's he like?"
"Like a teddy bear basking in the warm sun!" The elder mare giggled.
"Please, he's more into work than putting himself out there," SweeTango said. "He really does care for me though, and I admire that."
Before they knew it, the sun was beginning to set.
"It's great that you and Zester still have a tight bond," Applejack said. "It might be best to head back to your station while it's still daylight. Don't want to worry him, right?"
"Yes, of course," the mare replies prior to exiting the barn. "Thanks for allowing me to help you." She laughed a bit. "Learning a bit more about me was even a bonus."
"I'm glad you shared your story," Starburst smiled. "It gets me thinking about what mine might have been like. I'll see you tomorrow!"
"Good night, everyone!"
As the pony trots out the barn, she continued to think about the ashen mare's comment and smiled.
"I can only imagine how special you might really be." She said to herself.