Word Count: 753

Weeks passed after the rather frightening talk with Queen Chrysalis. These are the reasons that I only ever wanted to be a scout, Azrith thought as she made her way to the store to pick up some things for dinner. No encounters with royalty. Look how that turned out.

Azrith entered the grocery store nervously. Bon Bon had insisted that she get the chance to pick out something that she wanted. Azrith wrinkled her nose, unable to choose anything. She never asked Bon Bon what was in the delicious meals that she'd made. She stared blankly at the things labeled 'produce'. She couldn't come back to Bon Bon empty-handed; that would be embarrassing, not to mention that it would give her roommate more reason to suspect that something was off.

"Having some trouble, there?" a lightly accented male voice said from her right. She turned to see a brown stallion with an hourglass for a cutie mark staring at her with a raised eyebrow. She looked down sheepishly.

"Yes, actually," she replied. "My roommate told me to pick out whatever I wanted for dinner, but I have no idea what to get. I don't have any experience at all in cooking. The food just… appears on the table. Not literally, mind you. She cooks brilliantly."

The stallion chuckled. "My companion might be of help. She enjoys cooking, although it doesn't always turn out right," he said, and he and Azrith both laughed. "Hold tight, I'll go get her."

Azrith smiled, yet again awed at the kindness of everypony here in Equestria. If she had been in her home Kingdom, no one would have offered to help her, and if she had asked, they probably would've ignored her. She would deny it if anyone asked, but she was secretly starting to like Equestria better than the Changeling Kingdom.

The stallion came back, dragging a light grey mare behind him. "Derpy! This is…" he paused. "I never actually got your name, what was it?"

"Lyra," Azrith said, the name rolling off her tongue like she had been saying it her whole life. "Lyra Heartstrings."

"Well, I'm Doctor Whooves, and this is my friend, Derpy," he said, grinning widely. "Derpy, Lyra was wondering if you had any suggestions for her and her roommate's dinner. Just something simple, nothing too elaborate."

"Oh, easy!" the mare chirped, and Azrith couldn't help but smile at her infectious attitude. "Try making hay burgers! They're easy to make, and they taste better homemade. Me and the Doctor here can help you make them if you want. The recipe's simple, but you get such a great meal from it."

Doctor Whooves grimaced. "Now, Derpy, there's no need to help her make it. I'm sure the recipe will be just fine-" he started, only to be cut off by his energetic companion.

"Oh, come on, Doc!" she exclaimed. "It'll be fun! We can have a whole dinner party with her roommate!"

"Domestics," he grumbled under his breath. "You'll have to ask Lyra. It is her house after all."

"It's fine by me," Azrith said, ecstatic to have met another possible friend. Her mind froze for a moment at the word 'friend'. Wasn't it a strict policy of this mission to not make friends? She brushed it off. Forget the Queen, and all those rules for now, she said to herself firmly. I'll make friends if I like, even if I'll only have to leave them in the end. "Bon Bon will like it. She's very social."

"Oh, good!" Derpy said, flitting in the air momentarily. However, this action caused the sign labeled 'No Flying', to be knocked over. Derpy blushed, embarrassed. Azrith levitated the sign with her magic, putting it back into place. Derpy smiled widely. "Thanks, Lyra."

"Oh, it's no problem. I've noticed everypony is so kind here, so it's the least I can do," Azrith said, grinning, before she realized her mistake. Unfortunately, Doctor Whooves noticed as well.

"Are you… new in town?" he asked lightly.

Azrith winced, scrambling for an answer. "Ah… my roommate and I moved here from… from Fillydelphia. I'm a bridesmaid in the royal wedding," Azrith said softly. "But I normally play the lyre at a café."

Doctor Whooves seemed to still be uneasy, but he accepted the lie. "I see," he said. "Well, Derpy, hay burgers with our new friend Lyra and her roommate it is. What time can we come over?"

"Five thirty tonight is fine," Azrith said, bouncing with excitement. "I'll see you there!"