The sun shone brightly through the window, a bright warm blanket of light draped over the table in the kitchen of Carousel Boutique. To one side sat the alabaster unicorn who lived there; on the other side, the buttercream pegasus who was her best friend. As they sat, they sipped from their cups.

“I’m thinking about taking up the cello,” Rarity said.

“Oh, playing instruments is quite nice. Very relaxing.” Fluttershy smiled.

Rarity let out a little sigh. “It does seem that way, doesn’t it? Though from what I hear, it’s very difficult. I talked with that cellist Octavia after the Gala that one year, and she warned me off with tales of the years it took to master holding the bow in the frog of her hoof.”

“You could always use your magic, you know.”

“Fluttershy! This is a noble art! Do you really think a mare of such class like moi could be seen in public playing such a magnificent instrument so utterly and horrifyingly wrong?” Rarity asked.

“It’s only wrong if you believe it is.”

Fluttershy scooted her chair out from the table and stood up, trotting over to the kitchen counter. From the stovetop, she picked up a teapot—an ornate, ancient thing—and started to walk back to the table with the thing between her teeth.

Suddenly, there was a very loud noise. SKWAAA!

Fluttershy jumped, startled, dropping the teapot in the process. Time seemed to slow down as the antique china spiralled towards the ground, and—

“To tea or not to tea!” Rarity exclaimed. Fluttershy opened her eyes—which had instinctively snapped shut—to see that, miraculously, the teapot hadn’t fallen to the ground and shattered; it was suspended aloft by a shimmering blue magical aura. Yet even though the teapot was saved, a pool of the liquid had spilled onto the floor, soaking Fluttershy’s hooves.

“That is the question,” Fluttershy said wearily. “But I think you already answered it, and the right way, too.”

“Hehe, quite.” Rarity set the teapot down on the table, and then picked up a cloth rag from the counter in her magic. She moved as if to wipe up the liquid, but—

“Did I hear something about Gratuitous Sax and Senseless Violins?!” another voice exclaimed. The cabinet beneath the kitchen counter burst open and a smiling pink pony popped out, her mane floofing up as she stood up. “That’s, like, my favourite Sparks album! ‘When Do I Get to Sing “My Way”’ is a masterpiece!”

Rarity facehoofed. “Pinkie, where in Tartarus did you come from and what in the hay are you even talking about?”

“I like Lil’ Beethoven,” Fluttershy remarked.

“Eh. They shoulda stuck to disco.” The pink pony leapt over to the puddle on the ground, and started licking. “Mmmmm slurp slurp slurp slurp slurp.”

Rarity grimaced; Fluttershy just stared.

“Why are you saying ‘slurp’ instead of actually just slurping?”

“It’s what I do, baby!” the pink pony said with a grin. “Non sequiturs are on the house today.”

“Well, okay. But if you’ll excuse us, we’re going to get back to talking about playing the cello,” Rarity said, skeptical.

The pink one smirked. “Aw, you don’t mean that, Rarity! You’re just cellous!”

A beat. Then, all three of them laughed, uproariously.

“Oh, hey, how do you feel about Kimono My House?”

“Urgh... this boutique just ain’t big enough for both of us.”

And, much as the sun kept shining on down through the window of the Boutique, life went on.