Opening your weary eyes, you look at your surroundings. The sun's morning glow begins to radiate from behind the mountainside, signalling the start of a new day. A heavy weight presses down against your chest as you attempt to stretch and rid yourself of your morning kinks. Fluttershy looks up at you with glassy eyes, a smile protruding from ear to ear.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," she says, followed by a giggle and a kiss on the chin. Letting out a contented sigh, you return the kiss and lift her up from your person, placing her down gently on the ground beside you. She stretches out her front legs, lifting her behind into the air to stretch out her back legs as well. You can't help but peek at her rump as it rises up and she doesn't hesitate to laugh as she catches you in the act. Feeling embarrassed, you quickly turn your head away and get up from the ground.

"Looks like we fell asleep outside," you blurt, trying to remove the focus on the situation. You find yourself feeling even stupider than before, pointing out an obvious fact like that. Fluttershy finishes up and looks around, probably in an attempt to make you feel better.

"Yeah, seems like it. We should get inside and get for you ready for the opening of your shop today." Nodding your head in agreement, you both head back into the house where Angel impatiently taps his foot against the ground, pointing at the clock on the wall. It's already six o' clock.

"Crap," you mutter under your breath. "I better get ready and head down to the shop." Fluttershy looks at you, confused.

"Isn't the opening at nine?" she asks, watching you scramble around the room, looking for your clothes.

"The opening may be at nine, but I still need to get my team prepped and the store ready for the customers. I told them all to be there at six thirty," you say in a rush, throwing on your apron. Fluttershy grabs your tie and hovers up to throw it around your neck. Making a quick adjustment to it, you tighten it up and give her a hug before running off.

"I'll be home late tonight!" you yell as you head out to the main path. She waves goodbye as you sprint off into town, checking your watch every so often. Ponies watch in confusion as you run past them towards the small shop where several stallions and mares stand outside, waiting for you. Looking down at your watch once more, you check the time.

Six twenty-five: Five minutes to spare.

"You all ready?" you ask the group with a nervous smile. "Today's the big day." They all nod as you unlock the door and enter the building.

"Everyone take a seat. We're going to have a quick meeting before we start." Each pony takes a seat at a table, looking up at you with skittish stares. Clearing your throat, you grab a bag of beans from the counter and show it to the crowd.

"Coffee is special. People and ponies are always overlooking it, not realizing its usefulness." One of the stallions scoffs, rolling his eyes at your statement. "Is there something you'd like to share with us?" you ask, pointing your finger at him.

"It's only mud water to me," he says with a shrug. "I'm just here because I need a job." Lobbing the bag of beans onto his table, you slowly approach him, wearing a deadpan face. Sweat begins to bead on his forehead as you draw nearer, showing clear signs of submission. Kneeling down to his level, you bring your face to his.

"I can respect the fact that you don't like coffee, but I will not have you trying to act like a rebellious colt in my shop. Do I make myself clear?" you utter, making sure to keep a stern tone. The stallion gulps and nods violently. Pulling yourself away from his face, you turn your gaze back to the group who now looks a bit frightened by your current display.

"As I was saying," you saying, trying to resume your place, "coffee is an essential part of everyday life. It helps bring energy to someone's day when they're off to a slow start, yet it brings them to calm after a long day of work. We have to do our best to ensure that each and every pony gets their need fulfilled along with excellent service." The look of fear on their face seems to disappear as they turn to each other, nodding their heads in agreement.

"I can't do this alone. None of us can. But, together, we can pull it off. We can send off every pony with a smile and a cup of coffee in han— err, hoof! Let's work as a team and achieve greatness!"

"Yeah!"

"We won't let you down, boss!" All the stallions and mares begin stomping their hooves, cheering for you. You can't help but slyly smile and bow. That was probably the cheesiest thing you've ever pulled off. Regaining your composure, you begin splitting the ponies into teams.

"You three will take the front counter and take orders, you four will take care of brewing and preparing drinks, and you..." You point at the stallion who tried giving you trouble earlier. "You're in charge of dish washing." The stallion groans and sulks to the back of the kitchen, grabbing an apron with his magical grip. Someone pokes at the back of your leg, trying to grab your attention. It's the stallion from yesterday, his eyes shining with determination.

"What job do you have for me, boss?" he eagerly asks.

"You have the most important station," you mutter to him, pointing at the pantry. "I need you in charge of the beans. You'll need to grind them up and make sure the baristas are well prepared for their orders." His ears tilt back as he his wide smile quickly fades away.

"You mean I won't be making any drinks?" he asks, looking almost like a heartbroken child. Kneeling down to his level, you place a hand on his right wither and look him in the eyes.

"Listen, these guys here have a lot of experience in this field. I need you to learn before I can put you on barista duty. Think of it this way: I'm starting you off as a bean. Eventually you'll become a magnificent cup of coffee." The stallion nods and puts on a small smile, showing his understanding before running off to the pantry in the back. An hour and a half passes by rather fast as you run around getting everything ready. The smell of fresh coffee wades throughout the building, filling your nose with bitter deliciousness. Grabbing a cup, you pour yourself a cup of coffee and give it a taste. The bitterness washes over you tongue, only to be replaced by the sweet taste of caramel almost instantly. You turn to the the group of baristas and give them a thumbs up. They stare back at you, confused as to what that signal means.

"It's good," you say. Their faces show relief when they hear this as a distinctive clearing of the throat catches your attention. Filthy Rich stands behind the counter, a grin plastered across his face.

"It's show time!" he exclaims, pointing a hoof out the door. Looking over him, you see a huge crowd of ponies standing right outside, eagerly waiting for the shop's opening. Leaning over the counter, you check yourself in the reflection and fix your collar and tie before heading outside with Filthy Rich. A few murmurs pass your ears as the crowd lowers its collective voice. Words like "alien", "freak", and "monkey" course your ears.

"There seems to be quite a few ponies that aren't normally from Ponyville here today," you whisper to Filthy. He glances at you from the corners of his eyes.

"It's expected when you have a celebrity at an opening. Word travels fast, Anon," he mutters back, removing his focus on you. A few gasps and squeals erupt from the crowd as a primp and fancy looking pony descends from the sky on a chariot. He walks down from it and immediately makes his way to Filthy, a cheap and obviously fake smile across his face.

"Filthy! Long time no see!" he exclaims, embracing Filthy Rich in a hug. Filthy's face screams discomfort, but he returns the hugs anyway.

"Yes, it's been a while Hoity. How goes the fashion business?"

"Dreadful, my friend. But enough small talk! We have work to do, no?" Filthy nods and points in your direction.

"Oh, before I forget. This is Anonymous, the one who will be running this store." Hoity lowers his sunglasses and examines you, as if he was ready to summarize you just from your attire alone.

"Exotic! He looks like a minotaur, but leaner and much more well groomed. I say, what do you know about coffee?"

"Enough that you'll want to drink mine over any other pony's," you gloat. Hoity places his sunglasses back up top his snout and puts on a genuine smile.

"Cocky and exotic. Not bad a bad pick, Filthy, not bad at all." The murmurs begin to circulate throughout the crowd again, this time repeating the words "exotic", "well-groomed", and "cocky". Shaking your head, you return your attention back to Filthy, who throws you a wink before focusing on the crowd.

"Ladies and gentlecolts! It is my pleasure to mark the grand opening of 'Starbucks'!" Your brain pulls off a flip inside your head as the crowd begins to stomp their hooves and cheer.

“ 'Starbucks'? I thought we agreed on 'Cool Beans'?" you whisper as he cuts the red tape in the front entrance.

"Starbucks seemed like a better name in my opinion. Besides, the contract says I can do whatever I want with the name, remember?" That is true. And you did agree to it. You shrug it off; the name is what matters. It's the product you sell. Entering the building, you wave your hand to signal the employees. They all rush to their positions, their faces showing clear determination for the challenge ahead. The wave of ponies hits hard and fast; you don't even get a chance to relax. Orders start flying behind the counter in a matter of seconds.

"Two medium roasts, please!"

"I need a dark roast, light and sweet!"

It's only a matter of time before you have to jump in and help everyone out. Before you know it, you find yourself helping the newbie grinding beans and cleaning out old filters.

"Anonymous, come here for a second!" you hear Filthy bellow from across the building. Stopping for a moment, you look over at the unicorn from inside the pantry as he shrugs.

"Go ahead, boss. I got control of everything here."

"Thanks," you reply, running over to Filthy and Hoity. Filthy wraps his foreleg around Hoity's shoulders and grins.

"This guy wants a special drink. Think you can get it for him?" Turning to Hoity, you nod.

"Sure. What can I get for you?" Hoity leans forward, beckoning you with his hoof. Leaning forward, you listen to his request.

"I don't see it on the menu, but I would love a frappé." Your heart sinks for a moment. How the hell would this stallion know what a frappé was?

"I'll see what I can do," you say, quickly turning on your heel. Running up to the unicorn stallion, you grab him and turn him to face you.

"Boss, are you okay?" His face shows a hint of fear as you try to catch your breath.

"Not really, buddy. Listen, do you know any spells to freeze something with magic and possibly one to remove water as well?" He shakes his head.

"Sorry, boss. I don't."

"I do."

You turn around and see the dishwasher stallion standing in the doorway. The bean stallion looks back and forth between the two of you, completely bewildered.

"What's going on boss? I'm so confused!"

"Hoity Toity just asked me for a frappé. The only way to make a frappé properly is to make it with instant coffee." You turn back to the pantry and wave your arm. "These are all home grown and hold special qualities. We don't have any instant coffee made from them."

"Why not just run to the store and buy some then?" the dishwasher asks. You find yourself shooting him a glare before you realize it.

"I would never disgrace my store with that garbage. So, in this case, we'll have to make our own." Grabbing a scoop of French roast, you place them in the grinder and let the machine do its work. "I keep forgetting both of your names," you tell them, trying to hide your embarrassment. Truth be told, you've never really asked them for their names.

"I'm Brewster," says the bean stallion.

"And I'm Puck," mutters the dishwasher.

"Anon, in case you didn't know," you reply adding another scoop of beans. "I need you two to get me two pots, some boiling water, a baking pan, a small wooden mallet, a piece of cloth, and a large strainer. Make it quick!" The two stallions sprint off in different directions as you continue to grind more beans. They return shortly after with the items they were asked for. Dumping the mound of grounds into the pot, you begin to pour the boiling water over it, making sure to constantly stir. Several minutes go by as you continue to stir, watching the water turn from clear to an almost oil-like black. Lifting the ladle up, you take a sip and almost gag. If rocket fuel was edible, it'd probably taste like this.

"Perfect." Brewster and Puck exchanged worried looks.

"What are you doing?" Brewster asks, looking almost disgusted as he peers into the pot. You bring the ladle to his nose and wave it slowly.

"This is how they make instant coffee. It's the most bitter form of coffee before it's processed." Placing the strainer over the second pot, you grab the cloth and set it across the strainer.

"It's not the grounds we want." You pour the contents of the first pot into the strainer and watch as clumps of coffee grounds creep their way up as the liquid goes down. Closing the cloth up, you squeeze it tight to extract the excess liquid into the pot. "It's the liquid that will turn into the instant coffee." Throwing the clump into the garbage, you pour the liquid into the pan and turn to Puck. "All you have to do it is keep it frozen as I crush it up."

Puck press his horn against the sheet and does as you ask. The liquid slowly turns into a solid slab of instant coffee. Grabbing the mallet, you begin crushing the frozen panel into tiny granules as Brewster watches in amazement.

"Okay," you start, turning to Puck again, "I need you to remove the water from all of these if you can." Sweat begins to bead down Puck's forehead as his horn's magical aura intensifies. Small droplets of water lift from the tiny shards of coffee, accumulating in midair as they are removed. Puck moves the water over to the empty pot and ceases his magic, letting out a relieved sigh.

"Great job," you tell him, patting him on the back. He rolls his eyes and points at the granules.

"You do know you don't need to use instant coffee for a frappé, right?" Puck seems taken aback as you nod your head.

"I know. But I want the best for our customers. The granule form of instant coffee is a lot stronger than a usual brewed cup of coffee or the cheap spray-dried instant stuff. It locks the bean's natural flavor inside and will release when added to hot water." Brewster's eye gleam as he jumps between you and Puck.

"Boss, I beg you! Let me make this frappé! I want to show you what I can do." You hesitate for moment before shrugging and handing him the granules in a bowl.

"Work your magic." He lifts a shaker with magic and places the contents for a proper frappé inside: the instant coffee, some ice, lukewarm water, sugar, and cream. Placing the top on the shaker, he begins thrashing the canister in the air, making sure to thoroughly shake it. Brewster than pours the contents into a glass, making sure to let the foam takes its place on top of the liquid.

"There," he says under his breath, levitating it over to you. "It's done." Patting him on the head with your free hand, you give him a grin.

"Good job." You turn to Puck and smile at him as well. "Both of you." Hoity Toity watches carefully as you place the glass on the table in front of him, licking his lips in delight.

"Oh, it's been forever since I've treated myself to a treat like this. I hope my dietician doesn't find out," he says, looking around the room. He takes a sip of the delicious drink, emitting a purr of satisfaction. "By Celestia! This is the best frappé I've had in my life! The fancy shops in Canterlot can't even compare!" he boasts, grasping the attention of all the ponies in the room. They begin to stare as the star downs his drink, licking the foam of his lips like a child would.

"I must ask you," he whispers, leaning in towards you. "How did you know chocolate mocha was my favorite flavor without me telling you?" The room grows silent as all eyes and ears lay on you, waiting for your response. Only a select few knew that the beans were special. The last thing you needed was people thinking you and your beans were a fraud.

"...Magic," you mutter with a sly grin. Hoity leans back into his chair laughing maniacally, making yourself and a few ponies uncomfortable. A couple join in, probably in hopes that he would take notice in them.

"A coffee enthusiast, a comedian, and an exotic being! Filthy really hit the jackpot finding you, didn't he?" Nodding your head nervously, you slowly make your way into the back of the store.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it, and I'd love to stay around and talk, but I have to get back to work," you reply, slipping behind the counter and back into the prep room.

Grabbing the open sign, you switch it over to closed and lock the door. Part of your team finishes up their cleaning as the rest put out the goods for tomorrow morning. It's always best to be prepared. Brewster finishes up the last of the coffee grounds and places them into a sealable container.

"You did good, newbie. You'll be a barista soon at this rate," you hint, giving him a light nudge in the side.

"Thanks boss. I'm all done here. Do you mind if I go home now?" You nod, signalling the end of his shift. He trots off out of the store as you turn to Puck, who is still washing dishes. Grabbing a sponge, you grab a cup and begin washing it. Puck looks up at you with a concerned look.

"Why are you helping me? You're the boss. Aren't you supposed to just tell me what to do?"

"I'm not a scumbag, Puck," you grunt, placing the cup in the drying bin. "I may be your boss, but I'm still fair and I won't hesitate to help you. Don't take that the wrong way; you better not slack." Puck puts on a smile for the first time all day and continues to wash dishes with you in complete silence. After they're all done, he makes his way for the door and stops.

"You're an alright guy... boss." You find yourself chuckling as he leaves in hurry, hoping you didn't hear him.

"The rest of you can go home. I'll finish up here." For the next couple hours, you finish up the list of manager duties: make sure the shop is ready for tomorrow, count the money and check the profit/loss of the day, and close up. Looking at your watch as you walk home, you check the time. It's already twelve-thirty.

Making your way up the small hill to the cottage, you feel your feet drag. It was a long day today, but it felt good to finally have your own shop. Slowly opening the front door, you poke your head inside and look. Fluttershy is fast asleep on the couch with something on the coffee table. A small cake with the words, "Congrats on your first day, Anon!" lies in a small box. The poor thing must have waited for you to get home in hopes of surprising you. Scooping her up from the couch, you head upstairs to her bedroom and gently lie her down on her bed. She mutters something as you open the door to head back downstairs.

"Please... Be reasonable... Anon..." You feel your stomach twist as these words meet your ears. Leaning over her, her face seems scrunched up. Must be a bad dream. Laying down next to her, you wrap an arm around her and bring her close. Her smile replaces the sad look on her face as you kiss the back of her head.

"I wouldn't even think about it," you whisper into her ear before falling asleep.

Author's Notes:

Sorry guys, I'm working on my stories when I can, but I'm really busy with IRL problems right now. I'll try to get another update soon.