i have a craving

Star Sapphire walked down the busy Mane Street of Canterlot. She had awoken that morning with an intense craving for chocolate milkshakes. She decided to check the variety of ice cream shops and cafes on the street in order to satisfy her craving.

She walked slower than normal, the lump in her belly slowing her down. She was almost certain it was the little one she was carrying inside of her that is causing the craving. She smiled as she came across her favourite ice cream bar. A nice young colt held the door open for her as she stepped into the store. Already knowing exactly what she wanted, she went up to the counter. "Give me the largest chocolate milkshake that you have. Whipped cream and cherry on top." She said, placing some bits on the counter.

Soon a giant glass was placed in fornt of her. She thanked the pony behind the counter, grabbed the milkshake with her magic,and sat down at a nearby table. She began to drink deeply from the milkshake. "That tastes great." She sighed.

To most ponies it was a day like any other. For Rose, it most definitely was not.

She almost pranced into the cafe. She felt like celebrating today. Negotiating with investors from the Crystal Empire was not any easy task but Rose had pulled it off. Not that she'd had any doubts. A little fluttering of eye lashes and some sweet smiles could go a long way...

Approaching the counter, she eyed a pony not to far away at a table, eating what looked like the most delicious milkshake in Equestria. "I'll have what that mare over there has, only smaller." She still had a figure to maintain.

Paying for the milkshake, Rose levitated it with her to the table of the mare she had spotted and sat down opposite her. She was quite a nice looking pony with colours not to dissimilar from her own, and she certainly didn't appear to be giving off any negative vibes.
"One can never be too old for a milkshake, am I right?"

Star Sapphire was surprised when the other pony sat across from her. She smiled and then nodded. "Oh, I quite agree, a milkshake is perfect for any pony of any age." She said, then taking a huge sip from her milkshake. She sighed in content before turning her attention back towards the new pony.

"Well, I believe introductions are in order. My name is Dr. Star Sapphire. It is a pleasure to meet you." She said, extending a hoof.

Brushing a few stray stands of mane form her face, Rose smiled brightly, revealing a set of perfect white teeth.

"Rosette Allure. But just call me Rose," she replied, shaking Star's hoof. "So, a doctor then? Of what exactly?"

Rose gestured to the cutie mark on her fellow unicorn. "I have to say your cutie mark isn't much to go on..."

Star Sapphire smiled. "I am a psychologist. A doctor of the mind." she said. To make is easier, she sticks her flank out a little to help Rose see her cutie mark. "My cutie mark represents a point of light, a star, that I try to help my patients achieve. A better place where they are now." She said, "It is a little more surreal, I'll admit."

Star Sapphire went back into her normal position, showing a bit of her baby belly. She takes another sip from her milkshake. "And what about you, Miss Rosette?"

Rose nodded as she listened to Star Sapphire, taking the occasional sip from her milkshake. The cold and creamy treat was very refreshing. However, it did remind her that she would need to exercise it off at some point. Never mind, it was worth it.

"I can't say I've not been curious about psychology. To think you can drop into the minds of somepony else seems quite...daunting to me," she commented, "And please, just call me Rose. Miss Rosette or Miss Allure sounds much to formal."

Taking a moment to flick the ever present bangs of mane away from her eyes, she spoke. "Well, I'm a business pony, at the head of a small...empire, if you will. I seek for the best investments and make them happen. I negotiate all the deals myself because I have a way with words, not to mention looks."

Star continued to drink from her milkshake. "Well Rose, the world of business is quite a fascinating one. I have a little knowledge of it, my father being a wealthy businesspony himself. Not the life for me, but I can see why other enjoy it." She said.

"So, what brings you to Canterlot? Bussiness I presume?"

Rose nodded, taking another lady-like sip from her tall chilled glass of shaken milk.
"Yes. It's all business as usual for me today. Another meeting, another opportunity, another contract signed."

She stirred the milkshake with her straw, remember the past events of today. A good day.
"I have a good feeling about this one. Shipping design materials for nearly half the price, to sell for almost double. So I felt the need to celebrate with this," Rose finished, gesturing to her milkshake.

I'm guessing you had similar thoughts? Maybe helped cure a patient who thought they were a tree?" she joked.

Star Sapphire sipped at her milkshake. "No, actually. I did not have any patients scheduled for today. Just woke up with the most intense craving for a chocolate milkshake. I guess that is what happens when you are pregnant." She said, rubbing her belly. "Although speaking of trees, I did have a pegasus patient who wanted to be a tree. But thats all I can tell you about that."

Upon hearing Star announce her pregnancy, Rose gasped. Unfortunately, as she was drinking her milkshake at the time, she managed to enter a coughing fit. She eventually cleared her throat enough to speak, quickly recovering.

"Pregnant? I had no idea just from looking at you. Oh, congratulations! For how long? Who's the lucky stallion? Or should I say unlucky?" joked Rose.

Star Sapphire smiled. "Why thank you. It is quite happy news. I've been pregnant for almost a month. My coltfriend, the father, is a pegasus named Shadow Zephyr. He is going to be an excellent father." She said, drinking more of her shake and smiling.

"Ooh, a unicorn mother and pegasus father. I wonder what it'll be? Oh, the mysteries of birth," Rose speculated, as if becoming lost in a fantasy. She quickly regained her composure and gave Star a sheepish smile.

"I'm very happy for you. I can't imagine myself settling down with anypony myself, at least not just yet," she remarked, "I do hope this Shadow plans to make an honest mare out of you."

Star smiled. "Well, I already like to think of myself as an honest mare, so I don't plan on making Shadow work too hard on that." She said, lounging back in her seat. "I often wonder as well about what the baby will be. Who knows? With the right family lineage we might end up with an Earth pony." She said, patting her stomach.

"Oh, you should definitely get him to work for you," Rose replied, laughing a little. "When you have a stallion that sounds as good as the one you have, it's best to hold on to him."

Having finished her milkshake, Rose pushed the glass away from her with a hoof, dabbing her lips with a napkin held in her levitation. She then rested her forehooves on the table and perched her head on top, eyeing the pony across from her.

"Tell me Star, are you able to read pony's minds? Surely as a Psychologist you can anypony like a book."

"Yes, I have him help around the office. Its nice to have someone help." She said, polishing off her milkshake. She levitated the glass back towards the bar for the dishwasher to get. She patted her pregnant belly and continued to talk.

"I can't just read minds. People have to tell me what they are thinking. Although, I can tell if a patient is lying to me." she said.

Rose's eyebrows raised in surprise before she gave Star an inquisitive look. She never imagined that having a conversation with a simple mare she had met in a cafe could be so enjoyable. Rose pegged it down to the fact that she had an interest in persuasding ponies and, with lack of a better word for it, manipulating ponies into believing what she wanted. Psychology seemed to be the opposite; working out what a pony is trying to get you to think, and what they are really thinking.

"Really? So, if I told you about myself, you'd be able to tell what I was and wasn't lying about? What I wouldn't give to be able to do that..."

"Well, I can't tell a lie right after meeting someone. Not unless they were a really, really bad liar. I need to know you a little bit, learn your tells. Its like playing poker, which I'm quite good at too."

Star Sapphire smiled. She was glad that Rose had decided to strike up conversation. star had not had much social interaction with anypony in weeks, so this was very welcome.

"Oh, I see. Well, I'm not bad at poker myself, so maybe I would make a good psychologist," she replied, letting out a little laugh.

Rose glanced up at the clock on the wall of the cafe, noting the time. She had some time until she reached the next part of her schedule, but she may have to leave soon. She mentally cursed her busy work days, what few of them she had. They always seemed so packed and often hectic. But work was work.

On that trail of thought, Rose opened her saddle bag and lifted out a small card from it.

"I'm sure it won't be for a while, but as something of a gift for you and your child, take this," Rose said, sliding the card across the table. "Use it in any of the stores written on it, and you can get discounts."