"Applejack, you promised!' Apple Bloom's whine could be heard miles away. "You Pinkie-promised that you would take us Crusaders bakin' today!" Applejack shook her head.
"Ah know, sugar-cube, its just that the apples need buckin' and Big Mac can't do it all, and-" She was rudely interrupted by her sister.
"But Big Mac only has twenty trees left! You know that he can finish that, and get dinner afterwards before sun down!" Apple Bloom could tell that her sister was
about to refuse, so she used her last weapon that she had in play. When Applejack next looked at her sister, she had completely transformed. Her head was down, her
bow was floppy, and she was sniffling. "I-it's ju-just that w-we really wa-wanted you to help u-us! Y-you are j-just so nat-natural at this that-" Apple Bloom started sobbing,
or, rather, pretending to.
Applejack, who couldn't bare to see her sister in such a state, relented. "All right, sugar-cube, Ah will take ya'll bakin'! Will you please, please stop cryin' now?" Apple Bloom
jumped up. Her eyes were clear, and she was bouncing like Pinkie Pie.
"Yes! Let's go!" With that, she raced off. Applejack, realizing that she had been tricked, just shook her head, and followed her galloping sister.
Granny Smith, who was in her rocking chair, had been watching this with a bemused expression. Then, her face fell as she realized that Applejack had been about to refuse having fun with her sister for work. That silly mare! she thought. It's always work, work, work with her! I wonder why? As Granny continued her thoughts, Big Mac walked in. "Oh, hello Mac! Are the apples bucked?"
Big Mac responded with his usual, "Eeyup," and went to the kitchen. Just as Apple Bloom had predicted, he went in, and walked right back out, opened the door, and left to get dinner.
"Well, well, maybe that young filly will get her Cutie Mark in predicting the future," Granny Smith said, out-loud. Then, she noticed that she was talking to herself, and
felt very silly. I got it! she thought. Applejack is so obsessed with working because she doesn't have a colt-friend to distract her! I wonder... With that, Granny Smith
started thinking of a plan.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Come on, Caramel!" Dr. Hooves was waiting impatiently by Caramel's front-door. "We are going to be late!"
Caramel poked his head out. "I don't know, I would rather stay home," he said.
The Doctor was horrified. "I spent my pay for four-months on these Wonderbolt tickets, and you don't want to come? Well, too bad! You are coming! That is final!"
A voice peeked out form behind the Doctor. "Did you say Woderbolt tickets?" He turned around, and there was Rainbow Dash, her face painted with excitement.
"You heard her Doc, she's obviously excited, I'm obviously not, so take her!" Caramel looked almost relieved, but he wasn't quite sure if her would listen or not.
Dr. Hooves paused, then replied, "Fine, but you owe me!" With that, he and the mare with the rainbow-colored mane left.
Caramel was officially relieved. Yes! he thought. I get to have a day to myself! What to do first...hmm...I know! I'll take a walk! As Caramel was walking out of his front gate, he was nearly run-over by the CMC, who were riding on Scootaloo's scooter.
"Sorry, sir!" they called as they drove past. Caramel just nodded. As he was walking, he came upon a very tired and out of breath Applejack.
"Hello, Applejack! How are you? Where are you going? Why are you panting?" Caramel stopped himself. He was a little bit socially awkward, and whenever he was with a
mare, he ended up rambling.
"Howdy, Caramel! I'm good, but really tired...I'm helping the CMC learn how to bake! Do you know where they went?" Her voice was tired, and seemed to be a little bit over-worked.
"Well...let me show you where they are! They nearly ran me over, so I think I know where they are-wait! Shouldn't you know where they are going since you are helping them?" AJ just sighed.
"Yeah, Ah should, but when do the young 'uns ever listen to common sense?" Caramel gave a little laugh, and started walking away, then stopped.
"Wait, AJ? Do you want me to help you guys with baking?" Applejack nodded eagerly.
"Of course! I would be glad for the help!" she replied. They made their way down the countryside, the green grass flowing in the gentle breeze. The sun was high in the sky, causing the two ponies to sweat a bit. At first, the walk was in a natural silence. After a while, it became slightly more noisy as they came into town.
Caramel cleared his throat. "Well, based on the fresh scooter tracks, and the terrorized towns ponies, they came this way," he pointed towards Sugar Cube Corner. Applejack was looking intently, looking for the scared ponies of Ponyville. "Um...AJ? The part about the terrorized towns ponies was a joke," Caramel said. Applejack nodded.
"Of course! Ah, was just looking for..." her voice faded out.
"You were looking for your sister?" he suggested. She nodded. They trotted off, following the scooter tracks. They finally got to Sugar Cube Corner, with the wind blowing in their faces. Outside, on the front-wall, a blue scooter sat. Applejack hurried up.
"Ah can't believe that they 'ave been here botherin' the Cakes the entire time!" She got to the pink door, and went inside. Caramel followed, more slowly. Once inside, they saw that the shop was a mess. "Apple Bloom? Sweetie Belle? Scootaloo? Come out her right now!" Applejack's voice was filled with frustration. Slowly, as if Applejack had a weapon, the three fillies came out from the kitchen. All three of them were covered in frosting and cake crumbs. Apple Blooms' bow was singed. "Now what in tarnation is goin' on here?" she asked. Sweetie Belle answered.
"We were baking with the Pinkie Pie, and then frosting container exploded! We were going to clean it up, but the cake was on fire! I used my magic to take it out, but it dropped, landed on the floor, and crumbs went flying everywhere! A huge piece of cake that happened to be on fire dropped, almost set the entire building on fire, but
Apple Bloom put it out with her bow! It was AMAZING!!!"
Caramel took a step forward, and gave the girls a stern look. "Listen, that was dangerous! One of you could've gotten hurt! With that aside, is any of the cake salvageable?" All three fillies shook their heads. "Well, then!" he continued. "You will have to work off your debt to the Cake's! Understand?" The CMC nodded miserably. "Now, off you trot! Try not to get into trouble, again!" Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo walked out of the bakery, heads down, eyes downcast, and missing much of the energy that they normally possessed.
Applejack stared at Caramel. "Y-you just made them STOP! Ah thought that was impossible!? Can Ah hire you?" her voice was astonished. Caramel blushed.
"Well..uh..." He didn't know what to say. Nothing is probably best, he thought. "Uh...anyhow, where is Pinkie Pie?" They heard a voice come from above them, though they couldn't understand it. The voice came again. "Is it safe?" it asked. Applejack gasped.
"Pinkie Pie?" They heard some shuffling, some glass breaking, but finally, a scared looking Pinkie Pie came out from her bedroom in the attic. Her mane was cut in half, and she had a fearful look about her. She, like the Cutie Mark Crusaders, was covered in frosting and cake crumbs. She stood there, looking like something was going to come and eat her. "Pinkie, what is the matter?" Applejack prompted her.
The disheveled pink mare gasped, and a story ran out of her like water from a new faucet. "It was horrible! The CMC came over here, waiting for you, but they got bored and asked me to help them bake! I said yes, of course! I thought that they had experience! They nearly killed me!" With that, she fell to the floor in a dead faint.
Caramel went over too Pinkie Pie, picked her up, and set her on a relatively clean piece of carpet. Applejack looked at her, then sighed, and in a tired tone, said, "Well, we had better find the Cakes. They will be wantin' to know what happened." Caramel nodded, and opened the door for the orange mare. As she walked by, he noticed something that he hadn't before.
"Hey, AJ? Umm...I like your hat," he said, immediately wishing that he hadn't. Applejack just dipped her head in thanks. The two earth-ponies walked the streets of Ponyville much like they had before. The wind had brought in some clouds, but they didn't look like rain. As they passed Golden Oaks Library, the wind picked up. It was a wind from the north, and had a bit of a chill to it. With this wind, the clouds covered the sun, and the temperature dropped a couple of degrees. All of Ponyville seemed to be walking back home. Caramel stopped Applejack. "So...I think that wherever the Cakes were, they are probably heading home," he began. "So, if we head back to Sugar Cube Corner, then we will meet them."
Applejack turned around, and slumped away. Caramel had been so busy looking for the Cakes that he hadn't bothered glancing, even once, at Applejack. She is so tired, he thought. I wonder why?
By the time that they had gotten back to Sugar Cube Corner, it had begun to rain. The raindrops were crystal-clear. Caramel was about to knock on the door when he heard a voice ring out, "Applejack!" He turned around, and saw Cheerilee galloping towards them. He really wanted to knock, but he refrained. When Cheerilee got to them, they saw that she had tears in her eyes. "Applejack, Apple Bloom has gone missing!"