Twilight Sparkle sat at a table near the back of Sugarcube Corner. The place was pretty quiet. Most of the ponies were probably at home resting and relaxing after The Running of The Leaves yesterday. There were still a few ponies around, including a grey pegasus mare with eyes that never seemed to quite line up with each other, and a small unicorn filly that was with her.
A lot of ponies were surprised that the pegasus had won the race for some reason. Still, the two of them were really happy about it.
Twilight then looked at the clock.
It was about sixteen minutes until three. That would mean that Pipsqueak would be showing up soon for his and Pumpkin Cake's... date? Was it a date? A casual get together? Twilight was not entirely sure, and there were no real books that clarified the line between casual and romantic activities aside from intent of those involved.
At the thought of her friend, Twilight turned her attention to where Pumpkin Cake was working. She felt bad for her friend. Grounded, with no allowance until all the damages had been paid for, and extra chores around the shop to help with that. From what Twilight had been told, that last part was not actually a big deal since all of them had to pick up extra work if one or more of them were away from some reason or other (such as when Pinkie is off helping to save Equestria). Although Pumpkin did not seem really upset about it. Probably because the punishment could have been worse, especially since ponies had gotten hurt from the broken glass.
Pound Cake came up to Twilight's table, carrying chocolate glazed strawberry cake donuts and glasses of milk. Setting one of the glasses and two of the donuts in front of her, he sat down with the rest.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Pound asked. "I mean, spying on Pumpkin and Pipsqueak on her date?"
"We're not spying," Twilight replied as she grabbed one of the donuts. "We aren't hiding, she knows we're here, and we aren't doing it for any sort of organization, government or otherwise." She then took a bite.
It was delicious.
"But we are going to be sitting here -- in a distant corner of the bakery -- watching my sister as she tries to spend some time with a colt she might like," Pound stated.
Twilight nodded as she chewed. Grabbing the glass, she took a drink of the milk.
"Besides," she said, "this way we can be out of the way if things go well, but able to help her out if something goes wrong." She tilted an eyebrow. "You do want to help if it goes like it did yesterday, right?"
At the question, Pound shifted, looking away from Twilight. His eyes narrowed as he tapped his chin, letting out a hum.
"Pound," Twilight sighed rolling her eyes.
"Alright, alright. Yes. If something went wrong, I do want to help my sister... eventually."
Twilight let out a snort and shook her head. She then took another bite of her donut.
"Is that Trixie?" Pound asked.
Twilight looked at where Pound Cake was, finding that Trixie was there and had just come in. The sight caused Twilight to gasp, which led to her donut being sucked down her windpipe.
Eyes wide, Twilight coughed as she tried to get past the shock, and the donut out of her lungs.
"What?" she finally managed to wheeze out. This was bad. Bad bad. Like spent two months on a science project only to accidentally destroy it before school bad. Nightmare Moon bad.
"We need to do something," she finally managed to wheeze out. "If she's here when Pipsqueak shows..."
Before either of them could get up, Pumpkin Cake was coming from behind the counter and making her way directly toward Trixie.
"Hi Trixie," Pumpkin said as she walked up to the other filly. "Thank you for coming."
"Well I'm not going to turn down free food," Trixie said, sticking her nose up in the air. "Besides, I'm pretty sure you're not going to dump a drink on me again."
The statement got a wince from Pumpkin, taking a slight step back.
"Yeah... Again, sorry about that." Pumpkin then straightened up and took a step. "So, just come take a seat over here, and I'll be back with your drink and free snacks."
Trixie followed to a table and took a seat. Once she did, she continued to watch Pumpkin Cake as she went back behind the counter. Trixie then turned back to her table, not paying attention to anything around her.
One last cough escaped Twilight Sparkle as she sat there, staring wide eyed at Trixie. Leaning over, she moved closer to Pound Cake.
"Should we do something?" she asked.
"Like what?" Pound asked.
No answer came to Twilight right away. From the way Pumpkin had reacted, it seemed that not only was Trixie's arrival here expected, but planned. Why? It seemed like Pumpkin was up to something.
"She didn't mention anything about this to you?" Twilight asked.
Pound simply shook his head.
"Pipsqueak will be here any second," she said. "Why would Pumpkin ask Trixie here knowing that? Especially after what happened."
"I have no idea." Pound looked toward the door.
With a huff, Twilight Sparkle took a hold of the donut and started eating it again. At the moment, it looked like the only thing to do was to sit and wait. Whatever was going on was probably going to happen soon anyways. They would just have to sit and wait, maybe step in if something happened.
Pumpkin Cake came back to Trixie's table, carrying a tray with a slice of cheesecake on it. Smiling, Pumpkin set it down on the table before the other filly. Excitedly, Trixie grabbed a fork, cut a massive piece of the cheesecake, and swallowed it whole.
Trixie then grabbed at her throat and fell to the floor, still.
"That's right!" Pumpkin said, wrapping her black cape around her and stroking her mustache. "I poisoned the cheesecake. That shall teach you for getting in my way, fool!"
No. That was silly of Twilight to think. Pumpkin was not going to kill Trixie. And if she was, it would not be by poisoning. That would be bad for business.
Trixie sat at the table, drumming a hoof on the table and kicking her hind legs out of boredom. A snort escaped her nose as she turned to look in the direction of the kitchen, ears pulled back.
The room suddenly went dark as the sound of maniacal laughter filled the air.
The kitchen doors were blown off their hinges, shattering into splinters as it went. From the opening emerged a pony that looked kind of like Pumpkin Cake. It was the same size as Pumpkin, and had a similar body type. The most noticeable difference was that her coat had taken on a bloody red color, with her mane and tail turning black. She was also dressed in what looked like Nightmare Moon's helmet and peytral.
"I am Black Forest!" the nightmarish filly declared before laughing again. "And now, Trixie, you will pay for what you have done! Then all of Equestria will fall before me!" This was followed by another peal of maniacal laughter.
Twilight shook her head and grabbed her milk to take a drink. That was ridiculous. Pumpkin would never turn evil. Well... not yet at least. She would at least wait until after she got her cutie mark and got her talent figured out. Besides, if she did turn evil, it would have made more sense for her to actually do that when she and Trixie were actually fighting.
Trixie sat at the table waiting for her snack to appear. She shifted in her seat, letting out a snort of frustration. Eyes narrowing, she turned to look toward the door to the kitchen.
"What's taking so long?" she growled out.
"Hiiiiiiyah!"
Pumpkin Pie dropped from the ceiling, dressed in a black ninja outfit. With her shout, she landed on top of the table, the tip of her sword digging into the surface. Straightening up, she turned to the other filly and pointed the tip of the blade at her.
"Trixie," Ninja Pumpkin said, "I challenge you to honorable combat. The winner shall be allowed to pursue the romantic interests of Pipsqueak. The loser shall be shamed." She lifted her sword, striking a battle pose. "Do you accept?"
Trixie jump up and stood on her seat, eyes narrowed as she glared at Ninja Pumpkin. Bringing a hoof up and across her chest to her shoulder, she made a throwing motion. A piece of fabric appeared, covering her from sight.
When the fabric fell away, Trixie was dressed in a dark purple ninja outfit of her own. Pulling out a pair of kunai, she struck a pose of her own.
"Very well," Kunai Trixie declared. "I accept your challenge. Prepare to be shamed by your defeat."
With battle shouts, the two of ninjas jumped into the air, flying towards each other.
"That's not even an accurate representation of ninja fighting," Twilight cried out, setting her glass down on table.
"What?" Pound asked, turning to look at her. "What was that?"
A bright blush spread across Twilight's face at Pound's gaze, realizing that she had actually said that out loud.
"Nothing," she said as she turned away from him. "Just thinking about something."
There was a soft scuffling as Pound Cake moved closer to her. Twilight could feel his eyes on her, studying her closely.
"Were you imagining my sister as a ninja?"
"What?" Twilight asked as she turned to face him. She let out a giggle. "That's silly, Pound. Why would I imagine her and Trixie as ninjas?" She grinned, one of her ears twitching.
"So you did," Pound declared with a grin.
"...yes," Twilight finally admitted, slouching down. "I guess those ninja comics you and Spike read have gotten to me a little."
"I would make a totally awesome samurai," Pound said, puffing his chest up. "And you could be one of those sage wizards that can cast spells and make potions."
"That would be kind of neat."
"Sage Twilight" did sound kind of cool. She could wear one of those straw hats, and a long white robe with the yin-yang symbol on it. She could also carry a staff, a wooden one with a brass ring on top that had other brass rings looped through it. Although it seemed like it would be kind of tiring drinking tea all the time. Maybe she could learn to play the flute as well. How long would it take to learn to do that? Although she would look really weird if she grew a long white beard.
Before Twilight could get too caught up in imagining herself as a sage and Pound as a samurai, the two of them wandering the countryside to protect ponykind from bandits, evil warlords, and monsters, Pipsqueak came through the door, stepping into Sugarcube Corner. As soon as he did, Pumpkin Cake started to walk toward him.
"Well it looks like we're going to see what she's up to," Pound said, pointing at the pair.
"Hey Pipsqueak," Pumpkin said as she walked up to the colt. "Glad you could make it."
"Thank you for inviting me," Pipsqueak said with a smile. "I've never been in a bakery before, to say nothing about one that looked like a gingerbread house." He looked around. "But what's with the odd marks on the walls there?"
"Oh, we're still repairing the place from when some giant ants attacked and ate it," Pumpkin explained. "Anyway, if you'll follow me please, I'll show you to your seat." She then started walking, followed by Pipsqueak.
Until they reached the table where Trixie was already sitting.
"You remember Trixie," Pumpkin said, pointing to the filly in question.
"Sure I do," Pipsqueak answered. "How are you?"
"I'm... fine?" Trixie replied, raising an eyebrow. "What... what are you doing here?"
"Pumpkin and her brother invited me over," he said with a smile.
"And he will be joining you," Pumpkin said. "So just take a seat, and I'll be back with your tea and scones."
Pipsqueak sat down at the table opposite of Trixie, who turned to look at the other filly with a raised eyebrow. Seeming unaffected by it, Pumpkin Cake simply headed back toward the kitchen.
"So this is the first time I've seen you away from school stuff," Pipsqueak said. "What kind of stuff do you like, anyways?"
The question got Trixie's full attention. She turned to look at Pipsqueak, wide-eyed as his attention was entirely on her. A bright blush spread across her face as she shifted.
"Trixie... er.." she gulped. "I mean I really like magic. Not just actual magic like spells, but stage magic: illusions, sleight of hoof, things like that."
"Really?" Pipsqueak asked, perking up. "Do you know any tricks?"
"I'm still learning, but I have learned a few card tricks. Want me to show you one?"
"Yes, please."
The blush faded as Trixie smiled. Turning to her saddlebag, she opened one of pouches and pulled out a deck of cards. With practiced eased, she slipped them out of the box and shuffled them with her hooves.
"Notice I am using no magic on them at all."
As Trixie continued to set up her card trick for Pipsqueak, Pumpkin Cake returned with a tray. She set a cup of tea before of the ponies, as well as cream, sugar, and a plate of what must have been the scones.
"If you two need anything else, just let me know."
She then left the two, making her way to where Twilight and Pound were sitting, staring at her with wide eyes.
"What are you doing?" Twilight asked, nearly shouting. One hoof stomped on the table as she raised up and leaned forward.
"Giving Trixie and Pip a chance to get to know each other," Pumpkin stated, sitting down. "You going to eat that donut?"
"Yes," Twilight answered, pulling the donut to her. "And don't change the subject. Why? I thought you invited him here because you liked him and wanted to spend time with him."
"Like I said before, I don't know him." Leaning across the table, Pumpkin took one of the donuts from Pound Cake. "Yeah, I think he's kind of cute, and I like that accent, but that's not really anything big. That's not really anything to build a good relationship on." She took a bite, enjoying the chocolate glaze and strawberry flavoring.
"But that was the main point in inviting him," Twilight declared. "To get to know him. To spend time together and find out what you had in common. Why give that up before you even try?"
Pumpkin looked at the pair a moment, chewing slowly. She shifted to get more comfortable before swallowing and licking her lips for crumbs.
"Because I wanted to make it up to Trixie." She turned to look at the two other ponies. "As mad as I was at what she did, she was asking me to let them spend time together." She sighed, turning back to her friends. "Besides, I feel bad about it. As mad as I was, I shouldn't have made it worse by dumping water on her. If I hadn't done that, she would have just left, and nopony would have gotten hurt."
She took another bite.
"Plus, you did say she sort of hung out with him when you were tutoring the two of them, right?"
Twilight nodded.
"So that kind of means she was getting to know him first," Pumpkin continued. "Wouldn't be fair to move in on him then. And... I don't want to be the type of filly who gets mean and such over a colt. No guy is worth hurting somepony else over."
She set the rest of the donut back onto Pound's plate and brushed her hooves together.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to work."