Continuity, it's a Thing

It's time for a blog again, that must mean another story is in the queue. The upcoming story is:

The Velvet Connection

Sunbeam and Pepper Ridge were ecstatic when they successfully opened Sunridge Sweets and filled it with satisfied ponies. Unfortunately in this town you don't get to move baked goods without the permission of a shadowy cabal of bakers.

When things keep going wrong at the bakery one daughter vows to put a stop to the ponies harming her parents livelihood. Little does Velvet realize who she is up against and what secrets she will uncover.

This story has two major differences and one minor from my previous ones. First it has direct continuity from Second Step. Even I didn't know it at the time but that nasty smelly station wasn't acting on his own. He as part of a larger more 'sinister' group. I say sinister loosely because if you have read any of my other stories it should be clear by now that I try to have a comedic slant to everything I do. That said having a shadowy cabal of bakers that control the movement of desserts in Canterlot is pretty creepy and funny at the same time. Having two stories link up with each other was a fun thing, especially since it wasn't planned in advance. I don't know what bizarre situation Velvet will get into next, but it will be connected to these two in some way.

The not knowing something was going to happen leads into the next difference for this story. My initial outline was quite a bit looser than even my normal 'plans'. On top of that I didn't write it linearly from start to finish. I did the first scene the sixth scene and then the third scene before going back and linking them all together. It presented new challenges because even though a scene was already finished by the time I got to it I might need to make changes or add or subtract something to link it properly into the rest of the story.

The last change wasn't much of one but it certainly changed how this story might have been written a weak ago. It has recently been confirmed in canon that Best Pony Velvet Step has a bit of a wild side and isn't as restrained as certain roommates. This lead to me adding the Sex tag for some off color humor and a Velvet style interrogation.

PS If anyone can think of a good name for a crazy group of bakers that has a snazy acronym let me know. I gave up trying to find a 'K' word to use for C.A.K.E.

As usual below are my raw notes in case that interests you, THEY ARE SPOILERS. DO NOT SCROLL IF YOU DON't WANT TO BE SPOILED.

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Pitch

Sunridge Sweets wasn't all gumdrops and roses after the garden party debut. The existing Pastry Guild of Canterlot (replace with something with a funny acronym) did not take kindly to an upstart bypassing them entirely. Ever since salt has been arriving in place of sugar, the flour is full of rock candy, and a chocolate mousse head was placed in Sunbeam's bed.

Enough is enough. A loving daughter vows to get to the bottom of these crimes any way she can.

Canterlot Artisan Guild of Equestria
Canterlot Artisan Council of Equestria
Body of ___ Bakers
Municipal Artisans Representing Equestria

Shop Names and Ponies

Gilded Truffle - UNKNOWN - good
Grand Gianduia
Classy (Crystal) Confections
Pastries for a Princess - Five Star - evil - blue coat, orange mane with white highlights - erotic pastries
Cloistered Cakes
Natural Design - BUTTER in their famous butter free recipes
Collet Monté Pâtisserie - puts frosting on top of mass produced cakes purchased at <LOW CLASS BAKERY>
Cake Kingdom
Filigree Fancies
Forbidden Fancies

Rare Fair - Leader - My laugh is an evil laugh!

* * *

Outline

Story prologue

Dark and spooky cabal is meeting somewhere spooky, ooooooooo.
The Gilded Truffle refuses to join.
Bring this meeting to order, an upstart has dared to begin selling in our territory without permission

Backstory on Sunridge Sweets
Small blurb on the solid that Crystal did for them
The success at the party
moderation ++
Drop hint about them being out of line
Maybe a noble makes a comment about proper place and upstarts not knowing who their betters are

The problems start
Salt instead of sugar
-First batch disaster, yech
Crystal Rock Candy mixed in the flour (Velvet catches on now that something is wrong)
-Maybe Velvet is watching/playing with Red and he gets one of the cupcakes bits in and cries, ow ow ow
Fake orders to real addresses, Real orders rerouted to fake addresses
-Have one stupid fake name.
-Fake order by Crystal, obviously she didn't make it
A chocolate mousse head in the bed after a long day at the bakery

Tracking down the goons
Interrogating (sweet talking) one of the cabal. Literally sweet talking. You and me sweet treat with a helping of frosting and no regrets.
Realizing the scope of the problem
<SILLY GUILD NAME>

Getting the goods on the various members (YOU CAN"T HANDLE THE SNAKE VELVET PYTHON) Time to spy!

X uses butter, BUTTER in their famous butter free recipes!
-The Break In to scope out and get a copy of the recipe!
-Locked room full of yellow bars (of butter)
-Has to lube up to fit in a tight hole to escape
Y simply puts frosting on top of mass produced cakes purchased at <LOW CLASS BAKERY>
-Photograph of a cart dropping off a load of low class goods for resale
Z makes erotic pastries and sells them under the counter. OH MY
-Intercepts an order for a rather sensitive piece of <PONY WHO?> anatomy
-Come to life security spell?

Swishing her tail from side to side Velvet sashays home, her work is done.

Velvet files the blackpinkmail on her shelf under her bed right between Crystal -The Early Years and Things The Troupe Would Rather I Not Know.

* * *

Scene is a opulent room furnished to the level of royalty. There is a display of desserts to make Pinkie Pie swoon.
Come to order
All intone the oath <SILLY OATH>

Beauty in Breakfast
Luxury for Lunch
A Divine Dinner
Perfection for all Ponies

Where is the Gilded Truffle?!
They still refuse to come but they acknowledge our domain
There is a new upstart, Sunridge Sweets that dares to move into our exalted territory without our blessing
They must be dealt with
<SOMEPONY> speaks up that they already sent somepony but nothing came of it
Together we will teach them a lesson

* * *

Velvet musing about how great the shop had been doing ever since Garden Party with Crystals Parents?
Hugs Red tight thinking about the Second Step incident
You cute little <gross squishy words> do you want a cupcake, you little cannibal you
Red takes a big bite and starts crying throws down cupcake
someone poisoned the water hole, salted the cupcakes
Mom, dad somepony messed up the recipe
Emergency sugar bags, faintly smells a familiar scent
eyes narrow when she remembers who it was, the mad labeler

* * *

Velvet walked in the door.
Crystal gasped and quickly covered a notebook with her hooves. Scrambled
Actually writing what do you have there, leer/smirk.
Nothing, nothing at all. Why do you have a roll of black silk?
Do you really want to know, big Cheshire cat grin.
Blushing Crystal. For the ballet?
Yeah let's go with that. Of course, you're so silly Crystal
Heads to room.
Wraps self head to tail.

* * *

Tracking down the goons
Checking the bars that serve leaf and greens breakfast salad
Spies the Mad Labeler
Follows to Pastries for a Princess where he meets Five Star
After he leaves Velvet sneaks in
Finds her catching a nap in the office
Ties to chair
Proceed to Velvet doing what she has to.

* * *

Mare is tied to a chair
Velvet walks past her tickling her nose with her tail
We can do this the easy way or the hard way
Unties the ribbon in the mares mane with her tongue
Lowers head so that she is whispering right in her ear
I am very talented...
I know you want to tell me nibbles ear
Cut to outside room "Yes, yes!"
Only one mare was able to summon the energy to leave

knots

Emperor's Hat = Princess's Crown
Monkeys Fist = Dragon's Fist