The inside of the shop was decorated in what looked like frosting rafters and various decorations that looked like sprinkles or other cake toppings. Crescent looked around the shop noticing the different fresh cakes and cookies displayed under glass. She saw Twilight pacing in front of the counter talking to a pony behind it.
Suddenly two huge blue eyes filled Crescent’s sight. “Aaahh!” Crescent stumbled back a step and shook her head, adjusting her glasses.
“I’ve never seen you before.” The blue eyes became a pink pony with a puffy pink mane. The pony looked over her shoulder at Twilight, who had turned to look over and had begun walking over, then turned back and smiled.
“And you were looking for Twilight! That means you’re Crescent!” The pony hugged crescent whooping the whole time. Crescent noticed the other ponies in the room simply smiled, chuckled, or rolled their eyes.
Crescent thought back to the one picture and the little bit she’d heard about Twilight’s friends. There was a pink pony. What was her name. Ah, yes. Pinkie Pie. “Hi there Pinkie.” Crescent said trying to pry her way out of the hug.
The pony sprang away “You know me! I bet Twilight’s told you all about her friends right?” The pony asked.
“Uhh…” Crescent didn’t want to say anything.
“We’ll get to that later. Right now I need to give you your Ponyville welcome!” Pinkie reached somewhere out of Crescent’s view and pulled a wagon into the center of the room.
“Outside Pinkie!” A voice called from the back of the shop.
“Right.” Pinkie said nudging Crescent out the door, Twilight and the wagon followed along with a few of the other shop patrons. “Stand right there.” Pinkie said to Crescent before walking back to the wagon. The other ponies gave it a fairly wide berth as she walked up and pushed a button in the front of the wagon.
The wagon burst open and fanfare played as Pinkie danced and sang in front of the wagon and around Crescent. “Welcome, welcome, welcome, to Ponyyviille todaaay!” She sang as she finished.
Crescent was impressed and started to clap when she noticed the other ponies backing up a step. “AND THE FINALE!” Pinkie said as the wagon exploded again, throwing a torrent of confetti at Crescent and Pinkie and a heavy coating of cake batter coated them.
Crescent blinked and tried to wipe her glasses off, but being covered in cake made it nearly impossible. Pinkie was giggling uncontrollably on the floor. “I did it again!” She said as she continued laughing.
Crescent couldn’t help but laugh as well. Soon everypony nearby was laughing. Pinkie wriggled out of the cake, leaving it completely intact, and swallowed the whole thing. “Try some Crescent!” Pinkie said smiling.
Crescent managed to lick some of the batter off in between bouts of laughter. It was very good, better than any cake Crescent had tasted before. She licked some more off still laughing. Crescent stopped laughing. This was cake that hadn’t been baked in a cafeteria like every other time. She almost started crying, but managed to stop it by hugging Pinkie. Pinkie hugged her back, and licked some of the batter off her.
“Pinkie!” Twilight said walking up. “You shouldn’t lick other ponies.” She said. Spike was also with her, but Crescent didn’t see Starlight anywhere.
“But she’s covered in delicious cake!” Pinkie said turning to Twilight. Crescent returned to trying to clean her glasses and herself off.
“Pinkie do you think Crescent could clean up? So she doesn’t have to spend the rest of the day finding little bits cake all over herself.” Twilight asked noticing Crescent failing to wipe herself off.
“Sure thing Twilight.” Pinkie said stepping up to Sugar Cube Corner’s door and held it open. “After you.” She said gesturing Crescent through.
Crescent did her best to wipe off her hooves and shook most of the dripping cake mix off before cautiously walking through the door. Pinkie closed it behind her as Twilight walked through. A blue mare with a pink mane and tail laughed politely.
“Thank Celestia you welcomed her outside this time.” Pinkie looked a little abashed as if remembering something. The mare pointed up the stairs. “She can wash off in your room Pinkie. Then get back down here we still need those cupcakes frosted for the banquet tonight.” She said going into the back room.
“Sure thing Mrs. Cake!” Pinkie said and hopped along up the stairs.
Crescent and Twilight followed Pinkie up the stairs. They came to a landing with a few doors. Pinkie opened the one straight ahead revealing a bathroom. “You can wash off in here.” Pinkie bounced across the room and started the water. Twilight nudged Crescent in.
“You’ll be alright, I had to clean up here once.” Twilight smiled. “That was an unusual day.” She rolled her eyes. “Then again. Pinkie Pie always has unusual days.”
“All ready.” Pinkie said. The tub was now full of water and bubbles. Crescent walked forward and stepped into the tub. Pinkie offered Crescent some soap and shampoo. Crescent began washing herself off.
“So you’re moving to Ponyville?” Pinkie asked. Crescent nodded scrubbing away at the cake mix. “Why’d you decide to move to Ponyville?” Pinkie asked pushing a rubber duck across the tub. Crescent watched the duck sail across the tub for a second.
“Well… Uh… It’s a nice town. And Twilight lives here and I thought seeing her would be nice.” Crescent muttered. She didn’t want everypony to know she moved here to start after getting out of a mental hospital. Twilight and Starlight were probably alright, but Crescent didn’t think everypony needed to know.
“I… “ Twilight began, but caught a look from Crescent asking her not to say anything more for now.
“Nice! I always want to spend more time with my sisters and family too.” Pinkie said. Crescent plunged her head under the water to wash the rest of the shampoo out of her mane.
As she was washing she heard Pinkie say something through the water and Twilight gave a brief cry of alarm. Crescent began to surface to see what the commotion was about when she felt something clamp down on her muzzle.
“Aaaahhh!” She cried leaping out of the water.
“You should be more careful about him!” Twilight scolded Pinkie helping Crescent right herself. “I remember when that happened to me.”
After Crescent recovered, she looked out in front of her and saw Pinkie standing next to an alligator.
“Crescent meet Gummy.” The alligator did nothing. “He’s the thing that scared you so badly, and he’s very sorry about it. Right Gummy?” Pinkie asked looking down at him. Gummy licked his eye. “See! He’s completely sorry for scaring you.” Pinkie said nodding. Crescent noticed Twilight roll her eyes.
Crescent looked at Gummy. He stared back at her. Crescent poked him and he yawned revealing a mouth with no teeth. “Oh, that’s why he’s Gummy... and I still have a nose.” She said feeling where Gummy had bitten her.
Twilight helped her stand up. “It’s almost lunch time. How about we go and get something to eat?” Twilight suggested.
Crescent’s stomach rumbled. She grinned. “That’s a yes from me.” She said.
Twilight turned to Pinkie. “Think you can come Pinkie?” Twilight asked.
Pinkie thought for a second. “I’d like to, but I need to finish frosting those cupcakes for tonight.” Pinkie scratched her chin. “Though that probably won’t take me too long.”
“We could wait while you finished.” Twilight said.
“Thanks Twilight! I’ll be back soon.” Pinkie hopped out the door and slid down the railing. Crescent heard the kitchen door open and close.
“Come on down, we’ll get something for later while she finishes up her work.” Twilight said walking out of the bathroom and down the stairs. Crescent glanced at Gummy as she stood up and followed Twilight out, but he did nothing.
Crescent walked down the stairs and came back out into the main store of Sugar Cube Corner. The room was a lot more crowded than before. It seemed a bunch of ponies were coming in for a snack after lunch or something else. Crescent stuck close to Twilight to try and avoid the crowd of ponies, but most of them walked over for a bit of advice or to chat with Twilight, and Crescent felt a little odd standing around with nothing to do.
She decided to start wandering the shop. If she was going to live here it would probably be a good idea to know what they sold here. She passed shelves displaying cupcakes, candy, and a variety of sweets and confections that she’d never even seen before. She stopped in front of a green brown swirled cupcake that was topped with a strawberry and what looked like green sprinkles.
“That’s the SCCC! Strawberry Cinnamon Cilantro Cupcake!” Pinkie said popping out of nowhere.
Crescent jumped away as PInkie appeared. She looked back at the kitchen. She pointed at the door. “Weren’t you just…”
“Yes. Yes I was, but I noticed you stop in front of one of my creations!” Pinkie pulled a plate full of the cupcakes out from behind her. “Want one?” She asked.
Crescent reached to take one then stopped. “Don’t I need to pay for them first?” Crescent asked.
“Normally yes, but I’m offering you a special friend one time offer for your first day here.” Pinkie said smiling.
Crescent hesitated. “Strawberry Cinnamon Cilantro? Are those any good together?” She asked.
“Well that’s an interesting question.” Pinkie picked one of the cupcakes off the plate and ate it whole. Her face shrunk and looked a little embarrassed. She managed to swallow it then stuck out her tongue, which was covered in the green sprinkles. “They taste just about as sickening as they sound. Want one?” Pinkie offered the plate again.
Crescent wasn’t sure what to do at this point. Pinkie seemed alright, even though it looked like she hadn’t agreed with the cupcake, and in Crescent’s opinion that flavor combination actually sounded half good. Crescent took one figuring nothing bad could happen from eating a cupcake. No matter what flavor it might be.
She took a bite and chewed. The cinnamon was straight cinnamon, not with sugar, and Crescent could feel it burning as she chewed. The strawberry actually mixed quite well with the spice and helped moderate the cilantro. The cilantro added a hint of freshness like grass or a daisy. She chewed some more and took another bite. It wasn’t as bad as Pinkie had made it look. The cupcake itself was just slightly sweet which offset everything else.
Crescent looked up as she chewed. She noticed a sign above the counter she’d been examining. Joke Treats! Tease your friends! Crescent looked back at Pinkie. She talked around the cupcake. “You sell these as jokes? And you just offered me one?” She asked sounding muffled.
Pinkie looked a little surprised as she responded. “Yeah. Besides I had one first and I’ve had them before. I figured you’d say ‘no’ or would at least take it well.” Pinkie looked surprised again as she ate the final bite of cupcake.
“Well, I think they’re actually pretty good.” Crescent said swallowing. She looked at the plate still was holding. “Can I have another?” She asked.
Pinkie reached over the counter and took a box from behind it. “Take a few.” She said putting the cupcakes inside.
“Ah, you’re back Pinkie.” Twilight noticed the box. “Find something you wanted Crescent?” Crescent nodded.
She felt a little awkward as she looked at the box. “Umm… Twilight. I don’t have any bits.” Crescent looked a little sheepish.
“Oh that’s alright. I’ve got some.” Twilight fished a few bits out and put them on the counter. Pinkie popped up behind it and put them in the register.
“Anything else Twilight?” Pinkie asked. “You’ve got one lonely bit up here.” She said pointing at the bit she’d left on the counter.
“Add some vanilla lemon drops for me.” Twilight said. PInkie pulled up a bag from behind the counter and put it next to the box. She flipped the last coin into the register.
“Okey dokey lokey.” She said letting Twilight levitate the bag and box. Crescent took the box from Twilight.
“So, now onto lunch” Twilight said.