//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: Cakes and Lies // Story: The Wild Laughter of Stone // by dah884 //------------------------------// Twilight, despite the pounding in her head, ran over to her once more pink friend and once again held her tightly. As she struggled to piece together what just happened, she recalled the memory that has guided her most of her life. (Princess Celestia stared at her and said, “List can save lives, but don’t forget to focus.”) As Fluttershy was tending Luna, occasionally glancing over at her purple and pink friends. Celestia approached, her face blank and emotionless, “Lulu, are you alright?” She hesitated a moment, “and, did you learn anything?” “First there was a loud noise that woke Ponyville…” “Yes sister,” relieve flooded the… “but, it is worse than we thought.” “… then the Cakes brought a distraught Pinkie over…” “What? Why?” Demanded Rainbow. “We just gotta beat whatever that was in Pinkie and then…” “…afterward the Princesses revealed Pinkie wasn’t in the census…” “It is not that simple,” Luna began. “The enemy is not in but from within,” she explained cryptically. “…finally we did something incredibly stupid… WAIT!” After a moment of thought, Celestia’s eyes took on a sharp glint, “you don’t mean?” “I’m missing something.” “Yes!” “But, what could it be?” “But, how?” “Think, think, think! What’s… missing…” “I know not how it manifested itself, but it was most definitely…” “WHERE ARE THE CAKES?” Everyone turned to Twilight after her outburst. Celestia and Luna looked at each other Spike was the first to react. “Twilight, calm down,” he began. “The Cakes…” “Calm down,” Twilight snapped. “Calm down , how can I ‘calm down.’ One of my best friends is hurt, the laws of nature says she shouldn’t even exist, we just did something incredibly stupid, almost getting us all killed, and now two of our friends are missing.” Twilight wilted, “if anything happened to them Pinkie will blame herself.” She continued in a whisper, “And it’s all my fault.” “Twilight,” Celestia said gentle, using a feather to lift Twilight’s chin. “This is not you fault, in hindsight it may have been a mistake. However none of us,” she indicated the rest of them with her other wing, “could have known what was to happen.” “And,” Luna added, “it may have given us important information.” The fleeting grimace on Celestia muzzle made Twilight wary of the other horseshoe falling. But, before she voiced her concerns Rainbow Dash interrupted. “Besides, since when has Pinkie been more than passing friends with the Laws of Nature,” she joked. “Then again, she's best friends with everyone so maybe that’s it.” Everyone gave a weak chuckle. “Um, actually,” Spike began nervously, while wringing his claws. The laughter stopped as all the ponies gave him their undivided attention. Swallowing his nerves he continued, “I know what happened to the Cakes…” Before he could finish he was dog piled and barraged with questions by five ponies as the sisters watched patiently. One question stopped the rest, “Are they safe?” Twilight almost whispered. Spike began chuckling nervously, “They weren’t, actually here.” “WHAT!!” Spike sudden found his feet to be very interesting, “Mr. Cake left to inform the Apples and the Crusaders that you might be a while, and after Princess Luna said she couldn’t help Mrs. Cake thought to ask Zecora for help.” Twilight face hoofed. “I hope she remembered to bring one of the guards from the outpost.” “Twilight, she's a grown mare, I doubt she’d be foolish enough to stick her hoof in a rattlers den.” Applejack joked. The Ponyville guard outpost one of the most needed outposts, situated between the town, peacefully scenic Whitetail Woods, and the wildly chaotic Everfree Forest. With the constant threat of monster and the bi-weekly near to full destruction of the town, it should be the most used outpost in the history of Equestria. However, it was practically ignored and forgotten. The only thing these guards did was escort a group of foals to the statue of Nightmare Moon on Nightmare Night, and that job had fallen to the zebra Zecora. Once the townsfolk got over her unusual appearance. The rookie guard on watch duty saw the approach of the most dangerous of creatures, a denizen of Ponyville. As he turned to warn his fellows on duty and disturb their poker game, when he was suddenly hit with the sense it would be rather rude disturb them. It wasn’t like it was a creature from the Everfree and if she need help she’d stop. After all, she wasn’t The Three, a shiver ran down his spine. The mare just walked right past the post and entered the forest. Knock! Knock! Knock! Mr. Cake knocked on the door of the farmhouse. He was greeted by a living wall of red fur. “Greetings Big Mac. Is Granny in?” “Eeyup,” the big stallion answered as his emerald greens stared intently at the other stallion. “May I talk to her,” the Cake asked when nothing else was said. Mac’s blonde hair swished as he tilted his head. Contemplation the hour, “eeyup.” He turned and called, “Granny.” When they found the elder she was rocking in her chair. “What can I do for you, sonny?” she asked kindly, a smile dawning her wrinkled green muzzle. “Is Applebloom here?” Mr. Cake asked. Granny’s eyes cracked open enough to see her golden irises before she turned to Big Mac, “why don’t ya go check up on them in their clubhouse?” “Eeyup,” was all the big stallion replied as he got up and left. “Mrs. Smith, does he know?” Granny’s eyes narrowed with a sharp glint. “We were waiting to tell Applejack. Now why don’t you tell me what’s wrong?” “What makes you think anything’s wrong?” Cake asked nervously. “For one thing ya’re jumpier than a rattler, another ya haven’t called me ‘Mrs. Smith’ in years, and finally ya’re playing with your glasses.” Granny pointed out. Mr. Cake’s hoof froze inches above muzzle as he attempted to readjust glasses he no longer needed or wore. Swallowing hard, he put his hoof down, and faced the Apple matriarch. “HE is here.” The glare Granny Smith gave the young pony before could have an entire pack of timberwolves sit and beg for mercy. “When my dear Butter brought that little bundle of joy home, I vowed I’d move heaven and earth for her to be healthy and happy. I don’t care who he is and what he’s done. HE. CAN‘T. HAVE. HER!” Her voice never rose above conversational, but a shiver ran down Mr. Cake’s spine. “Um,” Mr. Cake gulped, “it’s not like that.” “Explain,” the Apple commanded. “It’s complicated…” Knock! Knock! Knock! Zecora the zebra, brushed a hoof through her striped mohawk, as she answered her door. Her blue eyes widened as they fell on the mare in front of her. “You coming I should’ve known, for the serenity in the forest you have sown.” “I’m sorry I haven’t been able to visit more often since Applebloom became your apprentice.” Mrs. Cake began, “I’m sure she would love how the rhymes have in increased the charm of your craft, but…” She couldn’t help but hesitate, “she is here.” The zebra froze. All her muscles becoming taut and her eyes darting to the shadows as if she was expecting an attack. Her voice was a whisper, “no.” She turned on the other mare, “NO! I have built a good life here. A good life. I have friends and people who respect me. Not fear me, but actually respect me,” tears were forming in her eyes. “I don’t want to lose everything. Not again,” she pleaded. “Who cares about honor. They’ve already convened… already judged,” her pleas turning to despair. “Why did he have to come?” “Um…” the Cake began, “She was already here.” “Explain,” the Zebra begged. “It’s complicated…”