[Zann]
I woke up to Pinkie vigorously shaking me. I blinked and yawned, stepping out of my dog bed to stretch. I sat back and pulled on my false leg until my shoulder popped. Why does every night in a new place screw with my leg? I wondered as I finally gave Pinkie my attention.
"Are you excited for today?!" She whispered shouted. "I'm so excited! So excited, I got us up super-duper early to help the Cakes prepare!"
<<Are they even up at this hour?>> I groggily asked. <<What are we even doing?>>
"SHHHH!" Pinkie jammed her hoof into my muzzle. "We've got to be quiet! You go get the Minikery set up, and I'll prep the store!"
I yawned, pulling a modified sock onto my prosthetic, and shuffled out after my hyperactive pony. <<Pinkie, you know I need food or coffee this early in the morning...>>
We reached the bottom of the stairs when Pinkie turned to me. "Oh! I almost forgot! Here, one high calorie breakfast cupcake for you! Keep you nice and healthy." She handed me a vibrantly colored cupcake, with extra sprinkles, big enough that its base stuck out a bit around Pinkie's hoof.
I stretched my mouth open as wide as I could make it and devoured the pastry treat in one gulp. Taking a moment for the food to hit my furnace, I followed Pinkie into the new kitchen. I took my time to mix up a couple of large batches of cookie dough, making sure none of the mix got into my fur.
A~nd that none of my fur got in the mix.
With a slight yawn, I munched on some of the generic kibbles the Cakes feed me with before slipping the bowls onto my back. Grabbing a ladle into my mouth, I waited for Pinkie to place a couple of shallow baking trays onto my back. Once I had everything, I made my way over to the stall we had dragged inside.
Placing everything down, I ladled small dollops of the batter onto a tray, before setting it onto a wire rack. The rack itself was suspended in a metal section of the Minikery with space under it for some logs to be placed inside a metal ring. I quickly set up a small fire, making sure that the logs wouldn't roll or fall out.
While I waited for the cookies to bake, I looked around the new store. The new Sugarcube Corner looked much like it's predecessor, although with a more open design. The Cakes had managed to increase their lot size enough to add another row of tables to the lobby, as well as enough space for the Minikery to be placed by the counter and for an ice cream cooler to sit beside the fridge.
I can't believe that we're finally reopening. I sighed, pulling the finished tray of cookies off the rack and setting it aside to cool. I quickly replaced it with another tray. I glanced outside to see a cloud with a short rainbow hanging from it. I shook my head with a smile as I started to prep the third tray. While those were baking, I set the cooled cookies out. Burn cleaning the tray, I started prepping it for the next batch once it cooled. I proceeded in this manner until the Minikery had been fully stocked, then put out the fire. I checked up on Pinkie and was surprised to see the rest of the Cakes up and baking as well, the twins babbling away in a play pen.
Although, considering what today was, I really should have expected that.
Fifteen minutes to opening, and Pinkie brought a change box and set it up. We had trained the local ponies to use a trust system while I was there. Me being a fire dog helped, I guess.
Ten minutes to opening, and Pinkie brought over a couple of coolers for me, stuffed full of s'mores ingredients. My flash frying technique had made our s'mores a new staple of the bakery.
Five minutes to opening, and Pinkie brought me my food bowl. It was piled high with kibbles and confections. Catching a glance at the growing line outside, I inhaled the food with a minute to spare.
Pinkie and Cup Cake exited the store through the back door, walking around to begin the grand reopening ceremony. Carrot Cake and I stayed at our respective counters to greet the first customers in. Sure enough, Rainbow and Leo reach us first.
<<What'chu wan'?>> I asked, noting the small bag in Leo's mouth.
She leaned against the counter to place the bag on it. <<As many peanut butters as this'll get me.>>
Rolling my eyes, I pulled a tray I had hidden away and slid cookies from it into a bag. <<Getting a little greedy?>> I asked as I passed her the bag. <<All those cookies are just going to go to your hips. It'll just slow you down.>> I gently ribbed.
<<Not all for me.>> Leo explained. <<We didn't want to cram the entire pack in here while you're working, so they sent me to get them stuff.>> She smirked, slinging the bag up onto her back. <<Pity they didn't specify. Now they get my favourite!>>
I waved her off, before turning to the rest of the line. Oof, it's going to be a long day...
We were just finishing up our cleaning when there was a knock on the door. I shared a glance with Pinkie as Carrot went to see who was there. With a shrug, I went back to brushing the insides of the ovens. I got that job simply because they were easiest to clean still mostly warm, but nopony could stand to be in them for long.
I had just tossed the rag out behind me when I felt jaws clamp down on my tail before pulling me out. Pinkie let go once I was out, then pointed behind her.
"Merry Weather wants to talk to us." She stated.
Uh oh, must be serious. I nervously followed Pinkie into the lobby. Merry Weather sat with the Cakes and Crusaders at one of the tables. Pinkie and I quickly joined them.
"I'll keep this brief." Merry Weather began, pulling papers out of her bag. "Silver's parole, for a lack of a better term, is coming up. Part of her hearing involves an interview with you." She began asking us a series of questions that I honestly zoned out about halfway through. I refocused back at the end. "Alright, this is the last one, and it's a conditional one. Before I ask it, you should know that Silver has been gaining time off for good behavior. Not enough for her to be 'released' by itself, but the dedication and the performance she has shown indicate that she is remorseful, and has likely learned her lesson and can be released. However, we cannot ignore your side of things."
She sighed. "So, the final question is: if it is possible for her to be released at this time, would you give your consent?"
I saw Pinkie nod while the Cakes whispered amongst themselves. Apple Bloom spoke up for her friends. "We consent, although we think she should take a course on Equestrian summoning laws."
"We'd also consent, so long as she gives a written apology." Carrot stated.
Pinkie looked down at me, and I smiled and nodded. She turned to Merry Weather. "Zann and I are okay with it, too!"
"Alright." Merry Weather pulled a few pages to the top of her pile, wrote a few things down, then passed them over to the ponies across from her. "Need you to sign here." Each pony signed in turn, then Pinkie quickly picked me up, rubbed my good paw in ink, and placed my paw print beside everypony else's signatures.
We handed the form back to the guardsmare. She gathered the papers up and tapped into alignment. "I'll get these to the barracks to be processed. Thank you for your time."