There is no rest for the weary. There is also no rest for the suspicious. All night, Hogan thought he was being watched, not by the weird pony creatures that sheltered him and his men for the night, but something more... mystical. But, he did not have time to think of his slumber when he heard a loud crash and clang coming from a door that led presumably to the kitchen followed by the sound of a certain small Frenchman cursing in his native tongue.
*** *** ***
30 Minutes Earlier
When Schultz woke up, he actually felt better than he had in years. For as much sleep as he got even when on guard duty, it was still never comfortable. But last night's sleep was like heaven for him. For once, he could dream about his old factory without feeling a sense of loss, but rather a sense of peace and hope. His encounter with that Night Princess named Luna probably helped clear his mind as well.
Getting up from the corner he was sleeping in, Schultz proceeded to fold up his blanket like a gentlemen when he felt a wind pass him. Looking up, he nearly jumped back into the wall when he saw the pink pony named Pinkie Pie (ironically) smile at him with a large toothy grin. Now, Langenscheidt had a toothy grin, but Schultz had never seen anything like this before. For a minute (even though it seemed like an eternity), they stared at each other, with Schultz not knowing what to do. He truly knew nothing. Finally, he decided to break the silence and start the obviously overdue conversation.
"Er... Good Morning Fraulein." he nervously said.
Immediately, Pinkie's smile opened up and she began her response. "Morning there sleepy head! Last night I was in so... soooo much of a rush that I did not have time to create your Welcome to Ponyville party so the best I could do was make you some breakfast. What are you doing standing there Mr Schultzie! C'mon and see what I made, you're gonna LOVE it!"
All Schultz could take in were the words party, breakfast, and Schultzie. Schultzie... only one man would dare call him that, Newkirk. Le Beau and Carter would sometimes call him that but they never used it as frequently as that Englishman. So it was clear that Newkirk was awake and he probably taught Pinkie Pie his nickname for Schultz.
Making his way from where he was sleeping, he looked around to notice that one: the roof had apparently been repaired (rather quickly and from the looks at it sturdily) from the previous night's parachute incident and that Colonel Hogan was still asleep. It sort of made sense to Schultz since Hogan was usually up late at night pulling off his monkey business.
Following Pinkie Pie into the next room, Schultz's mouth began to water as the smells began to consume his nose. When he made it into what seemed to be the kitchen, he could see what looked like an entire dessert buffet right in-front of him. All on one long table, there were classic breakfast items such as donuts and pancakes, but there were also cakes, sweets, even a chocolate fountain. Finally taking his eyes off the display in-front of him, Schultz spotted Carter sitting on a (rather small) chair digging into what he could only make out as a pie. Everything Schultz could dream of was right in-front of him expect one thing, some Strudel.
Taking a couple more looks at the table, Schultz searched for the Strudel he longed for but found nothing in return. Apparently, Newkirk caught eye of Schultz's dismay and made his way over to him to try and see what was wrong.
"Ey there Schultzie, what's the matter eh? I thought you'd be rolling around in the cake by now."
Jolly Joker Schultz thought as he turned to Newkirk to reply. "It is nothing Newkirk, I swear. In fact, I am joyed to see such a display in-front of my eyes!"
"C'mon, don't play funny with me Schultzie. I've known you long enough to see when you are missing something. Especially when you talk different."
Schultz was beaten, they knew him all too well. "Alright then, I was hoping for some Strudel. There, are you happy now Newkirk? You did not even need to hand me chocolate bars."
"Easy there Schultzie, I ain't gonna hurt ya. Besides, I am sure Le Beau can whip up some strudel for you, isn't that right Le Beau?"
The little Cockroach was busy stuffing his face with what looked like Bon Bons when he nodded at Newkirk and came up to Schultz.
"Sure Schultz, I could probably make you some strudel if Mademoiselle is alright with me using her kitchen."
Suddenly out of nowhere, Pinkie Pie jumped up from behind Le Beau and yelled "Sure you can! Wait, what are you going to do with my kitchen?"
It took a while for Pinkie to notice that she was not going to get an answer from Le Beau until she finally realized he was choking on some food before Schultz pulled the Heimlich Maneuver on Le Beau.
"Easy their Schultzie, you might kill him by saving up."
"Newkirk, what would you do if you had to save the Cockroach from choking on his food."
"I'd do the Ruddy same thing, just not as hard as you just did it."
Before Schultz could return, Pinkie Pie interjected with confusion. "Hey, it isn't nice to call somepony a cockroach! You don't want to hurt their feelings, do you?"
"Yeah Schultzie, it ain't nice to call pals cockroaches!"
"Jolly Jokers" Schultz mumbled under his breath.
"I do not care whatever he calls me, he saved my life, and for that I am grateful. Thank you Schultz, and if Newkirk ever gives you trouble again, I will give him payback only a Frenchman can deliver!"
"Thank you Let Beau, now, about the Strudel?"
"Ah yes, Mademoiselle Pie, could I use your oven to make Schultz here some Apple Strudel?"
"OOOHHHH! Why didn't you ask Silly! I will make you the best Strudel you have ever tasted!"
"Oh, wait until you taste Le Beau's bloody strudel, then you with have second thoughts about that sweetheart!" Newkirk interjected. As much as they bickered, Le Beau and Newkirk were still the best of friends.
"Newkirk, let's not insult the the Dame's cooking skills." Le Beau said.
"Nonsense, your a bloody Frenchman, where the hell is your pride? She claims to make the best Strudel, you're not gonna bloody defend your title?"
"Newkirk..."
"Alright, looky here lady, I ain't gonna watch me mate right here through away his honor just so he can let a lady beat him, no offense of course."
"Hm...."
For a minute, it took Pinkie Pie to think of what to do next until suddenly, a light bulb (yes, somehow a light bulb) popped over her head and her face was full with a big toothy grin.
"I have... The most PERFECT IDEA!"
"Alright then, spit it out for us please." Newkirk said impatiently.
"A cooking challenge! So, basically me and your friend have to make a certain dish and you guys get to judge on it! There is a great place in Canterlot that sorta does but it uses teams instead of ind...."
"Alright, we get the bloody point. Question is, what are you two gonna bloody cook?"
For another time, Schultz knew something. "Oh, how about Apple Strudel!"
"Apple Strudel it is then mates! So, you gonna defend your honor like a real bloody Frenchman that you claim to be?"
Muttering what sounded like a french curse, Le Beau reluctantly agreed and before long, the cook off began.
*** *** ***
The previous night was a long night for Applejack. Just after she had gone to bed, Applebloom started screaming and said she saw 5 large creatures walking around in the fields outside the house. So as always with Applebloom's nightmares, Applejack and Big Mac went outside to see what was the matter. They didn't find anything but 5 large sheets and a lot of rope that attached the sheets to backpacks. So for the rest of the night, they decided to keep an eye out for the creatures. That in turn led Applejack to need an energy shot for the morning's daily chores. And what better place to get a shot of energy would be than Sugarcube Corner.
Now, normally Ponyville was quite quiet on a regular morning without any chaos or the regular villain roaming about causing chaos. Even Discord kept his antics to a minimum in the morning. Today though was quite odd. On her way to Sugarcube Corner, she could see smoke rising above the buildings and a large amount of Ponies moving in the same direction as her. What happened next came as a surprise to her.
When she came around the bend to Sugarcube corner, she could see that the annex where the kitchen was on fire, surrounded by ponies and fireponies, and there was a large amount of paparazzi in the area. Making her way to the camera flashes, Applejack nearly fainted as she saw 6 large creatures (well, one was quite small and nearly her size) come into view. Only when she got closer did she see one with a peaked cap with his hoof... well, it looked more like what Spike would call his hand, on his face with what looked like an expression of tiredness or disappointment while 3 others were holding a creature with a blue uniform on and another with a beret and what looked like a spoon in his.... hand.... back from each other from apparently fighting with each other.
She finally found Pinkie Pie beside the creature with the cap apparently comforting it. When she walked up and asked "Pinkie, what in tarnation just happened? And who the hay are they?" It was not Pinkie that responded but rather the creature she was comforting.
"Miss, there are some things that I never wish to know. I recommend you do the same."