//------------------------------// // Chapter 18- Let Them Eat Cake // Story: Reformed Unicorn Group Podcast // by Quoterific //------------------------------// "Welcome to our show, Grubber," Tempest welcomed her former hungry assistant to the show, "How has life after the Storm King's rule treated you?" "Life is as easy as pie, which is good since I love pie. Nothing beats a good slice of pie in life," Grubber answered in his usual desire of sweet things. "Does he always have these, fantasies? They can can rival Pinkie's," Starlight asked Tempest. "When someone talks about sweet pastries, he's the first one on the scene," Tempest rolled her eyes, "His dreams of treats often get a little too tedious, especially when I want his attention. "Remember when you all hid in that Trojan Cake to take back Canterlot? You both conquered Canterlot back, and it conquered by taste buds. It was so good! How did you manage to bake a cake like that?" "Probably Pinkie Pie," Starlight answered, "She's a lean, mean, pink baking machine in the kitchen. Even under a spell, she can whip up lots of desserts. Believe me, I know." Starlight rolled her eyes at the memory of that incident. "She did that wonderful, invasive cake that assaulted my taste buds with the most cunningly, absolutely brilliantly planned pastry? I must have the recipes. I have my own place to crash now, and I want to get into baking of my own!" Grubber declared with sweet enuthsiasm. "Well guess who's here to make your day?" A voice echoed throughout the studio, causing the unicorns to turn to each other in confusion. "Is that?" Trixie asked. "It can't be," Sunset sighed. "How?" Tempest looked around her, before the door burst open, revealing the pink pony in all her glory. "Your's truly!" Pinkie declared to everypony and Grubber in the studio, as well as all the listeners. "...How?" Starlight gaped. "My stomach was grouchy, telling me that some creature in the studio was super-duper hungry," Pinkie said in her usual motor-mouth speed. "Grouchy stomach?" Tempest asked, fearing the answer. "My Pinkie Sense," Pinkie turned to Tempest, "Hello Fizzlepop Berry Twist. Best name ever!" "That's your actual name?" Trixie asked before giving a hearty laugh. Starlight jabbed her side. "The Storm King wasn't into cute, fluffy names, so I had to change it," Tempest sighed, "You should've seen him when he complains about cuteness. It isn't pretty." Pinkie turned to Grubber, "So you want to bake? You want to bake like yours truly? Well let me tell you something mister." She pulled out chef's hat from her mane and plopped it on her head, before shouting down at Grubber like a drill sergeant. "How dare you take the cake! You think that you can rise to the challenge? You think you can sprinkle like no pony's business? Well, the last thing you want to have is a full crumbly cake with a soggy bottom! Do you understand?" Grubber was crumbling like thin pastry. His walls were crumbling like pastry itself. "Pinkie? What's with the whole serious get-up?" Sunset asked with concern. "I got it from watching Spitfire train Rainbow Dash," Pinkie spoke to Sunset in her usual tone. "Celestia help us," Starlight facehoofed. Pinkie then grabbed Grubber by the paw and dragged him over to the studio kitchen. "Now listen here rookie. Listen to these steps and you might just save somepony's party. Eggs, flour, butter, milk, extract, mix, bake, done!" Pinkie did the instructions at break-neck speed, revealing a batch of well-risen, delicious cupcakes. "...How?" Grubber asked, before Pinkie put her face into Grubber's. "Did I stutter? I said eggs, flour, butter, milk, extract, mix, bake, done!" She did the instructions again, producing the same batch of decent consistency. Grubber hesitated before giving it a try. What happened next was the kind of baking mess that no creature would want in any kitchen. Black smoke hit filled the studio and the kitchen worktop was nothing but a pile of gloop. It was the equivalent of when Yona tried baking, without the applesauce. "Just keep practicing and you will be good at it," Pinkie instructed again, "But it was good effort, for a rookie. Have a cupcake for effort." Pinkie promptly shoved the treat into Grubber's mouth before making a quick exit through the studio's door. Everypony looked at the mess at the kitchen. "Well, that just happened..." Tempest trailed off. "As Trixie said, Pinkie is the true baking master," Trixie concluded. "Pinkie Pie, in this world or mine, will forever be that enigma that will never be solved," Sunset facehoofed. "We'll be back after the break to clean up the mess. Grubber, we'll handle this whilst you enjoy yourself effort cupcake," Starlight turned to Grubber. he just shrugged has he enjoyed Pinkie's treat. "We'll be back very soon every creature."