EPISODE FIFTEEN
Pinkie Pie awoke early in the morning like a good officer was supposed to, but as she reached over to say good morning to Apple Spice, she found her husband was not in bed with her.
Then she caught a whiff of something smelling so good coming from downstairs. “Mmm… must be breakfast time.”
She was about to head downstairs, “Oops, almost forgot…” and she quietly walked over to the crib on the other side of the room, and picked up Biscuit Pie.
Her little son, already awake cooed at the sight of his mother.
“Awww… are you all ready?” she cooed at him “It’s a big day today. We’re going to New CloudsDale Cooking Convention.”
She pictured it now; all the stands and the great food to eat, and most important: it was a chance for her to see her old friend Cookie Dough, who always came to the convention to see what other folks cooked, and decide which dish he loved most.
Biscuit, being an infant, had really no care in the world about it.
Pinkie came downstairs to see the Cakes were already wide awake, bright and early, except for Pound and Pumpkin; both were still in bed since it was Saturday.
They were loading up food they had prepared to take with them to the con that day; hence why the shop was going to be closed.
“Morning, Pinkie.” said Carrotcake.
Pinkie set her son into his highchair.
“Good morning.” she replied merrily, but then she sniffed the great cooking from before. “Mmm, it’s even better down here.”
She followed the scent, practically floating herself bodily off the ground, and into the kitchen where Spice was cooking at the stove.
“Ahh…” she sighed “Good morning, honey…” she cooed at her husband.
Spice turned round, revealing his red eyes and tired face. “…Moring, Dear.”
Pinkie gasped at the sight of him, and the noted how many dirty pots, pans and casserole dishes that lay all around.
“Have you been cooking all night?”
“No… just got up extra early. I’m trying to perfect this new recipe I’ve got. I just hope that it’s good enough.”
“Aww, all of your cooking is good.”
Her husband shook his head, “No, it’s got to be really, really good this time.”
The oven dinged, and he pulled out a delicious-looking pot-roast, wrapped with thick-cut bacon, and it smelled with the heavenly scent of his family’s famous apple spice combined with other spices.
Pinkie had never seen anything so delicious in her life. “What kind of meat is this?” she asked.
Spice hesitated to answer, “Would you believe… it’s really a giant potato?”
“WHAAA-HAAAAT?!” Pinkie had never heard of anything like this. To her it sounded incredibly ingenious, but Spice wasn’t so sure.
He let his wife taste it and her eyes began to water with delight as the warm and texture seemed to spread all through her. “It’s… It’s…!!” she couldn’t find the words to describe the delight she was tasting.
Spice then tasted it himself, but he didn’t seem so sure. “…I don’t know if it’ll be good enough to impress him.”
Pinkie was confused at first, but then she understood. “…You mean Cookie Dough?”
Just the very mention of the name made Spice stiffen and then he looked as nervous as Fluttershy did from-- well… anything.
She knew Spice had idolized Cookie Dough, and it sure explained why he seemed to be under so much stress.
Spice immediately started to try and make his recipe again; just scrapping the perfectly nice roast he had made, much to his wife’s horror.
Pinkie could tell he needed some time to himself, so she tiptoed back out into the café.
“The poor dear,” said Cupcake “I’ve never seen anyone so frazzled. He’s been at it for days since the con was coming.”
Carrot Cake sighed, “Well, I sure he pulls himself together; he’s wasting a good deal of our supplies and hogging the stove.”
Cupcake hushed her husband.
Pinkie then looked towards the kitchen doors worrying about Spice.
Later that day, the Wonderbolts massive stadium of New Cloudsdale were already packed and lined with many carts and stands for the convention from all over United Equestria.
Dragons had come to show their spicy foods.
Yaks had arrived to show how to make mush-- that looked weird but tasted fine… to a Yak.
Lightning and Starla had come with Krysta and Shining Light, teleporting Pinkie and co to the con.
Soon, the Sugar Cube Corner stands were ready, and loaded with pastries, and some of Cupcake’s finest home cooking.
“We can’t thank you enough, Lightning.” Cupcake said.
Lightning chuckled, “Oh, don’t thank me. Krysta’s the wonder fairy here.”
Krysta blushed.
Pinkie and Starla then left to place their sons at the con daycare. Shining Light was allowed to stay and play with other toddlers his age while Biscuit was placed in the nursery.
Pinkie gave her son and huge peck on his little head and cooed, “Buh-bye pweacious. Mommy wuvs you.”
Her little son looked a little sad, which made Pinkie want to burst into tears, and even stay, but with persuasion from the manager, and from Starla, she found courage to leave.
“I remember feeling like that when Shining Light went to daycare for the first time.” said Starla “...It sure took him a while to get used it, now he has so much fun.”
Then she noticed Pinkie seemed far away, lost in her own thoughts.
“What’s the matter?”
Pinkie explained about Spice, and how he was a nervous wreck.
“I see…” said Starla. “Meeting an idol can be tough stuff, especially when you’re nervous.”
As the ladies emerged back into the open stadium, they could see Spice in his stand next to Sugar Cube’s. He had finished setting up, but he looked paler than normal, and that was not safe for a cook.
“It’s always been his dream to meet Cookie Dough.” said Pinkie. “When is he coming anyway?”
“Not until midday, when lunch is fully served.” replied Starla. “Besides… he’s not the only one the people are hoping to impress here.”
That’s when a royal fanfare sounded, and a big announcement was made.
“Presenting their esteemed majesties: Grand Ruler Celesto… Queen Celestia… Princess Luna… and the royal children: Young Prince Castor, and Princess Leilani.”
The Royal Family stepped out of their flying coach, and a red carpet was rolled out before them.
The crowd went wild with cheers, and the three supreme alicorns raised their arms up in traditional greeting. They did not bother with any speeches this time, for they had come simply as guests like everyone else; eager to sample the wonderful foods, and also the children were present as part of their social and cultural studies-- learning how the kingdom worked, and how to greet subjects, and partake in festivities.
Castor would bow, and Leilani would curtsey just as their parents instructed.
“Wonderful, Children.” said their father.
“You’re beginning to understand more and more all the time.” added their mother.
The children smiled proudly.
“When do we eat?” Castor asked.
The parents chuckled, and Grand Ruler replied, “Soon, very soon. The convention is just about to start.”
Celestia took in a whiff of all the odors of loving cooking, and she sighed heavenly.
Lightning and his co came out to greet the royal family…
…While Spice watched them from his stand. He wasn’t too worried about their majesties, having catered a few times for them before, and they already praised his cooking.
It was Cookie Dough that was always on his mind.
“I guess I better get going.” he said to himself. He then took in a huge breath saying over and over, “I can do this.”
At the School of Nightmares, despite the creatures only being dreams and the fact that dreams didn’t exactly eat the way normal beings did… they still had lunch periods-- even on Saturday.
The cafeteria was ginormous, with rows and rows of tables and seats, and the staff and students were served all kinds of strange and unusual foods-- livid squid guts, mud pies made with real mud, eye ball soup that could blink at you-- really nightmarish.
The head chef was called Stir-Gey; he was a very gruesome creature-- very large and plump, with a long hooked nose, mouldy greenish skin and jagged fangs. He wore a dark chef’s hat, which the top could come off and blow flames like a smokestack.
He slurped and snorted so grossly, and he spoke with an Italian accent, but above all things, he was rather grouchy and nerving, especially when he served meals.
Today he was carrying a large platter to the staff tables where Zadovia and the teachers all had their lunch.
“Singora Zadavia, buon appetite.” He declared as he lifted the lid off the platter revealing an assorted platter of multiple foods which made all the other staffs’ lunches look pathetic.
Zadovia was rather confused as to why she was given such a large plate. “It seems… rather excessive.”
“Yeah, how come we don’t get a big feast like that?” complained Mash.
Many of the other teachers began to protest and complain, but Stir-Gey blew his top in a scary way, silencing everyone.
Then he cleared his throat… several times, making gross sounds, making everyone want to gag, but finally he gained his composure.
“Forgive me, I’ve meaning to ask… perhaps I may be of a’service in you quest against Starfleet?”
Zadovia raised an eyebrow. “You?” she asked in total disgust “…You wish to do battle with Starfleet?”
“Si… I mean, if you let Me.” replied Stir-Gey. “I always slave away in the kitchen. I long for something even better, and what better way to seek and destroy all dreams than with my cooking.”
A hush fell over the entire table, only then for all the teachers to burst laughing.
They all taunted and hooted at him…
“You, fight Starfleet?”
“What can you possibly do?”
“I’m sure you could feed them all to death.”
Even Emcee said, “While it is scientific fact that what you eat can often affect your dreams, but… come on...” and she and the others laughed with Stir-Gey looked ready to burst into flames again.
Zadovia then bolted upright, and she looked at him furiously, causing him to look nervous and fret, but much to his surprise…!
“…You have your chance.”
The crowd of teachers couldn’t believe their ears.
“You’re actually giving him a chance?” asked Magi. “Oh, come now. He’s no fighter; he’ll just botch everything up.”
“Then you can go with him.”
Magi looked ready to flip out of her robes. “What? I-- But…!”
She had to stop when Zadovia gave her a furious glare and growl, and when her hair began to waving like flames showing she meant business.
“Y-Y-Yes… I’ll go.”
She was already regretting things.
Stir-Gey was so happy that he jumped up and down for joy, making the cafeteria shake. “Mama Mia, I promise I will not’a fail you.” and he went off to catch up with Magi.
Zadovia then turned to face her staff, and she yelled “…I trust there will be no FURTHER QUESTIONING MY DECISIONS?!!”
Students all over the cafeteria backed away in fear at the sound of her fury, and not a single member of the staff said a thing.
“Good.” She said calmly as she sat down and fixed her napkin. Then she dove into her lunch eating such a savage and vile monster, making all kinds of roaring munching sounds, it freaked the staff and students out.
Back at the convention, Cookie Dough and his family had arrived.
Cookie himself, Kana Ling, and their children-- Four-year old Chop Stick, and six month old baby daughter, Sweet Sauce; a cute little bright red space alicorn with a honey yellow mane, and as she was an Asian pony, her eyes greatly resembled her mothers.
Still the crowd cheered for joy as Cookie took the podium. “Thank you!” he called “Thank you and welcome again to the New Cloudsdale Cooking Con.”
The crowd cheered again, and Spice applauded softly, and yet he gazed at him from afar. “It’s really him. I can’t believe it.” He felt like he was viewing a god from afar.
Cookie continued to greet the crowds, “Some faces I know, some… it’s nice to meet you, but just the same, I look forward to trying all these new dishes you have taken time to prepare, but don’t beat yourselves up if I don’t pick you as the winner.
Cooking is a fine art, and it’s meant to be enjoyed and shared, not just for competition.
Let us begin!”
The crowds cheered for a brief moment, and many of the chefs were already hard at work preparing their entrées.
Spice was so lost in his hopes that his chance to meet his hero was almost here, that he had forgotten where he was and what he was supposed to be doing… until Carrot Cake snapped it out of it.
“Hey, Spice!” he called “Aren’t you going to get cooking?”
Spice snapped to his senses and began scrambling to get himself together.
There were so many different foods to try at the convention. Why even Rainbow Dash herself had a little cooking to demonstrate, which really surprised her friends.
She had cooked a rice-bowl with scrambled eggs and diced carrots with a light chicken broth brushing. It tasted divine.
“Rainbow, since when could cook like this?” asked Lightning.
“…All my life.” she answered. “I always wanted to get into the Wonderbolts, and I knew I had to be in shape, so I started looking up what dishes to eat to give me what I need.”
Starla had a little taste of the rice. “Mmm… this is fantastic.”
“Just make sure you watch your cravings.” cautioned Lightning.
Starla found this to be extremely hard. All the food looked so good. Why even the Yak’s mush, as horrible as it looked, Pinkie tried some…
“Wow! This is good.” she exclaimed.
“Glad you like!” bellowed the chef “It family recipe. Take years to make right.”
Others began to try it, and they too were surprised at how tasty it was.
Even the Royal Family was astounded.
“Most unusual…” said Luna.
“…But rather amazing.” added Celestia.
Meanwhile, Cookie and Kana were at the other side of the area-- starting at one end of the long way of stands, and slowly making their way across and around, trying all the new foods.
They were most impressed with many of the things they tried, and even offered friendly advice and tips to the chefs on how to perfect things, or what they had trouble with.
This meant it would take a while before they reached Spice’s stand, which gave him ample time to perfect his potato roast.
Pinkie had come back to the Cakes’ stand to help with the baking.
“How is he?” she asked, worrying about her husband.
The Cakes’ shook their heads, even Pumpkin and Pound were worried about Spice, having never seen anyone so stress over cooking.
“Is he going to be okay?” Pumpkin asked.
“Don’t worry, dear.” answered Cup Cake. “I’m sure he’ll be just fine.”
Pound agreed with his mother, “I wonder when Cookie Dough will be here.” but his words made Spice bolt upright, “Cookie Dough?! Where is he? Is it time yet!”
He quickly got a hold himself after nearly dropping a bottle of sauce in his pot. “Oh, oh…no!” he cried as he juggled to keep it safe, and he managed to catch it in his hand. “Ohhh…!” he sighed in relief.
Pound felt he was in trouble for scaring Spice like that, but his father assured him, “It’s not your fault, son. Just try not to get him so worked up.”
After a while, Cookie and Kana were getting close to Spice’s stand, and just in time for he believe he had perfected his potato roast. Just the smell of it was heavenly and divine, and it began to attract the attention of the other con-goers.
“Hey, what’s that?”
“It smells so good.”
“Let’s go see.”
Spice was starting to have his hopes rise, and with Cookie Dough nearly ready to come and taste for himself, he really thought things were going to go just fine…
…But they weren’t!
It started to get dark as a Dream Field began to materialize over the stadium.
The con-goers began to panic, and the soldiers and the sentries stiffened.
That’s when Magi appeared in the center of the stadium, laughing and cackling.
The Cake children began to cry and wail in fright.
“Don’t look, children!” cried Cup Cake, but really, she and Carrot Cake were equally as frightened.
Pinkie quickly transformed, “Harmony Hour, Friendship Power!”
Then she called to the sentries to come and help evacuate the family and her husband to get someplace else.
As Spice was taken off, he looked back at his stand, “My roast…!” but of course there was nothing he could do and had to follow orders.
“It’ll be okay, honey.” Pinkie called to him.
Magi laughed, “You think you can all escape from me? Well think again!” she raised her staff up high, summoning hundreds of dream-siphons to come shooting down from the sky and ready to read and absorb everyone’s dreams… including Castor and Lelani’s…!
…When suddenly, a large wall of magic appeared in the sky overhead, blocking all the siphons. This was the cause of Grand Ruler Celesto and Queen Celestia, already having donned their dream modes.
Princess Luna hadn’t a dream-band, and couldn’t join the battle, but she along with Starla and the sentries helped escort the civilians aside into one large group at the end of the stadium, along with the royal children, the Cake Family, and Spice.
Once there, Starla, donning her own dream mode, used her magic to seal everyone inside a barrier, and the royal alicorns cast a second barrier for further protection.
Starla nodded thankfully at them, while their majesties nodded back.
Then they stood together, with all the others fighters-- Lightning, Pinkie, Rainbow, and Krysta-- and glared at Magi.
“This is your one chance!” Grand Ruler shouted at her “Surrender at once!”
Magi only laughed, “In your dreams-- pardon the pun.”
“We’re not playing games!” thundered Lightning.
“And neither am I?”
The fighters looked ready to attack, when suddenly they felt the presence of someone else behind them.
They all leapt out of the way just as huge, flaming balls of stone came straight at them.
“Look!” cried Pinkie, pointing at Magi’s partner.
Stir-Gey laughed wickedly as he reached into his hat with his spatula for more flame balls. “…Lunch is’a now served!” he laughed.
Rainbow shuddered at the sight of the gross creature. “You have got to be the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen, and I’ve had dreams of slime being poured on me.”
Stir-Gey was infuriated. “I TEACH’A YOU RESPECT!!”
He fired more flame stones, which everyone dodged.
Magi raised her staff up and unleashed her lightning bolts at everyone, but their majesties slipped back and double-punched her hard in the face, knocking her into one of the food stands.
“Yuck!” Magi groaned as food and sauce spilled all over her. Then she wailed as she was suddenly encased in a barrier caused by Celestia, and then shocked by Grand Ruler’s magical blasts in hopes of weakening her.
“You’re not getting away this time!” he insisted. “We’re going to find out what we want to know about you and your fellow nightmares once and for all.”
He and his wife began to power up a magical spell hoping to read Magi’s mind, and they zapped her.
“Krysta!” Lightning called “Keep their majesties covered. They need complete concentration on the spell.”
“Right!” agreed Krysta, and she took her place before the royal alicorns.
While they worked, Lightning and the ladies glared down the evil chef.
Stir-Gey snickered at them. “You all look a bit starved, let’a me feed you… SOME PAIN…!!”
He actually breathed fire out of his mouth like a dragon, forcing the fighters to dodge again.
He launched more of his flaming stones, some of which headed for their majesties, but Krysta used her portals to redirect them back out again.
Their majesties were grateful but still had to push their powers. Magi was proving to be quite the resister to their mind probing.
“I’m not getting anything!” cried Celestia.
“Me neither.” wailed her husband. “I don’t understand it!”
Through the shocks and torture, Magi glared at them through the barrier. “You’ll… never… discover… the secrets!!”
She actually managed to power up, even while bound down, and began to flare up her nightmarish aura.
“She’s trying to break free!” cried Grand Ruler.
Celestia poured on all the magic she could to keep the evil magician down.
“Can I help?” asked Krysta.
“Just keep us shielded.” said Celestia.
The civilians in the barrier watched the fight with fear, especially Spice.
He looked all around him at all the frightened civilians with him, and he noticed Cookie Dough and his family. Baby Sweet Sauce was crying loudly while her mother tried to soothe her.
“Daddy, I’m scared!” wailed Chop Stick.
His father held him close. “Easy now, just look away. It’ll all be over soon.”
Spice was amazed at how brave Cookie was acting for his family.
“Soup’s on!” laughed Stir-Gey, and he gave a nasty belch, throwing up from his mouth a nasty green slime, which the heroes barely dodged.
“Okay, that is just gross!” groaned Rainbow.
Stir-Gey belched out more slime, forcing the heroes to swerve through the barrage.
“I’m going in!” hollered Lightning, and he aimed a powerful punch at the chef’s massive gut, and yet his fist just went right down into all that blubber, like hitting a huge sponge.
“Uh, oh…!” he groaned, and the chef grinned wickedly at him. “I am quite full you see.” And he thrust his gut out sending Lightning flying up high.
His gloves were all covered in slimy, greasy sweat.
“Yuck!”
Pinkie and Rainbow considered rushing in for a double attack, only for Stir-Gey to spin on his foot, dodging them both, and then bashing his huge gut right into them sending them both sailing off hard and slamming into more food stands… including Spice’s, much to his horrors as he saw his roast thrown from its tray and land on the ground.
Next thing he saw, Pinkie and Rainbow lay right in front of it, and the chef was ready to breathe more fire on them.
They quickly dodged, but the flames then roasted whatever remained of the ruined stands to ash, including Spice’s roast.
Many in the crowd gasped in horror, and Spice couldn’t help but fall to his knees feeling totally crushed. Though this was no real time to be thinking about it, he couldn’t help it… his hopes and dreams to impress Cookie Dough, all gone up in smoke.
Pinkie saw this herself, and she knew how much this meant to her husband. All at once, she was filled with a deep rage, and she charged up until her inner aura was emitting from her body like flames. “You… will… PAY FOR THAT!!” she growled at the chef.
Stir-Gey just clenched his ugly teeth, and sniffed rudely. “You think I am being afraid?! Time to serve new course…!” he actually got fired up himself, like a huge stove overheating.
He began to unleash larger, flaming stones at her, which she plowed right through like unstoppable oncoming train.
Then she leapt up high and kicked one of the stones back at the chef, knocking his hat off of his head.
“Oh, no!!” he shouted as his hat actually burst wide open, unleashing a bombardment of flaming stones like a meteor shower.
The barriers protected the civilians, but the convention stands were all blasted and blown to bits, devastating the con-goers.
More stones rained towards their majesties, and Krysta did her best to blast and repel them all away, but even still, Magi finally broke free from her entrapment by their majesties spell, and proceeded to blast at them all hard, making a big explosion.
“Mother!! Father!!” the royal children cried.
Luna was equally as frightfully worried, but their worries were softened when the smoke cleared, and their majesties were shown to have shielded themselves and Krysta with a barrier.
Still, they were all incredibly shocked that Magi actually broke free from the spell, as well as resisted the mind probing.
Princess Luna grumbled, “These creatures have powers we can hardly understand!”
“Stir-Gey!” Magi roared “What are you waiting for? Destroy them all now!”
“Si!” agreed the monster, and even with his hat ruined and his fire gone down, he didn’t feel or look the least bit worried. “I show everyone that I am great, and valuable!”
Lightning, Rainbow and Pinkie only stood together, glaring at the creature and Lightning scoffed, “I think we’re about full up of this! You girls ready?”
“Yeah!” they replied.
Stir-Gey spat more slime at them, forcing them to dodge.
“Here I come!” thundered Lightning, and rather than aim at the huge gut, this time he aimed a strong punch at the monster’s big head, making contact and knocking him down hard.
“Our turn…!” Rainbow hollered, and she and Pinkie zoomed in, out, and all about ramming numerous kicks and punches, into the chef’s arms, thus causing him to drop his magic spatula.
Their majesties were busy attacking Magi, trying to bind her up again, but even while outnumbered-- three against one-- Magi showed how ruthless she was especially with her own magic.
“How can you fight what you cannot see?!” she bellowed as she conjured a spell of dark fog to overtake the field.
“Hey!” shouted Celestia.
“I can’t see a thing!” groaned Krysta.
Thinking swiftly, Grand Ruler spun round, and round in midair, so fast that he actually started to create a tornado that absorbed the fog and blew it all up high into the air, thus clearing the field.
Magi was nowhere to be seen, anywhere.
“Keep your eyes sharp.” said Celestia.
Suddenly, Krysta felt something coming. “Look out!” and she and Celestia dodged just as Magi came from out of nowhere, slamming the ground with her staff where they stood, and though she physically missed them, she sent out a magical shockwave that struck the ladies, and all the other fighters, even her own comrade.
“Hey!!” shouted Stir-Gey “‘Attsa’matter with you?! You try to roast’a me too?!”
“No! But I will!” bellowed Lightning, and he looked charged up and ready to destroy the evil creature.
Magi could barely believe what she was about to do, seeing as she hated Stir-Gey, but she waited until the trio surrounding her prepared to attack, but then she quickly zipped out of the way, and teleported to her fallen comrade.
“You owe me for this!!” she growled to him, and she teleported them both away to safety.
Lightning and the rest could not believe what just happened.
“What do you know? They retreated.” scoffed Rainbow.
The fighters were outraged, especially their majesties. Still, the dream field had vanished with the villains’ departure.
The danger was all over, and the civilians were freed from the barrier.
Still, the damage had been done. The convention was a wreck. Stands were destroyed, food was spoiled and filthy, equipment was damaged…
Immediately, it was agreed to cancel the event for the rest of the weekend.
“Look at this place.” said Starla.
“Indeed, this is a tragedy.” agreed Luna.
Castor and Leilani were very thankful that they didn’t have their dreams looked at, and for good reason.
They both looked up at the clear skies, and could see an image of Arien appear. It was just an illusion in their minds.
They all then ran up to their majesties. The children hugged their parents, happy to see they were still safe from the battle.
“Did you learn anything?” asked Castor. “Could you see into that lady’s mind?”
The parents shook their heads.
“You could not read her mind?” asked Luna.
“We tried to,” replied Celestia “But it was so strange, she was actually resisting our probe.”
Grand Ruler agreed, and then suggested “Either that or…” he paused “…Maybe she hasn’t a mind to even read?”
The entire family stood puzzled and perplexed.
Magi, and all of her comrades-- no matter how life-like they seemed-- were still nothing other than dreams themselves, which still raised the question: if they really could have minds, or even dreams of their own?
Back at the school, Emcee and Mash approached Zadovia.
“Hey, boss. I haven’t seen Magi anywhere.” said Mash.
“Is she being punished for her failure?” asked Emcee.
Zadovia tipped her glasses and answered, “She is indeed. It’s bad enough that she failed to gather even an ounce of dream energy for us, but having nearly cost us our head chef, and attacking him as well…!” she stopped right there.
“Does this mean Stir-Gey will never fight another battle?” asked Emcee.
“Hardly…
He has shown potential, which may go a long way towards aiding our conquest, but he’ll have to prove to me that he is worthy of another chance, which means he will have to work twice as hard…
…But I have given him a good helping hand.”
Magi was grumpy and miserable as she scrubbed all the dirty dishes and utensils in the school kitchen-- her punishment for her blunder, she was to help Stir-Gey in the kitchens.
Her hair was all soaked and covered with suds, and her robes were getting soggy.
“This is no job for me!” she groaned “Why do we even eat anyway? We’re nightmares!”
Stir-Gey then called to her, “Hey, Magi…! Get’a you’self together. We gots a big crowd here!”
More dirty dishes splashed in the water, soaking Magi’s face, further infuriating her. “I’ll get Starfleet for this!”
Poor Spice, he loomed over the devastated ruins of his stand, and how all his food and ingredients were wrecked, thus ultimately costing him his chance to meet and impress his idol.
Pinkie softly approached her husband. “Honey, are you alright?”
He didn’t answer her, but he softly reached up for her hand, softly stroking it. She knelt down and hugged him softly.
“Poor kid.” sighed Lightning “He really had his heart set on all this.”
Rainbow clenched her fists angrily thinking of the Nightmares, “They’re so going down for this!”
As Pinkie sat there, comforting her husband, a marvelous idea suddenly came to her.
That night, at New Sugar Cube Corners…
Spice seemingly had recovered from his trauma quickly and was perfecting a new potato roast… but simply for the family and friends for dinner. Now it was just cooling on the stovetop as he added final spices.
Pinkie came into the kitchen.
“Spice, are you holding out okay?”
Her husband looked at her with a soft smile. “Yeah, I’ll be fine.”
Pinkie approached him, but Spice assured her. “It was crushing for me, but…” he paused and looked at her lovingly “…I’m glad you’re alive, and that you helped everyone. That means more to me than any dream I could have.”
His wife blushed.
“Well, dinner’s almost ready.” said Spice.
“Oh, uh… before we eat, could you help me with something please?” asked Pinkie.
“What is it?”
Pinkie just motioned for him to follow her out into the café, where the Cakes were already seated at the table, and Lightning, Starla, Rainbow, and Krysta were there as well…
But also…
Spice could not believe his eyes at other guests who were there-- Cookie Dough and his family.
Cookie approached Spice and shook his hand. “Hello, you must be Apple Spice.”
Spice was nearly at a loss for words. “Chef Cookie Dough? I… I-- I’m honored, sir, but how… how are you?”
Cookie explained, “Pinkie Pie told me that you were looking forward to me trying your dish at the convention, and… to be honest, I caught a whiff of your cooking just a few stands down and was curious myself.
…Things happened, and the con was canceled, but Pinkie told me that you’d be cooking this dish for dinner, so we made arrangements to stop by tonight.”
Spice’s face ached with smiles, and he turned to his wife, unable to speak.
Pinkie smiled at him lovingly, but then her stomach growled. “Well, come on… let’s eat.”
“Oh! Oh, right!” cried Spice, and he went to go get the food.
His potato roast was so incredibly delicious, that one simple bite sent everybody into such a warm and wonderful daze at the incredible flavours.
“Never have I tasted something like this!” exclaimed Kana.
Her husband took a bite, and wrapped his arms around himself, embracing the incredible feeling this dish was giving to him.
“Soooo meaty, so soft and textured, and yet… it’s a potato wrapped in bacon.”
The Cakes, the soldiers-- all agreed with him.
Starla could feel her cravings getting to her, but Lightning and Rainbow held her down.
“How ever did you make this?” asked Cookie.
Spice felt his heart filling with joy-- the fact that he had served his idol was honor enough, but being this much praised by him in asking of his recipe… he felt like he was floating on air.
“I boiled and then steamed some potatoes to make them soft, so I could mold them together. I diced up from fiber-mushrooms and onions into tiny pieces to add to the flavor, and kneaded them inside.
Then I wrapped everything up in thick-cut strips of bacon, and then slow-cooked it in the oven. Then I topped everything off with my family’s famous spices, and viola.”
“Ah, yes…” replied Cookie. “By doing this, you allowed the bacon to become crispy, while all the meaty flavors and goodness soaked up into the potato mix.”
“It is most exquisite!” sighed Kana. “The delicate balance of soft and crispy combined to unleash exotic flavouring. Most enjoyable...!”
“…It’s good.” agreed little Chop Stick.
So many compliments from all the guests really made Spice feel overwhelmed with peaceful joy.
“You really think it’s that good?” he asked Cookie.
“Oh, yes. I may be a master chef, but there is no limit to my taste buds. I still look for new creations and ideals, and I’m never afraid to try new things. There’s always room for even the best of us to learn something amazing.”
Spice felt as if he would faint, were it not the fact that everyone demanded, with anxiety, for more!
Spice was only too happy to return to the kitchen and start preparing another roast.
“I’ll… uh… give you a hand.” Pinkie offered, and she followed her husband into the kitchen.
Once there, before setting to work…
While they were alone, Spice quickly whirled round and kissed his wife deeply.
“Thanks so much. I can’t believe you did all this for me.”
She smiled at him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Hey, it’s what I love to do-- make people smile.”
They shared another deep and passionate kiss before setting to work to make another roast, and by the time they were ready to serve, there was more company entering the café-- none other than the royal family themselves.
They had been invited by Lightning.
“We’d like to try the dish too.” said Grand Ruler.
“…I hope you don’t mind that?” asked Celestia.
Luna and the children seemed eager to try the dish too, and as for Spice… finally unable to take much more of this greatness, he finally fainted with joy.
Pinkie caught the dish in her hands, and she and everyone else shared a joyful laugh.
(Promo)
In our next episode: Rarity is given a once in a life time opportunity to make a great fashion dream of hers come true, but will require her to give up Starfleet and United Equestria altogether. Meanwhile, the Nightmares has a little fashion of his own to give, outfitting civilians with enchanted wear forcing them to fight Starfleet themselves against their will.
Will Rarity make the ultimate sacrifice? And how can Starfleet standoff against the very people they protect?
Don’t miss the next exciting episode of “Starfleet Magic!”
(Next Episode: “Fashionable Sense”)