"Welcome to the first round. The academic decathalon!" Dean Cadence announced. In this round, you'll be scored on the academic portion of this event but remember, only the six students with the most points will move on to round two!"
"Good luck everyone, and give it your all." Principal Celestia said as she smiled. "Sapphire, Hydro, and Error. They're all yours."
Celestia, Luna, Cadence and Cinch left the front as the field leaders took over.
"Alright everyone, if you follow us, we'll show you where the first round is." Sapphire said as she began walking to the home ec room as the other students followed.
"Home ec as our first round I guess," Rainbow whispered to Rarity. "I think I know what we'll be doing."
In the Home ec room, there were tables set up with cooking ingredients as well as a table at thefront of the room. Sapphire instructed the students to pair up and take a table as she, Mighty and Error stood behind the table at the front of the room. For the students, AppleJack paired up with Rarity, Fluttershy with Pinkie Pie, Amber with Sunset, and Rainbow with Lyra. The Shadowbolts were just finished pairing up as Mighty began to explain the round.
"Right, so the first round will be home economics. One of the most important skills in the class is food preperation. The ability to cook." Mighty explained. "You can make anything you want and at the end, the winning team is based on how well each student made the dish."
"You all have one hour and twenty five minutes." Sapphire said as she pulled out a stop watch and set the timer. "Are you all ready?" The students nodded as she started the timer. Now on the time, the students were quickly thinking what they would want to prepare.
"You know what we're going to make?" Sunset asked. Amber smirked and looked at her.
"Oh I have an idea. I made this dish before. It's a honey semifredo with lemon crumb and honey caramel."
"That sounds fancy," Sunset chuckled. "Is it good?"
"Is it good? Sunset have you tried it before?" Amber laughed. "Come on let's not waste anymore time."
Meanwhile AppleJack and Rarity decided on making an apple pie, while Pinkie and Fluttershy planned on making a cake. For the rest of the students, they all settled in on something similar.
"I've been making apple pies for as long as I can remember!" AJ exclaimed as she mixed the ingredients. "I tell you, Rarity the first time I tried an apple pie as a little kid, I remember the tangy sweet apples that melts in your mouth. Ever since then, my mother taught me how to bake one. A recipe that granny smith taught her."
"Wow. I don't really know how to cook much. The only thing I can make is pasta." Rarity said.
"Well we all have our strengths," AJ chuckled.
"Okie dokey, Fluttershy. Get ready for the most delicious cake!" Pinkie squealed as she started to mix the ingredients in a white bowl. "I just need a few more sugar!"
"That's seems like way too much. Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Fluttershy asked.
"Do I know what I'm doing?" Pinkie scoffed. "Uh yeah! Trust me this cake is going to blow everyone's mind."
When the timer neared it's end. Sapphire announced to the students, "Everyone, you have thirty minutes remaining!"
The students started to pick up the pace upon hearing the thirty minute warning as they tried to finish up the last touches on their food dishes. Amber and Sunset were just adding the lemon crumbs on the semifreddo topped with a caramel cream that ran down the sides. AJ and Rarity were almost done adding the cinnamon. Not to mention the apples have also been glazed. Pinkie and Fluttershy were now waiting for the cake to finish baking in the oven. As for Rainbow and Lyra, they were almost done with their flan dessert adding the finishing touches of caramel and vanilla. The timer buzzed signaling as Mighty announced. "Times up! Please stop what you're doing and stand behind your dishes!" The students all stood behind their dishes as Mighty, Sapphire and Error stood at the front of the room.
"First up, we have AppleJack and Rarity," Sapphire said. "Would you two please bring to the front table what you've prepared?"
AppleJack and Rarity felt a little nervous but they convinced themselves this was only round one. They bought the apple pie to the front table as Mighty took a step foward and looked at them and at the dish.
"AppleJack, Rarity would you care to explain what you've prepared?"
"Of course. It's an apple pie with a golden crust and the apples are glazed with cinnamon added in it." AJ explained.
"We've also wanted to go for the more classical look. You know, the ones that look like a knitting pattern on top," Rarity added.
"Well it does look pretty good and I do admire the classic feel this pie gives from the crust design," Mighty said as he took a fork and gently scraped the side of it on the crust. "You hear that? The texture on the crust: very well done. I do love how it's a perfect balance. Not too hard yet not too soft now lets see if it tastes good as it looks." Mighty cut a piece of pie and took a bite. AJ and Rarity were beginning to feel a bit nervous but managed to stay at ease. Mighty swallowed and looked at the two girls. "AppleJack, Rarity. One of the best parts of an apple pie besides the crust is the apples itself. The sweet glaze of an apple is what makes the pie stand out and this one right here.....is no exception," he smiled. AJ and Rarity felt their hearts skip a beat as they felt joy. "The flavor. Amazing is all I can say. And the way the apples almost melt into your mouth is exceptional." Mighty cutted another piece and held it showing the girls the glazed apples inside. "Take a glance and tell me what do you think this looks like."
"It looks mouthwatering," Rarity said in awe.
"How about you girls try a bite?" Mighty offered. "And tell me what you think?"
Rarity and AJ took a piece and tried it for themselves. The moment they took the first bite, they're eyes went wide on how good it tasted. "My goodness! This is amazing!" Rarity exclaimed.
"You sure said it! I can't remember I've had an apple pie this good before!" AJ agreed.
"I agree. You girls did a wonderful job. Now a complaint I do have is that the glaze seems to almost block the cinnamon taste. For a perfect apple pie. We'd want to have a perfect balance between the glaze, cinnamon and other ingredients. That is what would make it stand out even more but other than that I thought this was really well made. Nice job." Mighty went back and Sapphire took a step foward. AJ and Rarity felt their hearts race with joy. A great start so far!
Sapphire took a step foward and cut herself a piece. When she was finished. she looked at two girls. "Now I can't recall the last time I tried an apple pie but when I think of them. This is what comes to mind." She smiled as she gestured to the now quarter gone apple pie. "If there's one word to describe it. It would be outstanding. "If I were to sit down at a high end resutaraunt and they served me this exact pie. I would not question a single thing about it. This pie was made to a high standard which you girls clearly accomplished. This is fantastic." Sapphire beamed as she headed back. Last but not least was Error's turn. He cut himself a piece and took a bite. After he swallowed, he began to share his opinion.
"By far one of the best apple pie I have ever tasted. From the texture, flavor all the way to the design. And speaking of that, I love how you girls went with the classical look. It gives it an enhancing presentation, which is a key part in food preparation. It's what attracts the attention of people. It's what seperates a regular apple pie from something stunning as this." Error said as he gestured to the pie. "And the crust has an incredible almost gold like texture which adds a great touch. Good job, girls."
AJ and Rarity went back to their tables as their friends began to compliment them. "That was amazing, AJ and Rarity!" Amber exclaimed.
"You girls did great!" Sunset complimented. "I think they really liked it."
"From the way they described it, it seems like the pie was super super delectable!" Pinkie squealed.
"That was awesome!" Rainbow said with enthusiasm. "A great start so far!"
"You really nailed it," Fluttershy said with a kind smile.
"Next up, we have Rainbow Dash and Lyra Heartstrings." Sapphire said.