//------------------------------// // Baking Contest // Story: Thirty Minute Express Train to Story Town // by Predhack //------------------------------// Rainbow looked at the table full of cakes and then checked her clipboard again and nodded to herself. Across from her on the other side of the long table sat the creators of the cakes in various places around the kitchen. The bake off had been intense and the five stations that had been prepared for the bakers were a veritable mess, except Rarity’s which was as clean as it had been to start with. Rainbow opened her mouth to start announcing winners but was interrupted by an orange white and yellow blur dashing into the room that resolved itself into the members of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who carefully placed a bowl of something noxious onto the table and then back away smiling. “There’s our entry,” Applebloom said. “We barely got it done in time,” Sweetie added. “I watched!” Scootaloo nodded. Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow at the grey goo that sat in the ceramic bowl they’d brought. She reached a tentative hoof toward it then flinched when the ooze released a vicious hiss at her. She looked around for an excuse for a moment before settling her eyes on the foreboding bowl again. “Um, how’m I supposed to eat this?” Instantly a spoon appeared next to the bowl with a chirp of “there you go!” as one of the CMC moved from their position of rapt attention and back faster than Rainbow could follow. She winced and used a hoof to dip the spoon into the goo. Then she raised the handle of the spoon and found that the part that had been dipped had been eaten away. Her eye twitched slightly and she dropped the ruined utensil into the bowl where it dissolved. “Right, I’m just going to give this the ‘Abomination unto Celestia” Award,” Rainbow said, pushing the bowl further away from herself, and flinching again when she would swear she saw it try to lap out of the bowl to grab her. “Cool!” Scootaloo responded. “What do we win?” Applebloom asked. “Um… Free enrollment into Twilight’s class on ‘The Safe Disposal of Toxic and Magical Waste.’” Rainbow answered, still refusing to take her eyes off the bowl, lest it leap out and attack her. “Again?” Sweetie whined, “I’ve already taken it SIX TIMES.” “And yet she keeps trying to cook,” Rarity muttered to Applejack. Applejack covered her mouth and snickered quietly nodding with a glance at Applebloom. “Right… Well I’m gonna give away the other awards. Let’s see, Best Decorated Cake goes to Rarity,” Rainbow waved a hoof at a cake that appeared to be a 1:100 scale model of the Carousel Boutique with a slice cut out of it revealing a spongy interior, “It was beautiful but the cake was only average, sorry Rares.” Rarity sniffed but nodded respectfully. “Um… Best Old Family Recipe goes to Applejack. Apple cake is weird but tasty.” Applejack buffed a hoof on her chest with a look of pride in her eyes. “Cake That Wasn’t A Cake Award goes to Derpy for a disgustingly good muffin,” Rainbow nodded at the grey pegasus who beat her wings with pleasure and knocked over half the dishes that still remained on the counter at her station. “Most Interesting New Creation goes to Pinkie Pie. I don’t know how you managed to make an eggless flourless cake but well done.” Pinkie smiled. “We didn’t have enough prepped so I thought I’d challenge myself.” “Most Skillfully Baked goes to Fluttershy,” Rainbow said. Immediately a chorus of objections rose. “Wait a second how come the judge gets to win something?” “I didn’t even know she was in the contest.” “Oh no! I didn’t make her a station!” “Exactly,” Rainbow cut in, “You guys didn’t even remember she was here and she managed to make a good cake without any of you noticing her borrowing ingredients from you or bringing in her own. She even had to share an oven with Applejack because you guys didn’t leave one for her. And despite those things she still made a great cake.” The ponies grumbled and nodded their assent while Fluttershy blushed quietly in the corner. “And the winner of best cake overall is…” The bakers all leaned forward with anticipation. “Gummy. For the cake that will haunt my dreams. Congratulations Gummy.” The small alligator hissed its joy. Or possibly it just hissed. “Wait, that’s who the fifth bakin’ station was fer?” Applejack asked. “Duh, I didn’t want Gummy to feel left out of the competition,” Pinkie replied. “You mean like Fluttershy?” Rainbow asked with an acid tone. Pinkie deflated for a moment until Fluttershy made her way over with a hug and an offer of forgiveness. “It’s okay Pinkie. I think I forgot to tell you I was competing anyway.” “Okay,” Pinkie sniffed, “When did you get so good at baking anyway?” “Oh, I usually bake a couple things a day what with all the birthdays the little critters have,” Fluttershy explained. “Wait, birthdays? And you bake cakes for them all?” Pinkie asked, shocked. “Well not always cakes. I make a lot of things. Then we usually spend an hour celebrating everyone’s birthday for that day.” “And you didn’t ask me to help?” Pinkie asked desperately. “Oh, I didn’t think you’d want to have to throw a half dozen parties every day. I take care of a lot of animals so I can get pretty busy with that.” Pinkie worked her jaw blankly then turned and clung to the nearest pony, who happened to be Applejack, and cried, “It’s like she doesn’t know me at all!” “…Alright,” Rainbow continued right on past the pink pony’s borderline hysterics, “now for the prizes, Gummy gets the grand prize of a weeklong island getaway for two, grats to Gummy.” The alligator hissed again. “Everyone else gets to ask something of me. The Dash. Rarity you’re first.” “I’ll take you up on a modeling session, Rainbow Dash,” Rarity said primly. Rainbow winced but nodded her assent. “Applejack?” “I’ll take a date with you Dash.” Rainbow dash blinked and gave Applejack a look. “Huh?” “Oh! Oh! I want one too!” Pinked chimed in. “Wha bu-huh?” Rainbow said intelligently. “I’ll take a date with Fluttershy,” Derpy said happily. “Okay, that one I know I can’t do,” Rainbow said pointing at Derpy. “Oh,” Derpy looked downcast for a moment, “How about Applejack?” Rainbow prepared to shoot that down to but was shouted down by Applejack, “I’ll give you your date but you have to get me a second date with Rainbow.” “Sold!” Derpy exclaimed. Rainbow rubbed her face and looked over at Fluttershy, “Did you want a date too, Shy?” “Oh, um, no. Sorry.” Rainbow sighed with relief and waved a hoof and Fluttershy, “No, no it’s fine. What did you want?” “Um… a wedding?” Fluttershy asked hesitantly. “What? I thought you didn’t want to trouble everyone.” “Well, after the royal wedding maybe it might be nice to have more than just our names on some paper. So… maybe a little wedding? Just friends invited?” Rainbow smiled. “Sure Fluttershy.” “Wait a doggone minute,” Applejack stepped in, “You two make it sound like you’ve already been hitched.” “Uh, yeah,” Rainbow nodded, “I thought Shy told you guys.” She looked at Fluttershy who shook her head no. “I only told Rarity. You mean you didn’t know? I thought you knew…” “Y’mean I just asked out a married mare?” “Oh, I don’t mind,” Fluttershy said, “She did offer anything and I’m sure nothing will be changed by one-“ “Two” “Two dates, “ Fluttershy finished. “Huh, all the same I should probably get somethin’ else. Can I get a date with Rarity?” “Ugh, I can’t get you dates with each-“ “Give me your favors to Rainbow Dash and I’ll give you two dates,” Rarity cut in from where she’d been suppressing squeals of girlish glee after Fluttershy’s request. “Uh, deal?” “Wait, why do you need more favors?” Rainbow asked “Why so I can force you to let me make your wedding dresses of course. And a spa day before the wedding so you two can look your best, of course.” “But I would have- Ugh, fine. Pinkie you still wanna go out with me?” Pinkie tapped a hoof against her lip and considered before shaking her head no. “I want a date with Rarity too.” “And now you have to let me help with the rest of the planning of the wedding too,” Rarity nodded at Pinkie. “Wait, doesn’t Shy get some say in this?” Rainbow asked desperately, as her time with Rarity in fashion mode continued to pile up. “Oh, I don’t mind. I was going to ask for Rarity’s help anyway,” Fluttershy said. “Hiss.” “Gummy says he’ll trade a lock of Rainbow’s hair for his prize as a gift so you guys can have a honeymoon,” Pinkie translated. “Y’know what, fine. You guys finished working this out. I’m going to finish Gummy’s cake. Just let me know what you all decide.” “You’re acting like a proper groommare already,” Rarity nodded with satisfaction.