//------------------------------// // Chapter Twenty-Three: Baking with Pinkie (Edited) // Story: A New Home // by APoeticHeart //------------------------------// As all of the residents of Ponyville were still comfortably asleep in their homes, inside the Sugarcube Corner Pinkie Pie was wide awake in her room at the top of the bakery, getting ready for the day. She hopped out of her bed startling Gummy awake. The toothless alligator just blinked it's purple eyes as he looked at his owner's giddiness. She scooped him up in her forehooves, and hugged him tightly against her chest squeezing him to the brink of his eyes popping in, and out. "Good morning Gummy. Today is going to be a super duper fun day today. I am going to bring little wittle Toby to Sugarcube Corner, and teach him how to bake some super sweet yummy in the tummy treats." She pulled Gummy away from her chest looking into his eyes with a beaming smile. Suddenly there was a flash outside of Pinkie's bedroom window followed by the rumbling of thunder that caused Pinkie to toss Gummy up in the air and landing on Pinkie's bed. She trotted over to her window, and looked out to see it pouring rain. She looked up to see the sky covered with light grey clouds preventing Celestia's sun from peeking through. "Gosh, it looks like Rainbow, and the other pegasi are on heavy duty weather patrol today." She closed her eyes for a second, and shook her head opening them up again. "No matter, me, and little wittle Toby are still going to have bushel loads of super duper funny fun today." She trotted over to her closet, and dug out her raincoat which was baby blue all over, the same design of balloons as her cutie mark on the back, and pink, and poofy around the hood, and along the zipper. She trotted over to Gummy laying on her bed. "I shall be back Gummy. Keep your eyes on everything til' I get back, okie dokie lokie?" Gummy just blinked as she scooped him up in her forelegs, and kissed on the top of his scaly head. "Be good Gummy." She put him back down on her bed, and trotted out of her room. She was trotting down the hallway when she heard the small cries of the two smallest residents of Sugarcube Corner, Pound and Pumpkin Cake, the twin foals of Mr. and Mrs. Cake. They were standing up in their cribs with their forelegs reaching up on top of the rails. Pinkie smiled warmly at the two, and trotted into their room. Pound Cake is a pegasus colt with a pale yellow coat, brown mane and tail, and deep brown eyes. His sister Pumpkin Cake is a unicorn filly with a light yellow coat, orange mane, and tail with the mane tied with a baby blue bow, and bright blue eyes. They giggled as the watched the bubbly pink pony come trotting in. "Heey there you two!" She laughed as she walked up to them, and gave them each a nuzzle on their noses. "Guess what Pound, and Pumpkin? I am going to bring a special guest for you guys to meet. He is little wittle just like you, and he is very nice." She rubbed at the top of each of their heads with a forehoof. "His name is Toby, and you will love him just like I do. I can't wait for you both to meet him." She gave them each a kiss on their foreheads. "I will be back soon." She beamed at them, then trotted out of their room. As she trotted downstairs to exit Sugarcube Corner she was greeted by Mrs. Cake who was cleaning the display case which displayed the cakes, cookies, and other sweets they bake. She had a bright cyan coat with a deep pink mane, and tail with a light pink stripe in each, and magenta eyes. As her cutie mark she had three cupcakes with pink frosting and a cherry on top in a triangular shape. "Ah, good morning Pinkie dear. May I ask where are you headed off this morning in the rain?" She said asking with a curious look. "Oh, I am just going by Fluttershy's, and seeing if Toby would like to come, and bake some super duper yummy in the tummy sweets with me." A beaming smile spreading across her face. "I am sure that you, and Mr. Cake will love him. He is little wittle, and just a cutie wutie." She replied giggling happily. "Aw.. well I would like to meet the little one. You have been talking about him for a while now, and me and Carrot Cake haven't even met him yet." Ms. Cake gave her a soft smile. "Don't worry, you will." She put her hood over her head. "Well, I shall be back." She trotted out of the bakery, and made her way toward Fluttershy's. Fluttershy was up feeding all of her animals, and allowed the critters outdoors to come inside, due to the rain. "I am glad I brought you in my precious ones. I couldn't let you have your breakfasts outside in this weather." The chittered, and chirped as the smiled at her while eating. "I will be back my friends, I am going to go wake up my precious little Toby." She turned to trot upstairs to her bedroom. Reaching the top she looked over to see the child sleeping peacefully underneath the big warm bed sheets, and smiled warmly at the sight. "He is so adorable when he is sleeping." She quietly trotted over to the bed. Her heart melted as she saw him curled up under the covers with his head laid comfortably on the pillow. Instead of nuzzling him the cheek to wake him up she very quietly pulled back the covers, sat on her haunches close to the bed, and lifted her forelegs up on the bed very carefully putting them underneath his small frame, and lifting him up. She brought him toward her chest, and cradled him in her forelegs. "My precious little Toby." She thought to herself as she gently leaned down to give him a soft kiss on his forehead, and started to rock him gently. She reached over to the table by her bed, and carefully lifted the brim of his glasses with her teeth, gently placing them on for him. He let out a soft yawn as he blinked his eyes open. He looked up to see her beautiful blue eyes looking down at him, with a warm smile on her face. He smiled up at her, and looked to see he was cradled in her forelegs as he sighed softly. "Good morning Momma." He reached up to hug her around her neck, and laid his head against her warm, and soft chest fur. He sighed softly as he could her heartbeat soothing his ears. She repositioned her forelegs to hold him properly. She placed one underneath his legs, and flank while wrapping the other one lightly around his back. "Good morning sweetheart." She kissed the top of his head, and laid her cheek on it, letting her flowing pink mane fall over him like a blanket. She held him in that position for several minutes before lifting her head up to look down at him. A flash of lightning attracted their attention, and the loud rumble of thunder could be heard. This startled Toby causing him to hug her neck a little tighter, and turning his head to bury it in her chest as he started to shake. She frowned down at the little colt, and immediately started to rub up, and down his back gently, and nuzzling the top of his head to try calming him down. "Shh..it's okay sweetheart. It is just the pegasi doing weather patrol, nothing to be worried about." She rubbed at his back as he looked up at her with a little smile. "They are just making sure all the flowers, vegetables, and other plants get water, so they can grow." She said nuzzling gently at his cheek as he blushed, and his smile grew. "That's better sweetie. Now what do you say we go downstairs, and find you something to eat. Okay Toby?" He nodded as she carefully hovered in the air, and carried him in her forelegs downstairs. As they reached the bottom of the stairs she gently lowered him onto the floor. He smiled up at her softly, and turned toward all of the animals that were all enjoying their breakfasts, even Mr. Bear. "Hi everyone." He waved as they returned the wave with their paws, and talons giving him chitters, and chirps all around. He walked over to sit on the rug beside Mr. Bear while Fluttershy trotted into the kitchen to prepare Toby's breakfast. He looked up at the bear with a big smile. "Good morning to you Mr. Bear." Mr. Bear let out a happy rumble, and scooped the child up in a big, yet gentle bearhug. Toby giggled, and rubbed at him on the top of his head between his ears. There was a knock at the door. "Haha..you can put me down now Mr. Bear, so I can go see who it is." He put Toby down, and the little colt went to the door. He opened the door, and looked up to see the pink party pony. "Hi Auntie Pinkie." Stepping aside to let her trot inside the cottage. She scooped the child up in her forelegs, and gave him a big hug nuzzling her cheek against his. "Hi there little wittle Toby." She shut the door, and set him down onto the floor taking her hood off. "How is my cutie wutie of a nephew doing today?" She leaned down on her forelegs to give him a nuzzle on the nose. He blushed. "I am doing good Auntie Pinkie, just woke up. Momma is in the kitchen making me some breakfast." He give her a hug of his own around her neck as she reached up to rub at his back with a foreleg, and gave him a kiss on the top of the head. Fluttershy came hovering into the den with a plate, and what appeared to be some kind of sandwich. She saw Pinkie, and gave her a soft smile. "Oh, um.. hi Pinkie. What are you doing here.. um.. if it is okay for me to ask, especially in this kind of weather?" She lowered to the floor handing Toby his plate. "Here you go sweetie, it is a lettuce, and tomato sandwich with fresh lettuce leaves, and slices of tomato. I hope you like it sweetheart." He looked up at her as he gently accepted the plate. "Thank you Momma." He gave her, and Pinkie a soft smile as he went over to sit on the rug with the animals. The two mares smiled brightly at the sight as Pinkie turned to Fluttershy. "Whew wee it is raining like fillies, and colts out there." Her, and Fluttershy trotted over to sofa to take a seat. "Anyway there, I was wondering if the little wittle cutie wutie would like to come to the Sugarcube Corner with me, and bake some super duper yummy sweet treats?" A pleading and beaming smile formed across her face. "Um.. it is okay with me.. um.. if Toby would like to go." She gave Pinkie a warm smile. She turned to Toby who was eating his sandwich. "Sweetheart, would you like to go to the Sugarcube Corner with your Auntie Pinkie Pie?" He made sure to finish the bite he was chewing on before responding with a big smile. "Yes Momma, that sounds like fun." He turned toward Pinkie with the same big smile. "Really Auntie Pinkie, I can come, and help you bake?" "Of course you can silly willy. You will get to officially meet Mr. and Mrs. Cake, and their foals Pumpkin, and Pound Cake." She giggled excitedly as Toby giggled in return, and went back to eating his sandwich. She turned to Fluttershy. "Would you like to come too Fluttershy? It will be loads of funny fun fun with both of you." Fluttershy smiled softly. "Well.. um.. I.." She was gently cut off as the little colt spoke up after finishing another bite of his sandwich. "Please Momma? I would like for you to come with us. It will real fun with all three of us." He looked up at her with a pleading smile. She couldn't refuse. "Okay sweetie, I will come with you, and Pinkie." She gave him a warm smile as he started on the second half of his sandwich. "I would like to see how Pound, and Pumpkin have been doing. Are they still a hoofful since your first foalsitting for them Pinkie?" "They are two hooffuls to be exact, but nothing that Pinkie Pie can't handle." She smirked, crossed her forelegs, and nodded proudly. Fluttershy giggled softly at her pink friend with a smile. Toby finished the second half of his sandwich, and carefully got up. "I am going to go throw my plate away Momma, and wash my hands, so I can go get dressed." He smiled at her, and Pinkie as he went into the kitchen. He came back out after a minute, and started up the stairs. "Sweetie, after you get changed... um... could you maybe get my raincoat in my closet... um.. if that is okay?" Fluttershy asked the child gently. "Yes Momma." He gave her a soft smile then ascended the stairs. "He is such a cutie wutie Fluttershy. He has come a long way since you found him, and we first met him." Pinkie smiled brightly. Fluttershy nodded in agreement. "I know Pinkie, I am so proud of him. He isn't timid anymore like he was to begin with, his stuttering is gone, and he haven't had any nightmares anymore." She looked at her pink friend with tears stinging her eyes. "I believe him saying goodbye to his mommy in the talent show on Saturday relieved him of some of that pain he has endured." She sighed deeply. Pinkie nodded happily. "I agree with you my flying friend. He has suffered so much from the loss of his mommy to him being treated badly by that super duper mean meanie pants of a daddy, and he is as sweet as a million cupcakes." They both giggled, and nodded in agreement. Toby came downstairs dressed in his all red outfit with royal blue jacket with hood. He carefully carried Fluttershy's coat in his outstretched arms. It was the same creamy yellow as her coat all over, with pink cuffs on all of the legs, pink around the hood, and three pink butterflies on the back same as her cutie mark. He walked up to her with his arms outstretched. "Here you go Momma." She gently took it from him with her forelegs. "Thank you sweetheart." Giving him a warm smile as she put it on. After zipping it up she turned toward her animal friends with Angel hopping up to her. She leaned down to kiss the top of his head between his ears. "You are in charge my Angel baby while we are gone." He chittered, and saluted her, and Toby. She leant forward on her forelegs to allow Toby to climb up on her back as he pulled his hood over his head. He looked at all of the animals, and Angel waving at them. "Bye everyone, I will see you all later." They chittered, and chirped waving back at him. The three exited the cottage, and Fluttershy carefully shut her door. They trotted onto the dirt path, and headed toward the Sugarcube Corner, with Pinkie hopping happily. Arriving at Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Toby entered to see Mr. and Mrs. Cake tending to the two foals. Pinkie Pie smiled brightly at the two. "Hey there Mr. and Mrs. Cake." She said giddily as Fluttershy followed behind with the little colt on her back. "Hello dears." Mrs. Cake responded while cradling Pound Cake in one foreleg, and trying to feed him from a bottle of milk with the other foreleg as she sat on her haunches. "Hey there girls." Mr. Cake responded next while tending to Pumpkin Cake. Mr. Cake whose full name is Carrot Cake, he has a sunflower yellow coat with a bright orange, and a dark orange mane a, green eyes, and as his cutie mark has three slices of carrot cake in a triangular shape. Mrs. Cake smiled at the two. "Finally was able to get Pound here to drink his milk." She looked past Fluttershy to see the small child on her back. "Aww..is that the little one." She asked giving him a big warm smile. Pinkie nodded vigorously with a big bright smile, and turned to reach up, and lift Toby off Fluttershy's back. "Mr. and Mrs. Cake I would like for you both to meet Toby." She placed him on the ground as she sat on her haunches behind him gently placing her forehooves on his shoulders. "Toby, I would like for you to meet Mr. and Mrs. Cake, the owners of Sugarcube Corner." He stood, and looked up at the couple while they were holding the foals. "Hi Mr. and Mrs. Cake." He watched the two foals with a warm smile, and gave a little wave. The two foals turned their eyes from their parents then back at the child, and released their mouths from the bottles. They were struggling in the forelegs of the two adults until they finally climbed out, and crawled out towards Toby. He watched the two as they crawled up to him. Pinkie pointed at each of the foals. "Toby, this is Pumpkin, and Pound Cake." Giving him a bright smile. "Hi there Pound, and Pumpkin. Aren't you two very cute babies." He carefully reached out a hand to them. The foals looked curiously at the creature before them, but ended up giggling, and tapped at his hand with their forehooves. He looked up at the adult Cakes as the trotted up. "They are very cute Mr. and Mrs. Cake." Mrs. Cake smiled down at the child with a big grin. "Well, thank you dear. It is a pleasure to meet you Toby." She reached a foreleg up, and pulled him to her in a warm hug. "You are as adorable as Pinkie Pie has been telling us." Mr. Cake reached a forehoof up, and gently rubbed at his shoulder. "It is great to meet you young fella. Yes, Pinkie has been telling us all about you, and she was right about you being a very sweet gentlecoat. I would say that even the little ones like you." The foals were giggling, and smiling giddily at the child. Mrs. Cake gently broke her hug with Toby as the two adult Cakes picked up the foals. "You go back to the kitchen, and enjoy the day with your Auntie Pinkie, Toby dear. We are going to go put the little ones to bed after we get done changing them." She gave the little colt a little nuzzle on the top of his head, and Mr. Cake gave him a rub on the head with a forehoof before the two went upstairs. "Okie dokie lokie, what do you both say we go bake some super yummy yummy in the tummy sweets?" Pinkie asked with a ear splitting grin as she hopped toward the kitchen. Fluttershy, and the little colt giggled at her excitement as the followed behind her. Upon entering the kitchen Toby looked around in wonder at the spacious room. The cabinets, and counters were a forest green with flower silhouettes on the cabinet doors, and cupcake wooden cutouts that had a white color as the bottom, light pink icing for the middle, and a deep pink round top. There was a mixer, and recipe book set out on the center counter. Pinkie Pie hopped in front of the counter, and turned toward the two. She leaned down to eye level with Toby nuzzling at his nose with hers. "What would my cutie wutie nephew like to bake today? We can bake cupcakes, cookies, a cake, or maybe cupcake cookies. Whatever you want little wittle Toby." She rubbed at his cheek with a forehoof giving him a bright smile. He blushed, and thought. "Could we bake some cookies Auntie Pinkie?" She nodded happily, and hopped up and down. "Of course silly willy." She rubbed at the top of his, and turned to look at the cookbook. She turned to the section of cookie recipes, and carefully looked through them. "Ah, ha here we go. We can bake super duper sweet sugar cookies." Beaming with excitement. Toby smiled happily, and nodded. "Oh, I love sugar cookies. My Mommy, and I baked sugar cookies once, and it was, so much fun. It was another thing we enjoyed doing together." As he walked over to Pinkie to look at the cookbook as Fluttershy carefully followed behind. "First, we must gather the ingredients." She placed a hoof on the recipe page. "Let's see... hmm... we need one cup flour. Now where did I put that flour last time I used it." She scanned the room, and looked up to find a sack of flour at the top of a shelf. "Oh, silly willy me, I forgot putting it up there after I baked that cake for you at the Canterlot Celebration." She turned to Fluttershy with a awkward smile. "Fluttershy, my shy friend could you.." She was gently cut off by the pegasus. "Of course Pinkie." She hovered up in the air, and retrieved the flour, and a cup from one of the cabinet's shelves. She placed the sack on the floor, and the cup on the counter. "There you go." She hovered over, and stood next to Toby who giggled, and gave her a big smile. "Thank you Fluttershy." She leaned her head down to the removed a clip that she used to close it, and reached up to grab at the cup to scoop the flower into. She poured the flour into the mixture, and as she was about to put the clip back on the sack of flour she let out a sneeze causing a cloud of flour to shower the kitchen, and all three of it's occupants. "Bless you Auntie Pinkie." Toby giggled as he took his glasses off for a second to wipe the flour off, and shake the flour off himself. Fluttershy giggled as well, and shook the flour off herself. Pinkie blinked, and giggled as she shook the flour off herself. "Thanks my cutie wutie nephew. I will clean this up after we get the sweet yummy cookies in the oven." She looked at the next ingredient on the list. "Next, we need two cups of sugar." She trotted over to the cabinets, and retrieved the sugar to put it on the counter. She turned to Toby, and gently lifted him up on her back, so he can reach the counter. "How would you like to add the sugar Toby?" She tilted her head back giving him a big smile. He nodded. "Yes Auntie Pinkie." He replied happily as he reached for the cup, and scooped one out to pour into the mixer, then scooped another cup to make two. "There, two cups of sugar." He put the cup back down on the counter. Pinkie smiled, and let him climb off her back. She then turned to the book. "Okie dokie lokie, now we need two eggs." She trotted over to the refrigerator, and retrieved two eggs, and a glass of milk. She set the glass on the counter, and proceeded to crack the eggs one at a time putting them in the mixer. She threw the eggshells in to the trash. "Final ingredient is two cups of milk." She poured one cup of milk adding it to the mix, and then poured a second cup. With just a little bit of milk in the glass she gulped down the rest receiving a giggle from the other two. "Alright, stand back. This could get messy." She licked her lips as she started the mixer, and the little colt stood back next to Fluttershy as she smiled softly down at him. After the sugar cookie dough was nicely mixed Pinkie set the oven on it's required temperature, retrieved a flat metal rectangular pan, and laid a non-stick plastic type of paper on top. She grabbed the mixing bowl, and poured the dough onto the pan. "Haha.. perfection. Okie dokie lokie you two, let's start turning this doughy dough dough into some scrumptiously sweet cookies." She clapped her forehooves excitedly as the two approached the counter with Pinkie lifting the child up, and letting him sit on the counter to help. Pinkie broke the dough into three different sections for each of them, and enough dough to make two cookies each. Pinkie decided to make one cookie in the shape of a cupcake and the other in the shape of her pet alligator, Gummy. Fluttershy made her cookies into the shape of a butterfly, and Angel Bunny. Toby was carefully forming his dough into a heart, and just a regular round cookie. The three placed their cookies on the pan, and Pinkie smiled brightly at their creations. "Ooh, they look wonderful you two. Now let's put them in the oven, and wait until they get done." She retrieved an oven mitten, and grabbed the pan to put it in the oven shutting the door. Fluttershy, and Toby looked around at the still flour covered kitchen. "Um.. Pinkie.. do you need us to help you with cleaning the kitchen?" Pinkie placed one forehoof on the pegasus' shoulder and one on Toby's shoulder shaking her head. "Nope, don't worry your pretty little heads about it. Your Auntie Pinkie has it all under control." Giving them a big bright smile. Fluttershy furrowed her brows in a bit of annoyed manner. "I am a year older than you though Pinkie." She sighed softly shaking her head giggling at her pink friend. She couldn't stay annoyed at Pinkie for too long. "Watch this little wittle Toby." Suddenly Pinkie retrieved a white apron. Fluttershy felt what was coming, and gently placed her foorehooves on the little colts shoulders, and sat on her haunches. The pink party pony started to immediately clean the kitchen speeding around the room in a pink blur. In a few seconds the kitchen was sparkling clean. "Whew, that was a doozy." Pinkie panted as she put the apron back up in the pantry. Fluttershy, and Toby laughed at Pinkie's randomness. "Haha..that was very fast Auntie Pinkie." She patted the top of his head with a forehoof. "Oh, your Auntie Pinkie Pie is just awesome you little wittle cutie wutie." She gave him a bright smile then look at Fluttershy. "Just don't tell Rainbow, if I said that she'd be pranking me for the rest of my life." "Um.. I won't tell.. um.. I promise." She gave a shy smile. Pinkie eyed her intently. "Well, to make sure you mean it, you know what you got to do." Fluttershy sighed softly. Pinkie put a forehoof up to stop her for a second. She looked down at Toby. "Now my nephew, this is my patented Pinkie Pie promise. If you ever make a Pinkie promise, you have to keep it, okay Toby?" He nodded. "Yes Auntie Pinkie." He looked up at her then looked at Fluttershy to watch her make it. "She is right sweetheart, if you don't keep a Pinkie Pie promise.. um.. well, let's just say she gets real mad, and will do everything she can to make sure you keep it. Just watch what I do sweetie, and you can do it when you make a Pinkie promise." She took a deep breath. "Cross my heart." She placed her forehoof on her chest and made a cross. "Hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." She then carefully lifted her forehoof up, and placed it against her eye to act like she was sticking a cupcake in her eye. Toby couldn't help, but giggle. "That's much better Fluttershy." Pinkie giggled, and patted her on the top of her head. Then the oven bell went off. "Ooh, yes the yummy yummy sweet cookies are done." She placed the oven mitten back on, and opened the oven door to retrieve the pan. She licked her lips as the scent of freshly baked sugar cookies wafted through the kitchen. Toby, and Fluttershy sniffed the air, and sighed warmly. "Mmm.. they smell very good Auntie Pinkie. Don't they Momma?" He looked up at her happily. She nodded, and gave him a kiss on the top of his head. "Oh, yes they do sweetheart." Pinkie trotted over to the pantry, and pulled out icing dispenser bags of an array of colors. "When they cool down, it will be time to decorate them." A beaming smile formed across her face. After the cookies cooled, and the three applied the icing to them they all revealed their finished cookie creations. Fluttershy's butterfly cookie had yellow frosting as it's foundation, pink around the edges of the wings, and three pink lines on the top, and bottom of both sides on the inside of the wings. Her Angel Bunny cookie had all white frosting, pink on the inside of the ears, and black gumdrops for the eyes. For Pinkie's two cookies, her Gummy shaped cookie had all green frosting with two purple gumdrops for the eyes. Her cupcake shaped cookie had brown icing for the bottom, pink for the middle, and a red gumdrop to resemble a cherry. Toby smiled at his two cookies. His heart shaped cookie had all red frosting with pink as the outline, and he had pink icing inside the heart spelling out the word "MOM" in the middle. He used yellow frosting for the base on his round cookie and red icing to make a smiley face. Fluttershy smiled at all of the beautifully decorated cookies, but her heart melted when she saw the heart shaped one of Toby's with "MOM" on it. "Toby sweetie, that one is beautiful." She pointed at it with her hoof. Toby smiled happily at her. "Thank you Momma. I made it for you." He grabbed it, and gently handed it to her. "I couldn't fit Momma on it." Fluttershy felt tears sting her eyes as she gently accepted the cookie. "Aw.. sweetheart is this really for me?" He nodded giving her a big smile. She gently placed the cookie down on the pan, and gave him a warm hug and nuzzled at the top of his head. "Thank you my precious little one. I love you Toby." Giving the top of his head a tender kiss. Pinkie felt tears sting at her own eyes. She thought for a second, and trotted over to a cabinet. She pulled out a roll of clear plastic wrap tearing a piece off with her teeth, and trotted back over to the two. "Here Fluttershy, you can wrap it in this, and keep it as long as you want if you don't want to eat it." Giving her a big warm smile. Fluttershy gently took the plastic wrap. "Thank you Pinkie. I know I don't want to eat this special cookie, because my precious little Toby made it for me." She very gently broke the hug, so she can wrap the cookie up in the plastic wrap. Pinkie hopped in place giddily. "Now let's munch down on these other yummy yummy in the tummy sweet cookies." The other two giggled, and nodded in agreement as they started to eat at their cookies. Pinkie hopped over to the refrigerator to retrieve another glass of milk for the three to share. After enjoying their cookies, and milk Fluttershy, and Toby decided to help Pinkie clean up the mixer, and make sure everything was put in it's place. They returned into the lobby of the bakery while Mr. and Mrs. Cake were both coming downstairs. "Well, it looks like you three had a good time." Carrot Cake spoke up. "Oh Fluttershy dear, that is a nice looking cookie, but how come you didn't eat it?" Cup Cake asked as she pointed at the heart shaped cookie. "Oh, Toby made it for me, and it is, so nice that I didn't want to eat it." She blushed, and looked down at the little colt who was standing beside her. Cup Cake knelt down giving Toby a warm smile. "Well, that was very sweet of you Toby." She reached up, and rubbed along his arm very gently. "It was a pleasure meeting you sweetie. I do apologize though that we didn't spend too much time getting to know each other. Sometimes, it is difficult to get our little ones to go to sleep." "That is okay Mrs. Cake, you don't have to be sorry for anything. They are cute little babies." He looked up at her. "Well, thank you dear, me, and Carrot truly appreciate that." She gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek. "Now you can come back anytime sweetie, and spend time with Pinkie Pie." She carefully pulled him with a foreleg to her giving her a soft hug. He returned the hug with his arms gently around her neck laying his head against her chest. "Thank you Mrs. Cake, I would like to come back again. I had fun baking with Auntie Pinkie." They gently broke the hug as Mr. Cake gently placed a hoof on his shoulder, and looked down at him. "Yea little guy, you are welcome here anytime. It was great meeting you Toby, and maybe next time we can talk to you more. You are a great gentle little colt Toby, never change who you are." Mrs. Cake nodded in agreement. "Thank you Mr. Cake, and don't worry, I won't change." He smiled up softly at Mr. Cake, and turned toward Pinkie. He walked up to her, and gave her a hug around her neck sighing softly as he laid his head on her chest. "Thank you Auntie Pinkie for letting me come today bake cookies with you. It was very fun." Pinkie nuzzled at the top of his head, and hugged him back with a foreleg wrapped around his back. "You are very welcome my cutie wutie nephew. I enjoyed it with you, and Fluttershy. Remember, anytime you want to come, and help bake, I am always available, okie dokie lokie?" She gently pulled him away, and looked down at him. He nodded. "Yes Auntie Pinkie." He smiled up at her, and saw Fluttershy knelt on her forelegs for him to climb onto her. He obliged, and waved at Pinkie, and The Cakes. "Bye Auntie Pinkie, and bye Mr. and Mrs. Cake." "Bye dear." Mrs. Cake waved a forehoof. "Bye little guy." Mr. Cake replied as the two then waved at Fluttershy before trotting into the kitchen. "Bye Fluttershy, and little wittle Toby." Pinkie smiled brightly as she waved a forehoof. "Bye Pinkie." Fluttershy spoke softly as she waved a forehoof back, and trotted out of the Sugarcube Corner and headed back toward her cottage with the rain coming down lightly. Pinkie stood at the door of the bakery, and watched as the two headed off. However, she gave a frown as she felt her pinkie senses acting up. "Oh, gosh, that isn't good. Nothing appears to be wrong though, but something doesn't feel right." She thought to herself as she carefully walked back into the Sugarcube Corner.