//------------------------------// // The Plot to Bomb Sugarcube Corner // Story: A Day To Remember // by Mr. Haze //------------------------------// Pinkie Pie Pinkie gripped the tray of cupcakes in her mouth placing them on top of the sturdy oak counter. Cuts and scrapes as well as stains embellished the wooden counter with an aged looked. The pink pony walked over to a bowl grabbing a spatula in her hoof as she shoveled in icing into a pastry bag. A deep blue color that reminded her of the ocean pigmented the sweet buttercream icing. She pushed the icing down inside the pastry bag until it reached the star tipped accessory at the end. Pinkie trotted over to her cupcakes tipping them over from the moulding tray and preceded to taste test one. A rich vanilla flavor consumed her taste buds in a frenzy of dopamine fueled fun as they danced in anticipation for another bite of the sugary treat. She smiled and nodded to herself in acceptance of the cupcakes and their flavor. And now it was her favorite part of making cupcakes, decorating them. The fuchsia colored pony squeezed the bag creating swirls of sweet blue frosting atop of the small cakes. A small peak stuck out at the top of each cupcake where she finished squeezing and pulled away. When they were all perfectly decorated in frosting she sprinkled a small amount of multicolored shards atop of each one. Her secret ingredient she coveted to herself as it was extremely rare to come by, Crack Rock Candy, which on contact with the water in one one's saliva created a unique popping sensation that spread all over one's tongue. The pony squealed in excitement as she tried one of her finished products. It was a flavor sensation unlike anything she tried before and she couldn't wait to see the expressions on her friends faces after they tried these cupcakes. She grabbed the tray between her teeth and trotted out into the lobby of Sugarcube Corner. The hustle and bustle of ponies made it hard to hear who was saying what or even try to think to one's self. She placed the tray in front of the circular table that housed her five pony friends. The ponies around her all looked in awe as the cupcakes Pinkie had made now made it to their mouths. They each took a bite of the frosted cake savoring the yellow sponge cake, frosting, and the last topping, Pinkie's personal surprise to her friends. "Pinkie! What did you put in this it's making my mouth pop!" Exclaimed Twilight looking at Pinkie in anticipation for an answer. "Crack Rock Candy!" She shouted back, "my secret ingredient that puts the crack and pop in every bite." She said with a sly smile. "Wow Pinkie!" Shouted Rainbow Dash with a surprised smile on her face, "this is amazing!" She inhaled the rest of the cupcake chewing with delight as every bite set her mouth alight. "It's like'a have fireworks in mah' mouth." Said Applejack. "Ooh! Wow Pinkie, these are fantastic, I could really use you for catering at my next fashion show with Sapphire Shores and her dance team. She'll love these!" Rarity cried. Fluttershy nodded in agreement with her friends keeping quiet to herself. "I've never ready anything about Crack Rock Candy before in any of my books on Geology, Petrology, or even Lithology. Where's this stuff come from? Twilight asked cocking her head. "Well, I don't really even know where they come from. Maud gives me some time to time as she goes on her excavations. It's pretty rare to come by so I only have a few rocks of it, but it's pretty powerful and potent stuff. Maud told me one time that a colleague of her's once blew up a caved in section of a tunnel using Crack Rock Candy as a demolition device since they didn't have any unicorns with them." Pinkie Said. "Fascinating!" Twilight gleamed with interest and excitement, "a rock that has explosive properties and is edible." Pinkie and her friends talked and reminisced about the past, the present, and thoughts on what is to come in their future ahead. Before the ponies knew it hours had passed by sitting and talking with the occasional plate of appetizers and appropriate refreshments. The clock above the bar chimed at ten o'clock signalling closing time for the bakery. Pinkie waved to her friends as they exited leaving the business empty except for the one's who lived their and one other customer who had yet to leave. Pinkie wondered who this person could be. He or she was a cloaked figure with a long tail with a fluff of fur on the end that swished back and forth. A hood covered the creature's head leaving the only other visible body parts were its feet and hands which were talon-like claws leading Pinkie to believe with past experience and intuition that this was a Griffon. She had little doubts about her assumption as she approached the lone figure who held a small shot of whiskey knocking it back as it heard the hoofsteps from its side. Pinkie stood in front of the griffon and held out her hoof in an offering of friendship, "hi I'm Pinkie, what's your name?" She asked. The griffon pulled its cloak back revealing a strong male figure. A protruding scar above his left eye left it blind and useless as well as preventing plumage that covered the rest of his body to not form at all leaving just his bare skin for the world to see. He spoke softly just loud enough for Pinkie to hear as she nearly pressed her face up against his beak. "My name is Grey." He said staring directly into the pink pony's eyes, "and I'm here to talk to you Pinkie Pie." "Oh?" She asked looking visibly interested, "what about?" "An important matter," he said, "it concerns Maud." Pinkie's heart sunk, "what wrong! Where's Maud! Is she okay!" Exclaimed the pony looking more stressed than Twilight during her escapade of being unable to think of a lesson of friendship she learned. The griffon grabbed the pony's mouth closed and pulled her up against his face, "keep quiet. She's alright I just need to ask a few things." He seethed under his breath. "Now," he said letting go of Pinkie Pie, "we have a difficult situation to deal with. It appears your sister is working for a domestic terrorist organization." "Bullshit!" Pinkie exclaimed, "you've got some fucking nerve coming up to my face and slandering my sister like that!" "Pinkie!" Shouted the griffon slamming his massive talons onto the table. He grimaced in anger as she stared down the pony as if he were ready to strike her down, "I suggest you listen to what I have to say. I don't have time for your outbursts so if you would like to see your sister again and remain to live in Sugarcube Corner you'll shut the hell up and listen!" Pinkie sunk down intimidated by the large griffon and his near violent explosion that sent fear through Pinkie Pie like a bolt of lightning. "Now, as I was saying, Maud is working for a domestic terrorist organization, but there's a catch, she's working for us. We got word recently that something big is about to go down. Something in Ponyville. We just don't know what so we came to you to look for answer." He said in a hush-like voice. "Prove it." She said. "Prove what?" Asked the griffon. "Prove Maud is working for you, whoever you are." Pinkie said crossing her hooves together and leaning against the shelving full of liquors. The griffon sighed and pulled out a black badge from his trenchcoat. It bore the sign of Celestia's cutie mark on the outside followed by a detailed picture of the griffon as well as three large letters that stood out against the rest, C.I.A.She looked it over as he set it on the table and pulled out a small scroll with Celestia's red wax seal broken but still legible. Pinkie read the letter and put it down looking up at the griffon in a bit of shock and excitement mixed with a dash of worry for her sister. "So, you weren't lying," she said, "Canterlot Intelligence Agency huh? Well, you have my attention now." She replied pulling out a nearly identidical black badge minus the Celestia's cutie mark which was replaced by Luna's. "Division Officer Pie," she said, "I'm stationed here on longer term surveillance of Discord. My apologies for my previous behavior, I couldn't be sure if you were a friend or not." The griffon grinned, "good, now can you tell me if there's any new ponies in town? Anyone you haven't seen before?" "Nope." She said quickly, "I mean, there was one pony. But I'm pretty sure she's gone by now." "Who?" He asked. "A unicorn, she was pretty shy. Didn't talk to anyone just came into town got a room at Honey Bunne Inn and stayed the night. That was yesterday. If she's still here she'll be there. It's the only Inn we have." She said. "I see." He commented, "could you come with me please?" "Maybe. Depends where we're going." She said back. "To see this unicorn of course. If she's still hear I want to talk to her and you're the only pony who can identify her so I need you to come with me please." He retorted. The pony and the griffon walked through the dimly lit streets of Ponyville towards the Inn. A draft of cold air sent a shiver down Pinkie's spine. She looked over to her griffon companion who walked without hindrance or recognition of the cold breeze. She looked up into the moonlit sky staring at the vast amount of stars that speckled the black void. It was a beautiful night for stargazing if that is what these two would be doing, alas, they had other obligations tonight. "So... how long have you been with the C.I.A?" She asked. The griffon kept a straight face and walked forward not moving his head to look at the pony, "that's classified." "Grey isn't your real name is it? That doesn't sound like a griffon name." She said. "That's classified." He replied. "Do you like cake or pie?" She asked. "That information is under current redaction." He said smirking as he saw from the corner of his eye the pouting face of his pony companion. "Is there anything not classified?" She asked. "I'm a griffon. That's not classified." He said back. "Ugh!" She cried, "you're so conversationally retarded!" "No I'm not. I just like pissing you off. You are the Element of Laughter after all. So, I get my few kicks and chuckles from making you mad." He said with a visible smile. "You're mean." She said back. "And here we are." He said back standing in front of the Honey Bunne Inn. The two walked into the Inn and approached the hostess. "Hi, welcome to Honey Bunne Inn, I'm Honey Bun, can I interest you two in a room together? Maybe the Lover's Suite?" She asked looking at the two in a seductive manner. "Nope, sorry. We're actually here looking for a pony. Have you seen her? She's a unicorn with an amber mane and tail-" stopped mid sentence peering out of her peripheral she say the pony they both sought after. She was walking towards the door when she stopped the pink earth pony staring at her in a look of shock and glee. The same look was not given by the griffon who looked aggressive and ready for a fight. "That's her!" Pinkie shouted hopping up in the air and pointing at the unicorn pony. In a moment of fight or flight the unicorn ran giving Grey a reason to pursue the pony as the two tore down the door to the Inn and ran off in a desperate chase of cat and mouse that would ultimately end in one pony or griffon ending up hurt. Pinkie too gave chase following the unicorn from the ground as Grey pursued her from the sky. They ran through Ponyville down streets and alleyways knocking over trash cans and tipping over produce carts for the market. Grey finally got a clear shot and took it. He pierced through the wind like a spear locking onto his target with precise accuracy as he landed on top of the mare tumbling over each other as she stopped running after tripping over from the sudden shock and unannounced mounting from behind. They soon stopped their wheel-like tumble after hitting the local well. The griffon stood up quickly and pinned the pony to the ground pulling her forelegs behind her back with one claw. Pinkie arrived shortly after looking barely exhausted and sweating minimally. She looked at Grey and then at the pony below him who was in sheer terror of what was happening. Tears streamed down her face as she began to cry for her mother's aide. "Where's P.A.S.T going to hit? Where?!" He shouted pulling a foreleg of the mare's taught sending her in pain. "Grey!" Shouted Pinkie charging him at full speed. Before he could look over his shoulder he was pummeled into the ground with a swift bucking of Pinkie's hindquarters. He emerged from his severe beating groggy and pissed as he watched Pinkie tend to the mare he was questioning in a most disgusting and sympathetic way to him as most griffons would agree. Their culture didn't care for kindness or empathy. They were warriors and warriors knew only one thing, violence. "What the fuck was that for Pinkie!" He roared stomping the ground as he approached the pink pony. Pinkie did not back down. Instead she stood tall and proud without a shred of fear in her body as she now stood hoof to talon with the deadly lion/bird chimera. "We do not assault ponies like that! This is Ponyville griffon! Get that through right now. This is my town, and if you pull that sort of shit again so help me Celestia I will bury you." She roared with fire in her eyes that would make Tartarus look like the frozen tundra of Frigus. The griffon stared down the Pink pony looking for any sign of weakness to prey upon, but his efforts were fruitless. This pony truly cared about others and she would not stand idly around nor back down at the slightest pique of injustice. Grey snorted aloud showing his contempt and respect for Pinkie Pie. It wasn't everyday that somepony stood up to Grey. Pinkie turned her attention to the mare Grey so viciously attacked and tried to calm her down. "Hi, I'm Pinkie Pie, sorry about my friend there. He was just a little too excited to see you." Pinkie said smiling. "Wha- what do you want with me?" She said shivering in fear, "I don't have any money I swear! Don't hurt me!" She cried covering her face with her forelegs. "Oh no," Pinkie started, "we don't want your money we just want to ask you a few things." Pinkie cooed as she stroked the mare's mane trying to calm her down. "O-okay, what do you want to know?" She asked looking up at the pony then towards the griffon. "First, what is P.A.S.T planning? Where are they going to hit?" The griffon interrupted. "I-I don't know what you're talking about what's P.A.S.T?" She asked looking confused. "Don't fuck with me pony, I'm not in the best of moods." Snarled Grey. Pinkie shot him a glare then looked back towards the mare, "what he means is, if you could tell us anything about whatever he is talking about would really, really be helpful." She gleamed with a radiant smile upon her face. "I'm really sorry, but I don't know what this P.A.S.T is. Could you explain it?" She asked looking over towards the griffon. Grey rolled his eyes, "P.A.S.T is Ponies Against Sugary Treats. They're a fringe group of radicals bent on the elimination of sugar-based foods. They have been linked to several bombings and murders involving key producers of chocolate, marshmallows, frosting, and just about any other sugar-based desert you ponies ingest. Do you know anypony involved within this group?" "Oh shit, you've got to be kidding me. I thought they were just loud mouthed I didn't think they would actually hurt anypony." She said looking down, "I-I know a pony. I went to visit her yesterday. She's a good friend of mine. Her name is Carrot Top. She's a pretty hush-hush about being with those ponies, but when she's behind closed doors... I mean, wow she really doesn't like sugar at all. She even blamed it for Luna's banishment. Please, tell me she isn't involved in any of their crimes. I don't want her to get into that sort of trouble. I care about her. She's the sister I never had." Pleaded the pony. "T-that can't be true. Ponies wouldn't really try to kill ponies over sugar would they?" Pinkie said looking to their interrogatee then at Grey. "It is." Grey said, "I'm leading the investigation into P.A.S.T and their crimes. I got word they were going to hit Ponyville and Sugarcube Corner is a prime place. I just want to know how they plan to before they can do it." "No." Said Pinkie gritting her teeth, "I won't let them take Sugarcube Corner. Now this is personal." She said pulling a historically olive green shrapnel helmet from thin air. Four stars lied atop her helmet just above eyebrow level. "Come Grey, we have a Carrot to catch." She said maniacally whilst completely ignoring the mare they once held ponynapped. Pinkie stood back against the stone wall. It's coldness did nothing to her body as she was filled with the rage of Celestia's Sun. No pony dare to attack sugar deserved to walk upon Equus and it's pure grounds and crisp clean waters. It was simply unheard of to think ponies would deny their sweet tooth so wholeheartedly as to kill over it. It disgusted her to core. The door to Carrot Top's house shattered into billions of splintery pieces sending shrapnel in all directions. Pinkie covered her face from the pointed wooden fragments waiting for the dust to settle before she lowered her hoof. She heard her companion look around ferociously and screaming louder than Pinkie's ears could withstand. "What's wrong!" Shouted Pinkie charging up the stairs towards Grey. "She's not here!" He roared flipping over a table and throwing a chair out the window. He kicked several holes into the wall before calming down. "You done destroying her house?" Pinkie asked. "No," the griffon said in spite whilst grabbing a small nightstand and throwing it into the wall. It stuck inside the wall unwilling to allow gravity to influence its inevitable fall to the earth once more, "now I am." A small parchment letter gracefully floated to the ground after it escaped it darkened prison within the nightstand the griffon so casually threw across the room. The griffon and the pony both looked at the note approaching it carefully as if it were ready to explode. Their eyes both widened at the sight of ready the first line at the middle of the page at the top: Carrot Top's Confession. If you are reading this now it is because I am either, dead, captured, or have gone into hiding. This won't be the last time you see me I hope, Mom, Dad. I'll try to come back to Equestria to see you two, but I can't make any promises. There will be some things that you will find out about me that may shock you. It may hurt you to your core. Ponies might not like what I have done. In fact most ponies would hate me by now if they found out what we were planning. I'm going on a journey for now. A journey that will begin with the biggest shock to Ponyville that will ever happen. Something that will surely get their attention and stray it from the sugary evils of culinary. I want you two to know that I love you both very much. I'm sorry if this makes you think less of me but it is what I believe wholeheartedly and I cannot back down. We have to go through with this. I have to do it. And only I will go down in the books of history as the greatest revolutionary Equestria has ever seen. To my most regrettable foes, law enforcement. If you're reading this before my parents, and chances are you are reading this right now please pass this letter on to my parents. And please, stay out of my way. I don't want to have to hurt anymore ponies but if you try to stop me and my mission I will be forced to resort to drastic violent measures. So don't do anything stupid until I'm done. Then you may capture me or kill me if you can. I am Carrot Top voice of the Ponies Against Sugary Treats. "We have to go back." Pinkie said. "Where?" Asked Grey "To Sugarcube Corner, you said yourself it's a prime target. In fact it's the only target suitable for Carrot Top." She replied. Pinkie covered the back of Sugarcube Corner while Grey covered the front. In an almost telepathic-like sense they breached both door simultaneously with only one of them finding their intended target. A lone earth pony mare with orange fur and a green mane. She looked back at Pinkie Pie in suprise, shock, and devilish intent. Grey swooped in to the back of the bakery after not hearing from Pinkie Pie. "Where's Mr. and Mrs. Cake?" Pinkie snarled bracing the ground as if she were to charge. "Oh they're safe. Just tied up at the moment." She laughed aloud. "Carrot Top!" Roared the griffon, "you are under arrest for conspiracy to commit an act of domestic terrorism! Surrender now and I won't get angry." "No." She said flatly, "I simply can't do that." Grey prepared to charge the pony and tackle her in one blow. "Grey! Wait! Whatever you do, do not attack her." Pinkie said. "What? Why?" Asked the griffon. "S-she has Crack Rock Candy. And a lot at that." Pinkie Pie said pointing towards a large barrel that glinted and gleamed in the pale candlelight. Carrot Top grinned as she tossed up and down a small purple stone from the barrel, "right you are Pinkie. Enough to completely level Sugarcube Corner and destroy every last bit of sugar inside this place. Compliments of Maud. She's been a great asset to our cause." "I won't let you get away with this," Pinkie grimaced staring down the earth pony. "Oh you will, or we'll all be going up to the great Stable in the Sky." Replied Carrot Top. Pinkie had to think fast. There wasn't time to wait for her to set up whatever devious trap she had planned nor was there enough time to contact the Elements of Harmony to prevent a catastrophe. She had to act fast and act now if she wanted to make it out of this alive and still enjoy Sugarcube Corner as her home. This was it. It was the only plan she could think of that would possibly work with just enough time for her to snatch the Crack Rock from her hoof. And this plan was the oldest trick in the book so to speak. Pinkie pointed in a terrified expression towards the door nearest Carrot Top, "what the hell was that!" She exclaimed. It worked. And it worked perfectly. Carrot Top fell for the bait shifting her gaze for only a second just enough time for Pinkie to close the space in between them and steal the Crack Rock Candy from her hoof only to be followed by Grey who Tackled the terrorizing mare and held her to the ground. Pinkie just then realized what she did. She didn't grab the Crack Rock by conventional means. She just swallowed it whole. She felt it now the onset of the explosive reaction Crack Rock Candy was known for and it just small enough quantities is was used for pastries, but she ingested enough to demolish a caved in wall. She tumbled over onto her side gripping her stomach and clenching her eyes shut as the expansion of gases reached near critical limits. Grey was about to ask her if she was okay but before he could Pinkie Pie exploded. Not that of the tradition sense of splattering across the wall but her size quintupled in just a fraction of a second before she floated to the ground and belched a smokey and sugary wisp of air. Grey looked in astonishment. That's not possible. No pony could survive that. He thought to himself. "Wow! Now that was fun!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed in glee. Both Carrot Top's and Grey's mouth dropped to the floor. Their was no way she should be able to walk away from that in one piece but somehow someway she managed to. "W-what are you?" Carrot Top asked as she was carried off by Grey unwilling to wait any longer in this crazy town of ponies. "I'm a pony!" She squealed jumping off the floor and nearly hitting the ceiling. "Grey where you going?" She asked. "Back to Canterlot with Ms. Top. If she cooperates, she might have a chance at freedom again." He said flapping his wings and ascending into the air. "It was a pleasure working with you Ms. Pie. I hope I can again." He said looking back at the pink pony who help him take down yet another member of the terrorist group, P.A.S.T. Pinkie smiled to herself. Another day to remember. She thought to herself going back inside as she recalled her employers were tied up if she recalled correctly from what Carrot Top said.