//------------------------------// // Babysitting Blues // Story: My Little Pony, Friendship is Out of This World // by Robobrony //------------------------------// Babysitting Blues Nova was busy with working on a gem for a client while his little brother was out crusading with his friends. He heard a knock at the door that seemed rather frantic. “Just a sec!” He called out. He placed his tools down and used a monitor he set up to see who was at the door. It was Twilight standing there practically dancing in place as she seemed frantic. Without putting on his pony disguise, he opened the door. “Twilight? What is it, is something wrong?” “Nova, you gotta come to the hospital, Carrot Cake and Cupcake are about to have their babies!” Twilight explained in a rushed manner but wore a smile. Nova found himself smiling at the news. “Really? That’s great, let’s go.” Nova rushed out of his home and was about to head for the hospital. “Nova wait!” Twilight stopped him. “Your disguise.” Nova screeched to a halt. “Oh right.” He ran back in, picked up his necklace and activated it. Then he ran back out and galloped off to the hospital with Twilight. Nova and Twilight soon arrived at the hospital to see the others waiting for the chance to see the new born foals. It took a while but they were finally allowed to go to the baby viewing room. The group chattered excitedly as they waited and looked at the babies in the room that was separated from them by a glass window. Rainbow Dash was hovering above the group. Carrot Cake was standing in the room between two cribs. “Can you believe the new baby is finally here?” Rarity asked. Twilight was smiling from ear to ear. “Carrot Cake and Cupcake must be so proud.” “I wonder if it’s a filly or a colt.” Rarity wondered out loud. “Whatever it is, I’m sure Carrot Cake and Cup Cake will be excellent parents.” Nova pointed out. Pinkie Pie was on pins and needles as she seemed fit to burst with excitement. “I wanna see the new baby pony! I wanna see! Which one is it?” Carrot Cake looked to the girls and Nova that were waiting. “Meet our son, Pound cake.” He pulled back a small blanket that revealed a little baby colt with a light beige coat and brown mane and tail. The baby let out a small yawn and revealed a small pair of wings. Everypony awed at the sight of the little one. Carrot Cake moved to a crib on his other side. “And our daughter, Pumpkin Cake.” He pulled back another blanket in the crib to reveal a baby unicorn filly with a yellow coat and orange mane. She also gave a small yawn. The group gave a collective, “Huh?” to see twins. Pinkie Pie seemed to get more excited about this news. “Two new foals for me to play with? *GASP* That's two, two, two times the fun! This is the greatest day ever!” She somehow popped into the room with the babies. “We need to celebrate your birthday, babies, 'cause you were just born today! Woo-hoo!” Nurse Redheart entered the room and shushed Pinkie. “Shh, the babies are trying to sleep.” She spoke in a hushed tone. Pinkie tried to argue. “But I was just-“ The nurse cut her off again. “Shh.” “But-“ “Shh.” Redheart walked off after that. Pinkie snuck over to between the cribs and practically nudging Carrot out of the way. She looked to make sure the nurse was gone and started to sing in a whispered tone. “Happy happy birthday to you and you today.” Nurse Redheart came back and glared at Pinkie. She then tossed Pinkie out of the room. Nova just shook his head and rolled his eyes at Pinkie’s antics. Applejack suddenly brought up an interesting question. “Now how in thunderation is one of them twins a unicorn and the other one a Pegasus?” “Hey, that is a good question.” Nova added. Carrot Cake provided an explanation. “Easy. My great-great-great-great grandfather was a unicorn, and Cup Cake's great aunt's second cousin twice removed was a Pegasus. That makes sense, right?” He asked his question with shifting eyes and nervous sweating. Rainbow Dash gave a small cheer. “Ah yeah, heh, just you wait. Once little Pound Cake gets his wings going, he’ll be all over the place.” She zipped around the room a bit to emphasize her point. “And be careful around Pumpkin Cake.” Twilight warned. Rarity continued for her. “Baby unicorns get strange magic surges that come and go.” Pinkie Pie popped back into the room between the babies with a chocolate cake. “Quick, make a wish and blow out the candles, which is easy since there are zero candles. You are zero years old after all.” “SHH!” Nurse Redheart popped in again. Her shush caused Pinkie to push the cake up against her face, leaving her with an icing beard. After Pinkie was forced out of the baby room again, Nova offered his congratulations. “Congratulations on the babies Mr. Cake, I just know you and your wife will make great parents.” Carrot offered a smile. “Thanks Nova, I appreciate it.” “We should probably get going now and let you two settle.” Twilight said. The others started to leave so Carrot and Cup Cake could have some time to relax and be with their newborns. A month had passed since Carrot Cake and Cupcake had their new babies. Just as Nova said, they were proving to be great parents. They did seem to worry too much over some little things, but it was to be expected. Nova was busy simply cleaning up his house this time with some dusting and various other things when there was a knock on his door. He ceased his cleaning and looked at the monitor to see the cakes at his doorstep. Mrs. Cake was carrying the twins in a harness on her sides. He used his magic to disguise himself and opened the door. “Hello there Mr. and Mrs. Cake, what can I do for you?” Carrot Cake answered first. “Hello there Nova, we were wondering if you might be free to baby sit for us today.” Cup Cake continued. “You see, we have this big order to fill and we need to deliver it but we need somepony to watch our babies for us.” Nova looked past them and saw a somewhat depressed looking Pinkie Pie. “We’ve already asked the girls if any of them could do it but they all have other things going on.” Carrot informed. “Please Nova, won’t you do it?” Cup Cake asked. “You seem like such a responsible pony, and we’ve seen how you and your brother get along and how you care for him. We just know you could do it.” “What about Pinkie Pie?” Nova said pointing a hoof to said party pony. “Did you ask her?” They looked to each other hesitantly before Carrot answered. “Well, we just don’t think Pinkie Pie could handle it. You know how she is.” Nova looked to Pinkie again, she seemed sadden by those words. He looked back to the cakes. “How about me and Pinkie baby sit for you. I did pretty much raise my little brother for the most part so I know how to deal with babies. And Pinkie Pie knows how to have fun which is something babies need. So you’ll have my responsibility and Pinkie’s joy,how about that?” “Well….” Cup Cake trailed off. “Oh…all right, she can help baby sit. Thank you for agreeing Nova.” Cup Cake said. “We really appreciate it.” Carrot added. Pinkie Pie cheered out. “All right! Thank you for giving me a chance, you won’t regret it Mr. and Mrs. Cake.” Before it came time for Nova to go help Pinkie Pie baby sit, he needed to let Starburst know he wouldn’t be home and to stay with their parents. After, he soon arrived at the bakery and saw Mr. and Mrs. Cake going back and forth between the front of the bakery and the kitchen with Pinkie sitting with the twins. “Hey Carrot, hello Cup, I’m here.” Cup Cake approached Nova looking worried as she was in a rush. “Nova, thank you for coming, we really appreciate you doing this for us.” “Yes, we can’t thank you enough. Now do be sure to take real good care of our babies.” Carrot added. “Don’t worry Mr. Cake, It’s not the first time I had to take care of a baby. Plus, I’ll have Pinkie to help.” Carrot and Cup gave worried looks to each other at that comment. “Trust me, I know what I’m doing.” Carrot looked to Nova. “All right, take care while we’re gone.” “Be good to our little gingersnaps.” Cup Cake added before the two headed out the door. Pinkie approached Nova. “Hey Nova, thanks for letting me help. I Know I can watch them on my own, but I guess we’ll be working together. That’s okay though, we’ll have a super time. But look at this list the cakes left behind.” Pinkie Pie produced a long list of things for taking care of the babies. “Great galaxies that’s a long list.” Nova commented as he read through it. “Well, we better get started.” No sooner had he said that, the bakery was filled with the crying of the twins. Pinkie and Nova looked over to them to see tears coming from their eyes as they wailed out in sadness their parents were gone. “Uh oh.” Pinkie said with worry. “Uh, don’t cry little friends, look.” She pointed a hoof behind the babies where she rushed over to the swinging double doors and hid behind them. “Where’s Pinkie Pie? Where’s Pinkie Pie?” She asked. The twins just looked at each other and started crying again. Pinkie came out from behind it. “Oh no, I’m right here, see?” Nova decided to take action. Since the bakery was going to be closed and no pony would be entering, Nova felt it safe to drop his disguise, he figured it might grab their attention. “Hey Pound, Pumbkin, watch this.” The twins looked to Nova. He deactivated his disguise and showed his true form to the two toddlers. “Ta da!” No reaction from the twins for a moment before they started crying again. “Yesh, I thought that would work for sure. Oh, I hope I didn’t just scare them.” He decided to keep his disguise off while babysitting, he felt comfortable enough. “Ooh, I know what to do.” Pinkie Pie said. She started making funny faces at the twins to try and make them laugh. They just cried some more. “Oh, think, think, think…..ah ha, I know what to do. Nova, come help me with something.” Nova decided to help Pinkie and see what she might have in store. Soon, the lights were off, a lamp was set up over a red curtain in the room and a small table for the twins sat in front of the makeshift stage with Nova between the two. “Hey guys, watch this.” Pinkie said as she walked onto the makeshift stage. Nova manipulated the lamp with his magic like it was a spotlight. Pinkie held a broom in her right foreleg and used it like a microphone. “Hey, you’re a wonderful crowd out here tonight, where ya’ll from?” Pinkie held out the end of the broom to Pumpkin for her to answer. She just opened her mouth as was about to try and bite on it but Pinkie pulled it away before she could. Pinkie continued with her act. “Wow, that’s great. You know, I once had an ant farm, but I had to get rid of it because I couldn’t find tractors that small.” Out of nowhere, there was a rim shot. Nova rolled his eyes at the joke. He looked between the twins to see their reaction. Nothing. “Get it? Tractors that small.” After realizing no reaction, Pinkie continued. “The other day, I spilled spot remover on my dog, and now I can’t find him.” Pinkie rushed over to a small drum and a pair of symbols to make the rim shot. Nova facehooved at the bad joke. The twins started crying again. “Pinkie, I don’t think your jokes are working!” Nova had to raise his voice over the twin’s crying. “Let me try something.” “WAIT!” Pinkie declared. “Let me try one more thing.” She got back on the stage. “Fine, I was saving my show stopper but you’re a lovely audience and I think you deserve it.” Pinkie ducked down behind the curtain a moment and music started up. Pinkie poked her head back out from behind the curtain and had a pig snout over her nose. She started singing. First you wiggle your tail (Oink, oink, oink!) Then you wiggle your snout (Oink, oink, oink!) Then you wiggle your rump (Oink, oink, oink!) Then shout it out(Oink, oink, oink!) First you wiggle your tail (Oink, oink, oink!) Then you wiggle your snout (Oink, oink, oink!) Then you wiggle your rump (Oink, oink, oink!) Then shout it out (Oink, oink, oink!) First you wiggle your tail (Oink, oink, oink!) Then you wiggle your snout (Oink, oink, oink!) Then you wiggle your rump (Oink, oink, oink!) Then shout it out (Oink, oink, oink!) Pinkie sang a little faster with each verse. The twins just kept crying during the song until Pinkie lost control with her bouncing around as she sang and bumped into a cabinet with a bag of flower on top. It fell off and hit Pinkie Pie over the head, covering her from head to hoof in flower. The twins stopped crying and started laughing. “There, See? Nothing to this baby sitting service.” Pinkie said before fainting. “Good try there Pinkie.” Nova said. “But next time, let me see if I can stop them from crying.” After helping Pinkie get cleaned up, she took to watching the twins while Nova went to the list Pinkie posted on the fridge. “Looks like it’s snack time Pinkie.” “No problem, I can handle this.” Pinkie said. She got the twins in their high chairs as Nova got the food for them out and floated it over to them. At first, they just eyed their bowls silently and looked up at Pinkie and Nova. “It’s good.” Pinkie said in a sing song voice. “See? Num num, num num num.” She picked up Pumpkin’s bowl and made like she was eating it. Still nothing. “Let me try.” Nova said. “This usually works.” He used his magic to lift up Pound’s spoon from his bowl and had it float around with some of the baby mush in it. “Here comes the freight ship looking for a docking bay, vroom vroom.” “Freight ship?” Pinkie asked. Nova took a moment to explain. “It’s a space ship mainly used for delivering goods like food and stuff.” “Oh, okay.” Pinkie smiled as she accepted the explanation. “Say Nova, do you think maybe sometime you could take me and the girls up into space to see what It’s like?” Nova smiled at the idea. “You know, that’s not such a bad idea. I’m afraid my ship is no good though. But maybe we could use my parent’s ship.” Nova resumed his act to try and get Pound Cake to eat. “Come on little one, open up the docking bay.” Pumpkin opened her mouth like she was about to eat. Pinkie’s eyes widened in anticipation. She was disappointed when Pumpkin reached past her bowl and knocked it over in favor of the table cloth which she happily drooled on. Pinkie knocked it out of her mouth. “No Pumpkin Cake, we eat food, not table clothes.” Pumpkin Cake didn’t take too kindly to being told no and started crying. This upset Pound Cake as well, he slammed his hooves onto his bowl and sent it flying up. It came back down on his head and covered him with the food. Now both twins were crying again. “Uh oh.” Nova said. “Okay, let’s see if this will work.” Nova closed his eyes and concentrated his magic. He made the lights flip off in the room and made a magical projection of space around them. Planets and stars swirled around himself, Pinkie Pie and the babies. The sound of whooshing was heard as comets and shooting stars passed by. It seemed to work as the twins calmed down and stared in wonder at the sight. They even started laughing a little. “There we go, isn’t that better than wasting flower?” Nova asked Pinkie Pie. “Ooh, pretty. Nice one Nova.” Pinkie praised. “Now that you calmed them down, we better give them a bath now. Pound Cake could certainly use one.” “Good idea.” Nova slowly cancelled his spell and turned the lights back on. Later, Pinkie and Nova had carried the twins up to the bathroom and started a bath for them. Nova had removed their diapers so they could go right in the tub when it was ready. Once the tub was full, Pinkie turned the water off. Before Nova and Pinkie could get the twins into the tub, they suddenly giggled out and took off like a shot. “Hey, get back here you!” Nova called out. He and Pinkie started chasing them around the bathroom. Nova managed to catch up to Pumpkin when she stopped to start eating on a towel. “Pumpkin, that’s not food, take that out of your mouth little filly.” Nova said as he slowly approached her to try and catch her. Before he could get any closer, she took off like a shot and started running. The twins ran side by side with Pinkie and Nova chasing after them. “Drop it!” Pinkie said to Pumpkin who still had the towel in her mouth. “Drop it!....drop it!” Somehow, they lost sight of the twins and looked around for them. “Over there.” Pinkie whispered as she pointed to the medicine cabinet where a small brown tail was seen wagging back and forth. Nova nodded and the two slowly approached the cabinet. Nova used his magic to open it to reveal Pound and Pumpkin inside. They giggled and dashed off before they could be caught. “Oh for galaxies sake!” Nova expressed. The twins had managed to hide again. Pinkie and Nova looked around. Nova spotted two sets of hooves behind the shower curtain around the tub. He nudged Pinkie and pointed at them. The two went up to the curtain and pulled it back. The twins giggled again and took off running. Pinkie managed to grab them this time by the scruff of their necks with her mouth and set them in the tub. Nova sighed in relief the chase was over, however the babies were upset their game was over and started crying. Pinkie took the initiative and tried to distract them with the bubbles. “Oh look guys, bubbles.” Pinkie gathered a few up in her hoof and blew on them, making them float around. Pound and Pumpkin stopped crying and started giggling at the bubbles. Nova sighed in relief again as Pinkie handled the situation. Pinkie gathered a few more bubbles and made a bubble beard on her chin. This sent a few more bubbles floating about. One particular big one floated near Pumpkin. The twins watched it with fascination till it popped on Pumpkin’s horn. They started crying all over again. Pinkie seemed to panic a bit. “Don’t cry, uh, uh….look, floaty things.” Pinkie produced a rubber ducky and set it in the tub. Pound and Pumpkin watched it float as they stopped. Pinkie smiled and took this as a sign to get more stuff. She started rushing back and forth filling the tub with more stuff. Nova stopped her before she managed to throw in a raft. “Pinkie wait! That’s too much, you don’t want to put too much stuff in there or they’ll feel cramped.” Nova used his magic to remove most of the toys that were in there and left just the rubber ducky, a small boat and a ball. “Really?” Pinkie asked. She noticed Pound and Pumpkin were laughing now as they played with the toys. “Oh, oops.” She gave a sheepish smile. Nova gave a smile. “It’s fine Pinkie, now you know.” He looked back at the two babies as they played. “I gotta say though, they already seem to be more of a hoof full than I thought.” “But don’t you have experience babysitting, like when you were taking care of your little brother?” Pinkie asked. “Well yeah, but he wasn’t this much trouble. He was pretty much well behaved.” Nova informed. Once bath time ended and the babies were all clean, Nova and Pinkie took them to their room to play some before it was time for bed. In the meantime, they were going over the list to make sure they didn’t miss anything. Their noses were soon assaulted with a fowl odor that permeated the air. Nova scrunched up his nose and placed a hoof over it with Pinkie doing the same. They followed the smell to Pound and Pumpkin who were playing with a set of blocks. “Smells like some pony needs me to changy wangy their diaper wiper right nowowow.” Pinkie said nervously. She and Nova went to get diapers and cautiously approached the twins in fear they would take off again and begin another game of chase. Pinkie and Nova each took a diaper. “Easy, easy does it now.” Nova whispered to himself and Pinkie. Sadly, the twins saw them coming and cheered out as they took off. “Hey! Ugh, here we go again.” Nova said. “Great, they’re hiding again.” Pinkie said tiredly. “By the cosmos those too sure like to hide.” Nova commented. He and Pinkie began looking for the twins. Pinkie managed to find them hiding behind a small dresser with diapers on it. “Nova, over here!” Pinkie called. Nova rushed over and the two began fighting with the babies to get their diapers on. It was a struggle, but they managed to get the dirty ones off. More struggling and fighting and it soon came to an end. Nova groaned out as the twins didn’t have clean diapers on, instead, one was on Pinkie pie and the other hung from Nova’s left antenna. The twins laughed and bolted again. The small bell that hung over the front door of the bakery rang. “Oh good, their home.” “You go greet them Pinkie, I’ll watch the twins and try to get the diapers on them.” Nova said. “Thanks Nova.” Pinkie rushed down stairs to greet the cakes. Nova looked to the twins who had gone back to the blocks. “All right you two, just relax, uncle Nova just wants to put some clean diapers on you.” He said carefully as he snuck up on them with a pair of clean diapers in his magic grasp. Pound and Pumpkin saw him coming and dashed off again. “Ugh!” Another chase, and another struggle later, Nova managed to get the diapers on. “Phew, finally.” He sighed out. “This baby stuff is harder than I thought, Starburst was nowhere near as active as these two.” Pinkie Pie soon came back upstairs. “Pinkie, where are the cakes?” Nova asked. Pinkie Pie gave a huff. “It wasn’t them, it was Twilight. She actually thinks we can’t do this on our own.” Nova gave a flat look. “Uh, Pinkie Pie, we haven’t really been handling this babysitting very well on our own.” He stated flatly. “So that’s good though, she’s here to help….where is she?” “We don’t need her help, we can handle this on our own.” Pinkie stated. Nova facehooved. “You didn’t accept her offer to help did you?” He asked, knowing full well what the answer was. “Pinkie Pie, these twins are proving to be a lot of trouble, we could’ve really used her help.” Pinkie Pie seemed hesitant with her next words. “Well, too late now, guess it’s still just you and me then.” Nova sighed in annoyance. “Whatever.” “Just watch, we’ll do just fine from here on out.” Pinkie insisted. In the time they were talking, Pound Cake started jumping on his crib and Pound Cake was chewing on a rubber chicken nomming on it. Pinkie marched up to Pound and spoke sternly. “Pound Cake, this is a crib. It is to be used for napping, sleeping, and on occasion with permission as an old timey western fort. It is not a trampoline, so stop your jumping right now mister.” Pound Cake gave a small smile in response. Pinkie Pie then went over to Pumpkin Cake. “And you young filly, we do not put anything in our mouth that we cannot properly digest. So stop slobbering on that toy this instant.” A moment of silence passed before Pumpkin dropped the toy to the ground. Nova just watched speechlessly as Pinkie took charge like a drill sergeant. Pinkie picked up Pumpkin Cake by her mane with her teeth and set her on Pound’s crib next to her brother. “Now we have all had an exhausting afternoon, so it is time for all good foals to take their nap so….FALL ASLEEP!” Pinkie commanded. Just like that, the twins fell onto their backs and fell asleep. “Well….that worked.” Nova stated. Pinkie gave a tired sigh with a smile, then placed a pink blanket over the two and kissed them each on the forehead. “Sleep tight.” Finally, Pinkie pulled up the side of the crib so they wouldn’t fall out accidently. “Well Pinkie, I gotta hoof it to ya, that was pretty good. A little harsh, but I guess it was necessary considering.” Nova said. “Thanks Nova, help me clean up?” Pinkie asked. Nova smiled and helped Pinkie clean up the room a bit. He threw away a dirty diaper while Pinkie tossed the rubber chicken into the closet. On their way out of the room, Pinkie turned the lights off. “Now that’s what I call handling things.” Nova was the last one out so he turned to close the door. He took one last look to the crib and gasped. “Uh, Pinkie Pie, the twins are missing.” Pinkie quickly turned and looked over Nova’s head to the now empty crib. “What? But….where did they go? Oh nonononono, not good not good not good.” Pinkie rushed over to the crib and looked inside, thinking they might somehow still be there. “Pound, Pumpkin, where are you?” Nova followed Pinkie back into the room and started looking around to try and spot any sign of them. Pinkie dove for a pile of toys. “Come out, come out wherever you are.” Nova was searching nervously too everywhere he could. No sign of the twins anywhere. “Oh, by the cosmos where could they be?” There was a squeak that filled the room. “Nova, did you hear that?” Pinkie asked. “Yeah, I think it came from the closet.” Nova said. The headed over to the closet and Pinkie opened it up. Happily biting into the rubber chicken was Pumpkin Cake, slobbering all over the squeaky toy and making it squeak with each bit. “Whoa.” Pinkie said. She just picked her up and set Pumpkin into her crib, letting her keep the toy. “You be a good little girl now and stay in your crib for your old pal Pinkie winkie okay?” “That’s one down, now where’s Pound?” Nova asked. They began looking around the room again first. Pinkie kept looking back at Pumpkin suspiciously as if she were going to inexplicably disappear again. She continually made the rubber chicken squeak. Pinkie and Nova began searching for Pound outside the room. “Pound Cake, here boy.” Pinkie made some clicking sounds. “Come on out little colt.” Nova said. For some reason, the hall seemed rather eerie all of a sudden. Laughter was heard and a shadow passed overhead. “What was that?” Nova asked as he looked up and saw nothing. “I didn’t see anything.” Pinkie answered. They continued their search as another creepy child-like laugh filled the halls. “Okay, I did hear that.” Pinkie said, starting to sound scared. They wandered a bit trying to find the source of the laughter and went back into the baby’s room. Pumpkin continued munching on the toy chicken, making it squeak. More laughter echoed through the room. Nova and Pinkie slowly turned their head up and saw Pound walking on the ceiling with his little wings flapping. He looked down at the two and giggled. “What in the galaxies?!” Nova exclaimed. “Wah, you can fly?” Pinkie shrieked. Nova sighed and spoke in a flat tone. “I’ll get him.” He used his magic to zap in his wings and buzzed up to Pound. “All right you little zug fly on the wall, come on.” Nova took hold of Pound in his hooves and came to a landing in front of Pumpkin’s crib. Before Nova could put Pound in with Pumpkin, he noticed Pumpkin was reaching for the toy box where the other toys were. Pumpkin Cake was able to use magic to open it and bring three stuffed toys over to her, a turtle, a butterfly and a monkey. In surprise, Nova released his hold on Pound, allowing him to hover next to him while Nova and Pinkie let their jaws hang open. Pinkie collected herself and went over to Pumpkin who was munching on the head of the butterfly. “Nom, nom, nom.” Pinkie shook her head dissaprovingly. “No, no, no pumpkin.” Pinkie pulled the butterfly out of Pumpkin’s mouth. As soon as she did, Pumpkin was quick to replace it with the monkey. “Nom, nom.” “No, no.” Finally, the turtle. “Nom.” “No.” With all three animals, Pinkie tossed them back into the toy box. “I am the responsible one and I said no.” She quickly placed chains and a lock on it. Nova didn’t question where Pinkie got the chains and lock from. He finally noticed Pound giggling as he flew around. “Sorry young colt, but that goes for you too.” Nova went after him with Pinkie. For a young colt, he proved to be agile as Pinkie tried jumping for him and Nova chasing after him with his wings. In the chase, they both failed to notice the wall and slammed into it when Pound made a quick turn. They both dropped to the ground and groaned. “Ugh, for such a young pony, he sure is quick with those wings.” Nova stated. Pinkie quickly got up and made a jump grab for Pound. “Gotcha! I think.” Pinkie exclaimed as she managed to get a hold of him. Pound started flapping his wing furiously and somehow managed to drag Pinkie along. “WHOA!” “Pinkie!” Nova flew after them and chased Pound out of the room, through the hall, and down the stairs into the kitchen. Pinkie was dragged across a long table that had food on it that got flung about. Some of it smacked both Pinkie and Nova in the face. Nova did his best to keep the young colt dragging Pinkie in his sights. Pound started flying back and forth from the kitchen to the main room of the bakery through the fee swinging doors. “I’m…not…letting…go…we’re…re…spon…si…ble!” Pinkie said with each pass, Nova following close behind. Pound finally started flying back up the stairs and back into the room. Pinkie’s tail caught on the door and closed it behind her. Nova slammed into the door hard and fell on his back. “Oof! Ooohhh.” He groaned out. Darkness started taking his vision and passed out. Nova couldn’t tell how long he was passed out, but he started hearing a faint voice call out to him. He couldn’t make out the words at first, but they slowly grew in volume and started to sound like a familiar pink pony. “Nova…Nova, can you hear me, hello?” “Ugh…Pinkie Pie?” Nova questioned as he slowly opened his eyes. “What…what happened?” Pinkie smiled and gripped Nova in a hug. “Oh thank goodness, you had me worried there.” “Pinkie, what’s….” Nova let out a gasp as he remembered what was going on. “*Gasp* The twins!” Pinkie gave a stern look as she shushed him. It turned to a smile right at the end. She slowly opened the door to show the twins were sound asleep and the room was clean. “Pinkie, how…how did you…” Nova trailed off. “Let’s just say after a hectic moment, the babies decided to be more cooperative.” Pinkie said with a smile. Nova returned the smile with a shake of his head. “Come on, we still have some cleaning to do.” Pinkie said as she lead Nova downstairs. There was indeed quite a bit of cleaning to do. Before they got started, Pinkie felt the need to share something. “Nova, I want to thank you for helping me today, I really appreciate it.” Nova gave a smile. “Don’t mention it. I was glad to help, even though it was rather difficult.” “Well I certainly learned something today.” Pinkie stated. “Oh yeah, what?” Nova asked with genuine curiosity. “I learned today, that being a caregiver is hard work, and sometimes our desire for responsibility can out way our ability to handle it.” “That sounds like a great lesson Pinkie, you should totally write that to the princess.” Nova said. They worked together to get the place spotless before the cakes would arrive. It was hard work, but they succeeded in their task. The little bell above the door rang and Mr. Cake’s voice was heard. “We’re back!” Mrs. Cake’s voice followed. “How did everything go?” Nova and Pinkie watched from the stair case as the cakes looked the bakery over and gasped. “Are we in the right place?” Mr. Cake asked in disbelief. Pinkie shushed them and gestured with her head to follow them upstairs to the babies room. Mr. and Mrs. Cake smiled when they saw their sleeping babies. Mrs. Cake was the first to share her gratitude. “Nova, we can’t thank you enough, it looks like you did a wonderful job.” Nova shook his head. “Hey, don’t give me all the credit. Pinkie Pie was a big help too.” The cakes looked to Pinkie with a bit of surprise. “Really?” Mr. Cake asked. “Really.” Nova answered. “It was a team effort and Pinkie was a real great babysitter. I was more of an assistant to her.” “Well Pinkie, it looks like we owe you an apology for doubting you.” Mrs. Cake said. “Awe, don’t mention it.” Pinkie said with a wave of her hoof. The cakes looked at each other a moment, then back to Nova and Pinkie. “Pinkie, Nova, how would you two like to be our go to babysitters from now on?” Mr. Cake asked. Both Nova and Pinkie’s eyes widened in shock. “Gee, I don’t know, let me check my schedule.” Pinkie said as she brought out a notepad. “I could fit you in a week from…NEVER!” Nova then gave his excuse. “You know, I’d love too but I’m gonna be really busy for a while so I don’t think…” Nova was cut off by a yawn from the twins. Everypony looked in to see Pound and Pumpkin stretch. “Pinkie.” Pumpkin said. “Pie.” Pound finished. “Nova.” They said together. “Ooh, right in the heart.” Nova said to himself. “No fair kids, no fair.” Pinkie’s eyes teared up with a smile. “I have some free time next tuseday.” “Yeah, I think I can free up some time on Friday.” Nova added. Nova said his good night to the cakes and Pinkie and headed for his parents house. Nova tiredly walked in and was greeted by his mom who was sitting on a chair near the couch. “Nova, hello, so how’d the baby sitting go?” She asked. “Hey mom, hi dad, hello Starburst.” Nova greeted first before plopping down muzzle first onto the couch. “Hey there son, you okay?” Cosmos asked. He said something but it was muffled by the couch. “What was that?” Starburst asked. Nova lifted his muzzle and spoke again. “Mom, was I ever any trouble as a baby?” Starla looked at Nova in confusion. “Any trouble as a baby? Why do you ask?” “No reason really?” Nova simply answered. “Well, I’ll admit you did tend to get into trouble, but we still loved you.” Starla answered. “I’m really sorry for any trouble I was mom.” Cosmos came up to the back of the couch and looked down at Nova. “What brought this on son?” “Let’s just say I got a second dose of what it would be like to be a parent.” Nova simply said and left it at that. Starburst gave a smug smile. “Trouble with the twins?” “Eeyup.”